"Finally!" Leo groaned, stretching his arms. "I'm never sitting again!"
"You said that last flight," Lila groaned, tugging at his sleeve.
"I meant it," Leo said, shrugging.
Luke chuckled. "Some habits die hard."
Selena adjusted her bag and hoisted Leo's backpack. "Stay close, everyone. Bags first, snacks later. And no experiments on the floor."
"I wasn't experimenting!" Leo protested.
"Yes, you were," Lila said. "Creative physics, maybe, but still."
Luke laughed. "Creative physics—classic Leo."
The kids pushed ahead, jostling for space to grab their luggage. Leo balanced his backpack on his head like a crown.
"Mom, snacks first?" Leo asked hopefully.
"After baggage," Selena said calmly, lifting the last of their suitcases. "You want to eat before you even have your luggage?"
"Fair enough," he admitted.
Outside the terminal, a woman stomped toward the curb, dragging a massive suitcase. She held her phone in one hand and gestured wildly with the other.
"Seriously! If my ride doesn't show up in two minutes, I'm walking!" she shouted.
"Mom! Look at her!" Leo whispered.
"She's… a lot," Lila said, giggling.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Some people really need everyone to know they exist."
Selena glanced briefly. "Not our problem."
The woman waved her hands toward the waiting cars. "Do you see this line? Am I invisible?!"
Leo snorted. "She's hilarious."
"Terrifying," Lila muttered.
Luke chuckled. "Terrifying and hilarious. Airport edition."
Selena shrugged. "People are people. Some loud, some quiet, some… dramatic."
The woman stomped closer to the curb. "Excuse me! Could your driver move? Or are you all just going to stare like statues?!"
Selena rolled the window down slightly. "We're fine right here. Thanks."
The woman blinked. "You're… just sitting there?"
"Yes. Observing," Selena said evenly.
The woman's jaw dropped. "Observing? Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all," Selena replied faintly. "Just… watching."
Leo whispered, giggling. "She's fun!"
Lila whispered, "She's scary."
Luke muttered, "She's both. I like it."
The woman huffed and tossed her phone into her bag. "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable."
A sleek black car suddenly pulled up silently behind her. The tinted window rolled down, and Adrian stepped out—calm, cold, and completely unreadable. Chloe froze mid-step.
"Wait… what?" she said, squinting. "You're… here?"
Adrian didn't move. He just looked at her. Flat. Calm. Completely aloof.
"I—I didn't know!" Chloe stammered, waving her hands like she was flailing in slow motion. "I thought—I mean—I arranged everything!"
"Yes," Adrian said plainly. "You did not. I did."
Chloe blinked. "You… you just… show up? No warning?"
"Yes."
"You… you're serious?" she squeaked, flailing dramatically.
"I am," he said. "Get in the car."
Chloe's hands flew up. "I—uh—well—you see—I was planning to… wait, no, I can manage!"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "No, you cannot."
Chloe's mouth opened and closed. "I… can't believe this. I… I mean…"
"Get in the car," he repeated calmly.
Chloe pressed herself to the car door. "But… I wasn't ready! I wasn't—"
"You are ready," Adrian said flatly. "Now. Or walk."
Chloe froze. Then she spun around, glaring at the crowd. "I… I can't believe this is happening!"
Adrian opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in. "You will survive."
Chloe huffed, dramatically shoving her suitcase in and plopping into the seat. "You're… so cold. I can't…"
Adrian didn't respond. He got in the driver's seat, calm and unbothered.
Chloe leaned toward him, trying to make conversation. "So… you're really not going to… smile? At all?"
"No," he said.
"But… I mean… people usually—"
Chloe groaned and leaned back, crossing her arms. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. And yet… somehow… intriguing."
Meanwhile, Selena was buckling the twins into their car.
"Mom, she's funny!" Leo whispered, giggling.
"She's got stamina," Selena said lightly. "Keep watching. Educational."
Lila snorted. "I want to meet her."
"No!" Leo said. "She's scary!"
Luke laughed. "She's dramatic. That's enough for today."
Selena smiled faintly. "People are people. Some loud, some quiet, some… Chloe."
Leo groaned. "Boring! I want drama."
"Drama is everywhere," Luke said. "Sometimes it just shows up in heels a few meters away."
Selena shook her head lightly, turning the corner. "And some people's drama… you avoid when possible."
The kids immediately started bickering over the last chocolate bar.
"Leo stole it!" Lila accused.
"I only borrowed it!" Leo defended.
Luke snickered. "Borrowed. Classic."
"Adults say 'please don't hit your sibling,'" Selena added calmly.
"Too late!" Leo groaned.
"Not too late. I still win," Selena said, glancing in the rearview mirror.
Leo grinned. "I like this Mom. Calm but tricky."
"Good. You're learning," she said.
Back in Chloe's car, she continued fussing, flailing, and attempting to "direct" Adrian's driving while he remained completely calm.
"You're… so… so… unbothered!" she exclaimed.
"I am," Adrian said.
"You're impossible! I can't!" she groaned.
"You will adjust," Adrian said simply.
Chloe slumped dramatically into her seat. "Fine… but only because I have no choice."