Brandon's POV
The ride to Casey's house felt longer than it should have, even though the school gate was only a five-minute drive away. Maybe it was the quiet in the car. Maybe it was the dread crawling up my chest like cold hands. Or maybe it was Chloe's voice replaying again and again in my head:
"Brandon, I think Casey has my journal… Brandon, please get it back for me…"
That journal mattered a lot to her.
It terrified her.
And now it terrified me.
Casey pulled into her family driveway like she was entering a movie set, music blasting, sunglasses on, gum popping between her teeth like she owned the world. I stepped out slower, feeling something twist in my gut the moment my feet hit the pavement.
It had been a long time since I'd been here.
