Trust

"Okay gang!", exclaimed as he entered the kitchen, "Tonight, the farewell to VHS Festival continues". Looking at the (not so) excited faces of his daughters, he continued, "It's been mighty cold since The Big Chill, so how about we heat things up by St. Elmo's Fire, huh?", Phil announced, proudly showing them the VHS. 

"Yes!", Claire muttered, taking the VHS from Phil's hand, "We get a couple of wine coolers and some 80s Rob Lowe, I can get into that". 

"I've got plans today so no, thank you", Alex answered, looking at her parents in embarrassment. 

"Right", Phil glumly nodded his head, "One for two. Care to make it 2 for 3 Haley?". 

"That sounds so fun but I'm going to have to decline", Haley said, standing up and grabbing her purse, "I have a photgraphy-class thing". 

"What kind of thing?", Claire inquired. 

"Just an exhibit", Haley off-handedly commented. 

"Is it something we should go to?", Claire curiously questioned. 

"Honey, we just made plans", Phil tried to argue but was immediately stopped by his wife who raised her hand. 

"Mom!", Haley complained, "I'm in college now, not in third grade". 

"Don't you have nap time there?", Alex remarked, looking up from the book she was reading. 

"No!", Haley retorted, "I have free periods... which is when I sometimes nap". Not wanting to receive any more looks from her family, Haley quickly exited the kitchen. 

"There's something off about her", Claire suspiciously noted. 

"I know", Alex nodded, "She spoke nicely and used the word decline". 

Standing up, Claire continued, "Is it just me or was she purposely being vague?". 

"I don't know", Phil shrugged, "She's like she normally is". 

"Alex, I want you to go through her stuff and find out what's wrong", Claire instructed. 

"I don't feel good about us snooping around her stuff", Phil uneasily commented. 

"Neither do I", Claire agreed, "That's why I'm getting Alex to do it". 

"I'm sorry to disappoint", Alex remarked, standing up from her seat, "But I already told you, I have plans, so you're going to have to get your hands dirty this time around". 

"Oh really?!", Claire sarcastically inquired, "And what plans do you have?". 

"Zephyr's giving me some pointers and tips for my driving exam on Sunday", Alex answered. 

"Okay", Claire awkwardly muttered, looking away from her daughter and quietly walking away. 

"But-But. My VHS Festival!", Phil blubbered, deeply upset by the revelation that the festival he had planned was no longer going to occur. "Claire!", Phil yelled as he chased after his wife. 

"Ahh", Alex sighed, shaking her head in disappointment as she looked at her family. "Why are they so embarrassing?", Alex complained, returning to her book. 

"I heard that!", Phil exclaimed as she ran up the stairs, tripping over the broken step as he did so. 

[Time Skip]

"Are you really sure it's okay for me to drive using your car?", Alex asked with concern, "What if I damage it?". 

"I've already told you, so don't worry about it", Zephyr calmed her down, "I trust you. And besides, it won't cost me much to repair it, so you can drive as you like".

Alex took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Upon opening them, a determined gleam flashed in her eyes, "Thanks". 

"No worries", Zephyr waved off her thanks, "All you have to do is ace your practical". 

Alex took another deep breath and nodded. Seeing this, Zephyr smiled and handed her his keys. 

Taking them from his hand, Alex walked over to his car, becoming more worried with each step she took. Just as she felt like she couldn't go on, she felt Zephyr grasping her hand and squeezing it. Looking back, she saw the encouraging look in his eyes and nodded, not wanting to disappoint him. 

As she walked closer to the car, she couldn't help but appreciate how good it looked. Despite his wealth, Zephyr had opted not to go over the top (in his opinion) for his first car, however, Alex couldn't help but disagree when she saw it. 

The chrome light blue Jaguar F-Type glistened under the midday sun as it stood parked in the driveway. Its sleek, aerodynamic curves and polished chrome accents exuded an air of sophistication and luxury. The body of the car was painted in a shade of light blue that seemed to change hues depending on the angle of the light.

As Alex approached the car, she couldn't help but admire its timeless beauty. She ran her hand along the smooth lines of the vehicle, feeling the coolness of the chrome trim beneath her fingertips. The Jaguar's headlights, with their distinctive J-shaped LED signature, gave the car an imposing and charismatic presence.

Opening the driver's door, Alex settled into the plush leather seats, which cradled her in comfort. Upon snapping out of her daze, Alex observed the dashboard of the car, getting familiar with the interior of the car. After a minute of doing a variety of safety checks and making sure that everything was working, Alex started the engine, and the F-Type roared to life with a throaty purr, ready to unleash its power on the open road. 

Taking a deep breath, Alex pressed down on the accelerator, the chrome light blue Jaguar F-Type gracefully glided forward. Although momentarily surprised by its acceleration, she recovered in the blink of an eye, adjusted the throttle and quickly spun the steering wheel to the right. Once aligned with the road, she stepped on the accelerator, the car elegantly zooming forward. 

"Ease a bit on the accelerator", Zephyr instructed, "There's a speed limit". 

Alex nodded her head and lifted her foot off the accelerator, the car's speed rapidly decreasing. "Don't go that slow", Zephyr commanded, "Unless you're at a bend or corner, there's no need to go that slow". 

"Okay", Alex resolutely nodded, speeding up once more. After a few minutes under Zephyr's guidance, Alex had gotten the hang of driving the Jaguar and was cruising down the roads. 

"You're doing much better", Zephyr commented, observing how smoothly the car turned a left bend. 

"Thanks", Alex muttered, no longer as nervous and worried about damaging Zephyr's car as she was before. 

"See", Zephyr remarked, "There's not much of a difference between driving my car and Claire's". 

"Pft. As if", Alex scoffed, "Your car's worth like double Mom's car". 

"No need to get anxious", Zephyr comforted, "You're doing really well now". 

"You're right", Alex quickly nodded her head, returning her full focus to the road. 

"Hey", Zephyr called out. 

"Yeah", Alex replied, "What's up?". 

"Were you invited to Sanjay's party?", Zephyr asked. 

"Yeah", Alex nodded, "Why?". 

"Yeah, don't go", Zephyr instructed. 

"What? Why?", Alex questioned. 

"Sanjay's going to be there", Zephyr plainly answered. 

"Well, duh", Alex retorted, "It's his birthday party, of course, he'd be there". Despite hearing her words, Zephyr refused to comment. "Oh My God!", Alex exclaimed, "You're not going so you don't want me to go because you don't trust me". 

"It's not that", Zephyr argued, "I trust you". 

"Then what is it?", Alex countered. 

"I trust you, but I don't trust guys", Zephyr answered. 

"Huh", Alex muttered, confused by what he said. 

"Come on!", Zephyr exclaimed in frustration, "You can't be that blind! Everyone knows that Sanjay likes you and he's been trying to break us up for the whole year. Why do you think he sits next to you in AP History? Why do you think his party is on the same day and time as when I have my soccer game". 

"I-I didn't know", Alex stuttered, not meeting his gaze. 

Zephyr glanced at the apologetic look on Alex's face and all the built-up frustration within him vanished, "I'm sorry for shouting at you". 

"No. I'm sorry", Alex stopped him, "I'm stupid for not realising that Sanjay's been making moves on me. I should've noticed sooner". 

Zephyr sighed, "It's fine. I trust you, but it's just that I don't trust Sanjay". 

"I get it", Alex admitted in realisation. 

Not wanting to keep the mood down, Zephyr quickly directed the conversation in another direction, "So. How are you feeling about that practical now?". 

"Much more confident", Alex answered. 

"Hey, do you think your parents managed to find out what Haley was hiding?", Zephyr questioned. 

"Not a chance in hell", Alex snorted. 

[At the Dunphys]

"Right", Phil stated as he marched around the coffee table with a general's hat on his head, "Plans A to E have failed, so we have to resort to plan F". 

"Which is what exactly?", Claire asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Instead of answering, Phil pulled out a matchbox from his pocket, "Plan F, better known as Plan Fire. We start a fire and then when the fire alarm starts, Haley will evacuate the house and we can quickly snoop through her things". 

"That's not a bad idea", Claire remarked in surprise. 

"Thank you", Phil congratulated himself. 

"That way, the firemen can come over as well", Claire added, "Phil, get things ready while I go change". 

"No!", Phil exclaimed upon seeing his wife's retreating form.