Sebastien Struck

prologue: act ii

act two

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act ii: the middle

act one cont'd

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Rides decided, the two began to make their exit.

She stood up slowly, and Jerryl paused the game so that goodbyes could be said. Everyone walked the two of them to the door, and Josephine repeated how nice it was to meet them all as she put her shoes on.

Josephine gave Tai a tight hug, "Thanks for introducing me to them, they're really cool," she whispered in his ear, making sure he didn't have any reservations about springing his friends on her, "But not cooler than Faye and I, so there will be no replacing."

He laughed, but seemed relieved as she pulled away, giving her a grin as she waved at the rest of them, before Sebastien and her walked out.

She wondered which one of the cars was his, and as though he had peeked into her thoughts, he took out his car keys, and walked to the truck parked behind Tai's car. She didn't know much about cars, but she could tell it was an older model, one of those classically vintage ones. It seemed to be in pristine condition.

Josephine followed him to the car, not expecting the door that was opened for her. She felt her cheeks warm at the gesture, and she tilted her head in thanks, getting into the car. The seats were leathery, worn slightly, but not tattered or dirty.

The truck's age showed in the layout, the single bench seat for both the passenger and the driver, and the older button controls rather than any of the new electronic faff that came with new cars.

She loved it.

Buckling herself in, trying not to sniff too hard at the pleasant smell of the car, she watched him call out a goodbye to Tai again, before taking his own seat.

"All good?" he asked, holding her gaze as he put on his seatbelt.

She nodded, "Yes, thank you," she offered him a smile to drive the point home, and gave Tai a wave as Sebastien pulled out of the driveway, one hand loosely on the wheel, one arm resting on the door.

"Which way am I going?" he asked, as he made his way down Tai's street.

She explained the directions to her house, and got comfortable in her seat, watching the clouds move across the sky.

It was going to rain soon.

She watched as his hands pressed a few buttons; the heating turning on, and she was thankful for the gesture. She was beginning to shiver for multiple reasons, the cold being only one of them.

"I like this," she said softly, a smile in her words as the radio played quietly in the quaint car.

He glanced at her, a questioning look in his eyes.

"The car, I mean," she clarified, "They don't make them like these anymore," despite not knowing much, she did know that she preferred the older ones. The ones with all the buttons, and the larger steering wheels.

Her grandfather had taught her to drive on her dad's old car, which she had then kept for herself despite her parents' insistence on buying her a newer, more reliable one.

But she liked the feel of changing the gears, and the buttons she had to push rather than the bright screens that were fitted into new cars.

His smile was soft albeit surprised, and she didn't think he was going to speak for a moment, before he looked straight ahead, his grip tightening on the wheel, "It's — was my dad's."