Shadows In Durango

Chapter 93

*:kkxG0fig's POV*Fkkx

I lay on top of the bed beside Emma, us both staring up at the ceiling in a comforting silence. | had now calmed

down from my earlier panic, but | still felt incredibly anxious and unsettled.

"My father could be on his way here forright now for all | know..." | 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 | 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 | thought | had buried

long ago. But | couldn't tell Vincent, not yet. | didn't even know how he would react, and right now, | couldn't

handle making things worse for anyone when he clearly already had a lot on his plate...

A soft knock at the door pullsfrom my thoughts, and both Emma and | push ourselves to sit up, glancing

towards it before the handle dips and the door opens.

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

causingto gulp.

How on earth will | be able to talk with him without telling him all about what happened totoday? But | knew

it was selfish to pile this on...

Emma shootsa knowing look, offeringa 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, leavingalone 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 | 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 toldyou were upset

earlier in the car but wouldn't tell them why?" He pushes, getting straight to the point as | feel my muscles tense

under his scrutinising gaze.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my face neutral as | nod. "Yeah, I'm fine now. Just... a tough day in school, that's

all." | 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 | sent you that text?" He tests, as my

eyes widen at the last part.

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

| feel the words on the tip of my tongue, the urge to confess everything to just tell him all about Ashton and the

dread that cwith seeing him again. But then | remember the way Vincent's temper flares when he feels like

someone's threatening me.

This news would be more than just a threat to him at this point, especially after what we have already faced this

past week.

So instead, | shrug meekly and add... "It's nothing, really. Just s | didn't want to get involved in."

Vincent watchesfor a moment, his jaw clenching slightly as if he's debating whether to push the issue

further or not. But after stime, he all but huffs and rubs a hand over his face, clearly deciding to let it go for

now. "Alright," he says, though | can tell he's not satisfied with my answer. "But if it's something serious that |

need to know, you'll tell me, right?" He looksdead in the eyes next, sending a flood of guilt through me.

I nod quickly, hoping that he won't dig any deeper. "Of course." | lie, knowing that this was definitely serious, at

least toit was.

He stares atfor a second longer, then shakes his head as if to clear it. "Anyway, that's not the only reason |

cup here. | need to talk to you about something important." He shifts slightly so that his body is turned

more towardsas | perk up a little in anticipation of what it could be.

My stomach flips at the sudden seriousness in his tone. "Ok... well what is it?"

Vincent takes a steady breath before speaking, his eyes locking onto mine. "My parents are coming to visit

tomorrow night. Both of them, and so you'll be meeting them."

| freeze, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest.

Meeting his parents?

The sparents he had toldabout on our date?

The sparents he didn't have many kind words to say about?

I 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 any sort.

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But | suppose it was technically their hthat I had been living in...

The anxiety | had managed to push aside earlier comes rushing back all at once.

"What? Tomorrow?" | stammer, unable to hide my nerves. "I didn't know they were coming, will they be ok with