Exams were ongoing but I was more excited about the approaching Christmas holidays. I was going to be with my family again.
"I'll be celebrating the holidays in Florida." Chase said.
"Mine will be in Atlanta." Diego said.
"My dad is coming over from Italy." George said. "This is going to be the best Christmas holiday ever."
I looked down. I wish my dad will be with us too.
"How about you, Leo?" I have never told anyone about my dad. Not even George. I believe that not everything has to be shared with your friends. Some things were just meant to be your personal secret.
"My mom said it's a surprise." I lied.
"Ooh.... I love surprises." George said. "They always thrill me."
"Yeah, me too." I said. "I need to go now, guys."
"Where are you going?" Chase asked me.
"Sophie's." I said.
"You mean your gf?" Diego teased.
"No way, stop." I said smiling. "She's not my girlfriend. She's just.... My study partner."
"Study partner, huh?" George teased.
"Shut up, George." I said still smiling. "Now, if you guys don't mind, I'll be on my way."
"Bye Romeo." Chase said.
I shook my head and made my way to the door.
As I walked to Savannah House, my mind reeled back to all those joyful Christmas seasons. The ones that we celebrated before four years ago. The ones we celebrated as a happy joyous family. Tears clouded my eyes but I blinked them away consoling myself that all was going to be back to normal very soon.
As I got to the entrance, I ran into Ava. While I smiled, she frowned and walked away. I wondered why she was in Savannah while she was in Oakland house then I remembered. That was was Asher's house.
I shrugged and went to the living room. Sophie was waiting for me already.
"I'm sorry I was late, Sophie." I said.
"Oh, it's okay." She said. I sat. "Er, I was thinking... Can we go somewhere else? This place is kinda crowded."
"Okay.... Where else can we go?"
"C'mon!" She stood and took my hand.
She led me to an empty room at the backyard of the dormitory. "This was supposed to be the room for the head teacher of the house before they built an apartment instead. It's a nice place to read."
I looked around before sitting on the couch.
"So let's get started, shall we?" Sophie said.
"Right... We'll start with history, then biology and finally math."
"Right!" She said.
We started studying. I discovered that like me, Sophie grabbed things easier when it is discussed so that was how we studied together.
After we studied, I couldn't stop myself from staring at her as she packed her books. She looked very pretty in the dress she was wearing.
"What?" She asked smiling.
"Nothing!" I said almost immediately.
"Come on Leo, you know you can always tell me anything." She said.
"Actually...." I paused. George had said I should take things easy but then I was so eager to tell Sophie how I felt. "Thing is.... I ... like...you."
"What?" She said.
"I like you Sophie Brown." I said with more confidence.
She stared at me in silence for a while and I began to feel uneasy.
"I'm sorry, Leo but..." She came closer to you. "It's not gonna work out between us."
My eyes widened and my heart began to pound faster.
"First, I think of you as nothing more than a friend." She said. "And secondly, Chelsea's crushing hard on you. It will be betrayal if I start dating you, don't you think?"
I was so embarrassed and angry with myself.
"I'm so sorry." She said again and head for the door.
I couldn't move. I was embarrassed and shocked at the same time. I was embarrassed because Sophie just turned me down and shocked because Chelsea has been crushing on me. Some people really knew how to pretend. I never guessed that Chelsea might be interested in me.
When I told my roommates everything, thy couldn't stop laughing. It was annoying that they thought it was funny.
"You shouldn't have just rushed into things like that." Chase said. "With ladies, you just have to take things a little slow."
I nodded. "But then she said Chelsea is crushing on me."
"What the fuck?" Diego said. "Chelsea Diamond?"
I nodded.
"What a charm you are!" Diego said.
"Why?"
"No one has ever heard that Chelsea was into someone." George said. "She's always focused on studying."
I smiled suddenly. But then..... I don't feel anything special for Chelsea.