Fallout (Crank 3)

Bryce guides me out the door,

along the damp sidewalk to

the parking lot. He stops beside

a pretty emerald green Acura,

opens the passenger door.

I’ve never ridden in some

random car before. I slip inside,

vaguely uncomfortable, as if

I’m doing something wrong.

I kind of like the feeling, though.

Bryce takes the driver’s seat, glances

my way. Penny for your thoughts.

My brain stutter must show.

How not to sound like a total

dweeb? “I was just checking out

your stereo.” True enough.

It’s a Bose. Cost a pretty penny.

Nice, huh? My brother gave it to

me for Christmas. He starts the car

and the CD player kicks in. Incubus.

Interesting information. He has

a brother. A brother with money.

I realize suddenly that I know as little

about Bryce as he does about me.

Who has the biggest surprises in store?

SURPRISE NUMBER ONE

I expect him to drive to McDonald’s

or Burger King. Instead he high-

tails it several blocks away, pulls

into a strip mall parking lot.