Chapter 39: Would He be Happy?
After their class ended, both friends made their way through the campus grounds, strolling leisurely towards their respective houses. As they approached the gate, Charlotte’s chauffeur stood waiting, a black sedan parked beside him.
Charlotte turned to Thea with a warm smile. "Why don’t you hop in? I’ll give you a ride home."
Thea smiled sweetly and refused, "No thanks, Charlotte. I enjoy walking. It’s not far from here."
Charlotte nodded understandingly and bid her farewell as she climbed into the sedan. The chauffeur drove off, leaving Thea to continue her walk to the bus stop.
She strolled along the pavement, her footsteps steady and unhurried, when a sleek, silver Porsche suddenly stopped in front of her, its tires screeching softly on the asphalt. The car was a silver bullet, its curves and lines gleaming in the sunlight. The window rolled down, revealing Savannah’s radiant face, her hair tied up in a ponytail, and a bright smile spreading across her face.
"So Thea it’s you..." Savannah said.
She was sitting in the driver’s seat, looking stylish in a black Chanel shift dress and oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses, their smoky lenses hiding her eyes as she turned to Thea.
"Want a ride home? I can drop you off."
Thea declined with a brief shake of her head. "No thanks."
"What brings you here?"
"I was passing by and saw you walking alone. I thought, why not give Ryder’s friend a lift? You’re too my friend!"
Thea’s face softened, and she smiled warmly at Savannah. "Thanks for your kindness, Savannah, but I’m almost home. I enjoy walking to the bus stop."
Savannah’s expression turned somber, her eyes locked on Thea’s. "Thea, I need to talk to you about something.." she said, her voice measured.
"Let me give you a ride to the bus stop." Thea’s hesitation was brief before she nodded. "Okay, fine. Thanks, Savannah."
Thea hopped into the car, the door closing with a soft thud, and the window rolling up, enveloping them in a comfortable silence. The music playing in the car was a soft, melodic tune that filled the air, its gentle rhythm a soothing accompaniment to their quiet ride. Savannah’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, her hands moving deftly over the steering wheel as she navigated the streets with ease.
"I heard you knew Ryder from his childhood?"
Thea nodded, her eyes fixed on the window. "Yeah, we grew up together."
"My birthday is coming up next week!" Savannah said with a smile. "Why don’t you come and join us? Ryder would feel great seeing you at the party."
Thea’s eyes narrowed slightly as she hesitated. "I don’t think that’s a good idea, Savannah.." she said gently. "Besides, we only know a little bit about each other."
"So what? We’ll get to know each other better as the days pass. It’ll be fun, I promise! We would love to see you there."
Thea’s gaze wandered, her thoughts turning inward as she weighed her options. A part of her hesitated, not wanting to impose on Savannah’s birthday celebration. Yet, another part of her was curious - curious about how Ryder would react if she showed up.Would he be happy to see her?
"Savannah, could you drop me off here?" Thea asked, breaking the silence. Savannah nodded, slowing the car to a stop. "Okay, sure thing. But think about the party, okay? It would mean a lot to me if you came."
"I’ll think about it, Savannah. Thanks for the offer."
Thea stepped out of the car, and the warm sun hit her skin, casting a gentle glow over her. She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions swirl inside her. As she watched Savannah’s car drive away, she couldn’t help but let her thoughts drift back to their conversation, her mind lingering on the invitation to the birthday party and the prospect of seeing Ryder again.
Thea boarded the bus and settled into a seat by the window, her gaze drifting outward as her mind began to wander. A single question echoed through her thoughts: "Will Ryder be happy to see me at the birthday party?" Her heart skipped a beat at the possibility.
The bus rumbled on, the scenery outside a blur as Thea’s thoughts swirled with memories of Ryder and their childhood adventures. A soft, wistful smile spread across her face as she recalled the way Ryder’s bright smile could light up a room, and the infectious laughter that had always left her giggling uncontrollably.
The bus came to a stop at her destination, and Thea gathered her belongings, stepping out . She walked the familiar path to her house, her feet moving on autopilot as her mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of Savannah’s invitation and the tantalizing prospect of seeing Ryder again. The possibility of reuniting with him had ignited a spark of excitement within her, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to give him a surprise.
She finally trudged through the front door, exhausted from a long day, she called out to her grandma, "Grandma! I’m home!" But the silence was deafening. "She might be in her room.."
Thea crept towards her grandma’s room. She gently turned the doorknob and peeked inside, her eyes scanning the room for a glimpse of her beloved grandma. And then, she saw her, fast asleep, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath.
"Grandma is sleeping..." she whispered to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. She quietly closed the door, not wanting to disturb her grandma’s peaceful slumber.
With a sigh of exhaustion, Thea made her way to her own room, her backpack sagging off her shoulders. She dropped it onto the desk with a thud. She collapsed into the chair, her body surrendering to the fatigue
Her gaze landed on a notepad nearby, She seized a pen and began scribbling on it.
"What more do I need?" she murmured, her eyes darting across the growing list. "Brushes, check. Colors, check. Canvas...ah, I need a new one!"
