Sophia arrived at her school with Emma Pearson. The moment they stepped out of the school bus, a bunch of kids who wanted to know what happened surrounded them because there was a rumour the Principal had suspended them.
Without even thinking that she needed to keep secret what she did for that to happen, Sophia explained that Eliza and her friends dragged her to the back of the gym, and because she thought at that moment that she was in danger, she defended herself.
That granted her a lot of cheers from most of the students who also told her how many times Eliza and her gang bullied them, and what all of them never understood was why the Principal never did anything against them, making Sophia explain that after her father's visit on the previous morning, he was forced to act, and things were not looking good for Eliza and her friends.
Sophia and Emma walked to their classroom, still talking with the kids, and bid their farewells with the promise to meet again during the next break to talk some more.
As soon as they entered, their entire class greeted them, and in between all the noise, a red-haired girl asked, "Sophia, are you going to enter the School Sports Competition?"
"The what competition? Never heard of that!"
"Never? It is a big competition between all the schools in this City that will happen a few weeks from now! There are quite a few events, and I bet you would do well in a lot of them! Maybe this year we will get a chance to win a medal for the first time! There are races in the Athletics event, a Dodgeball event, and a Boxing event!"
Sophia smiled as she sat at her desk and said, "I like those names! What is all that?"
The teacher's arrival interrupted them, but Sophia signalled for her classmate to meet after class to talk some more.
…
The entire day was somewhat peaceful for Sophia and Emma, even with a bunch of students coming to talk to them about all the rumours going around.
When school ended, Sophia walked to the front gate with Emma while talking with a group of kids and laughing all the way there, but as soon as they went out, Sophia saw her father in his jerseys, next to Mia Mills, who was wearing very tight shorts and a loose lycra blouse with long sleeves, completed with a baseball hat and sunglasses with orange lenses.
Sophia waved to the other students and Emma, then went to her father and Mia with a puzzled look. When she was near them, Mia made a twirl and asked, "What do you say? Does this look good on me?"
"Not sure. Your buttocks look like they are about to burst out! What a strange outfit! Why are you wearing that?" asked Sophia with a grimace, making Mia give an awkward smile and explain, "I am also wearing a lycra top underneath this, but your father said it was too much for a mere run in the park, so I bought this blouse."
Seeing how Sophia was now puzzled, Mia explained, "We went for a run in the morning, but I had to buy these clothes. Then we went to have lunch, then a walk in the city and look at some shop windows, and then we went for another run before coming here."
As they walked to the nearest subway station, Sophia asked in a low voice, "Shouldn't you be hiding in our house instead of sightseeing? Isn't that too dangerous?"
"I made a phone call to my father at lunchtime, and he said his people had arrested the men that were after me, and they were being interrogated. Maybe later today or tomorrow it will be safe for me to go back to my house."
Noticing how Mia was glancing at her father, Sophia asked with a grin, "I suppose you can't wait to return home, considering you are spending too much time with poor people like us who live in a tiny apartment! Now you can go back to your good life, nice restaurants, and expensive shops!"
Trying to disguise her nervousness, Mia spoke in a low voice as well: "Not that I dislike living with you and your father, but… It will be good to go back to my old life, yes."
As soon as she noticed that Jack was sighing, Mia quickly concluded, "I know I have to change a few things in my life, so I guess this entire ordeal served for something."
"Mostly the way you treat people, because if you return to your rude ways, you won't find many people treating you as well as me."
Mia slowly nodded her head and said, "I know that… you… don't need to remind me…" After a few seconds, she continued, "That means you… will be around if I need you again? To talk some more or… for a run?"
"I suppose I can do that. You know where to find me. But if you look down on me or if you frown when you see me, I might lay you on my lap and smack your butt for you to learn some manners, you rude brat!"
Seeing Mia so surprised made Sophia burst into laughter. "Hahaha! The look on your face! So funny!" She forced herself to stop laughing and asked with a grin, "Talking about expensive shops, you dared to go to one in the morning, and you didn't take me with you? I wouldn't mind getting some new clothes! Or shoes! Oh! Sunglasses like yours! Those look cool!"
"Well, I suppose we could go look for a shop before going home, and I could buy something for you as a thank you for having me in your house! Or better yet, what if, after some shopping, we went to have dinner out to celebrate? If my father got those guys, I guess it is safe for me to be outside longer, right?"
While Sophia was happily agreeing, Jack Cross was glancing around and thinking. Since they were both looking at him and seemed to be waiting for his answer, he sighed and said, "I suppose you are right, but you don't need to pay for Sophia's clothes. Considering all the money your father is going to pay me, I can-"
Mia immediately interrupted him and said, "No, it is on me. I am also going to buy some clothes for you because we can't go out for dinner with you dressed like that! You need a new shirt, trousers, and shoes! I will also buy something for myself so that we can all look good on our first outing!"
While looking at the subway map to choose a new destination, Sophia asked, "Our first? Are you perhaps implying that even after going to your home, you want to meet with us again and perhaps have some fun with poor people like us?"
"I… I mean… if you want to…" Mia stuttered while trying to keep her cool and failing.
Sophia held her arm and said, while pointing to a station on the map she was looking at, "We should go there. My friends at school said there are a few family restaurants nearby. But I am not going to call you mommy or anything, so don't get your hopes up, lady!"
"I never said I wanted it! I… you are mocking me. And I fell for it…"
"You are too easy to tease, Miss Mia! Cheer up, we are going shopping! And then we are going to stuff our bellies! I want a tonne of meat! And sweets for dessert!"
Mia happily agreed, with Jack Cross slowly shaking his head and complaining, "A lot of exercise all day to be ruined by a big dinner. We might need to go for a late run before going to bed, or we will have trouble sleeping!"
"I am all for that! What do you say, Miss Mia? Exercise before bed? But I will need your help to feed my pets as soon as we get home, or they won't stop complaining, and I won't get any sleep!"
"The snake is mine! I will even take care of unfreezing the mouse for her! Oh, and the guinea pigs as well! I like those screeching fur balls!"
With a wink, Sophia said, "If you like the snake and the guinea pigs that much, you can take them home with you. I need some space in my room, anyway. My father tends to complain that I am always finding new animals in need of help, and I take them home with me for them to recover until I can find a new place for them to live. If I get rid of the guinea pigs' cage and the snake's terrarium, I will have space for another type of animal."
"I suppose I could do that. I have plenty of space in my room, and I even have a few empty rooms in my father's house. Some of my servants would find it weird that I suddenly arrived home with those animals, I bet!"
"A few empty rooms and servants? How rich are you, anyway?"
With an awkward smile, Mia answered, "Your father would say I am filthy rich, but it is my father who is rich. I only get an allowance, and I don't even have a job. Maybe that is something I need to change. My father is always saying I should spend less time fooling around with my friends and start learning something in his company."
And while pretending to be serious, Sophia said, "A receptionist! With your cheerful personality and the way you are always smiling, your father's visitors would think an angel was in front of them!"
"Since when do I have a… You are mocking me again, aren't you?"
"Hehehe!"