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out to help me up from my seat.  I wound my hand through the crook of his elbow, inhaling the expensive scent of his cologne.
     
    Outside, it had started to rain.  We both laughed as we ran to our cars and Travis held my door open as I slid inside.  He motioned for me to roll down my window and I did so once I had fitted my key in the ignition.
     
    “I hope I will be able to see you again soon!”
     
    I swallowed past the sudden knot in my throat and smiled.  “Yes, definitely!”  I tried to start my car and get the heat going, but the ignition just clicked.  Stomach clenching in annoyance, I tried again.  CLICK...click....click....click...
     
    “Everything okay?”  Travis was leaning down with his hands on the car windowsill, looking intently into my eyes.
     
    “It's just this stupid car.  I'll just have to call my dad to come get me, I guess.”
     
    “Nonsense!”  Travis grinned and opened his door.  “The least I can do is offer you a ride home.  After all, it means we get to spend a few more moments together.”
     
    My heart was fluttering as I took his hand.  His hair was plastered to his face by now and his pristine suit was speckled with raindrops.  The roses glistened in the streetlight as if they were studded with jewels.
     
    I followed Travis almost in a daze, as we ran through the rain to his car.  It was exactly what I would have expected a man like him to have—sleek, black, expensive.  A car the likes of which I had never been this close to before, let alone ridden.  It looked like it was brand new off of the lot. Could a guy really keep his car this clean?
     
    As Travis led me over to the passenger side and opened my door, I looked at him.  There was a strange look on his face, but it dissolved into a sparkling grin as soon as he saw my gaze.
     
    “Are you sure this is okay?  It's just...it's such a nice car, I wouldn't want to ruin it with my wet dress...”
     
    Travis laughed.  “Of course this is okay.  You will do nothing but add to its value as long as you sit inside.”
     
    I laughed and shook my head in disbelief as I scooted into my seat and Travis shut my door before jogging around to the other side and sliding into the drivers' seat.
     
    As the engine purred into life and Travis smoothly pulled into traffic, I never even noticed that he hadn't asked me where I lived.

Chapter 3 :  Darkness
     
    As we cruised down city streets and into my neighborhood, I was trying so hard to keep from babbling that I ended up sitting completely silent, wringing my hands in my lap.
     
    “Sarah?  Is everything alright?”
     
    I smiled at him.  “Just nervous, I guess.”
     
    “Why are you nervous? Don't worry, it will be okay.  I'm just taking you home.”  Travis didn't look at me, keeping his eyes on the road.  A passing streetlight illuminated the perfect angles of his face.
     
    “I know.  I'm sorry, I've just never done this before, this whole dating thing.”
     
    Travis smiled briefly.  We turned onto my street, and I suddenly realized I should have been giving directions.  “That's my house right there, with the brick mailbox.”
     
    “I know.”  Instead of braking, we kept going. 
     
    My neighborhood was some distance away from the main part of town, and streetlights were few and far between.  I could barely see Travis's face in the dark.  “Where are we going?”
     
    That was definitely something that resembled a smile.  “You'll see.”
     
    The car hummed around a turn and pulled into a driveway.  This house was dark and looming, with only a single basement light gleaming from behind the bushes.
     
    “Travis?”  I felt the first thrills of apprehension as he put the car into park.  He just sat there, staring at the garage door, silent as a statue.  “Travis, what's going on?  I think it would be best if you took me home now.  My parents will worry if....”
     
    The voice that came from Travis's lips was flat and monotone, as