What agreement?

(ARIELLE'S POV)

ensured to give me jeering looks through the rearview mirror.

The ride home was one of the most annoying experiences I have ever had. Sofia did everything possible to upset me, by fussing and being all over Jared. She was either dabbing his face with a handkerchief or playfully throwing her arms around him. And while at it, she "Can you play some music, Jared? I'm bored," her loud voice suddenly sounded, breaking the silence in the car.

"What do you want to listen to?"

"That song we used to listen to in high school, 'I will always love you,' by Whitney Houston," Sofia said.

"I don't have that song anymore," Jared said, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Why wouldn't you have a song that meant so much to us?" Sofia pouted, appearing hurt.

He shrugged and chuckled, and I felt a sting. He always seemed relaxed around her, something that felt oddly reserved when it was just the two of us.

Sofia shot him an exaggerated sigh before pulling out her phone, acting as if her whole day depended on it, then looked around, annoyed. "Where's my phone?"

Jared rolled his eyes with a hint of a smile. "Some things never change, huh?"

Sofia grinned.

Without a word, Jared reached into the glove box, pulled out her phone, and handed it to her. She took it with a little air-kiss in his direction and started playing the song. The car filled with Whitney's soulful voice.

Always Love You..." Sofia began, and Jared hummed softly. Their voices blended, bringing back whatever history they shared,

I knew I was a total bystander- invisible and ignored. My heart ached as I watched them sing and bond over the music, their voices

hard for me to breathe. I turned away, gazing out the car's

new turn my life was going to take? Being sidelined by Sofia and having to

couldn't afford to let them see me cry, couldn't afford to let Sofia see me

rang, interrupting them. Sofia picked it up with

driving. I'll

Sofia's finger paused over the screen. "Wait- You changed

not even looking over. "Yeah. Figured

I liked it. And I never changed

glanced over, "It's not a big deal

asked, "Well, what's the

scoffed. Really? Who asks a grown man for his phone's password? What happened to privacy? But curiosity stirred. What

gave a small smile,

her face turning pale. She looked as if she had been slapped

was

hearing it now, realizing he'd chosen my name, made something soften in me. A small warmth flickered to life, reassuring me that, even in ways I hadn't known, I was always part

world.

face again, and stifled the urge to

around to face me, and I turned back to the window, trying to hide my smile. Good

of the ride home. It seemed like her ego was bruised, and she kept a poker face

our home parking lot, and I felt nostalgic being back to our main house. The

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