Between Us

☆ part nine ☆

Liam pulled his car into the driveway of the Anderson household, and I sat staring out the window, watching the sunlight stretch across the flower beds Karen tended with such care. This house had always been a second home to me, but today, I couldn't shake the heavy knot in my chest. Everything about this place felt the same, yet different at the same time.

Lark hadn't even shown up at the lunch table today. She'd been ignoring me for weeks now, but this felt... worse. The avoidance had turned into something sharper, something I couldn't quite name. And the thought of facing her tonight at dinner made me feel like I was walking into a storm without an umbrella.What would I even say to her? Hey, why are you pretending I don't exist? Did I do something? I sighed and fiddled with the strap of my bag. No, I couldn't say that. What if she brushed me off? Or worse—what if she just left the room? I'd only feel more pathetic than I already did.

"Hey, Soph," Liam's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. He reached over and gave my hand a gentle squeeze, his brown eyes warm and full of concern. "You okay? You've been quiet since we left school."

I forced a smile, even though I could feel my chest tighten. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

"About?" he asked, tilting his head as he studied me.

"School stuff," I lied, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Essays, tests... you know, the usual."

He didn't look convinced, but thankfully, he let it go. Instead, he leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to my temple. "Don't stress too much, okay? Mom made roast chicken tonight. That's bound to cheer you up."

I let out a soft laugh, grateful for the distraction. "You really think food solves everything, don't you?"

"Because it does," he said, grinning as he climbed out of the car.

I followed him to the front door, my feet dragging slightly as I tried to steel myself for what was waiting inside. By the time we stepped into the house, Karen was already there to greet us. "There you two are!" she said warmly, pulling me into a hug. The scent of cinnamon and something savory wafted from the kitchen. "How was school?"

"Same as always," Liam said casually, dropping his bag by the stairs.

Karen turned to me, her expression softening as she looked me over. "And you, Sophie? You doing okay, sweetheart? You look a little stressed."

"Oh, I'm fine," I said quickly, plastering on what I hoped was a convincing smile. "Just a lot of school stuff piling up."

Karen didn't look convinced, her brow furrowing slightly. "Are you sure? You seem a little off today."

I hesitated, my heart thudding in my chest. "Really, I'm fine," I said again, trying to sound more confident. "It's nothing serious."

She studied me for a moment longer before sighing softly. "Okay, sweetheart. But you know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"I know," I said, nodding.

She reached out and gave my arm a gentle squeeze before turning to Liam. "Go set the table, please. Dinner's almost ready."

"Yes, ma'am," Liam said with a mock salute, giving me a wink before disappearing into the dining room.

Karen turned back to me with a smile. "Why don't you go ahead and sit down, Sophie? I'll call Lark down for dinner."

I blinked in surprise, my heart skipping a beat. "Oh, um, are you sure? I can go—"

"Nonsense," Karen said, waving me off. "You've had a long day. Go relax."

I hesitated for a moment, but the look in her eyes made it clear she wasn't going to budge. "Okay," I said softly, heading toward the dining room.

As I sat down, I could hear Karen's voice echoing up the stairs. "Lark! Dinner's ready!"