"So, you don't need to ride with me," she continued staunchly. * * * "I'm an incredible guy," he said arrogantly, sliding into the driver's seat. * * * "Exactly what I asked. You have a very fancy car. Why?" * * * "Big mistake on your part, really."
"Don't threaten to crash, then." *** She rolled her eyes, getting in on the passenger's side. *** He frowned. "My family has a lot of money. Let's get going." *** "That's what you think."
"Well, you're coming with me no matter what. I'm allowed to say whatever I want." * * * He pulled out of the parking lot, his arm over the back of her chair as he craned his head back as he reversed. "You met my mom, right?" * * * She fell silent, sensing his discomfort. "Sorry," she said, sliding into the passenger seat. "I sounded judgy." * * * "It's what I know."
"You know I don't come with you if you don't want me to." *** She nodded. "Yeah. Kinda." *** He shut his door after getting in, raising an eyebrow at her. "I'm just not sure what you were expecting." *** She rolled her eyes. "Well I don't mind it."
"You said you were going to come no matter what," she said with a huff, sliding into the drivers seat and adjusting her rearview mirror with a pursed, stubborn mouth. * * * "You can wait in the car if you'd like," he said, taking off down the road. "But she's really nice, I swear." * * * "I don't think I was sure myself," she admitted, buckling her seatbelt. "I just can't believe that a kid has a motorcycle and a crazy fancy car. Are you a really good driver or something?" * * * They turned onto a path that meandered into the woods that surrounded the school. Sylas tucked his hands in his pockets and looked at her from the corner of his eye, raising one eyebrow. "Why do you want to be friends so badly?"
He looked in at her playfully. "I don't recall." *** "I know. I can come in, if you'd like.." She paused before grinning. "Only if I can see your room." *** "Of course," he replied, turning on the car. "Otherwise I wouldn't drive." *** She looked thoughtful before shrugging. "You were nice to me. I liked that."
She huffed, pulling out onto the main road. "You're annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?" * * * "God, you're a flirt," he replied with a playful roll of his eyes. "Why do you want to see my room? It's nothing special." * * * "Huh. You're pretty responsible, you know that?" she mused, dragging her finger along the corner of the closed pages of her field guide. * * * "Don't go about ruining my reputation," he admonished. "No one can know."
He grinned. "Yes." *** "Rooms are the windows to the soul!" *** He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Oh?" *** "What's wrong with being nice?"
She exhaled in playful irritation, driving through downtown, her brows furrowed. "That shouldn't be a point of pride for you." * * * "I'm..." He hesitated, turning the corner to begin driving down his street. "I'm pretty sure that's not how the expression goes." * * * "Yeah. I mean, between the studying and the fact that you won't let me walk home, and taking good care of your things," she said, covering her mouth as she yawned and settled back in the chair. "You get stuff done." * * * "Nothing, for you. As I say, though, I have a reputation to uphold; you can't go telling everyone that the demon is a sweetheart."
"I know. I just figured the answer was obvious." *** She laughed slightly. "I know. But a room can still reflect a personality." *** He looked over at her before his eyes returned to the road. "I have to get things done. I can't just blow them off." *** Her tone turned playful and she grinned at him. "By day, he's a cool kid. By night, he's a huge nerd."
“You still seem proud of it,” she protested, yawning tiredly as she rolled down her window. *** “I have no personality, Sparky, you should know that.” *** “I’m not complaining,” she reassured him, lifting her hands in surrender. “You’re just very responsible.” *** “I will end you,” he said darkly.
He shrugged. "I've learned to live with it." *** "That's the biggest lie ever." *** He nodded slightly. "Thank you, I suppose." *** "Yeah? You could try."
"You could change," she said primly. "If you really wanted to." * * * "I cannot lie. That's my only personality trait." * * * "You're welcome," she said tiredly, resting her head back. * * * "I could. I swear it."
"My personality is fine as it is." *** She raised an eyebrow at him. "That is a lie." *** He turned onto her street, going quiet. *** "But you wouldn't."
“That’s what people with *squee!*ty personalities say,” she replied primly. *** “How dare you?!” *** He would feel a small pressure on his shoulder as he turned the corner. Fina’s head had slid down to rest upon his shoulder. *** “Do it, then.”
He glared at her playfully. "So you think I have a bad personality." *** She laughed. "You're the one lying!" *** He frowned slightly, glancing down at her for a moment but saying nothing. *** She flicked his arm.
"I feel like we've established this," she said keenly, pulling into the driveway of a small cottage. There were no other cars in the driveway. Yellow roses climbed a fence that outlined the yard and the flowers sprung around the light blue house. * * * "I don't lie," he said smoothly, "and I'm insulted that you're even insinuating that I would." * * * She was asleep, amazingly. Her brows were furrowed and her shoulder brushed his upper arm. * * * "See, this is why we don't get along."
"I'm hurt," he said. "Truly." *** "Be insulted then. Liar." *** He stopped at her house before tapping her head. "Fina?" *** "You're just mad I won."
"You should be," she said with a small laugh, getting out of the car. * * * He gasped again. "I'm going to tell my mom and then she's gonna hate you." * * * She sat up suddenly, blinking sleepily. "Oh, whoa. Sorry. Did I fall asleep?" * * * "Is that what you call winning?"
He got out as well. "Well, I'll see you at school, then." *** "Nah, you wouldn't do that. Hopefully." *** He raises an eyebrow at her. "Yes." *** "Well it's more than what you did."
