New treads

Rina and I sat quietly, trying our best to avoid making things more awkward than they were already.

Nia: No…no, mom I told you, I needed to shower before we left.

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Nia: It wasn’t that long, you only called like, half an hour ago.

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Nia: Mom, you know why. I wasn’t at Em’s just to-

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Nia: You asked.

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Nia: I just didn’t wanna get home all gross ‘s all.

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Nia: Yes, for real.

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Nia: Oh sorry, did you want me to? I’m sure Eve’d totally appreciate-.

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Nia: No, that’s not it. I’m happy to-

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Nia: No, she’s too young to do that.

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Nia: She has school, mom. Just because I did doesn’t mean-

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Nia: Mom. It’s fine. I mean it.

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Nia: ...

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Nia: Ugh, look…sorry, I’m not trying to-

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Nia: No, I know. Obvs neither of us wants to at fuckin’ twelve.

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Nia: It’s okay, I’m sorry too. Sounds like things’re complicated over there.

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Nia: If you need to then I’ll handle it. Just leave me the van, kay?

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Nia: I love you too. N’ yeah, it won’t be too long.

???: …?

Nia: A friend that lives close to Em. I told you earlier, remember?

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Nia: …Yes, is that a problem?

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Nia: Then don’t bring it up if you don’t wanna.

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Nia: …Yes, I promise.

???: …?

Nia: Mhm, love you. I'll text you when I get there. Drive safe.

Nia collapsed into my lap as she hung up, sighing as much in relief as in frustration.

Emery: Are you alright, hun?

Nia: You know how mom is. She’s just…especially with dad all stressed, they’re probably…tch, nevermind. I don’t wanna rant the whole rest of the ride, and you guys don’t need to hear it.

Nia turned to our impromptu chauffeur.

Nia: Sorry about that, Rina. I didn’t mean to ruin the mood by getting snippy with mom. She’s just kinda hover-y with shit like this, and if I didn’t answer then she’d totally flip.

Rina leaned back as she drove, the crisp covering of her seat sounding off as she adjusted.

Rina: Nah, don’t sweat it dude. Life happens. I’m just glad I could help out.

Nia groaned, laying her head in my lap once more.

Nia: Girl, you don’t know the half of it.

Emery: It’s true. We really do appreciate this, Rina. The situation would have been a real mess without you.

She smiled, hastily waving away the compliment as if she were trying to hide it.

Rina: Really, it’s nothing. It was a good excuse to use the car. I haven’t touched the damn thing since I got it.

I craned my head to the side slightly, aiming to glimpse the front without disturbing Nia.

It really was a shockingly nice vehicle. A four-door import from a company I’d never heard of; seemingly brand new, with full leather interior, an intricate dashboard console, and even the prototypical convertible roof. If it weren’t for the sedan-like elements to its build you could easily assume it was a sports car. It wasn’t as if I knew that much about cars though, so I wasn’t exactly the most reliable source. They were simply a display I’d grown somewhat accustomed to, given the character of our school and its student body.

Nia: I can tell. This thing smells like it’s straight outta the damn factory!

Rina: Yeaahhh, I, uh…don’t really have a reason to use it, so I just keep it in the building’s parking basement.

Her answer stuck out to me. I’d been wondering about this since she offered us a ride, but having her barely acknowledge it only drove the point home.

Rina never struck me as the type to be interested in opulent goods. She’d certainly never mentioned it, and nothing about her home gave the impression either. Not to mention that she, at least from what I could puzzle out, did indeed have ample reason to use a car. The situation with her walking home today, for example, wouldn't have occurred at all. She wouldn’t have been late to class on the first day either, I imagine. Campus parking was a pain, sure, but it seemed to be more than worth the minor inconvenience.

…So why…?

Part of me was hungry to dig into that exact question, but…something in her mannerism told me she didn’t want to get into it; that this was one of those topics for her. It seemed perfectly reasonable to ask, especially given the strangeness of it all, and yet…if I tried, I felt I wasn't liable to get the whole story.

Before I could debate the notion further, any chance to inquire was cut off by the flow of the conversation; my habit to zone out once again biting me in the butt as Rina switched topics amidst the lull.

Rina: Anyways, you live kinda out of the way, Nia. I guess I see the appeal of living in a more private area, but…I dunno, heh, I think it’s kinda weird to pay more so you can live in a less convenient place. Not to mention the commute. Seems like a pain.

Nia: Eh, it ain’t that bad. The woods’re nice to walk in, and you don't have to worry about bothering neighbors unless you’re really hollering, hehe. Commute’s no biggie either. There's a bike path that meets up with the bus halfway, so it’s easy peasy if ya keep track of time. Plus sometimes I catch a ride since my parents have an office on the south side.

Rina: You’re built different from me, dude. I’m just so used to being in the heart of everything. Hell, even just the walk from my new place to campus throws me off, hahaha.

Nia: I think it’s just what’cha get used to. I mean, if I remember right you said you grew up in the city, right? What was it, the name of that big one everybody knows in South Korea? Sheol?

Neither Rina nor I could stifle a chuckle at that.

Emery: It's Seoul, honey.

Rina: No no, she had it right the first time, heheh.

Nia: Ah whatever, I had it, like, ninety percent! My point’s that you get used to what you grow up with, so I don’t blame ya.

Rina: I guess…

There was a brief pause, before Rina followed up with something unexpected.

Rina: …Is getting used to it always a good thing, though? We can’t choose what we grow up with.

The implication was clear. Our mood sobered gently, Nia sighing against my thighs as Rina’s question-cum-statement hung aloft. I rubbed her head, seeking to ease some of the gloom no doubt accumulating within. I know I didn’t want to think about all that right now. I’m sure she didn’t either.

Nia: I love my family. I’ll do…just about anything for em, but…there is a reason Em and I are living together sooner than later.

Nobody said anything for a short while, the air settling somewhere between fatigued and weighty. Before it could get too overbearing, however, Rina interjected once more.

Rina: Hey, tell me more about that. Where are you and Em thinking of moving?

Nia: We’re not sure yet. We don’t wanna settle for Em’s current place. It’s cute, and we’ve had a lot of fun there, but it’s a little small for both of us long term. I’ve got waaay too much crap.

Rina: How’re you thinking of decorating it? I feel like Em’d be the kinda guy who’d just give you the okay on whatever you wanted.

Nia: Oh my god, girl, you are fucking…! Hahaha, Em and I’ve literally had this convo like three times already! He doesn’t see it, but it’s so damn true!

Closing my eyes, I leaned back as I resigned to hearing this for the fourth time in two months.