vulnerable

1.

November 12, 2022
New York, USA

The sun was beginning to set. Whisks of orange-pink clouds scattered along the sky. Outside was cold with temperatures dropping into the thirties, but the inside of the black SUV was toasty. The young brunette wiped her clammy hands against her ripped jeans, feeling a breeze of chilly air hit her exposed knee.

"Chris, roll the window up." Her older sister, Devyn, glared at their brother. She sat in front of the brunette, keeping her posture straight as-always. A side effect of horse back riding. "Avery might catch a cold."

Christian let out a chuckle, pressing his finger against the clicker. The glass rolled up, containing the warm air around the brunette again. "Are you going to be like this the whole trip?"

Devyn rolled her eyes, letting them fall back onto her daughter. "Obviously. It's our first trip and I don't want anything to happen to her."

"Relax." The brunette told her, patting the back of the head rest. "Otherwise you'll turn into a helicopter mom."

Her older sister groaned, glancing back at the brunette with a grimace. "I'm not a helicopter mom, Stell."

"Not yet." Stella pointed a finger, but Devyn smacked it away as the others laughed.

"I can't believe the World Cup is so soon." Hannah, the sister-from-another-mister shook her head in disbelief. She was also dating Christian. Her auburn highlights were darker now with the cold season. "It really snuck up."

"Agreed." Christian stuck his arm behind him, grabbing a hold of her hand.

Stella made a face, turning back to the front of the car where her parents focused on the road. "Are we almost there?"

"To Qatar?" Mark, the Pulisic's dad, laughed to himself.

Such a dad joke, Stella thought. She fidgeted with the knitted blanket from her grandmother, pulling it over her lap as Hannah took the ends beside her. "To Gio's."

"Of course you'd wanna know." Christian joked, running a hand through his blonde tips. He had a smug smile on his lips, glancing back at his younger sister.

"Shut up." Stella eyes him furiously. "Maybe focus on your own relationship before you guys break-up again."

"Woah woah woah." Christian turned back, looking as if he was in fight-or-flight mode. Hannah joined in, slapping Stella on the arm. She winced, rubbing the impacted area.

"A joke! I'm joking." Stella laughed.

"You're not." Hannah rolled her light-brown eyes. "Can I request a seat change?"

"You're stuck with me." Stella shoved her friend, making them both chuckle. "Until the grave."

"She's actually stuck with me." Christian pulled on his girlfriends shoulder. "So mooch."

"Children." Kelley, the Pulisic's mom, announced in slight annoyance. "We're almost there, so best behavior yeah?"

"Yeah, Stell. Best behavior for your boyfriend." Christian continued to joke.

Devyn laughed, earning a glare from Stella. "Sorry," She murmured afterwards.

"He's not my boyfriend." Stella whispered under her breath.

"You wish he was." Hannah and Christian sang in unison.

"Ah!" Kelley exclaimed before any yelling could start. "We're here!"

"There's your boyfriend." Her dad joined in on the joke as the SUV pulled into the two-story house driveway. Gio was already standing on the porch, probably ready to help bring in any of the food for early Thanksgiving dinner.