Under the Stars (a lunar chronicles Modern AU)

Chapter Ten: Roadtrips and Texts

"Are you sure that's everything?" Cinder asked as she slammed the door behind her and leaned back in the passenger seat. Thorne was next to her, his hands already on the wheel, and Cinder was ashamed of the flush that spread across her cheeks.

"We're only away for the weekend Cinder, stop worrying," Iko complained, leaning over into the front of the car and shoving her head up next to Thorne's. "So Kinney defiantly didn't want to come?" She asked for the fifth time.

"For god's sake Iko!" Scarlet yelled, huffing.

"No Iko, Kinney did not want to come," Thorne said as if he hadn't already answered and called Kinney for Iko's sake, just to check.

"And good thing too," Cinder said, "there's no room in here as it is."

"Says the girl up front," Kai mocked, his smug face peeking around the side of the seat. She stuck her tongue out at him and he sat back down laughing.

"Are we ready to go girls?" Thorne asked, revving the engine. There was a chorus of "yeah's" and "sure's" all while Cinder turned around to smirk at Kai.

The car took off and Cinder grabbed a hold of her seat, cringing as Cress screamed from the boot where she'd seated herself with her laptop and her portable WIFI. Cinder could only guess that she was sliding around like crazy. There was a giggle from Iko as they sped up.

"Don't you feel completely safe?" Kai muttered into Cinders ear, leaning forward once more, and she couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips.

The first hour was bumpy and full of the girls complaining about Thorne's driving while he countered that they were too young to understand his skill, but after that everything settled down, and when they stopped to get coffee and milkshakes Iko switched places with Cinder so she could sit next to Kai.

Iko and Thorne talked in the front, and Cress threatened to call child line from the back. Scarlet had occupied herself with her phone and was silent giggling over whatever she was reading; Cinder wondered if it had anything to do with the man she was with the other day, but her thoughts flew from her mind when Kai fingers grazed the back of her hand then intertwined with her own. She sucked in a breath and Kai must have noticed and started to pull away, but Cinder grabbed his hand and squeezed it before the warmth of his palm against hers left her.

They stayed like that until Cress climbed over the back seat and dropped onto them when they stopped again for lunch, though she instantly scrambled away out of the car to where Iko was already going to get coffee.

Scarlet had wondered off, still texting and smiling at her phone, oblivious to everyone around her, and after a moment checking his car hadn't been scratched Thorne left too after a warning not to harm his baby.

Cinder was alone with Kai.

"He seems very..." Kai started.

"You don't have to be polite," said Cinder.

"Interesting" Kai finished.

"He's a nuisance, that's what he is," Cinder said, but she was almost laughing through her words. Kai took her hand again, and this time she softened without hesitation.

"He seems like an okay guy," Kai said.

"You're a nuisance too," Cinder said.

"Yeah, but I'm you're nuisance," said Kai, only realising what it meant a moment later and blushing, not just his ears this time, his whole face was bright red, "I mean, if you wanted to be, of course – I don't want you to feel pressured or anything and you don't have to – that is – if you don't want to... What I'm trying to say is...