What's Wrong with Miss Bratty?

Tiffany ended the call and glanced at her phone before looking up at Yvienna. "It's your mom," she said, a hint of concern in her voice. "She asked if I'm with you since you haven't been answering her calls."

Yvienna frowned, immediately reaching for her phone. Her stomach sank as she saw the 20 missed calls from her mother. Shit! I'm so sorry, Mom, she thought anxiously, scrambling to find an explanation.

Before she could react further, Tiffany's phone rang.

"Hello? Yes, Mommy... Okay, I'm going home now. Bye," Tiffany said, ending the call quickly.

With swift movements, Tiffany finished her burger, discarded the wrapper, and grabbed her things. "I have to go. My mom wants me home early. Bye, guys!" she called out, waving her hand as she rushed out of the fast-food restaurant.

Yvienna stood still, watching her go. "H-hey! Wait!" she called after her, but Tiffany was already walking briskly away, oblivious to her friend's plea. Yvienna's shoulders drooped, her frustration bubbling beneath her skin. Sighing, she sipped her iced tea, staring blankly into the cup.

What am I doing now? she thought bitterly. I'm so unlucky. Left alone with Kyle, of all people. Yvienna picked at her fries half-heartedly, a sinking feeling in her chest.

Suddenly, Kyle reached over and grabbed her iced tea, taking a long sip. Yvienna blinked in disbelief before narrowing her eyes at him, clearly annoyed.

"What are you doing?!" she snapped, her tone sharp.

"Drinking," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Yvienna clenched her hands in frustration. "Stop irritating me, please!" She stood up abruptly, grabbed her bag, and turned to leave. She walked toward the door, trying to escape the growing tension, but a glance over her shoulder showed Kyle trailing right behind her.

"Stop following me!" she yelled, her steps quickening in a futile attempt to outrun him. But no matter how fast she walked, he kept pace, a steady shadow behind her.

She stopped abruptly, spinning on her heel to face him. "What is your problem? Can't you see I'm irritated because of you? Are you blind?!" Her voice rang out, sharp with anger, drawing the attention of nearby shoppers.

As the murmurs of others surrounded her, Yvienna felt a pang of guilt. Kyle, though, only looked down, his expression unreadable. With a final glance in her direction, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, rooted to the spot.

Yvienna's chest tightened. Am I being too harsh? she thought, the unease creeping in. Without thinking, she chased after him, desperate to make things right. "Hey! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it! Please forgive me!" she shouted, her voice full of urgency. But he didn't look back, didn't even flinch.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she realized how absurd it all was. Why did I apologize in front of everyone? She was so embarrassed by the situation that she could feel the weight of every gaze upon her. 

Kyle kept walking, his back turned to her, and the crowd's whispers only grew louder. Yvienna's frustration boiled over once more. "Hey, Kyle! I don't care if you don't forgive me!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the air. "Who are you to ignore a goddess like me? I'm regretting ever meeting you! Idiot! Dumbass! Bitch!"

She stormed off toward her car, her hands shaking with anger. As she slid into the driver's seat and tried to start the engine, the car sputtered and died. Yvienna's eyes widened in disbelief. What now? she thought, panic rising. She turned the key again, but the car refused to budge. Desperation set in. Looking out the window, she saw Kyle leaning casually against his car, his eyes fixed on hers. With a sigh, he approached her vehicle, knocking on the window.

Yvienna hesitated but, in the heat of the moment, she rolled the window down. "Do you need help?" Kyle asked, his tone strangely calm, almost amused.

"I don't need your help!" Yvienna snapped, her voice sharp. She reached to close the window, but he stopped her, his hand on the edge of the glass.

"Okay, fine," Kyle said, a teasing lilt to his voice. "Sorry for ignoring a goddess like you."

"Are you making fun of me?!" Yvienna growled, her teeth grinding in irritation.

"Of course not," he said, smirking. "Why would I make fun of a goddess like you?"

Yvienna's patience snapped. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Why is he getting under my skin like this? "So, how can I help you?" Kyle asked, his voice now tinged with an odd seriousness. Yvienna, though reluctant, realized that she had no other option. She needed help to get home. "My car won't start," she muttered, feeling the frustration weighing heavily on her.

Kyle walked over to the engine, his eyes scanning it before looking back at her with an almost amused expression. "Your gas is empty," he said bluntly. Yvienna was taken aback. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. She could feel his minty breath every time he got closer, and when their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat. Why am I feeling this way?

"You can get in my car," Kyle offered, his voice low but clear. "I'll drive you home."

Yvienna hesitated, her pride and embarrassment clashing with the necessity of getting home. She nodded, though unsure of why she did. Kyle stepped back, opening the door to his car and waiting for her.

With a sigh, Yvienna texted her driver to retrieve the car, which had run out of gas and was now stranded in the parking lot. She then grabbed her bag and slid into the passenger seat of Kyle's car. As Kyle closed the door behind her and settled into the driver's seat, Yvienna froze, her unease growing with his close presence.

He glanced over at her, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink around them. Before Yvienna could react, he leaned in closer, his movements deliberate as he fastened her seatbelt. Her heart raced, each beat loud in her ears, and she stiffened in place, instinctively closing her eyes as if bracing for something unexpected.

"Are you expecting me to kiss you?" Kyle chuckled, his voice teasing.

"Of course not!" Yvienna quickly averted her gaze, the flush creeping up her neck.

Kyle's laughter filled the car, and he pulled away, the engine humming peacefully as they drove down the road. The quiet was short-lived as Kyle's phone rang suddenly, breaking the calm.

Yvienna watched, her gaze sharp, as he answered the call. "Yes, baby, I'm going home." The word "baby" hung in the air like a bitter taste, and Yvienna's heart skipped. Does he have a girlfriend? He continued, oblivious to her discomfort. "Yes, baby, I love you too. Bye." Yvienna quickly turned her head, staring out the window, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar emotion.

The silence stretched between them like a heavy blanket. Finally, Kyle broke it, his voice casual. "Where's your home?" Yvienna frowned, unsure of why he was asking. "Why are you asking?" she responded, her voice sharp. "I'm asking because I don't know where I'm supposed to drop you off," Kyle said, a teasing smile in his voice.

Yvienna bit her lip, embarrassed by her reaction. Why did I even ask that? She reluctantly told him her address, avoiding his gaze as much as possible.

The car eventually came to a stop in front of her house. Yvienna was about to open the door when Kyle followed, stepping out of his car to face her.

"Hey! Is that all?" he called out, raising an eyebrow. "No thank you?"

Yvienna turned to him, the reality of the moment sinking in. The night had fallen around them, casting a cool shadow over everything. She smiled tightly, forcing the words out. "Thank you." Kyle handed her a brown bag, his eyes watching her curiously. "Here. This is for you."

"What's this?" Yvienna asked, her confusion clear.

"My present," Kyle said, his tone light as he pressed it into her hand.

"Why?" she questioned, still unsure.

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked back to his car. "I have to go. Bye!"

Yvienna stood there, staring at the brown bag for a moment before he started the engine. As the window rolled down, Kyle's voice called out one last time. "Good night. I hope you dream of me tonight." "No, I don't want to! It'll be a nightmare!" Yvienna shouted back, frustration mingled with embarrassment. Kyle chuckled softly, driving off into the night. Yvienna watched the taillights disappear before she turned and made her way inside.

A strange feeling settled in her chest, a smile tugging at her lips. Why am I smiling?