As soon as I was close enough, he reached out, pinching both my cheeks lightly. "Princess, who's got you looking so pouty?"
I swatted his hands away half-heartedly, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Elias, how do you apologize to a friend? I feel like a soggy bread."
He smirked, tilting his head as if to study me. "Well, a cute, sloppy piece of soggy bread," he quipped. Then, he motioned to the car. "Come on, get in and tell me what happened."
I nodded, sliding into the passenger seat while he walked around to the driver's side. As I pulled on my seatbelt, the words were already spilling out. "It's about Aiden. You met him the other day."
Elias hummed in acknowledgment, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he pulled out onto the road. "Mmm."
"I mentioned before that he hadn't shown up to class, right? Well, he finally came today," I continued, glancing out the window. "But he seemed… off. I asked him if he was okay, and he just said he was fine, but I could tell he wasn't. He wouldn't talk about it, though."
Elias's eyes flicked toward me briefly before returning to the road. "Well, people have issues they find hard to talk about." His voice softened, a pointed edge of understanding lacing his tone. "Just like you."
I let out a heavy sigh, leaning back against the seat. "I know. But… he's supposed to be the happy one. I mean, I'm already damaged goods, so it makes sense for me to—"
"Stop." His voice cut through my self-deprecation, firm but not unkind. "Princess, you are most definitely not damaged goods. Don't ever say that about yourself."
I turned to look at him, caught off guard by the sharpness in his tone, but his expression softened as he glanced at me. "You're the most beautiful star I've ever seen, Raven."
Heat rose to my cheeks, and I looked away quickly, focusing on the passing trees outside the window. "You can't just go around saying things like that, Elias."
He chuckled, the sound warm and easy. "Why not? Everyone I deem fit in my eyes deserves compliments. But you…" He paused, letting his words linger as if for emphasis. "You are undeserving of me, my lady. Even among the most beautiful stars, none shines as brightly as you."
My face felt impossibly warm now, and I fumbled with my words. "Y-you can't just… You're too much, Elias."
He grinned, the mischievous glint in his light blue eyes making it clear he was enjoying my reaction. "Hmm. The soggy bread doesn't like compliments. Too bad. Because I'm going to keep giving them."
I groaned, hiding my face behind my hands. "Oh boy. There's no stopping you, is there?"
"Hmmm," he said, drawing out the sound as if deep in thought. "There might be. Who knows?"
I peeked at him through my fingers, narrowing my eyes. "What do you mean by that?"
He didn't answer, a small, secretive smile playing on his lips as he kept his gaze on the road.
I frowned, my mind turning over his cryptic words. What could possibly stop Elias from being, well… Elias? The thought lingered as I settled into my seat, unsure if I even wanted to know the answer.
The ride to Dr. Hayes's office was filled with Elias's usual teasing, but even with the lighthearted atmosphere he created, a part of me remained tethered to the earlier conversation. Still, I was grateful for the distraction.
As we neared the office, Elias glanced at me from the corner of his eye. "So, soggy bread," he began, an exaggerated seriousness in his tone.
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Elias, stop calling me that."
"What?" He feigned innocence, though the grin tugging at his lips betrayed him. "It's endearing. Soggy bread is... heartfelt. Soft. Full of emotion."
"It's ridiculous," I muttered, shaking my head. "Especially the way you wrecked it; you made it embarrassing."
"Hmmm." He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, pretending to think. "Nope. It suits you too well."
I shot him a mock glare. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you keep hanging out with me. What does that say about you?" He smirked, pulling into a parking space.
"That I have no choice," I deadpanned, unbuckling my seatbelt.
He placed a hand over his chest, feigning hurt. "You wound me, princess. Truly."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto my lips. "Thanks for the ride."
"Always, my lady," he said with a dramatic bow of his head before his expression softened slightly. "You good?"
I paused, my hand on the door handle. "Yeah," I said quietly, though the nerves stirring in my stomach said otherwise. "I'll be fine."
Elias studied me for a moment, his teasing demeanor slipping just enough to show the genuine concern beneath it. "You got this," he said, his voice steady. "And I'll be right here when you're done."
"Okay." I nodded, grateful for his presence even if I didn't say it out loud.
Stepping out of the car, I made my way to Dr. Hayes's office. The familiar building loomed ahead, its brick facade bathed in the soft glow of the late afternoon sun. The air was crisp, the kind of chill that nipped at your skin but wasn't cold enough to be unbearable. I took a deep breath before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
Dr. Hayes greeted me with her usual warm smile as I entered her office. "Raven, it's good to see you again."
"Hi," I said, my voice quieter than I intended.
"Come in, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her.
As I settled in, the faint scent of lavender wafted through the room, calming and familiar. The walls were adorned with soft pastel paintings, their abstract forms oddly soothing.
"How have you been since our last session?" Dr. Hayes asked, her tone gentle but probing.
I hesitated, unsure of where to begin. "It's been... okay, I guess."
She nodded, her eyes encouraging me to elaborate.
"There's been a lot on my mind," I admitted, twisting my hands in my lap. "I've been thinking about everything we talked about last time. About... facing things."
"That's a big step," she said. "Acknowledging what's on your mind is the first part of the process."
I nodded but didn't say anything. The weight of her words settled over me, and for a moment, I felt like I was back in that suffocating space of my thoughts.
"Take your time," Dr. Hayes said, her voice steady and patient. "There's no rush."
The session continued with Dr. Hayes guiding me through my thoughts and emotions. She didn't push too hard, allowing me to share as much or as little as I was comfortable with. By the time the hour was up, I felt a strange mixture of exhaustion and relief. It wasn't easy, but it felt like I was beginning to loosen the knots that had been tied so tightly within me.
As I stepped back outside, the cool air hit my face, grounding me. Elias was leaning against the side of his car, his phone in hand. When he saw me, he tucked it into his pocket and straightened up.
"How'd it go?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes searching mine.
"It was..." I paused, searching for the right word. "Productive, I guess."
He smiled. "That's good. Proud of you, princess."
I rolled my eyes but felt a flicker of warmth at his words. "Thanks."
He opened the car door for me with a dramatic flourish. "Your chariot awaits."
I couldn't help but laugh as I slid into the passenger seat. As we drove off, the city lights began to glow against the deepening twilight.