𐙚˙ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚( DECODE ! ) ❛ HOME SWEET HOME ❜ CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE !
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THE CAR RIDE HOME WAS EXACTLY WHAT CHARLIE HAD ANTICIPATED: suffocatingly awkward. She sat in the backseat with Miguel, who had fallen asleep almost as soon as they hit the road. His head rested heavily on her lap, his breathing steady, but every time he stirred awake, the tension in the car spiked. Through the rearview mirror, Charlie caught glimpses of Miguel and Robby exchanging sharp glares like they were silently dueling.
Johnny, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood with his usual brand of humor. He let out a laugh at his own jokes, but it landed with all the grace of a lead balloon. Robby rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about Johnny needing better material. Miguel didn't even bother pretending to laugh.
"Alright, tough crowd." Johnny mumbled before reaching for the radio dial.
The rest of the ride passed in tense silence, save for the occasional hum of static as Johnny flipped through stations. By the time they pulled into the driveway, everyone seemed eager to escape the confines of the car.
As soon as they climbed out, no one even mentioned heading to Johnny's place to clean up first. Instead, they made a beeline for Carmen's apartment. Johnny knocked on the door with a rhythmic tap-tap-tap that was unmistakably his.
"Mamá!" Carmen's voice rang out from inside, brimming with excitement even before she opened the door. When it finally swung open, she didn't waste a second. Her arms flew around Miguel's neck in a fierce hug that nearly knocked him off balance.
"You're home!" she exclaimed, her voice muffled against his shoulder. Rosa appeared behind her and quickly joined in on the embrace, wrapping her arms around both of them like she was afraid to let go.
"You idiot!" Carmen scolded through tears as she pulled back just enough to cup Miguel's face in her hands. Her eyes darted over every inch of him like she was taking inventory of all his features to make sure he was really there and unharmed. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
Miguel gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Mamá."
"Inside," she ordered firmly but lovingly, ushering him through the door.
Johnny stood awkwardly by the threshold until Carmen turned her attention to him. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. She pulled him into a quick hug before stepping back.
"Eh, it's nothing," Johnny replied with a shrug, though there was a flicker of pride in his eyes. Meanwhile, Robby had already started walking toward Johnny's house without so much as a glance back. He didn't need to be here anymore; this wasn't his scene.
Carmen's gaze shifted to Charlie next. "And you," she said warmly before pulling her into an embrace. "I've missed you." Charlie smiled faintly as she hugged back before they all headed inside.
