(take me out tonight where there's music and there's people)

Layne turns up the volume in Josh's car and The Smiths sing about how the pleasure – the privilege is theirs. Josh, eyes on the road, raises an eyebrow.

"Mood music?"

"I figure the part about a double-decker crashing into us is good luck."

"Pass me a cig, eh?" An amateur voice comes from the back. The city lights begin to reveal themselves in the distance.

"They're bad for you, Claire," Josh sings as he passes the pack back. Layne smirks slightly and passes the lighter behind her head.

"Where're we meeting the rest of those cats, again?" Claire asks with a cigarette between her fingers. Josh rolls his eyes – control freak. Third time since they started driving that she's asked.

"We're meeting Derrick outside of Starlight and then going to Katz's to eat with Griffin, Dune and Kristen," he answers.

"And Cam's definitely not gonna be there," Claire states.

Layne snorts. "There's smoking and beer. Obviously he'd rather stay in his dorm than come meet his friends he hasn't seen in forever. And you're gonna be there, too."

The silence is almost as deafening as the music, so Layne turns up the music and lets Morrissey sing about A Light That Never Goes Out (There Is one, honestly). The smell of Claire's cigarette fills the black Honda Fit and Josh decides to open his mouth.

"The Sound of the Smiths, eh? Why no legit album?" he asks as This Charming Man begins to play.

"Shut yo' face," Layne says, and conversation begins again.

*

(and they're young and alive driving in your car)

Derrick waits.

*

(i never want to go home because i haven't got one)

Griffin and Kristen switch subway trains and somehow manage to sit next to Griffin without realizing until the train lurches forward.

*

(take me out tonight because i want to see people and i want to see life)

And the girl the group never mentions sits inside Katz's with the responsible one, waiting, craving for the shit to hit the fan.

*

(and if a double decker bus crashes into us to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die)