Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

As I made my way back to my room, I couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling of guilt that had taken root in my chest.

I didn't want to seem like I was running off with him so soon... not when I still had to get my feelings in check!

The weight of my decision to go with Vincent was beginning to press down on me, making it harder to breathe with each passing moment. The thrill of traveling with him had been undeniable, but now, as I stared at my half-empty suitcase, reality began to settle in...

I picked up a few more clothes and folded them carefully, trying to distract myself from the thoughts that were spinning around in my head. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow betraying Daryl by agreeing to go with Vincent.

They were both good to me in their own ways, and yet here I was, choosing to follow one while leaving the other behind.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I pulled out my phone and hesitated before unlocking it. I needed to let Emma know that I wouldn't be at school tomorrow, at the very least. She'd worry if I just disappeared without saying anything. The thought of her bubbly personality dimming with concern made my chest tighten.

I quickly typed out a message to her:

'Hey, just wanted to let you know that I won't be at school tomorrow. Something came up and I have to leave town for a bit with Vincent. I'll explain everything when I get back, I promise - call me if you need anything!'

After hitting send, I stared down at the screen, watching the message get delivered, and sighed. Emma was a good friend. She'd understand, even if she didn't know the full story yet. But Daryl... that was a different story altogether.

I switched over to my text chat with Daryl, my fingers hovering above the keyboard as I battled with what to say to him.

I wonder if he already knows that I'm leaving... maybe he's waiting to see if I'll have the decency to say?

I didn't want him to feel like I was ditching him, especially after the great time we had together today.

He had been so kind, so patient, even listening to me pour out my past to him, offering me comfort without judgment. Although he did grow sorta quiet towards the end... which left me unsettled a little.

But here I was, about to leave him behind without much of an explanation or second thought...

My heart ached as I thought about the look on his face when he saw me with Vincent earlier. The unspoken tension between them had been breathtaking, and I could sense the hurt in Daryl's eyes, even if he hadn't said anything. The last thing I wanted was to make things worse between them... or between us.

Finally, I typed out a message, my hands trembling slightly as I did.

'Hey Daryl, can you come to my room? I really need to talk to you.'

I read over the words, my thumb hovering over the send button. It would be better to speak to him in person right?

Was this the right thing to do?

Or was I just making things more complicated?

I couldn't help but wonder if I was being selfish, stringing them both along as I tried to figure out my own feelings. But Daryl deserved to know, to hear it from me directly, not through some half-assed text.

I hit send before I could second-guess myself any further, the message slipping away into the wind.

As I sat there, waiting for a response, I tried to calm the storm of emotions inside me. I wasn't sure what I was going to say when he got here, but I just knew that I needed to be honest, as much as it scared me.

I stood up and continued packing, though my movements were slower now, more deliberate. The anticipation was building with each passing second, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited to hear his footsteps outside my door.

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But they seemed to never come...

Sighing, I head to the bathroom to grab some soaps and toiletries to take with me on the trip, before turning on my heels to head back into the room-

"Oh jeez, shit!" I squeal, dropping everything in my arms and cursing when finding Daryl stood by my door.

How the heck did he get in here without me even hearing him?!

"You wanted to see me?" He chuckles, as I bend to gather up my stuff with a reddening face.

Why did I always have to make a damn fool of myself in front of them?!

"Uh, y-yeah! Sorry! I didn't hear you come in, take a seat." I motion towards the bed as he moves and smiles knowingly before sinking down onto the mattress.

I don't think he knows anything, Vincent must not have told him... because he seems pretty normal, at least for now.

"So uh, I asked you to come here because I'm leaving for a couple of days and I wanted to let you know before just disappearing." I shoot the statement at him, as he squints slightly in shock at my words. Better just to rip the band aid off right?

He doesn't respond for a moment, as he gives me a weird look as though he was waiting for me to say something else which urges me to quickly add:

"Vincent asked me to go with him on a business trip! Just for a couple of days." I explain, adding once more that I wouldn't be gone for too long.

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How must this sound? Saying that I'm leaving with Vincent for a few days after spending a lovely day with him? I must seem like a desperate whore!

"No, you can't go." He deadpans, as now I am the one to squint back at him.

Did I hear that right?

"What?" I breathe out, unsure of why he just told me I can't leave, it's not up to him!

Daryl's face falls into a heavy set glare, a look from him I hadn't yet seen before. He looked dangerous, and extremely pissed off.

I was used to this from Vincent, but he was usually the more gentle of the two which was a trait I enjoyed about him, but this... this was intense.

"You can't go with him, you don't even know the half of why he's even going on the 'business trip' in the first place!" Daryl argues, even using his fingers for quotations to emphasise that it wasn't a typical business trip.

"You don't know the beginning of who you'll be dealing with! I can't believe he even asked you to fucking go with him - selfish prick!" He fumes further, suddenly standing to his full height with balled fists.

I simply stood there, mouth agape, like a blundering idiot unsure of what to do or say...

Vincent has told me about his gang relations, about his family, but I didn't once worry about the trip in that way - not when he said I would be safe.

"Where the fuck is he?!" Daryl rages, shocking me in my thoughts as he makes a beeline for the door in hunt for his friend.

What have I caused?!