My mother's bestfriend

Chapter XVI

The car door shut with a soft thud, sealing me inside the dark, quiet interior. The leather seats felt cold against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat of the party outside. I buckled my seatbelt, my fingers fumbling slightly, still feeling the flush of embarrassment from my encounter with Charlie.

Miss Essington slid into the driver's seat and closed her door with a sharp click. She didn't say anything at first, just started the car with a smooth turn of the key. The engine purred to life, and I felt a rush of cool air from the vents as she adjusted the air conditioning. The silence stretched between us, heavy and tense, filled only by the low hum of the engine and the distant beat of music still thumping from the house.

I stared out of the window, watching the blurred lights of the street pass by, the houses and trees melting into a dark blur. My heart was still racing from the party and the awkward encounter with Charlie. I could feel the tension rolling off Miss Essington in waves, but I wasn't sure if it was anger or something else. Her fingers were tight on the steering wheel, knuckles pale in the dim light.

After a few moments, I couldn't take it anymore. "Why did you come to get me?" I asked, my voice louder than I intended in the quiet of the car.

Her eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to the road. "Because I told you to call me if you needed a ride, and when you didn't, I figured you might be... preoccupied," she replied, her tone clipped but controlled.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not a child. I can take care of myself."

She gave a small, humorless laugh. "You're certainly doing a great job of proving that tonight," she said dryly.

I felt a flush of anger and embarrassment rise up in me. "You didn't have to embarrass me in front of Charlie like that," I muttered.

"Embarrass you?" She glanced over again, and I saw the flash of a smirk on her lips. "I think you did that all on your own, Stefania. Calling me by accident? That was a nice touch."

I huffed, staring out the window again. "I didn't mean to call you. It was a mistake."

"Clearly," she replied, her voice softer now, but still with that teasing edge. "Though, I'm curious... what kind of mistake leads to you not knowing where you are or what you're doing?"

I turned to look at her, meeting her gaze for the first time since we left the party. "I was just having fun," I said defensively. "Is that such a crime?"

She sighed, her grip on the steering wheel relaxing slightly. "No, it's not a crime," she admitted. "But you don't have to do it by sneaking out or drinking yourself senseless at some frat party."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "You don't know what it's like," I said quietly. "Being stuck here, trying to make new friends, fit in... It's not as easy as you think."

Her expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. "I'm sure it's not easy," she conceded. "But sneaking out and lying isn't going to help you either."

There was another pause, longer this time, filled with the sounds of the city passing by outside. I could feel the cool air from the vents blowing against my skin, calming me a bit. I sighed, leaning back into the seat. "So, what now?" I asked quietly.

She seemed to think for a moment before answering. "Now," she said, her tone gentler, "I take you home. You get some sleep. And tomorrow... maybe we can figure out a better way for you to get what you need."

I frowned, not sure what she meant. "A better way?" I echoed.

She nodded. "A better way to feel like you belong here. To find your place. To make friends, have fun... without feeling like you have to rebel to do it."