Grumpy but soft

The car ride was chaos.

Nicole and Maya were crammed into the backseat of my car, their voices loud and their flirting even louder. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my jaw clenched as Nicole laughed at something Maya whispered in her ear.

"You know," Nicole said loudly, leaning forward to rest her arms on the front seats, "Zaya, you've got a really smooth ride here. Did you wax the car yourself, or does it just reflect your personality?"

"Nicole," I said flatly, not even glancing at her, "sit back and put your seatbelt on."

Maya giggled, nudging Nicole with her elbow. "I think she's trying to say you're annoying."

"Oh, I'm sure she loves me," Nicole quipped, batting her eyelashes at me in the rearview mirror. "Deep down. Way, way down."

I sighed heavily, focusing on the road. "Deep enough to throw you both out of the car if you don't stop."