||Chapter 16||

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Tate

We drive to the sound of Drake In My Feelings as she smiles down at her lap "You have a habit of looking down" I say with my eyes trained on the road "Metaphorically or physically" She asks with her glowing smile "both" I reply as she looks up at the road ahead.

She begins bouncing her knee while biting on her nails. Was I making her nervous?. I try to watch the road, but I can't help, but feel bad I made her feel uncomfortable. My hand takes a mind of its own and places itself on her knee. She looks up at me and smiles "Sorry" she says as her knee stops shaking. It was weird in the diner we were so comfortable and talkative, but now she looked so nervous.

I begin driving to her house when all of a sudden she breaks out of her daydream. "Sorry I completely forgot" she says biting her lip "What is it?" I ask "My house is uh the other way" I raise a brow I was almost 100% sure her house was in the direction I was going "Are you sure?" I ask just in case she was confused "Yeah I live on 502 Melburoe" I raise a brow. That was literally around the corner from my parents place.

I do a sharp U turn and drive there. I look at her confused as she bounces her knee. We eventually pull up to large golden guarded gates. "I'll be back" she says opening the car door. She speaks in to the speaker. A shortly after the gates begin opening.

She gets back in and we drive down the long lit up driveway to reveal a huge mansion. It was at least 5 times larger than the houses we owned in this country. I park near some steps to be greeted by a blonde haired woman who was smiling so much I wasn't sure if it was welcoming or terrifying. She walks towards the car and waves. Cecelia facepalms herself "Sorry about her" she says visibly embarrassed. I smile at how shy she was. Just as she goes to unbuckle her seat belt her mom opens the back seat door "I'll take her inside you guys kept talking " she says unbuckling Liv.

Her mom closes the door behind her "I can take the seat in if you want" I offer with a smile "NO" Elena shouts "I mean No thanks I can do it" her tone softens. We sit there in silence for a little. It wasn't that awkward silence is was more like a breath of fresh air before fits of laughter. I smile to myself as she plays with her fingers "I'm sorry I lied to you about...everything" she says finally looking at me again "you had your reasons I bet and when you're ready to share those reasons with me I'll be here okay" she looks away not completely believing what I was saying "So we're cool?" She says with a smile "We're cool" I smile "Cool" she says opening her door. She goes to the back and gets out livs car seat.

I wind my window down as she makes her way around the car "Thanks for tonight"  she says stopping at the window "Anytime" I say with a smile "Well...get home safely" she says before practically sprinting away. I sit there a little longer making sure she got in alright before starting the car and leaving.

On the drive home I had the radio turned off and was left on the open road with just me and my thoughts. It was weird. Everything River and I ever fought over I always let him have it. If it was a bright red toy truck when we were five I'd let him have it, if it was the last one of moms brownies even though I loved them I'd let him have it, if it were the quarterback position I'd let him have it. But was Elena something I'd give up so willingly? The tingly feeling in my stomach told me I wouldn't.

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