The car backing out of the house brought her attention to what she had to do. She saw Elias smile as he drove past her. Nodding, she pulled the railing shut, locking it in place before heading to the copilot’s door, which was now facing the house in front.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yep!” She smiled, her seatbelt clicking at her side. “Are we going to pick up Jamie?” She saw Elias flinch at her question. “Sorry, I-”

“No, it’s alright.” He turned to give her a reassuring smile. “He’s at work anyway. Even if I wanted to bring him along he can’t.” He said, lightly stepping on the gas and taking way.

“So late? It’s almost eight.”

“Sometimes that’s how it is.” Elias kept his eyes ahead of him. “You know he’s a DJ right?”

“Yeah.” She answered, looking at her phone. “He said his next event was a wedding.”

“I’m glad he’s talking to you.” He let out a relieved laugh. “But yeah. Because the court and the couple can’t practice until after work, Jamie has to be out sometimes like this.”

“Is he at least getting paid?”

“Of course he is.” Though he kept his eyes ahead, his smile grew wide, pride evident in his features. “He knows the worth of his work; he wouldn't be there right now if they didn’t agree to his terms. The event manager also knows Jamie’s worth, and always makes sure to let their clients know that it’s in their best interest if they want a good party.”

“Sounds like he has a good deal.” Mia laughed.

“He’s good at what he does.” Elias nodded. “And my- my dad helped get him good contracts at both his jobs.”

“Two jobs… He must have his hands full.”

Elias snorted, earning him a confused look from Mia. “He manages.”

The ride became quiet as it seemed like neither had more to say. Mia would look at the driver from the corner of her eye, hoping he’d strike up a conversation, but he looked comfortable in the silence between them. She started scrolling down her photo gallery, finding a photo of the day she had upset Jamie.

The photo was before she had opened her big mouth, when they had dragged Jamie inside the dressing room with them. His face was bright red as Citara pulled him close with her hands on his shoulders from behind, pressing her cheek against his. Suddenly a thought assaulted her.

“It looks like they’re our boyfriends.” She remembered her own words, talking about her own friend.

“Is it wrong that I felt better about myself when I saw Jamie dressed as a girl?” Citara’s voice resounded in her head, looking at the picture and how happy Citara looks as she plays with a girl-dressed Jamie.

“Oh gosh…” She sighed, reaching a hand to her face.

“Something wrong?” Elias turned to her on a red light, quickly turning his attention to the front as it changed to green.

“No- Well.” She sighed. “I owe Citara an apology.” She rubbed her temples. “I know how sensitive she can be about her looks and I said some terrible things to her… And to Jamie too. No wonder he was so angry at me.”

“What do you mean?” But his question was pretty much ignored for one of her own.

“You know how Jamie dressed so differently last time you guys went to the bar?”

“I figured he wanted to impress Citara with a new look.” Elias thought for a moment after he answered, but couldn’t place his finger on it.

“I think he wanted to look manlier.” Mia said bluntly.

Elias’ eyes opened wide, not believing what she had just said. Jamie wasn’t the type of guy to care about his looks as long as he looked good. Ever since he met him, the boy had always dressed in a way that he knew suited him. So why would he try to look different?

They arrived at the mall, but stayed in the parking lot while their minds still put together bits and pieces of what had been going on for the past weeks in their little group of friends. 

“I’m so stupid.” Elias leaned his head against the wheel, his hair covering his face away from Mia’s eyes.

“We’re both idiots.” Mia laughed softly, rubbing his back. “We just have to apologize to our friends.”

“I still don’t want to pressure Jamie into talking though.” Elias tilted his head, enough to look at her, but still hiding behind his curtains of curly hair.

With a gentle hand, Mia brushed his hair away, his honey-hazel eye shining under the parking lot lights. “I’ll try talking with Citara.” She leaned back on her seat. “She also has some stuff going on, and they don’t even realize they’re affecting the other.”

“No wonder Jamie thought we’re setting them up.”

“I told you we kinda were.” She snorted.

“You did.” He sat up, nodding. “Guess we all have some apologizing to do.”

“... Still feel like watching the movie?”

Elias looked at her for a moment, then at the mall ahead of them.

“Might as well, right? We’re already here.”

“I want popcorn.” She laughed, opening her door.

“I hope there isn’t much line then, the movie’s starting soon.” Elias followed after her. They had a lot to talk and go over, but just for tonight, they would have a good time.

***

The movie had been more corny romance than it had been horror, so much that walking out of the cinema, Mia and Elias couldn’t help but laugh as they remembered scenes of the movie.

“I can’t believe how ridiculous that was!” Mia laughed loudly, holding her stomach.

“‘I love you, but if I’m with you I’ll end up killing you’… Pfff! Who scripted this?” Elias covered his mouth, a tear threatening to leave his eye.

“But I believe in you! You would never do anything to hurt me!” Mia dramatisized. “I can’t believe her. Girl, you run! Dude’s a stalker and he’s a jerk too!”

“Honestly, my mother would slap the lights out of him.” Elias shook his head.

“Is that why you’re such a gentleman? Because your mom slapped the lights out of you?”

“Of course not.” Elias placed his hands on his hips. “I knew better than to make my mom angry. I was an obedient kid.”

“Oh come on. You must have gotten a yelling or scolding at some point, right?” Mia raised a brow.

“Like any other kid, yeah.” He crossed his arms. “But mom never had the need to hit me. All I needed was her to tell me not to do something.”

“Were you seriously never spanked?”

“Not that I remember.” He thought for a moment. “I did get time outs though.” He laughed. “Had to stare at the wall while mom watched my favorite movie behind me.”

“I guess that’s another kind of punishment.” She joined in his laughter.

They both entered the car, still laughing at their meaningless chat, a silent agreement between them to take care of their little drama later.

“Alright, time to head home then.” Elias said, wiping a tear from his eye and gasping for air as he stopped laughing.

When there was no response, he turned to look at Mia, who had visibly stiffened in her seat. Last time it was the same, when he offered to take her home after their time at the cafe, she had given him Citara’s address instead of her own.

“Want me to take you to Citara’s place?” He asked.

“... I’m sorry, I know it’s a little far.” She didn’t dare look at him.

“That’s alright.” He started the engine, it purred softly. “Just let your family know.”

She nodded silently, her face down and lips pursed, but she didn’t reach for her phone, or look with the intention of calling home.

That’s when he realized he didn’t know anything about her family. All he knew was that she lived in the same area as he did, but she had always avoided taking him there, and from the looks of it, she even avoided being home as much as possible. He might have even known more about Citara’s family situation, who lived with her grandmother somewhere between his own house and Madame Moon.

Not wanting to press for answers, after all, he was the type to wait for the other person to open up, he simply started driving in the direction he knew was the opposite of where Mia actually lived. But by this point… Did she really live in that unknown house?

“Maybe you’ll be able to talk with Citara.” Elias suggested, but didn’t receive an answer.

Driving in silence, Elias watched the city lights pass them by, the sounds of traffic making the quiet space around them a little more comfortable. He was used to being this quiet in his car, he usually enjoyed it, but he felt like he might have overstepped on some boundaries with Mia that he shouldn’t have.

He was about to apologize, when he heard her soft voice.

“It’s just me and mom at home.” She started. “We don’t have a very good relationship.”

He wanted to stay something, he really did, but he didn’t know what and it looked like she wouldn’t say anything else.

Not knowing what to do, he reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, once again silence taking over them.