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We were walking towards the main street now. We had lunch almost two hours ago and now, we were all heading to get some cabs and then go to Alameda park. 

Remy and I were walking side by side and talking about tomorrow's plans, tomorrow night, to be specific. She's getting officially, publicly engaged. And she's more than over the moon about it. She chuckled as I teased her a bit more about it before hitting my arm gently. "Oh, by the way, aunt Janice called me while we were at lunch. She got on the flight. But since she was coming later, she was supposed to book her own room at the hotel. She didn't say much about that though, so I'm not sure what's going on." 

We reached the sidewalk and waited for the others to join us. I didn't want to share a ride with Adam this time, I just didn't want to be around him. I still couldn't believe that his jersey number was my birth date. 

Why is it my birth date? Why would he do that? 

"Emilia, doll, come here!" 

I looked ahead and spotted Adam's Nana standing at a cab, waving me over. I sent her a small and mumbled bye to Remy before heading over to her. 

"Adam, you too!" 

I froze, spinning on my heels but halting when Emma blocked my way. She grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, pushing me towards the cab. "Let's go," she sang, forcing me to walk over. 

I sighed softly and glared at her over my shoulder. "I'm going to kill you, Emma," I mumbled. 

"Sure, go ahead," she chuckled. 

I stopped in front of Nana while Adam caught up to us, standing a few feet to my left. 

"Why don't you lot keep me company? You too, girlie," Nana grinned at Emma. 

"Do you know my name, Nana?" Emma questioned. 

"'Course! It's Emma... I think." 

"It sure is. I call shotgun." She skipped ahead. 

I grabbed her t-shirt, pulling her back. "You do not call shotgun. Adam does." I turned to him. "Don't you, Adam?" 

"I call shotgun," Nana said suddenly. We all stared at her in surprise. "I don't like sittin' in the back, it makes me feel a little sick. I'll sit at the front." She went ahead and sat in the passenger seat, leaving all three of us out here. 

"I'm not sitting in the middle," Emma said, quickly slipping out of my hold and sitting behind the passenger seat. 

I sighed, glaring at her before turning to Adam. "Why don't you go with them? I'll get a different cab." 

"On your own? Just sit in the middle." 

"I don't want to sit in the middle." 

"Then I'll sit in the middle," he shrugged. "Don't make everything such a big deal, Emilia. I told you, we can't avoid each other." 

My eyes narrowed on him. "You also said a lot of other mean things, don't worry, I remember. But I also remember saying I was going to avoid you for as long as I could. So, I'll get my own cab." 

He grabbed my arm before I could walk away and pushed me towards the cab. I struggled a bit to get his hand off my arm but failed as he pulled the door open and turned me towards the car. He put one hand on the top of my head and pushed me down and into the car. 

I swatted his hand away as he got into the car, sitting to my right, closing the door and trapping me between him and Emma. I huffed, shooting daggers at him. "What is your problem?" 

"You are the problem," he retorted. 

"Adam," Nana called out. "Where are we headed?" 

"Um, lo siento," he sighed, turning his attention to the drive. "Alameda Park, por favor. ¿Diez minutos para el final? ¿Correcto?" Ten minutes to go, correct? 

"Sí. Diez minutos," the driver nodded before starting the drive. 

"Em, scoot over," Emma huffed, leaning into me even more than she already was. 

"I am scooted over," I mumbled as she pushed my legs with her knees, scooching closer to me. I pulled away from her. "Emma," I hissed. 

She stared up at me innocently. "What? I feel squished. Sit closer to him." 

"Oh, you're feeling squished, are you? I'm sure he needs a lot more space than a fifteen-year-old," I scolded. 

"Emilia," she whined loudly. 

"God, you bunch are loud," Nana sighed, looking at me. "Give her some space, doll, come on now." 

I stared at her in disbelief. "Wha— I just..." 

Adam sighed, grabbing my arm and tugging at it, pulling me closer to him. "Just do it. It's only ten minutes, don't make a fuss, Emilia," he whispered. 

I pulled away, shifting closer to Emma. 

"Em!" she complained dramatically. 

I glared at her, exhaling from my nose. "I swear to God, Emma, you are dead—" I sucked in a sharp breath when I felt an arm snake around my waist from behind and pull me over. My hands formed into fists in my lap as my side pressed up against Adam's. 

He pulled his arm away, turning to look at me. All I could do was blink. "You're the one making a fuss, not her," he mumbled, his eyes roaming over my face before he turned to look out the window. 

I rolled my eyes and closed my eyes, resting my head against the seat. 

Just kill me now. I can't tolerate it anymore. If Emma tries any other stunts and if Adam helps her again, even if he's not trying to, they'll both be getting some serious punches from me. 

As the car came to a stop, I pushed Emma out the door before climbing out from her side. 

"Ow," she laughed, glancing at me. 

"¿Tenemos que caminar?" Adam asked, getting out of the cab. Do we have to walk? 

"Sí," the driver nodded before driving off. 

Adam sighed, taking his hat off and ruffling his hair out. "We have to walk to the entrance. It's not too far, the sign is right there." 

Nana spotted it and started leading the way. Emma skipped ahead while taking pictures and I lingered behind, walking at my own pace. 

Am I doing too much? Am I being unnecessarily distant? 

I felt like an idiot when I acted that way and Adam didn't. It was like I was the only one who had a problem being around him and he just didn't care. He made me feel like a fool. I glanced to my right when he fell into step beside me. 

"Emilia, you have to stop," he said without looking at me. 

"What?" I huffed, rolling my eyes. 

"You have to stop being so immature. We both know we can't avoid each other on this trip. Why can't you just deal with it? You don't have to talk to me, but you can't avoid me, you can't get away from me, no matter how much you want to. Do you think I want to be around you like this? Hmm?" He glanced at me. "Do you think I'm having fun?" 

"If you're not," I spat, "then don't come near me, Adam." 

"What do you want me to say to my grandmother when she asks me and you to accompany her?" he asked through gritted teeth. He stopped, blocking my way. "Emilia, get this through your head. We're stuck together on this trip. You don't like me and I don't fucking like you either, okay? I hate you. Emilia," he said sternly. "I fucking hate you." 

I blinked, staring at him. I swallowed, my heart feeling heavier. 

"But I am trying. I'm holding on to the last string, trying to keep it together. I'm trying to tolerate you, I'm trying not to ruin this wedding. The only person ruining it is you. Grow up, Emilia. You'll never get rid of me. Your sister is my sister-in-law, my brother is your brother-in-law. Do you really think we'll never see each other after this trip? We will. What are you going to do then? We're not in college anymore, you can't run from me. 

"We either work this shit out between ourselves or we'll have this miserable, forced relationship for the rest of our lives. What do you want to do?" He paused and then sighed, glancing at the others once before looking back at me, barely an ounce of guilt on his face. "I'm not telling you to forget everything that happened. I'm just telling you to put it behind us for the sake of this wedding." 

I held his gaze, swallowing past the aching lump in my throat. "Fine," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Fine," I repeated, walking around him. 

I heard him mumble, "Shit." 

He grabbed my hand, pulling me back. "Emmy, wait, that's not what I meant. That came off wrong, so wrong. Wait, please." 

I freed my hand from his. "Why? You're not wrong," I shook my head. 

He watched me and then shook his head again softly. "That was mean, I shouldn't have said it like that." 

"Why?" I forced out a laugh. "You're right. No, you're absolutely right. I need to learn to tolerate you without making a scene. I'm the problem. Thanks for telling me. I'll work on it." 

"Emmy—" 

"Adam, it's okay." 

He blinked, seeming a little surprised. His words hurt me and if I was alone right now, I would probably sob. I wanted to. I wanted to slap him for being so fucking mean to me. He was right in his words, even I knew that, but he didn't have to be so rude when he said it. He could have said the same thing nicely. 

"I'll learn it. I'll tolerate you. But right now, leave me the fuck alone." 

He winced softly. "Emilia—" 

"If I spoke to you like that, you would lose your fucking mind. So leave me alone right now. Please. I don't want to speak to you. We're here to watch the sunset, aren't we? Let's watch the perfect fucking sunset, please." 

He dropped my hand slowly. "Then let me walk with you," he said softly. "I won't say a word, just let me walk with you." He was the one to hurt me two seconds ago. But he was the only person I wanted to be around right now. 

I nodded but barely. "Walk with me."

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