Pull up, skrr, get in the ride
Left hand is steerin' the other is grippin' your thigh. Light up a spliff and get high ~ Bryson Tiller

☆

I was in the middle, no knee deep in calculus homework when I heard a knock on my door. Cora appeared from behind it, dressed in some casual jeans. "You want to come get milkshakes? I'm making Victor take me," she giggled.

I looked down at the work that I was half done with. Dropping my mechanical pencil I stood to my feet. "Yeah, why not."

She grinned and left the door open for me. When we reached the car, I hopped in the passenger seat, Cora climbing in the back. Nico sat with his iPad in hand, turning and flipping it every so often.

A few minutes later, the man of the hour finally joined us. A delicious scent filled the air as he sat down. It was very different from his warm vanilla smell, more like a cool winter breeze. I couldn't help but take another deep breath in, it smelt so refreshingly good.

"You ok?" He asked, putting the car in drive. I nodded, a little embarrassed he caught me smelling him.

"That a new cologne?" I scratched my arm, as the car sped down the street. The windows were let down so his smell was basically smacking me in the face.

"Yeah, just trying something new." He shrugged his shoulders. The wind blew his dark hair in all sorts of directions. The sun gleamed on his side, rays poking my eyes the more I stared.

I nodded my head, looking elsewhere. "I like it," I admitted.

We stopped at a red light and he glanced over at me. "Good to know," he said, placing his hand on my thigh. His other hand rested on the wheel.

My eyes widened in alarm. I looked back, the two were focused on their electronics. "You worry too much," he whispered to me before turning back to the road ahead.

I blew out a breath, crossing my arms. "Where are we going?"

He scoffed, "you got in a car not knowing where we were going?"

I always do with my mom. When she says get in the car, you get in the car. No questions asked.

"I heard milkshakes and that's all I needed to hear," I defended myself. I'll do anything for milkshakes. Well maybe not anything, but there are some things I would do for it.

"Mhm," he murmured, his thumb rubbing circles on my inner thigh. I never expected Victor to be so physical in a relationship. He's always so cold to everyone. But I guess even the coldest of people need to warm up sometimes.

We pulled into one of Sonic's car spots, to order. "We're here," he announced to the back. Nico and Cora sprang out of their seats to look at the menu.

Is this what having kids is going to be like one day?

I observed the menu myself, there were so many options to pick. Do I get the caramel milkshake or the hot fudge milkshake? I don't know, maybe I'm in the mood for strawberry.

I settled on the Hot Fudge. I gladly took my drink from the waitress, who approached the car on roller skates. Nico claimed he had the exact same pair. We enjoyed our milkshakes in bliss with a small side of fries.

"By the way, mom says dad is coming back home on Saturday." Cora said, sipping the rest of her vanilla shake.

Victor's body tensed, his hand tightening on his cup. He didn't reply, just stared straight ahead. A frown formed on my face, I know he doesn't like his dad.

"You can't ignore him forever Victor," Cora rolled her eyes. She picked at the ends of her hair.

"I can and will," Victor replied haughty, his voice firm.

"Why do you hate dad?" Nico asked, lifting his head from his tablet. Silence followed his question.

"Because he's a big cry baby who didn't get enough attention as a kid," she mumbled. "He came out the womb hating the world and his dad."

"Cora shut up, you don't know anything," he gritted his teeth. His jaw ticked in anger.

"Then tell me! If I don't know anything then why don't you tell me? I'm not a baby anymore, stop treating me like one!" Cora exclaimed, splaying her arms out.

Victor remained silent, his eyes closed and head leaned back on the seat. The cup he was holding looked like it was about to explode. I took it out of his grip and replaced it with my hand.

His grip softened, and I gave it a small squeeze. He let out a small breath.

Cora huffed, crossing her arms. "You're the only reason this family has issues. If you just got along with dad, maybe he would actually live with us."

"Cora!" I gasped. Even Nico gasped.

"It's true!"

He scoffed, dropping my hand and putting the car in reverse. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly on the way home. No one uttered a word as we reached and parked the car.

Victor was the first one out, the door slammed, shaking the car and us inside.

Cora raised her eyebrows at her brother, who glared at her. "What Nico!"

"I don't like when you guys argue," he opened his door, being the next one to slam the car door shut. His small feet made pitter patter sounds on his way inside.

"I didn't expect him to get that mad," Cora muttered.

I turned in my seat, the leather squeaking underneath me. "I know, but you did blame him for your family's problems," I reminded her. I would be a little upset too.

"Ok, I did. So what, someone had to say it. He walks around acting like he's better than us. And barely spends any time with us. Plus he hates my dad which I've tried for years to find out why." She looked down at her lap in annoyance.

"Did you ask your dad?" I tilted my head.

Her eyes widened and she pouted, "no."

"Why not?"

"I don't know," she muttered. She wasn't looking me in the eyes anymore and she seemed drained.

I nodded my head, "okay we should get out the car. I'll see you later." I told her. Nico sat on the corner of the couch, engrossed in his tablet.

Doesn't that kid have homework or something?

I looked around for Victor but didn't see him anywhere. Kendall stood in the kitchen with a spatula in her hand. Which was weird because she was cooking spaghetti with it. She stirred the sauce and hummed to herself.

"Hi Kendall," I dropped my cup in the trash.

"Hey sweetie, how were the milkshakes?" She turned around, sauce dripping from the spatula. She cursed, running to get a paper towel.

"Good, Sonic has always had good milkshakes. By the way did Victor go upstairs?"

She turned to me, her eyes wide, "yes! He stormed right past me. Do you know what's wrong with him?" She placed her hands on her hips. She immediately dropped them, sauce now on her apron, "man what is wrong with me today?"

My lips twitched as she ran for another paper towel. "Just a fight him and Cora had. I'm sure he'll be fine." I looked at the staircase, "I'm just gonna head to my room till dinners ready."

"Alright!"

Once I reached upstairs I knocked on Victor's door. There wasn't a response so I just went right in. He sat on the edge of his bed, his hands balled by his sides. His room was the same as always, neat and organized.

"Are you okay?" I asked, standing in front of him. He kept his head down, his hair covering his face. I took one of his hands in mine and opened the fist he had made.

I cringed at the marks on his hand. His nails had punctured through the skin, leaving four small crescent marks.

"It's ok to yell or cry Victor, just don't hold it in." I said lifting his chin, and pushing his hair back. He finally looked at me, biting the inside of his cheek.

His arm went around my waist and guided me on to his lap. I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arm around his neck. I laid my head on my shoulder, letting out a sigh.

"Why don't you like your dad?" I asked for the second time.

His fingers played with the ends of my curly hair. "Remember when I said he was a better dad to Cora and Nico than me?"

"Yeah," I nodded my head.

"Well when it was just Cora and I at first, things were different from how they are now. My mom would be at work often so that left me with him most of the time." He sighed. "Cora was only two at the time."

"He had this big idea of me becoming a prodigy child so he pushed me into anything he could find. Piano lessons, sports, languages, and academics way beyond my grade level.

Naturally as a kid, I didn't want to do half the things he was pushing me in. I was only six, I just wanted to do normal things like hang out with friends and go to school. Play with toys, something kids my age did.

When I tried to act normal he would put me on these stupid punishments. I'm not going to get into what they were, but the worst one yet had me starved for a few days. I developed an eating disorder after he put me in gym classes after I turned ten.

So I spent most of my childhood alone being tutored or taking some type of lesson. I never had any time to myself. He wants me to take over his company one day, but I'm not into business and he knows it.

The only time he tries to talk to me now is over his company. It's just another way he tries to control my life. He's never had any real interest in me."

I listened to him closely, I was appalled to hear he was starved my his own father. That's basically abuse, no child should ever have to go through that.

"So what do you want to do when you grow up?"

His fingers ran up and down my back. "I don't think anyone has ever asked me that." He said honestly with a dry laugh. "People just assumed I would follow in my father's footsteps."

"Screw what they think, tell me what you want." I said, pulling back to look at him.

His eyes glistened, "I wanted to be a professional soccer player. It's the one thing I could see myself  doing in the future. It may seem unrealistic but that's what I always dreamed of."

I smiled, "you'd be a great soccer player. I've seen you on the field, you're one of the best players out there. Has anyone scouted you yet?"

Sure a lot of girls may drool over his physique and good looks. But beyond that, there's no denying he's got a special talent for the sport. Anyone with eyes can see that.

He shrugged his shoulders, "some from Harvard and Duke. They offered athletic scholarships that I haven't decided on yet."

My mouth popped open, "oh my gosh Victor that's huge! How can you say that so casually? Harvard and Duke! You should consider the opportunities they're offering," I hit his shoulder.

He chuckled lightly, "you really think I should?"

My eyes widened, "yes, of course you should! Don't let other people's opinions stop you from what makes you happy," I pointed at his chest.

He grinned, "I don't deserve you, you know that?" He hugged me, placing a kiss on base of my neck.

I smiled brightly, probably looking like a fool in love. "Maybe just a little bit," I teased, pinching my fingers together. It earned a deep laugh from his side.

"Careful, your family might start to think your iced heart is starting to melt," I giggled.

He planted another kiss on my shoulder, resting his chin upon it. "You wish," his melodic laughter filled my ears again.