the best guess was that she was on her way to a friend 's house in a neighborhood beyond the park . i hated the way he studied my face for the same reason . but the way he was talking to her , as if he knew the secrets of her soul , felt even deeper . `` i never want to see you again , steven . '' `` six hours , six and a half hours , '' she said . the silver burned his fingers and he threw it , tossing the bullet far into the night . 