c h a p t e r  s i x .

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“...Wh-what?”

                “I’ll drive you home.”

                “But...why?”

                “Because I have a car and you have a bicycle?”

                She shook her head and her hands. “No no, it’s totally fine! I’m quite used to riding my bike.” He moved so that he was standing beside of her instead of behind. “It rains all the time here, you know━“

                “Be sensible.”

                Wendy was about to object again, but thunder crashed suddenly and it was so loud that she jumped back from the window. Chen, who hadn’t moved a muscle, looked back at her.

                “Fine.” she said. He smiled a small smile, amused that she had been startled.

                Embarrassed, Wendy stepped around him and opened the door. “Mind leaving so that I can lock up?” she asked him, with a look of mock annoyance. He walked out to the middle of the sidewalk, hands still in the pockets of his coat, and watched Wendy as she switched off the café lights and locked the door from the outside.

                She proceeded to unlock her bike from its place on the rack and wheel it out.

                “I’m parked over here.” said Chen, motioning to walk in indicated direction. Wendy followed him with her bike, but when she stepped out of the protection of the overhead canopy, he returned to her side to cover both of their heads at least with his coat.

                “Thanks.” she said.

                “No problem.” he said.

                The two hurried down the sidewalk to the parking lot. Chen scrambled to find his keys and unlock the trunk of his car. He shoved piles of papers, books, and file boxes aside to make room for Wendy’s bike.

                Despite being in the rain for less than a minute, the two were drenched by the time that they were both inside the car.

                “Good Lord.” said Chen, shaking his bangs. Wendy laughed and wiped off the water that had sprayed onto her cheek from his hair. “...Does it always rain like this?”

                “Well, not always, but often during this time of the year.” she answered.

                “Not sure if I could get used to it.”

                “...You don’t like the rain?”

                “Oh no, I do, but only when I’m indoors.” They both chuckled as started his car and turned up the heater a little. “...So. Where do you live?”

                “Shady Rest. It’s an apartment complex just down the road from the university.”

                “Ah. I know exactly where that is.” he said, putting both of his hands on the steering wheel and glancing in his rear-view mirror. Somebody was reversing behind him. “I went on a walk in that area and I couldn’t help but admire the foliage. For a college town, it’s pretty quiet around here.”

Wendy wanted to say that at night it was a totally different story, but refrained. “Yes, it’s a beautiful area. I like it a lot.” She sat still with her hands folded neatly in her lap and her ankles crossed.

He looked at her and she looked at him simultaneously; it was like they were on the same wavelength. Their features were illuminated by the car’s console lights.

                “Are you warm enough?” he asked.

                She nodded. “Yes.”

                “Good.” He put his right hand on the back of her seat and twisted his body as he reversed right out of the parking lot and onto the street. Switching gears, he stepped on the gas. The car roared proudly as they took off. Wendy could tell that Chen was an intense driver by the way he sat back in his seat with both hands on the top of the steering wheel and a determined look to his face. Each and every one of his accelerations, stops and turns were precise.

                She looked around at the interior of the car to occupy herself. She didn’t know much about cars but it was very obviously an older car. The upholstery, dashboard and steering wheel were a beige color while everything else was black except the head of the gearstick, which was wood. It smelled of leather and paper, just like Chen.

                “You have a nice car.” Wendy remarked, mostly to break the silence.

                “Thanks.” he said. “...I’ve always been partial to Thunderbirds. They speak to m