"Where are we going?" Emma asked as she looked out the passenger's side window. Still peeved at Isaac's insistence to drive her car.
   Without being gracious enough to give her even a sideways glance, Isaac responded; "You said you saw them at McD's. We're going to McD's."
   Annoyed, she turned to look at him. "They were there almost a half hour ago, and I don't know how long they'd already been there when I saw them!"
   Isaac shrugged as he checked the rearview mirror and flipped on the turn signal, "Zac's notorious for taking his time. If you literally do not shove him, he'll stay longer and longer."
   She sighed, "They won't be there."
   His hands gripped the wheel tighter; "Do you want to drive?"
   "Yes!" Her answer was automatic, and it seemed to only aggravate him more. Which in Emma's mind gave her points.
   His low growl was extra.
   Sitting back, Emma crossed her arms and looked out her window. But there was a definite smirk on her face. She'd gotten to him!
   Almost passing the driveway to the McDonald's parking lot, Isaac warned her with a dark look not to say anything.
   Complying for the moment, Emma bit her tongue since she knew she'd be able to rub in how he was wrong in a second.
   Much to Isaac's further annoyance, they weren't there. Which Emma proudly goaded him about.
   "Where to now?" He grated out angrily.
   Emma shrugged, "I can only think they'd gone home by now." She checked her watch; "It's a quarter 'til eleven, what else is there to do for two minors in a town with a ten o'clock curfew?"
   Nodding in reluctant agreement, Isaac made a wide U-turn and started back out onto the street. "If their not at the house. Where else would they be?"
   "Which house are we talking about first?" Emma questioned quickly. "Yours or Grace's. Cause they could be at either, or Zac could be at yours and Grace at hers."
   He let out a not-quite-a-sigh breath. "We'll have to check both then." He made that same sound again. "Then check to see if any of their friends is throwing some kind of party. Check movie listing's… just check nearly about everything."
   She groaned at the very idea of checking out everything. Sixteen-year-olds were not her choice people to hang out with. Grace was the only exception.
   "So how did you and Grace become friends?"
   Irritated that he spoke allowed what she was thinking, Emma cast him a questioning look before turning to look out the front window. "I carded her. I was working at a gas station at the time. She tried to buy cigarettes as some kind of dare from her so-called friends at the time."
   She jolted when she caught him smiling at her story. Suddenly she laughed at the mental picture the memory provided. "Gracie was trying so hard to act and look so grown-up."
   Isaac grinned when she couldn't stop giggling. "Her make-up was so thick it looked as if she used the whole bottle of make-up just to age her a little bit."
   When she was able to calm down some, Emma smiled softly at the memory. It was one of the few she liked. "She looked like a little girl, playing dress up. Then did her best to ask for a pack with as much confidence as possible."
   "And what'd you do?" Isaac asked a little eagerly, actually wanting to know.
   Emma grinned again, "I shook her confidence so hard when I asked what brand. Rather she wanted regular or lite. If she preferred Menthol. Then when she started stuttering, I pointed to the 'we card' sign next to the cash register and she just started whaling right there."
   Isaac laughed outright. "And of course you came to her rescue and comforted her."
   She laughed at that. "Nooo, not quite exactly. I found her outside when I got off. Curled up against the wall, and begging me not to call the cops or anything."
   They laughed quietly some more on the mental projection as they passed the Hanson household. Which did not hold Zac's blue SUV.
   Clenching her fingers as Isaac gripped the steering wheel tight again, they moved along towards Grace's.
   Their conversation became brittle as the anticipation crept under their skin. Wreaking havoc on their nerves.
   Emma already pulling out her phone and calling around some, she found out which places they were not at. Which were the usual places Grace loved and hung out at every opportunity.
   She'd put her phone on speaker so that Isaac could try his friends when they arrived in Grace's neighborhood. And though while the driveway and street sported several vehicles, no blue SUV could be found among the elite automobiles.
   Isaac drove slowly by, and exhaled that same kind of breath that was surely getting to Emma.
   Biting her lip to keep back the criticism, she thought aloud instead. "It seems as if they're purposely trying to avoid us, now isn't it?" She murmured.
   He nodded warily, dragging one hand across his face and through his hair. "Yeah, it does."
   She started chewing on her lower lip. "Then where wouldn't they go, that's open late, and doesn't care about minors being inside?"
   They thought while Isaac drove, and when they were stopped at an AM and PM to refill her gas tank, Isaac shot straight up from the pump. "The pool hall." He announced suddenly.
   Emma closed her eyes. "What about it?"
   "That's where they'd be. Zac loves pool, it's a great place for them to hide and still have something to do."
   Opening them, Emma pursed her lips in thought then started smiling. "Well I'll be. You do have a brain."
   Isaac's proud smile faded to a scowl, which caused Emma to laugh.
   Once the gas pump clicked, Isaac quickly removed it and put it back in the slot and hurried back to the driver's seat.
   Which Emma proved to be seated, waiting for him to get in on the passenger's side. She grinned, "My car. My turn."
   Unwilling to argue and waste time, Isaac ran around the front of the low rider, jumping when she honked the horn and slid inside. "Funny."
   She simply shrugged, "I thought so."
   And then they were off again.