Amber didn't even know if she should get into the car, since Eric wouldn't even reply to her statements. Was she supposed to mind-read? Or maybe there was some weather-forecast channel that'd announce his likely feelings and actions: 'you're in for a day of moodiness, but there'll be bursts of cheerful spirits.'
But he hadn't said explicitly that he wanted to be alone. If he did, that was his problem. Almost as if to spite him, Amber opened the door to his unlocked car and got in. That's what he got for not make himself clearer; let him learn his damn lesson that silence did not cut it in letting her know what the hell he wanted.
The car felt alive, whirring and heating up. More alive than Eric who was still stony and mute. Amber buckled herself in and stared at Eric coolly. Last chance to get her out. Yeah, he was terrible company, awkward and pointed. At least when she was alone she didn't feel the strain of no conversation, the anger of facing a partner who'd coiled into himself. The game would be no fun at all if he kept this up, who was he kidding? Not her. But she'd probably win; it'd be easy to snatch the ball if he couldn’t look at her. She'd score all the points she liked, making up for her multiple-failure morning.
Eric's last sentence, said stubborn like a kid complaining, was almost a question-- the same one she'd been asking herself ever since she started to get ready for the gym. Amber let out a breath. The car heated up fast, so she pulled her arms out of her coat sleeves. She didn't know the 'why'; she just wanted to be here. Didn't really occur to her not to go. With Eric leading, Amber trailed after. Fucking great; now she was the kid.
But if Eric was going to be honest with her-- and so petulant and whiny a statement could only be honest-- it was fair she be the same to him. "I'll stick around for as long as you want me to." Because nothing from him so far-- not even the disappointment of how much he’d failed his family-- was enough to make Amber turn away, at this point. She liked him too damn much. Amber waved at the street stretching out in front of them-- if he'd even notice, his eyes focused ahead. "C'mon, let's go."
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But he hadn't said explicitly that he wanted to be alone. If he did, that was his problem. Almost as if to spite him, Amber opened the door to his unlocked car and got in. That's what he got for not make himself clearer; let him learn his damn lesson that silence did not cut it in letting her know what the hell he wanted.
The car felt alive, whirring and heating up. More alive than Eric who was still stony and mute. Amber buckled herself in and stared at Eric coolly. Last chance to get her out. Yeah, he was terrible company, awkward and pointed. At least when she was alone she didn't feel the strain of no conversation, the anger of facing a partner who'd coiled into himself. The game would be no fun at all if he kept this up, who was he kidding? Not her. But she'd probably win; it'd be easy to snatch the ball if he couldn’t look at her. She'd score all the points she liked, making up for her multiple-failure morning.
Eric's last sentence, said stubborn like a kid complaining, was almost a question-- the same one she'd been asking herself ever since she started to get ready for the gym. Amber let out a breath. The car heated up fast, so she pulled her arms out of her coat sleeves. She didn't know the 'why'; she just wanted to be here. Didn't really occur to her not to go. With Eric leading, Amber trailed after. Fucking great; now she was the kid.
But if Eric was going to be honest with her-- and so petulant and whiny a statement could only be honest-- it was fair she be the same to him. "I'll stick around for as long as you want me to." Because nothing from him so far-- not even the disappointment of how much he’d failed his family-- was enough to make Amber turn away, at this point. She liked him too damn much. Amber waved at the street stretching out in front of them-- if he'd even notice, his eyes focused ahead. "C'mon, let's go."