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"Hey, Sam! Wait up!" Sam Flynn sat still on his father's Ducati motorcycle, holding onto this helmet while carefully watching his female friend walk his way. "Hey, you wanna come out tonight? There's going to be a party downtown."

Sam studied her face for a short second. He could read that she wanted him to go. But he knew that about her already. "What time?"

She quickly clapped in excitement that Sam was finally agreeing to doing something that she would find fun. "8:30 at End of the Line. Come get me at 8?"

He grinned and shook his head. "Tell you what. It's 4 already. How about I get you at 6:30 and we get something to eat? You'd be okay with that, right?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Of course! I have to go to class though. I'll see you later, Sam."

Sam moved slightly and pecked her cheek before she had a chance to move away. "See you later, Dylan." The auburn beauty smiled and walked away as Sam put on his helmet and revved up his motorcycle. In this time of day in the college town, the streets were busy. But they weren't busy enough to hold Sam back from twisting and turning in and out of the traffic. He had things to do but not enough time.

He drove by FLYNN'S arcade and couldn't help but to feel lost. It had been 21 years since he had last seen his father. The last time he had seen him was late one night. His father had been going on about this world inside of a computer. About the bites that only responded in "Yes" or "No". About the gladiatorial games that programs were forced to play. About the lines the motorcycles created when they drove. About the dream his father had remembered so vividly. Then he was left alone. His mother and father were gone. All he had left were his grandparents-but he only wanted his father.

With regret filling him, Sam pulled off the main road and went down a maze of back roads. In the distance, he could see the black gothic high gate surrounding the cemetery. He dreaded this place but it was the only place he could find silence besides the bottom of the bottle. He drove into the large turn around then cut off the engine and parked it. Sam stood up off the bike and removed his helmet and gloves and put them on the seat before walking onto the sidewalk. For a moment, he wondered what he was doing. For a moment, he thought he should turn around. For a moment, he thought he was right.

Sam walked until he recognized the row sitting under the willow. He quickly exhaled before walking up to the tombstone closest to the tree. He sat down against the base of the tree. "Hi, Mom, it's been a long time."

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"Hey, Sam, you're late. What happened?" Dylan looked over towards Sam as he pulled up onto the curb. He took off his helmet slowly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Sam shook his head and pulled her over to him. "Let's go." She glared at him but gave up quickly and took the extra helmet sitting on the back and put it on before getting onto the bike and gripping onto him. The drive was silent and slow due to the unbelievable traffic on Main Street. Sam pulled up onto the curb of the ivy covered brick building with the outside patio. He kicked the kickstand and waited until Dylan got off the bike before getting off himself. Dylan passed him the black helmet with a bright neon blue stripe on it. He took both of the helmets and put them on the handlebars.

"Welcome to Mario's. Two?"

"Yes," Sam said moving his arm until it was the small of Dylan's back and moving her forward with him to follow the usher clad in black. "Thanks." The usher walked away after showing them the table and letting them sit.

"Sam, what's wrong?" Dylan's face went blank as she glared at him from across the table.

"Nothing."

"You're lying."

"What if I am?"

"Sam, you can tell me. So tell me."

"Nothing," he shrugged, "I just went to see my mom today."

Dylan reached out her hand over the table and Sam reluctantly took it. "I'm sorry. I would have gone with you."

"I wasn't planning on it. I just ended up there." Sam finally looked up at her and smiled softly. "It's fine. Just a lot on my mind."

"Sam, if you want, you can just take me home and you can have the night to yourself. I won't mind-"

"No, I'd rather do something. There's no point staying hidden inside."

Dylan's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll keep it as interesting as I can."

"Hope so." Sam let go of her hand and fished into his pocket to find his cellphone that he could clearly feel as it vibrated away. He flipped it open and picked up. "Hey, Allan. What's going on?-What?-Yeah, I-yeah, I can meet with you later. I will be home in an hour. Yeah, I'll meet you there. Thanks, bye."

Dylan nodded quickly understanding that the night would be cut short. "He trying to convince you to take the arcade again?"

Sam shoved the phone into his pocket and reached over and scratched his neck. "No, he found something."

"About your dad?"

"Yeah-"

"Call him back. Go now and see him. I understand, don't worry." Sam quickly grabbed onto her hand and pulled it towards him and kissed it.

"Thank you. I owe you-"

"No, you don't. That's what friends are for." Dylan smiled as Sam nodded and got up quickly and walked away.