Ch. 21
Ride Home
The car hummed softly as it cruised through the evening streets, the city lights painting streaks of gold and blue across the window.
Selene sat with her arms crossed, trying her best to look unimpressed but her reflection in the glass betrayed her.
She looked... tired but also oddly alive.
Jaxen glanced at her from the driver's seat, one hand casually resting on the wheel, the other tapping lightly to the mellow beat on the radio.
The silence between them wasn't awkward— it was strangely comfortable.
"You know," he started, voice calm but teasing, "for someone who didn't want to get in my car, you look pretty relaxed right now."
Selene rolled her eyes.
"That's because I'm pretending you're not here."
Jaxen chuckled, the sound deep and genuine.
"Impressive imagination, Miss Valen."
"Call me Selene," she said automatically and then blinked, realizing what she'd just done.
"Selene, then." He smiled, a bit softer now.
She looked away quickly, pretending to be fascinated by the passing streetlights.
Her thoughts wandered.
She had forgotten, for a moment, that she was supposed to act calm and distant. She really felt like she's a nineteen-year-old girl who just got lost at an amusement park, ate too much ice cream, and got mistaken for someone's angry girlfriend by the police.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
I forgot, Selene is a teenager...my feelings are valid.
Then, casually, she asked Jaxen.
"So... how do you even know where my house is? Been following me lately?"
Jaxen raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Should I be worried that you sound more suspicious than grateful?"
Selene grinned slightly.
"I'm just asking. Most strangers don't magically appear every time they get lost."
He laughed quietly, eyes still on the road.
"You give me too much credit. Your grandfather texted my grandfather earlier they said I might bump into you on my way back."
"Hmph." She leaned back, unconvinced.
"Convenient timing."
Inwardly, Jaxen couldn't help but glance at her again the way her expression shifted between cautious and curious.
To break the quiet again, he asked lightly,
"So... how many prizes did you win today?"
Selene blinked, genuinely surprised.
"How did you know I played at the amusement park?"
"You have the entry bracelet still on your wrist. And your hair's messy, your shoes are dusty, and you've got that 'I totally cheated in a ring toss game' kind of smile." Jaxen smirked, his tone matter-of-fact.
"You're judging me?" Selene gasped, then laughed, covering her mouth.
"Not judging," he said smoothly, "just observing. You don't look like someone who loses easily."
"Are you saying I look competitive?"
"I'm saying you look like you'd outsmart a child to win a teddy bear."
Selene tried to glare, but the corner of her lips twitched.
"You're impossible."
"And you're terrible at hiding amusement," Jaxen countered with a grin.
The tension that once lingered between them began to fade, replaced by an easy, teasing rhythm. Still, deep down, Selene kept a quiet note in her mind:
He might be easy to talk to, but she wasn't about to forget how unpredictable this world could be.
Jaxen noticed her brief silence but didn't press further. Instead, he just smiled faintly to himself.
Not bad, he thought. She's a lot more interesting than I expected.
When the car finally rolled to a stop in front of the Valen residence, Selene exhaled in relief.
Finally, home.
The Valen mansion glowed softly under the porch lights, and before she could even unbuckle her seatbelt, the front door burst open.
"Selene!"
Her mother's voice rang out — half relief, half panic. Behind her, her grandmother clutched her pearl necklace like she'd seen a ghost.
"Where on earth have you been?!" her mom cried, rushing toward the car.
"We tried calling! You didn't answer, young lady!"
"Uh... I might've left my phone at my room?" Selene gave a nervous laugh, scratching her cheek.
Her grandmother gasped.
"You left your phone? In this generation?!"
Before she could reply, her mother's eyes darted to the sleek black car and to the man stepping out of it. Jaxen still in his calm and effortlessly composed even under the glare of the two worried Valen women.
"Good evening, Mrs. Valen," he said with a courteous smile.
"I happened to pass by and saw Selene walking alone. Thought I'd make sure she got home safely."
"Oh— I see. Thank you so much, Jaxen. I really appreciate it." Her mother blinked, stunned for a moment before softening.
Selene quickly chimed in, trying to downplay the chaos.
"It's not a big deal, Mom. I was fine—"
"You were lost!" her grandmother interjected, crossing her arms.
"I was... exploring," Selene corrected, forcing a grin.
"Safely. Kind of."
Jaxen hid his smile behind a polite cough.
"She's perfectly fine. Just tired, I think."
"Still, thank you again. I'll make sure she doesn't wander off next time." Her mother sighed, visibly relaxing now.
Jaxen only nodded, his tone gentle.
"No need. She seems capable enough of handling herself."
Then his eyes flicked toward Selene, amused.
"Mostly."
Selene glared faintly but didn't argue.
"I'm fine, mom. Really. Anyway, thanks for the ride, Jaxen."
He gave a small nod. "Anytime."
As he turned to leave, the car's headlights flared against the driveway, outlining his tall figure before the car disappeared down the street.
The three women went inside the house, the air still buzzing from all the panic. As Selene slipped off her shoes, she spotted her grandfather in the living room, calmly reading a newspaper as if nothing had happened.
"Glad you're home safe," he said without looking up.
Selene blinked, surprised by his calmness.
"Uh, yeah... and grandpa, thanks for asking Jaxen to pick me up, if he happens to see me."
That made the old man lower his paper.
"Ask? Who? That Montclair boy to fetch you?"
"Huh?" She frowned.
"Didn't you? Jaxen said you texted his grandpa told him that if he ever saw me, he should give me a ride home."
Her grandfather's brows rose before a slow grin spread across his face.
"Hahaha... I never knew the Montclair boys were that smooth," he chuckled, shaking his head like he'd just been reminded of something funny.
"Wait—what?" Selene's confusion deepened.
"You mean, you didn't text him?"
Her mother came over, gently touching her shoulder.
"Sweetheart, your grandpa didn't ask Uncle Alexander for any favor tonight. We were actually about to file a missing report! Thankfully, Jaxen saw you and brought you home."
Selene froze.
Then something clicked.
Wait a second...
Her eyes widened as the realization hit her.
That guy lied to me?!
Her jaw dropped in disbelief.
"What the—?! I knew it! That guy is dangerous!"
She stomped her foot, puffing her cheeks in pure frustration.
"How dare he lie to me like that!"
But still...
He gave me a ride despite not asked by the elders. Hmp!
Her mother and grandmother exchanged amused glances, trying (and failing) not to laugh at her dramatic outburst.
Grandpa, still holding his newspaper, chuckled again.
"You should be careful, young lady. The Montclair boys are full of surprises."
Selene glared at him. "Not funny, Grandpa!"
But the corners of her lips twitched half annoyance, half disbelief.
She crossed her arms with a dramatic huff, muttering under her breath.
"Next time, I'll definitely have my phone with me!"
Her family burst into quiet laughter, and Selene stormed off to her room— still fuming, still confused, and just a little too aware of the smirk that haunted her thoughts.