SOFIA
I'm the most miserable soul in Beacon Academy.
Trent street was attacked. Keith is dead. My childhood memento gone. Life has suddenly turned from honey to bile.
I had spent a week at the hospital, recuperating from shock, and I know my friends will be worried sick. But of what use are those friends if my best friend is gone?
I sighed wearily as I walked through the double doors, my books cradled in my arms. As I predicted, heads whipped in my direction as soon as I stepped into the hallway. How had they gotten the news so fast?
Linda,Malia and Barbie raced to me immediately,concern etched on their faces.
"Are you okay, Sofia?"they kept asking.
"I'm fine"I replied.
We walked together through the hallway, past a sea of concerned faces. As the mayor's youngest daughter and the school beauty, I'm quite popular. I'm a cheerleader too.
Walking alongside my friends made me feel better. No matter what I'm going through, I know these guys... girls... will always be there for me. People often wonder how we even manage to get along, since we're so different from one another. I'm the hot, popular one who's got the the most guys crushing on her.
Linda is the fun, intellectual, reliable one. Barbie is the childish, innocent, cute and happy-go-lucky one. Malia is the arcane syndrome freak.
It shows, even in our dressing. While I pop on denims and jewelry, Linda is more a fan of leather jackets and boots. Barbie goes for flowers and bows, while Malia feels cute in multicolored baggies.
As we turned a corner, I exhaled heavily, thinking how I was definitely NOT ready to face my teachers.
*
*
*
"Psst. You okay,Sof?"James whispered.
I blinked,then shook my head. I had spaced out for the fifth time in English class.
"You should've given yourself a few more days"James added.
"I'm fine, James"I sighed, picking my pencil from where it had fallen on the floor.
James shrugged and turned back to the teacher.
James Kendall.Aged fourteen. Eighth grade class president, and the only guy I know who's not crazy about me. He's a nice guy, but apparently, maintaining his parallel A's is far more important than my little problem.
With a sigh, I gripped my pencil tighter and got ready to write, but I spaced out again. I thought of Keith. Of the times we shared.
I thought of building mud pies together, playing in the rain, swimming in the pond, sharing a cone of ice cream, poring eagerly over a picture storybook.
My eyes watered as I remembered our last goodbye just a month ago. He had held me in a warm embrace for a very long time while I sobbed into his shirt. It had been an usually long holiday, which is why it had hurt like hell when it finally came to an end.
Keith is extremely naive and his cluelessness can get pretty annoying, but he's my friend whom I love. He does not deserve such a fate!
I didn't realize I had spoken aloud, until I saw all eyes fixed on me.
"Damn"I muttered, burying my face in my palms.
Where's recess when I need it?
*
*
*
Martha, the prettiest steward gave me a look of sympathy as she handed me a wooden tray of food.
How did she get the news so fast?
With a long drawn sigh, I walked past her in search of a table. I could barely feel the presence of my friends behind me, could barely hear Linda jabbering in my ear.
Man, I'm so exhausted. I know they mean no harm, but all that sympathy is starting to wear me out.
"Sofia!".
I paused, and so did my friends. Did I just hear my name? It sounded like his voice... only Keith calls my name that way.
S-fia.
I shook my head rather violently. Am I going delusional now?
"Sofia! Over here!Hey!".
My heart picked up the pace. I could hear the heavy thuds as I stirred slowly.
I blinked. I blinked again.
He was real. He was there, standing at the door, smiling broadly.
He's real.
I didn't even feel my tray drop from my hands. I wanted to run to him. I wanted to throw my arms around him. But my feet had gone numb. I found myself taking one slow step after another, like someone in a daze. My eyes never left him, even as I walked over my spilt lunch. After what felt like eternity, I finally stood before him.
I stretched out my hand to touch him, but froze at the last moment.
What if he vanishes before my eyes?
Keith's eyes warmed, and he drew me into a hug. My eyes widened,then filled with tears. I suddenly felt so small.
I forgot all about the spectating students.
I forgot all about my reputation.
I pressed myself to him and wept aloud.
*
*
*
KEITH
When Percy asked me for Sofia's school, I really couldn't believe it. But the very next day I found myself at Beacon Hills Academy. I got enrolled as a night grader, and Percy even assigned me a black chaffeur-driven hatchback. As soon as I had taken my seat between a redhead with braided pigtails and a spiky haired blond, I had turned to the boy to ask if he knew Sofia Corona.
"Sofia Corona? That Sofia Corona?"he had asked, his big violet eyes even bigger in his pale, effeminate face.
Apparently, my bestie is something of a school princess.
I and Langdon instantly became very good friends. Sofia is an eighth grader, so I didn't get to see her until lunchtime. I walked into the cafeteria,deep in a familiarisation chat with Langdon, and I suddenly saw her.
There was Sofia, walking with three other girls. The joy that flooded my heart nearly surprised me. It swelled to bursting point.
I called out to her immediately. I know she heard me, because she stopped walking.
I watched her stall, watched her shake her head. I called again, louder.
After what felt like forever, she turned. Then she began to approach me.
She looked dazed. Her eyes were filled with disbelief, and her legs seemed like they would give way under her. Suddenly, realization dawned on me.
She heard.
She definitely heard about Trent street. She thought I was dead. I can't even begin to imagine the pain I must have put her through. I felt so sorry. Without a second thought, I pulled her to myself, holding her close even as she bawled into my shoulder.
Everyone stared, including the stewards. I even sighted a plain faced brunette holding up an I-phone. That didn't matter. None of it mattered. Sofia and I are together, and we're never getting seperated ever again.