After...that whole thing in Victoria's Secret, Kjelle suggested we get dinner at Andros Diner. I jumped at it, because I've been craving actual food for the last two hours. Stupid Laurent for eating my chicken nuggets. It's not like he's left either—he's loosened up and bought some stuff with us. Not at Victoria's Secret though, thankfully. But at Hallmark, where he bought some Star Wars Itty Bittys. Kjelle looked at him too as she made her suggestion, implying that he doesn't have to come, but it'd be nice if he did. I rather he didn't, but you can't have it all. Not like I have anything to begin with. Surprisingly though, Laurent said no, he has to meet up with some of his college friends for dinner at Dave and Buster's. I smile secretly. Now I can get Kjelle allll to myself, just like I was supposed to.

So now we're in Kjelle's car. It's a silver Volvo, the fancy one that you only need to push a button to start the car. Every time Kjelle starts it, I look at it in awe. It's like magic. She's driving through the streets at the legal speed limit. She's such a stickler for rules. When everyone's driving 90, she's driving the 65. I always tell her if she's not keeping up with traffic, she's gonna get a ticket, and she's always like, "Why? I'm not driving like a maniac."

Regardless, I like how Kjelle drives. Swift and smooth. The Volvo responds so well to her, like it molds to her intention. I see it as just more magic.

Do I have a car? Pfft. No. I should honestly. It's fucking New Jersey. But no, I still rely on my mom and the NJ Transit for my transportation needs. Besides, I have Kjelle and her cool-ass Volvo with me. If I had the money, I think I'd get a Volvo like this too. The seats are soo comfortable, I could take a nap right now. "Fucking in the backseat would be a dream," I mumble, staring out the passenger-side window.

"What did you just say?" Kjelle asks, a hint of alarm in her voice.

"Hm?" I question back, even though my face is on fire already. Shit did I really just say that?

"Doing what in the backseat would be a dream?" She quickly glances at me.

"Uummm I-I said sleeping! Yeah." You're such an embarrassment Severa!

Kjelle purses her lips, but takes my revised statement anyway. "Okay, if you say so...but yeah right, these seats are so nice." She wiggles in her seat, making me think about her butt again. I bite my lip in lust before fixing my face back into a cool stare at the road ahead.


Sumia's face falls. "Cor…"

I want to yell again, but now that I have everyone's attention on me, the fire within me sputters out. I lost my appetite for ice cream, though. I get up and make for the door as calm as I can, even though I want to run out of here with tears in my eyes. Don't show weakness to these strangers. I pull the door open and walk to my car, but Sumia rushes after me, yelling my name. I don't listen to her, I just unlock my car with the remote control and keep walking.

Eventually, Sumia catches up to me and grabs my wrist. I stop and look back at her. She has the carvelanche in her other hand, and she's put her ring back on. I sneer at her. "Once all's said and done, you're not gonna let go of that ring." I pull away from her grasp, but Sumia grabs it again. "What?"

Sumia's gray eyes are darker in color. She looks...lost. "I don't want us to fight, Cordelia…"

I don't want to either. But I don't say it. Instead, I say, "Then you shouldn't have gotten my hopes up." I pull away again, and this time she doesn't do anything. I pull open the driver's side car door and get in, jabbing the key into the ignition. The car roars to life. I look up, only to be faced with Sumia's tear-streaked face looking at me from the driver's window, her shoulders hunched. I sigh and roll down the window an inch. "Sumia. Get out of the way." She shakes her head. "Sumia," I repeat, my tone stern. She shakes her head again. The carvelanche is melting in her grip. A rivulet drips down to her fingers, but she pays no mind. She looks at me square in the eyes. I groan.

"I'm not letting you leave like this," she finally says.

"Yeah well, I don't want to see you right now."

She puts her free hand on her hip. Her nose is pink. "You're not running away this time."

I roll my eyes. There's a car parked behind me, so I can't back up. And there's a car parked in front, so I can't just go. "Dammit Sumia," I mutter.

"Talk to me, Delia."

"How? How?! You know how I felt about Chrom, how jealous I am of you! How dare you think that you can throw everything away for me, a pathetic excuse of a mother?!"

She furrows her eyebrows and shifts her weight. "You're not a pathetic excuse of a mother…"

"Yes I am! Severa's dad left and she pretty much hates me! But you, you...always had it all." My shoulders drop. I'm so tired.

Sumia opens the car door. In my anger, I forgot to lock it. She envelops me in her arms, my head resting on her chest. She smooths down my hair. I start crying quietly, the tears dampening her dress. "Let it out, Cordelia."