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“I can’t talk about it,” I said, grateful that the lump in my throat loosened.
Nate’s eyes never left mine, and I shivered when he spoke, so soft and low that I don’t think I actually heard him—I think that I read his lips. “Okay.”
A long shuddering breath escaped me, and I put the car into gear.
“I don’t want to go home yet,” I said, staring ahead. My palms were sweaty, and even though it was hot as sin, I was shivering.
“Just drive.”
I pulled out into the road and asked, “Where?”
Nate didn’t answer. He pointed when he wanted me to turn right or left, and within ten minutes, we were on the outskirts of town. I didn’t say anything because I honestly didn’t care where we went as long as I didn’t have to go back to Oak Run Plantation. I couldn’t explain the feeling that pressed into my chest any more than I could explain the need to be with Nate.
And that’s what this was, wasn’t it? I didn’t want to be alone. Not now. Not tonight. Already images and sounds were crowding my brain, and it was all I could do to keep the stupid car on the road.
I didn’t want to remember. Jesus, I didn’t want to go back there.
“Take this right,” Nate said, leaning closer as he gazed into the distance.
The sun was starting to set over the trees that lined the road, and for a moment, my eyes were blind as I navigated the turn. When the sun disappeared momentarily, I noticed a huge sign that looked like it was a hundred years old or something. Faded letters spread across it, broken in places. Damaged and worn. Kind of like me.
Twin Oaks Drive-In.
“Keep going,” Nate urged.
A rusted gate was off to the side, and I snuck a look at him as I slowly drove up a large hill. His eyes were focused ahead, and I couldn’t tell if he was nervous or pissed off or…or just nothing.
We crested the hill, and I saw a large screen, or rather the shell of what used to be a large screen, across a huge field littered with broken electrical or stereo hook-ups. This was an ancient drive-in, kind of like the one from that movie my mom liked to watch, Grease.
And it was deserted.
With the sun falling behind the tops of the trees that seemed to be everywhere, it was also kind of creepy.
“So why are we here?” I asked.
“Just keep driving. Take the path to the right.”
He should know by now that I didn’t like being told what to do, but considering the shitty night he’d had so far, I was willing to let this slide. “We aren’t doing anything illegal, are we? Like is this trespassing or something?”
Nate shook his head and pointed. Trees surrounded the entire area like a blanket, and what used to be a food stand was missing its roof and all of its windows. Chipped paint dressed the doors and crumbling façade, and the shadows were long near the entrance.
I followed the path, noticing the worn grooves from tires, and didn’t stop even when we entered the woods, though I did slow down.
“Up there,” Nate said.
I glanced ahead and saw that the trees thinned. I also saw what looked like fire throwing shadows through the branches, and as we drove into a clearing, I spied several vehicles.
My heart thudded.
I saw about twenty kids hanging around the fire, drinking, laughing, jostling around. They looked like they were having a good time. Like nothing was wrong and everything was right.
I pulled in beside a huge, mud-splattered SUV because there was nowhere else to park and then cut the engine.
“Are those your friends?”
Nate nodded but didn’t say anything. I didn’t really want to be here, but I wasn’t sure how to tell him.
“Is your girlfriend there?” I asked instead.
