Glassheart

Chapter 4

DAY BEFORE CLASSES START(Chloe's POV)
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It was the day before the school year started, I'm pretty excited for it. Red and I are joining my parents for a special outing before classes commence.

"Are you two looking forward to starting classes tomorrow?" my mom inquired.

"I definitely am! This week has felt never-ending," I replied, eliciting chuckles from my parents and Red.

"How about you, Red?" my mom turned to her.

"I'm all set. I can't wait to have to spend every day with Chloe now," Red said with a smile.

"Do you have any classes together?" my dad asked.

"We do, except for fencing. But that's just an extra class for me, so Red can relax during that time," I explained, exchanging a smile with Red.

"That's wonderful," my mom remarked as we arrived at the charming café they had chosen. It was close to home and had a cozy atmosphere.

"Wow," Red marveled.

"It's lovely here. This is where I took your mom on our first date," my dad reminisced, causing me and Red to blush.

"Let's head inside, girls," my mom suggested. Once seated, we perused the menu, and Red expressed how she was stumped about her choice.

"With so many options, it's hard to decide," Red mused. I recommended a sandwich I enjoyed, confident in our similar tastes.

"If you recommend it, I'll give it a try," Red agreed, and we shared a laugh, earning approving smiles from my parents.

"Do you two share a room?" her dad inquired.

"Yes, we do," I confirmed.

"Bridget and I were supposed to share a room, but I ended up staying at home," my mom revealed.

"That would have been cool," Red commented.

"It would have been, but we're still best friends like you girls," my mom remarked. Red and I exchanged smiles as I reached for her hand, rubbing my turn across it, causing a subtle reaction from my parents. Flustered, I withdrew my hand, slightly embarrassed.

"Are you okay, Chloe?" Red asked with a giggle.

"I'm good, just hungry," I replied trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Our food will be ready shortly," my dad informed us.

"This place is known for its speedy service," I chimed in.

"Do they use some sort of magic to cook so quickly?" Red inquired.

"You could call it magic, but it's more about efficiency," my mom explained.

"That makes sense," Red replied, prompting laughter from all of us.

"I need to use the restroom, I'll be right back," Red excused herself.

"Sure, it's towards the front," I directed her.

"Thank you," she acknowledged before heading off. As I watched her leave, I turned back to my parents, who were observing me.

"You two seem awfully close for just friends," my mom pointed out, causing me to blush.

"What? No way!" I protested.

"Your expressions and gestures suggest otherwise," my dad noted.

"We hardly do that! Red isn't a fan of physical touch," I defended, aware that my parents were aware of this fact.