Chapter six: the ride home
492 Words
it was already late when sofia finally stood up from the couch.
“okay, i’m leaving before your house convinces me to sleep here again.”
vivian immediately looked offended. “wow. after everything we’ve been through together.”
“we watched movies and ate snacks.”
“exactly. bonding.”
sofia laughed while picking up her bag from the floor. “i still have classes tomorrow.”
vivian followed her dramatically toward the door. “you’re abandoning me in my hardest moments.”
“you’ll survive.”
“that’s what everybody says before i suffer.”
sofia was still laughing when adrian walked back downstairs, car keys in one hand while checking something briefly on his phone.
“you’re heading out?” vivian asked immediately.
“meeting.”
“at this time?”
“work doesn’t care about time.”
vivian sighed dramatically before suddenly turning toward him. “wait. sofia’s leaving too.”
sofia already knew where this was going.
“vivian—”
“dad, drive her home.”
“no,” sofia answered too quickly.
both of them looked at her.
she tried fixing it immediately. “i mean—it’s fine. i can order something.”
“at this hour?” vivian frowned.
“i’ll be okay.”
adrian finally looked at her properly then.
calm. unreadable.
and somehow that made her even more nervous.
because the truth was simple.
she didn’t trust herself sitting alone in a car with him right now.
not when every look from him had been affecting her all evening.
not when she was already too aware of him.
“sofia,” vivian said slowly, “you’re acting weird.”
“i’m not.”
“you literally answered before he even spoke.”
“because i don’t want to stress anybody.”
“you’re not stressing anybody,” vivian replied immediately.
adrian finally spoke after staying quiet through all of it.
“it’s not a problem.”
his voice was calm like always.
smooth.
controlled.
and somehow that only made things worse.
“really, i’m okay,” sofia tried again, adjusting the strap of her bag slightly just to do something with her hands.
vivian narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “why are you suddenly acting shy?”
“i’m not shy.”
“hmm.”
adrian looked at her for another second before speaking again.
“get in the car, sofia.”
simple.
direct.
the kind of tone that didn’t leave much room for argument.
and annoyingly, her body reacted immediately to it.
that small spark again.
god.
vivian grinned instantly like she’d won something. “exactly. see? problem solved.”
sofia exhaled softly, already regretting this.
“fine.”
“good,” vivian replied proudly. “text me when you get home.”
“you’re acting like i’m traveling overseas.”
“anything can happen.”
“you watch too many crime documentaries.”
“and yet i stay informed.”
- Writer
