Tangled Fates

chapter nine.

C A S S I A

I'm sat on the porch after helping my parents bring their suitcases outside. I told my parents about how that dickwad broke my water bottle for them to recognize how bad of an idea this is, but of course - they didn't budge. I hear my father's trunk slam shut as he walks towards me. "Don't tell me you're still upset about this. Come on C, it's only for a couple of hours." He puts his arms on his waist, looking down at me.

"Say what, you guys arrive successfully and I'll increase your allowance for next week." My head shoots up at his statement, grinning. Now that's what I'm talking about. If I have to be stuck in a car with that ass for 5 hours for that, so be it. Content, I stand up and hug my dad as we walk towards my mother. "You seem happy." She says as she glances up from her phone. "Yeah well, it wasn't easy." My dad winks at my mother, indicating the bribing he had to do.

My parents hug me before getting into the car, and I wave goodbye to them. Not too long after, I see the Garcias, following another car trailing behind them. They stopped for a bit to talk to me before driving off. I look at the car left as it parks outside my garage. Lorenzo gets out, glaring at me while locking his car with his keys. He walks with the keys dangling in his hand, stopping right before me.

"D'you think I forgot?" I say, getting right to the point. I don't even care for the water bottle. It's just the fact that he had to be the one to break it and had no remorse whatsoever. He huffs, grinning. "No way you're this mad over a water bottle. It looked cheap, $5 maybe?" He rubs his jaw, pretending to think. Glaring at him, I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest, and I swear I almost missed the way his eyes tracked the action. "I'm getting that water bottle." I turn around and walk into the house, moving towards my suitcases. I zip it all the way up as I begin to drag it out of the house before Lorenzo walks in front of me, blocking the way.

"Move."

"No. Where are you going?" He stares me down.

"Where the fuck else do you think I'm going? I have a suitcase in my hand, use your brain."

"I have the car keys." He dangles it in front of my face. "Why are you making this more difficult than it has to be? Move, Lorenzo."

"No." He leans in closer as he brings his arm around my body, pulling the suitcase from behind me, eyes glued to mine. "I'll do it. I don't want your filthy hands coming into contact with my car, plus you're slow. This isn't heavy." He lifts the suitcase with ease, as I chuckle in disbelief. Fucking joke.

"You're an ass, I hope you know that." He ignores my comment as he makes his way towards his car, putting my suitcase in the trunk. Coming back in, he checks his phone. "We're leaving at 12. Either be ready then or I'm leaving you." He walks towards my couch, plopping down on the seat. I narrow my eyes at him as I move as far away from him as possible, sitting on the kitchen counter.

11:50 arrives, and I grab my shoulder bag from upstairs, before going outside. I open the passenger door and sit, putting my seatbelt on as Lorenzo starts to drive. "I advise you to stop at Target before we leave San Diego. Don't think for once that I forgot." I open the sun visor, applying lip balm in the mirror. "I'm not buying you shit, Cassia. Enough with that stupid ass bottle." I turn my head and let my stare linger for a bit as I see him leaning back in his seat, with one hand on the wheel and the other on the window ledge. Chills run through my body as I adjust the position I'm in. I unfortunately cannot deny the obvious fact that Lorenzo is attractive. But I never thought the day would come that I'd even consider being attracted to him. Yuck. I need to straighten up.

"Cat got your tongue?" He laughs. "I fucking hate you." I turn my whole body towards the window and put my AirPods in on full blast.

40 minutes pass, and we make a stop. I look up and find my eyes on a gas pump. "Do you want anything?" Lorenzo shifts the car to park, turning his gaze to me. I glance at him before returning to the book I pulled out a while ago. He scoffs and fully gets out of the car, slamming the door. I open the passenger door, getting out and stretching. I've been in that position for so long my leg became numb. But it's worth it if it means I can completely have him out of my field of view. I see him returning to the car, plastic bag in his hand. He walks to his side as he drops the bag in his seat, closing the door. Curious, I look into the bag and see a bottle of water with chocolate-covered pretzels, alongside a bag of chips. I raise my eyebrows.