Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

I bounce down the steps behind Emma, us both still giggling at a story she had just told me about Reid falling over when they had gone ice skating on Monday night...

We stop at the bottom step, before seeing Vincent walk out of the living area from down the hallway with Daryl and Reid following out from behind his back. "Where are you two going?!" Vincent deadpans, as I eye him weirdly, wondering why he had an attitude all of a sudden.

Wasn't it obvious?

"School? Where else?" I state the words as though he should have known that already, as Emma sniggers slightly from beside me.

I mean, we were both stood in front of him at twenty past eight with backpacks on? It was a no brainer?

Vincent looked troubled, and I had hoped that he would have calmed down after a good nights sleep but it didn't seem to be that easy...

We were back home now in our comfort zone, surrounded by our friends and far away from the city that posed so many threats... so why was he still on edge?

Had he perhaps found out more about the people who posted the envelope through the door? There must be something that he isn't telling me, but my mind could only work overtime to think up the endless possibilities of what it could be. "I'll drive them there." Daryl offers, as Vincent seems to think on it for a split second, as though Daryl needed to get his permission first to take us to school.

What is seriously going on with them?!

"Are you three not coming in to school today?" Emma squints, as they all just seem to stand around like fish out of water - creating a bubble of awkwardness around this whole conversation - with none of them knowing what to do or say.

"You two go, and I'll just stay here to catch up on some work stuff today." Vincent's eyes are telling, as Daryl and Reid seem to know exactly what he meant by that as they both nod nonchalantly and sigh.

Daryl and Reid make a move to fetch their bags and keys, as Vincent stands before us in a heavy filled silence.

"What is wrong?" I question him, as he instantly shakes his head and shrugs me off.

"Nothing that you have to worry about right now..." He pushes out a tight smile, but I can tell by the way his eyes had darkened that something deeper was going on.

Maybe he will tell me soon? Or at least I hope he will to save this awkwardness from carrying on in to the future.

Huffing slightly, I nod once and head for the door with Emma at my back without another word said.

"That was so weird!" Emma whispers, as I agree with her, feeling suddenly relieved that I wasn't the only one who thought so.

As we step outside, the crisp morning air hits my face, but it does nothing to shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled in after that strange encounter. Emma and I exchange a glance, and I can tell she's just as confused as I am. "I swear they're hiding something," she murmurs, pulling her jacket tighter around herself after the next gust of wind.

I nod, my thoughts swirling. Vincent had been distant since we got back, and his mood seemed to darken with each passing minute which made him almost hard to bear when he was like this. Whatever he was hiding, it wasn't just some minor issue this all felt much bigger.

I just didn't know what was going on, at least not yet...

Daryl and Reid eventually join us, their attitudes a little more relaxed compared to Vincent's, but the tension was very much still there, lurking beneath the surface.

"Ready?" Daryl asks, unlocking the car as Reid climbs in to the front beside him and we follow in to the back.

His usual carefree tone was missing, replaced by something more serious. Sure, things had been weird between us recently, but I had hoped that Daryl would get over it quick with us being home now... especially since he had picked us up from the airport last night.

As though reading my thoughts, my phone screen comes to life, gaining my attention as I look down to see that it was a text from Emma who was currently seated right beside me.

Eyeing her curiously, I swipe to open it to read:

'What a weird ass morning! Even Reid is acting off with me... did we do something wrong?!'

My eyes scan the message, before I look to her and shrug meekly before I hammer my thumbs against the keyboard.

'I really don't know what's going on? I sort of understand why Vincent is being weird after everything that happened but I don't get it with these two! Maybe we just need some time apart at school for everyone to think straight?' I send her my response before watching her read it carefully as soon as it comes through.

With a final nod from Emma, the drive is filled with nothing but the sound of Daryl and Reid's forced small talk about going to look for a new car soon... blah blah blah!

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, and Daryl catches my eye in the rearview mirror. His expression softens, as though he knows exactly what I'm thinking but he still doesn't want to discuss it and chooses to look back at the road. "Alright, what the hell is going on?" I finally blurt out, unable to take the tension anymore. "You guys are acting so weird, and Vincent's... I don't even know what he is today. Something's off with everyone and we can't take it." I find myself freaking out, gaining all of their attention as Daryl's lips part in shock from my outburst.

Daryl exhales sharply, glancing over at Reid as if he's waiting for him to take the lead but Reid just shrugs, clearly not planning on stepping in any time soon.

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"Sofia," Daryl starts carefully, "there's just a lot going on with Vincent right now. It's... complicated. None of us can discuss it yet, but I'm sure he will tell you later when the time is right." Daryl attempts, his tone icy and his words not giving anything away.

"Complicated how? I already know the half of it, about those guys coming to our apartment and putting the envelope through the door so why doesn't he just tell me the rest? How bad can it be?!" I press on further, my frustration bubbling to the surface for the first time in a long time. "I can tell something's wrong, and it's not just 'work stuff' that he's staying home to fix!" I conclude, folding my arms over like a stubborn child as the car falls silent with the school approaching in the distance.

Daryl hesitates, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. "I hate to admit it, but Vincent's just trying to do what's best for you. That's all I can say right now so just quit fucking asking ok?" Daryl snaps, taking me aback with his bluntness again.

Who had he become? From the nice, approachable guy I had first met, the one who offered me comfort away from Vincent in the beginning, was now the one being distant and cold towards me.

I throw my head back with a final huff, knowing that I won't get any more answers from him, at least not today. Emma shoots me a concerned look from the side seat, but she stays quiet, sensing the tension as Daryl eventually parks up the car in his usual spot.

Emma and I step out of the car immediately, not bothering to glance back at Daryl and Reid after their weird mood with us today.

We don't wait for them to get out either, walking off in to the building with five minutes to spare before the first bell.

"Reid is annoying the crap out of me! He was a totally different guy when it was just us two alone... why now after being around Vincent and Daryl for a few hours is he acting so awkward with me?! Maybe you should text Vincent, tell him you want to know what's happening and I'll text Reid?" Emma rambles the second we get out of earshot from them both.

Maybe I should do just that. Text him and say exactly how this whole weird ass vibe between them was making me feel!

Stopping by a staircase to sit down briefly with Emma choosing to stand beside me, I pull up my text chat with Vincent, my thumbs hovering for a moment to think of what to say.

'Vincent, what is going on? Please tell me? Everyone is being so weird around us today... is everything alright? It's making us feel pretty on edge not knowing anything!'Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.

I show Emma the message, as she nods her agreement with my words before I hit send just as the first bell rings out around the school.

All we can do now is wait...