Our Messed Up Thing

chapter 6

Archie closes the front door behind him and before getting in the car, he looks at me and shyly smiles.

"You ready?" Mr Scott asks. I hum in response as I turn my head to admire the view one last time. "Your parents are going in their own car. Do you want to ride with them instead? I- I'm not saying you should leave I just-" He's a really awkward man.

"It's fine, Mr Scott." I interrupt with a giggle. I turn to look at Archie who has already made his way to the car. However I am confused when he is opening the back door instead of the front; where he'd sit next to his dad. The windows are all open so he should've heard his father's question.

"She can stay here," He answers inexpressively, sitting next to me in the backseats looking out his window.

"I can leave-" I suggest, unsure of his reaction.

"No. Stay here." He commands. Still as water.

I shift uncomfortably as Mr Scott simply sighs and looks away instead of apologetically smiling, like I would expect him to do.

The ride flies by. Only because I slept the whole way through the trip; In the car, on the plane, even while waiting to get on the plane.

***

"Thank you," I say to my dad after he offers to drive us to the university. We have already landed and we're just taking a moment to relax after that long trip.

"Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want to live with us?" He asks with a worried expression.

This is a new beginning. I decided I want to see what life would be like as an independent woman. I still have the choice to move back in with my parents, but dorm rooms will at least help me make new friends; especially in the first year of college.

Archie said he will live in dorm rooms too. He explained to me that "he's a dude, too old to live with his parents". Plus, he wanted me closer now that we won't see each other as much.

"Dad, please, I already told you I-" I sigh.

"Okay, okay. Don't repeat what you said." He sadly murmurs while turning around and making his way to my mom.

I feel an arm gently resting on my shoulder and I turn around to find Archie.

Obviously.

"So, we are gonna live in L.A now. There's no going back." I don't understand if he's trying to be supportive or if he's trying to scare me. However, he has confused me enough these couple of days so instead of putting up with it this time, I look at him, and leave towards my parents.

I can tell this completely catches him off guard as he simply furrows his eyebrows and looks at me for a while.

"Dad, we're gonna be late if we don't go now." I tell him. We aren't really late for anything but he just nods and hurries to the car.

I decide to drive with my parents this time just because I'm not gonna see them as much either and will definitely miss them during my time in the dorms. I also did it so that Archie sees that I'm not always going to follow him around and let him be rude, then suddenly nice to me, whenever he wants.

My brother is sat down next to me however his eyes are glued to his Nintendo screen or whatever it is that he's holding.

"We're so proud of you, baby." My mom says, looking at me through the small mirror at the top of the car, practically crying already. This is going to be a long farewell...

"Thank you." I don't really know what they're proud of.

As if he's reading my mind, my father expands "She means proud of how you are handling everything. Change is... Difficult. But it gets easier within time, honey." I've heard this speech so many times I don't know if I can handle it anymore. However, I do silently nod and smile towards my dad and just pray that the drive isn't going to be as long as I expect it to be.