It's late, and Aaren would really rather be anywhere than walking down the dark streets with his collar turned up against the damp drizzle trying to soak him through. 'Chelle isn't going to be happy with him, he'd said he'd call if he needed a lift (which he did), but when his text had gone unanswered, he assumed she was asleep. And she didn't get enough sleep, and a father worried.

But it left him out here in the damp, freezing air as the last vestiges of autumn gave up and let winter take over.