"as a friend" those words rang through Sophia's head like a gong and somehow made her feel alone. She gulped and looked down. "Ok" was all she could say. "So my house..?" She kept her eyes anywhere but on Zephyr. Did he only see her as a friend? Why would he kiss her if they were just friends. Wait. Did that mean it was all fake? Sophia's head spun before she finally stopped and gave a quick glance up at Zephyr

Zephyr almost flinched back at her huge attitude change. He rather frantically ran through all the things in his mind he could've said wrong to make her act like that, and finally figured out one, his shoulders sagging. "No- Sophia I didn't mean it like that. I like you. You are important to me. I just didn't want you to feel... pressured, into anything..." his eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he tried to find the right words. "I give up. Words aren't my thing. Hopefully this will get the point across. Do you want to be my girlfriend? For real?" He asked quietly and a bit tentatively, his dark eyes flicking to hers.

Sophia looked up at Zephyr, her green eyes shimmer slightly. "It's not pressured if I feel the same" she smiled and grabbed his hand "I do. For real" she hugged him and didn't let go for about a minute before she pulled back and glanced at her phone. "It's 6 o'clock. How did that happen?" She looked up at Zephyr. "My house..?"

Zephyr seemed to relax slightly at her words. "Okay. I believe you." He said, truthfully, although it was HARD to believe. No one ever actually liked him, so it was surprising she would. He put his arms around her as well and enjoyed the warm embrace before backing off and nodding. "No idea, but yes. If that's what you want." He answered, already scheming up some way to not get tortured by his parents and just murdered. Hey, if Sophia needed someone he'd be there for her.

Sophia grabbed his hand and intertwined her fingers around his as she started back to the road. "And you're sure you're not going to be attacked by your parents? I really don't want you in trouble because I can't take a deep breath and close my eyes. " her voice was low and soft, although a hint of concern came through in her tone

A hint of a smile flitted onto his face at her gesture. He glanced at her before answering slowly. "Attacked? Um.. probably not." He half joked. Zephyr shook his head. "Nevermind. No. I'm not. It's not your fault and I won't get in trouble." He added firmly, his plan devised and ready for takeoff.

"Ok then" she said, sounding light and airy again. "Don't say I didn't ask you. Remember this" she grinned and walked beside him, her green eyes surveying the sky. A few large stars were starting to appear and the sun was drifting away, the moon taking its place. When they got to his truck she stopped and stared at the passenger side. "I swear this is going to be the death of me. Where is that strap stool you said you were going to get me?" She opened the door

"Okay okay. You're not to blame if I do get attacked." Zephyr grinned, hiking to the truck, his grin widening at her next words. "It was a joke but I'm starting to think you need it." He muffled a laugh, waiting till she was inside before hopping up himself and driving towards her house. He was still sure of where it was. It got implanted in his brain more and more as he went there.

Sophia leaned back in his truck seats. She was more comfortable in Zephyrs truck than she was in Ryan's car. Sophia released a content breath and watched the road until they reached her house. "Blake's light is on" she said as she fought a glimpse of the glow coming from his balcony doors. "I've got my keys" she quietly jumped out and grabbed her bags from the back seat, hauling them up the couple of steps into the house. She dropped them by the inside stairs and climbed up, dropping her keys on the desk in her room. "So where do you want to sleep. There's literally anywhere. And if you want, there's the like three beds open. You don't have to sleep on the couch. Trust me... this thing is super uncomfortable "

Zephyr drove to the house under the dark skies, parking and hopping out as well, grabbing a bag before locking the truck and following her inside. "I'll take the couch. I'm not here to intrude, just to keep you company." He smiled slightly. "I've slept on hardwood floors before. It's fine." Zeph chuckled a little, putting down the bag and rummaging through it for a second. He always kept an extra bag in his truck in case he got lost in the woods or something, and there was a spare change of clothes in there. Granted it had stuff like knives and flares and easy to start fire stuff, but none of that mattered right now.