One afternoon, the sound of a Triumph Chopper motorcycle could be heard in the quiet area on an isolated road. The man riding was Carlo Reed.

Carlo Reed rode onto a narrow road into a cemetery before slowing down and coming to a stop.

Carlo turned off his motorbike and glanced up at a man named Carter Slade, who smiled at Carlo.

Carlo smiled as he got off his bike. He kicked the stand out so his bike could stand on it's own before walking over to Slade who was walking towards him.

Carlo-''Hey, Uncle Slade.''

Slade-''Hey, Kiddo.''

They hugged.

Carlo-''How you doing?''

Slade-''Good. How about you? Haven't seen you in a couple of weeks.''

Carlo-''I had to leave town for a motocross race.''

Slade-''You win?''

Carlo-''What kind of question is that? Of course I won.''

They laughed.

Slade-''Good.''

Carlo-''Thanks.''

They smiled.

Carlo-''Anything happen while I was away?''

Slade-''Yep.''

Carlo-''Someone I need to take care of?''

Slade-''Not sure yet. It's up to you or The Devil to decide.''

Carlo nodded.

Slade-''Let's take a walk, Kiddo.''

They started walking through the cemetery.

Slade-''So, any regrets about turning down another chance to be free of this curse?''

Carlo-''Nah, I can't let anyone end up making a mistake like I did. Like we did.''

Slade-''You made your deal from your heart, not your head.''

Carlo-''But you did the right thing by stealing that contract.''

Slade-''I know. But Lord knows....I made my mistakes.''

Carlo-''Well, the important thing is that you're making up for it by being here for me. I felt like I lost a lot when I made that deal....except for you know who.''

Slade-''Yeah.''

Carlo-''But with being Ghost Rider, you're the only family I have. Outside of my Motocross Crew.''

Slade-''I feel the same way about you, Kiddo.''

They smiled.

Slade-''How are your friends on your Motocross Crew doing?''

Carlo-''They're good.''

Slade-''They find out yet about you being Ghost Rider?''

Carlo-''Nah, and I have to keep it that way for their safety.''

Slade-''Right. So, does that mean you haven't met a nice woman yet?''

Carlo smiled as he looked at Slade.

Carlo-''Uncle Slade, don't start.''

They chuckled.

Slade-''I'm just asking.''

Carlo-''As nice as that would be....I can't bring someone into my life with the way it is. I'll just end up putting her in danger at some point because of who I am.''

Slade-''Well, that might be hard to do, Kiddo.''

Carlo-''Why's that?''

Slade-''Remember that woman you told me about?''

Carlo-''Yeah?''

Slade reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Carlo-''What's this?''

Slade-''The flyer of your next motocross stunt in 2 days.''

Slade handed it to Carlo.

Carlo-''I've already seen it, Uncle Slade.''

Slade-''You might wanna look again.''

Carlo opened up the flyer and looked at it. Carlo was shocked and looked at Slade.

Carlo-''She....she's gonna be there?''

Slade-''Her band is performing at the show just before your stunt.''

Carlo-''When did you find out?''

Slade-''You always asked me to keep a look out for her name. I found that a couple of days ago.''

Carlo folded up the flyer and ran his fingers through his hair.

Slade-''Is there any chance that you could avoid bumping into each other?''

Carlo-''Of course. But *sighs* Uncle Slade, you know she was my best friend in highschool and we kept in touch as long as we could after college.''

Slade-''I know. You haven't seen or spoken to her in 5 years. But is talking to her right now really worth the risk, Kiddo? You said yourself, you'll probably end up putting her in danger.''

Carlo-''Only if she stays in town. Plus, I have no enemies right now....except The Devil himself.''

Slade-''If he finds her, he might use her against you, Kiddo. Maybe even end up forcing you to give back the Ghost Rider power.''

Carlo-''You're right.''

Carlo sighed and leaned against a tree.

Carlo-''Ok, I'll try to avoid her. Maybe her band will leave as soon as the stunt is over and I'll go straight to my dressing room or just ride off.''

Slade-''Are you so sure you can ride away from the woman you've been in love with all these years?''

Carlo looked at Slade with a sad expression as the wind blew his hair over his eyes.

Carlo-''I'll have to, Uncle Slade.''

Slade nodded as he tapped Carlo's shoulder.

Slade-''It's gonna be ok, Kiddo.''

Carlo nodded.

Then Carlo took out his cigarettes and a lighter. He lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke.

Slade-''Now, what have I told you about smoking in my cemetery?''

Carlo-''Oh, sorry.''

Carlo offered Slade a cigarette.

Carlo-''I can't smoke if you don't.''

Slade took a cigarette from Carlo.

Slade-''Exactly.''

They laughed at each other and smoked their cigarettes.

Meanwhile....
A few miles outside of town, Barbed Wire's tour bus could be seen driving down the road as the band members were all relaxing inside the bus. All, except one.

The guitarist of the band, Brodie Lee, was playing cards with the drummer of the band, Darby Allin.

Darby-''Hit me.''

Brodie-''You sure? You already have 17.''

Brodie asked with a raised eyebrow and Darby nodded.

Brodie-''Ok.''

Brodie pulled out a card and it was 4!

Darby-''Yeah!''

Brodie-''How do you do that every time?''

Darby-''I'm just that good.''

Darby smirked and they both chuckled.

Brodie-''Play again?''

Darby-''Sure.''

The bassist of the band, Jack Perry, was tuning his bass guitar as the band manager, Sting, walked up to him.

Sting-''Sounds good, kid.''

Jack smiled.

Jack-''Thanks.''

Sting-''Ok, I'm only counting three band members. Where is our lead singer?''

Jack-''On the roof. You know she likes sitting there while the bus is driving.''

Sting-''I know. But I worry when we're driving so fast.''

Jack-''I'll go get her.''

Sting-''Thanks.''

Jack put his guitar down and climbed up to the roof of the bus through the skylight. He looked over and saw Michelle Shaw sitting cross legged on the roof.

Jack-''Mick!''

Michelle looked over her shoulder. Jack walked up to her and crouched down next to her as she smiled at him.

Michelle-''What's up?''

Jack-''You are.''

They laughed.

Jack-''Sting wants to know when you'll be back inside.''

Michelle-''Tell him that I'm fine.''

Jack-''You know he won't stop worrying about you being up here.''

Michelle-''I just needed some air.''

Jack-''*Nods* Ok.''

They smiled.

Michelle-''Tell Sting I'll be back inside in a minute.''

Jack-''Ok, cool.''

They bumped fists and Jack went back inside the bus as Michelle looked forward on the road ahead.

Michelle-''I can't believe I might see you again after all this time, Carlo Reed.''

Michelle stood up, walked over to the skylight and climbed down into the bus as everyone looked at her.

Sting-''You good, Mick?''

Michelle-''Yeah. Just extra nervous about the show.''

Brodie-''Is that because you might run into someone you haven't seen in years?''

Michelle-''Yeah.''

Darby-''Why would that be such a bad thing? You said this guy's your best friend since highschool.''

Michelle-''I know. I mean, I want to see him, but....''

Jack-''But what?''

Michelle-''But sometimes....life has other plans.''

Michelle sighed sadly and walked over to the front of the bus to talk to their driver, John Morrison.

Darby-''I think she should meet up with this dude.''

Jack-''Me too.''

Darby-''She'll feel so much better once she sees him face to face.''

Brodie-''I just wonder why she's dreading it so much.''

Jack-''Yeah. It's not like they left each other on bad terms.''

Darby-''Well, I think we should try and encourage her to see him. Maybe if she sees how much we think it's a great idea, she'll go for it.''

Brodie-''I agree.''

Jack-''I'm in.''

The men smiled as Michelle was chatting to John.

Michelle-''How far are we from town, Johnny?''

John-''We're only 20 minutes away, Mick.''

Michelle-''Cool.''

John-''Looking forward to seeing the stunt after the performance?''

Michelle-''I might be looking forward to more than just that.''

Michelle smiled.

John-''Oohh, I know that smile.''

Michelle-''What smile?''

John-''You're meeting someone, aren't you? Who's the lucky man?''

Michelle-''*Smiles shyly* Stop it.''

Michelle playfully punched John's shoulder and they chuckled.

Michelle-''I don't know if I'm gonna get a chance to talk to him. I haven't heard from him in 5 years.''

John-''Oh, him. You mentioned him before. Is he gonna be at the show?''

Michelle-''Well....he is the show.''

John-''No way! You know Carlo Reed?''

Michelle-''We went to highschool and college together. We lost touch 5 years ago when our careers took off and took us far away from each other.''

John-''And now you'll finally see him again.''

Michelle-''Maybe.''

John-''You sound doubtful. Why?''

Michelle-''A lot has changed. I just don't know if seeing him now is the right time.''

John-''Why wouldn't it be the right time?''

Michelle-''I just uh....''

Michelle sighs sadly.

John-''What's wrong, Mick?''

Michelle-''If our careers took us away from each other once before....then what's gonna change now to keep us from being separated again?''

John-''Oh, I see. So, you don't wanna reunite with him if it means you'll get torn apart again?''

Michelle-''Yeah.''

John-''I get it, Mick. But if you don't try to see him, you'll spend a lot of sleepless nights wondering "What If?".''

Michelle-''I guess you have a point.''

John-''At least try, Mick. I don't want you regretting it later.''

Michelle-''Thanks, Johnny.''

John-''No problem.''

They smiled and bumped fists.

Michelle wanted to see Carlo again more than anything in the world. But she doesn't want to get him back in her life if it meant that he'll get taken away again because letting him go once was hard enough.