Sway With The Wind [Complete]

Chapter 7 - Diverging Paths

As her headache gradually faded, El's unease about her friends only deepened. The silence from their group chat was unusual—normally, it was alive with messages about last night's plans or jokes to start the day. Today, though, not a single message had come through.

"What's going on?" she wondered aloud, her fingers hovering over her phone screen as she scrolled through the chat, seeing nothing but yesterday's messages.

El tried to think back to the previous night, hoping to recall if anything had gone wrong, but her memories were muddled by the drinks she'd had. 'Did something happen while I was talking with Carl?' The thought gnawed at her, and the possibility that her unexpected distraction might've soured the night for everyone left her feeling anxious.

"I don't want to just sit here wondering," she mumbled, reaching for her phone. She debated calling her friends but hesitated. 'What if they're still recovering? I don't want to wake them.' Instead, she sent each of them a quick message: 'Hey, is everything okay? Haven't heard from anyone today, just wanted to check in.'

With that done, she tried to shift her focus to her assignment. Thoughts of the International Commerce Centre, with its towering glass structure and bustling atmosphere, flashed through her mind. She knew she should be focusing on the architectural marvel or its role in global business, but her concern for her friends kept pulling her attention away.

Every buzz from her phone made her reach for it, hoping for a response. The silence left her feeling uneasy and disconnected, wondering if something had shifted in the dynamic of their group.

If her friends' silence wasn't troubling enough, El also struggled to piece together the end of the night. Everything from the moment she got into Carl's car to when she arrived home was hazy, as if her mind had blurred the details.

'Why can't I remember clearly?' she wondered. She recalled the warmth of the car, the hum of the engine, and the softness of the leather seats. Carl had been attentive, adjusting the temperature to keep her comfortable, but beyond that, her memories were foggy.

Did we talk? she wondered, trying to grasp at fleeting memories. What route did we take? She had fallen asleep so easily—something she never did, especially not with someone she barely knew. But last night was different. The drinks had left her defences down, and Carl's car had been a cocoon of warmth and quiet after the noisy lounge.

"Why can't I remember?" she whispered to herself, frustration building. The memory gaps were unsettling. She knew nothing bad had happened—she was home, safe, with no sense of harm. But not being able to recall it all left her with a nagging discomfort.

She vaguely remembered Carl's voice waking her. "El, wake up. We're here," he had said, his voice soft and warm. She had stirred, still groggy, muttering an apology as she clumsily gathered her things.

'He was so... considerate,' she thought, recalling how Carl had opened the door for her, making sure she got inside safely. It had been a simple act, but it carried a quiet intimacy that made her feel looked after.

The sound of her phone buzzing pulled her back to the present. El glanced at the screen—no responses yet. She sighed, setting it back down.

In the solitude of her room, El replayed the night over in her head. 'Carl.' His name lingered in her thoughts, bringing with it a swirl of complicated emotions. He was hard to read—a blend of warmth and mystery. Despite the rumours surrounding his family, Carl had never been anything but gentle with her. There was a vulnerability in the way he treated her, as if he feared he might break her with the wrong move.

'Why was he so concerned about me?' she wondered, trying to make sense of his behaviour. He wasn't like Pip, who kept his distance with a wall of coldness. Carl was different—rough, yet somehow caring, a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out.