It was the end of another hectic school day, and Sophie Davis was beyond excited. The Market Festival at Queen Victoria Market had finally arrived, marking the first of the third month, and she couldn't wait to escape the usual routine. She grabbed her bag and rushed out of the Academy of Mary Immaculate with her two best friends, Zara Bennett and Ella Scott.
"Ready to have some fun?" Zara asked, her voice filled with excitement as she bounced beside Sophie.
"Totally," Sophie replied with a grin, her thoughts already on the festival.
Ella, the more reserved of the three, smiled quietly. "Let's hope the food stalls have something new this year."
The three of them walked through the bustling streets of East Melbourne, filled with the promise of good food, music, and laughter. They were joined by Zane Mitchell, Sophie's best friend since childhood, who was always the source of her endless entertainment.
"Hey, Zane!" Sophie called, waving him down.
Zane jogged over, his face lighting up when he saw them. "I thought you guys would never show up. I've already been eyeing the best food trucks."
"Of course you have," Sophie laughed, linking arms with him. "Lead the way, then."
As they walked towards Queen Victoria Market, Sophie felt the excitement bubbling inside her. The air was alive with the sounds of music, chatter, and the smell of fresh food. It was the perfect escape from her usual life, especially with the tension that always seemed to follow her at home.
They spent the next hour walking around, tasting street food, and browsing through the various stalls. But Sophie's mind wasn't fully present. Her thoughts kept drifting back to something else. Or rather, someone else.
Her gaze shifted across the market, and her eyes locked onto a group of young men. Sophie's heart skipped a beat. There he was—Aiden Wilson. She had never seen him before, but in that instant, it felt like time stopped. He was standing by a food stall with five of his friends: Noah Harris, Liam Carter, Oscar Parker, Logan Reid, and Hunter Anderson. They were all laughing and joking around, but Sophie couldn't take her eyes off him. His striking looks, the way he carried himself with quiet confidence—he was different from anyone she had ever seen.
"Hey, Sophie? You good?" Zane's voice broke through her trance.
Sophie blinked and quickly turned her attention back to her friends, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," she muttered, trying to shake off the overwhelming feeling in her chest.
Zane raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing her distraction. "Uh-huh. You sure about that?"
Sophie nodded quickly, trying to focus on the moment. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think about Aiden. The way he looked at her from across the market—did he notice her too? She couldn't explain it, but there was something magnetic about him.
"Let's grab some food," Zara suggested, pulling Sophie out of her thoughts.
Later that evening, after a day filled with laughter and the sounds of the festival, Sophie headed back home. Her thoughts still lingered on Aiden Wilson. It was ridiculous, really. She didn't even know him. But the feeling of connection she had felt when their eyes briefly met was still alive inside her.
As Sophie walked through the door of her house, the tension in the air was palpable. Her father, Jack Davis, was sitting at the kitchen table, papers scattered in front of him. He looked up as Sophie entered, his face tight with frustration.
"Where's the money for the bills, Sophie?" he snapped. "I've been asking you for days!"
Sophie's stomach tightened. "Dad, I don't have it. I told you that already. I'm not working full-time yet. I've been focusing on my studies."
Jack slammed his hand on the table, causing Sophie to flinch. "Don't give me that! You're 18 now. You should be helping around here. How am I supposed to pay everything off when you don't do your part?"
Sophie's temper flared. "I'm doing my best, okay? I'm just trying to get through school without falling apart. Why can't you understand that?"
The argument escalated from there, with Jack accusing her of being irresponsible, and Sophie firing back, saying he never took responsibility either. It ended with Sophie storming off to her room, her emotions a whirlwind of frustration and helplessness.
She sat on her bed, trying to calm herself, but the words of her father echoed in her mind.
As she lay there, her thoughts turned back to Aiden Wilson. She closed her eyes, trying to shake off the heavy weight of the argument. Her mind wandered to the market festival, to the brief moment when she had seen him. She could still picture his face so clearly—his dark eyes, the way his lips curved into a small smile when he laughed with his friends. It was silly, really. She didn't even know him. But she couldn't help herself.
That night, as Sophie drifted off to sleep, Aiden's face lingered in her mind. In her dreams, they were together, walking hand-in-hand through the market, laughing like they had known each other forever. Sophie smiled softly in her sleep, unaware that this was only the beginning of a journey that would change her life in ways she could never imagine.
.....