The Reclamation

12

I'm sweating bullets in the car. The silence generated between the four of us is making my ears ring. Daniel and Steve haven't even turned the car radio on, they just sit in the front of their black Tesla without a word. I could swear that they were statues if Steve wasn't steering the car. But they seemed perfectly content in their silence, they weren't mad or uncomfortable. Mia, however, is bouncing her foot as she stares out the window. I watch her from the corner of my eye while she mindlessly picks at her nails. I want to say something, but Im not sure what. Even if I did, her parents would hear every word, which would probably just add more tension to the situation.

My eyes are glued to Mia. I silently pray that she turns her head, that she sees me looking at her so I can grab her attention. I need her to make eye contact with me so I can flash her a smile or squeeze my eyebrows together to ask if she is alright. I need to find a way that I can show her I'm here for her.

But Mia just stares out the window at the yellowing leaves as we pass them by. The low sun paints her cheek in orange light, contrasting harmoniously with the dark blue cocktail dress she has on. He hair is pulled up into a loose half-up half-down style that frames her face nicely. She has gold hoops and bracelets on, as well as a pair of low nude heels. When Mia walked out of her room after getting ready, I felt severely underdressed. Now I can't care less as I bask in her beauty.

Her fingers continue to pick at her nails, and I can see the skin reddening around the nail bed. In a split-second decision, I reach my hand out to steady hers.

The sudden contact startles Mia. Her hand clenches and she inhales sharply. Her head whips around and her eyes lock onto my hand around hers. Once she realizes what was happening, her hand loosens and she exhales. Her gaze is pulled loosely up to mine. The left corner of my mouth pulls up briefly in a reassuring smile. I try to convey everything I want to tell her in my face, but I fear I've failed when Mia turns her head again to stare out the window. Maybe it's better that I leave her alone for now.

I try to pull my hand back, but Mia's grip on my hand tightens. I smile. All she needs from me right now is to be here with her, and I am more than happy to oblige.

The drive was a painful twenty minutes, but it felt like six hours. The entirety of the ride was silent and tense... at least from the back row. But I could tell that Daniel and Steve were in their own world, as were Mia and I.

Mia quietly held my hand as we slow down outside of a restaurant that I have passed by a few times on the drive to my uncle's house. My mouth falls open the second I realize that we're pulling in to the parking lot with the intention of eating here. The familiar blood red awning protrudes out from a stone brick building, a fine-dining red carpet waiting to greet the customers. The front of the awning reads "Sebastian's Fine Food & Spirits" in bright white letters, as if a single person in Racine didn't know of Sebastian's.

My parents have been here only a handful of times, mostly for anniversaries or very, very special occasions. The didn't dare suggest bringing Amelia or I because when Millie was little, she was often a bit too obnoxious to take anywhere, and I refused to dress nicely for anything that I didn't have to. Mia is currently my exception to that rule. And now, I am parked in the lot of this restaurant, sitting quietly in the back of a Tesla, which in and of itself is insane. Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be in this situation, much less of my own free will.

I hadn't realized I was gawking at the building until I heard the seatbelts unfasten and Mia's dads step out. I snap out of my trance and follow them out of the vehicle, drowning at the loss of Mia's hand in mine.

We approach the awning. Mia's dads lead the way. Finally, the silence is broken by Steve, who makes a comment to Daniel about missing the shrimp from this place. Then he turns back to Mia.