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.

about Ashton and the dread that came with seeing him again.

news would be more than just a threat to him at

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 can tell he's not satisfied with my answer. "But if it's something serious that I need to know, you'll tell me, right?" He looks me

he won't dig any deeper. "Of course." I lie, knowing that

the only reason I came up here. I need to talk to you about something important." He shifts slightly so that his body is

the sudden seriousness in his tone. "Ok... well

locking onto mine. "My parents are coming to visit tomorrow night.

heart suddenly pounding

Meeting his parents?

same parents he had told me about

parents he didn't have many

hadn't even thought about the idea of meeting his family yet, let alone so soon, especially since we weren't exactly a 'couple' of

us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly

technically their home that I

had managed to push aside earlier comes rushing back all

"I didn't know they were coming, will they be ok with me living here?!" I

leave? It was their property after all... and I was

softer now. "I'm sorry for springing this on you last minute, but I only just found out myself. My father's coming... and my mom, too

meet

what he's telling me. Meeting his parents would be a big deal under any circumstances, but now? With everything that's been going on? It feels like the worst possible timing with this weird and

reason why he was so stressed, finding out that his parents were coming at such short notice? That

don't know what to say," I murmur, my mind racing

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

of

discussed what we were becoming, since before our trip I had been stuck between

shaping himself to be the right fit for my life, at least not as a romantic partner -

it made me feel, having now felt like I lead him on, I knew that I favoured Vincent over him and I would have to admit that once and for all, sooner rather than