Shadows In Durango

Chapter 93

*****Sofia's POV*****

I lay on top of the bed beside Emma, us both staring up at the ceiling in a comforting silence. I had now calmed down from my earlier panic, but I still felt incredibly anxious and unsettled.

"My father could be on his way here for me right now for all I know..." I push the words out, as Emma cranks her head around to look at me.

"Don't think like that, we wouldn't let him take you!" Emma states firmly, her voice filled with conviction. "Vincent and Daryl certainly wouldn't either, you're in the best place!" she adds, trying to reassure me, though her words only make the knot in my stomach tighten.

I give her a small nod, appreciating her support, but deep down, the fear still lingers... My mind keeps drifting back to the moment that I saw him - Ashton - standing in the storage room at school.

His presence in town was like a shadow over everything, bringing with it memories that I thought I had buried long ago. But I couldn't tell Vincent, not yet. I didn't even know how he would react, and right now, I couldn't handle making things worse for anyone when he clearly already had a lot on his plate...

A soft knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, and both Emma and I push ourselves to sit up, glancing towards it before the handle dips and the door opens.

"Sofia, can I speak to you alone for a minute?" Vincent's voice is firm but gentle as it enters the room with him, causing me to gulp.

How on earth will I be able to talk with him without telling him all about what happened to me today? But I knew it was selfish to pile this drama on...

Emma shoots me a knowing look, offering me a small smile before standing up. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me," she says quietly, giving my hand a squeeze before slipping out of the room, leaving me alone with Vincent.

He steps inside, closing the door behind him as his eyes meet mine. There's a tension in the air between us, unspoken but thick, and I can already sense that he knows something is off.

"You alright?" he asks, his gaze softening as he moves closer to the bed. "Daryl and Reid told me you were upset earlier in the car but wouldn't tell them why?" He pushes, getting straight to the point as I feel my muscles tense under his scrutinising gaze.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my face neutral as I nod. "Yeah, I'm fine now. Just... a tough day in school, that's all." I state, hinting to him that I didn't want to discuss it much further.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Sofia, you don't have to lie to me. If something happened at school, you can tell me. Was it something someone said or did? Or was it because I sent you that text?" He tests, as my eyes widen at the last part.

"W-What no?! I know you have a lot going on..." I trail off, as he sighs at my words and looks away.

to just tell him all about Ashton and the dread that came with seeing him again. But then I remember

at this point, especially after what

instead, I shrug meekly and add... "It's nothing, really. Just some drama

to push the issue further or not. But after some time, he all but huffs and rubs a hand over his face, clearly deciding to let it go for now. "Alright," he says, though I

he won't dig any deeper. "Of course." I

the only reason I came up here. I need to talk to you about something

flips at the sudden seriousness in his

speaking, his eyes locking onto mine. "My parents are coming to visit

my heart suddenly

Meeting his parents?

parents he had told me

didn't have many kind words

yet, let alone so

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technically their home that I had been living

anxiety I had managed to push aside

will they be ok with me

It was their property after all... and

just found out myself. My father's coming... and my mom, too and I just wanted to give you

to meet me?

now? With everything that's been going on? It feels like the worst possible timing with this weird and heavy

the reason why he was so stressed, finding out that his parents were coming at such

don't know what to say," I murmur, my mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. "What if they don't like

going to happen. They don't get a say in who I have around, Sofia. They aren't even here most of the time anyhow. My father knows that I like you though, so he probably thinks we are a couple..." Vincent explains, his eyes holding something more to them, as though there was another thing he was desperately trying

reply, unsure of how else to

discussed what we were becoming, since before our

be the right fit for my life, at least not as a romantic partner

feel, having now felt like I lead him on, I knew that I favoured