The weekend had finally arrived, and Sophie Davis couldn't have been more relieved. After a week filled with school stress, a demanding job at the restaurant, and the emotional chaos surrounding Aiden Wilson, she was in desperate need of a break. Her friends Zara, Ella, Zane, and Kai were all free for the day, so Sophie decided to spend the afternoon with them, hoping to distract herself from the drama that seemed to be following her everywhere.
But before she could head out, she was greeted by a scene she had grown all too familiar with at home. Sophie opened the door to the living room and immediately froze. Her father, Jack, was shouting at her mother, Isla. Indira and Lucas stood nearby, looking terrified. Sophie's stomach churned as she watched the same old argument unfold. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that her father's temper had flared once again.
"Dad, enough!" Sophie shouted, her voice trembling with frustration. She stormed into the room, stepping between her parents. "This has to stop!"
Jack turned to face her, his face red with anger. "Stay out of this, Sophie. You don't understand."
Sophie felt a surge of anger flood her chest. "I do understand! You do this every week, and we all have to live with it. We're all sick of it!"
Isla, her mother, was crying quietly in the corner, her shoulders shaking with each sob. Sophie's heart broke for her mother, who always tried to keep the peace despite Jack's temper.
"I'm sick of being treated like this," Sophie continued, her voice growing stronger. "I'm tired of watching you tear this family apart. Can't you see how much it hurts all of us?"
Jack sneered, his eyes filled with bitterness. "You don't know what it's like to be the one holding everything together. You don't know the pressure I'm under!"
Sophie's anger flared, but before she could say anything else, her younger brother Lucas tugged at her sleeve. "Sophie, please don't fight with Dad. We don't want you to leave, too."
Her heart clenched at his words. Sophie took a deep breath and turned to him, trying to force a smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Lucas. I'm just… I'm just tired."
Turning away from the argument, Sophie grabbed her bag and walked out the door, not wanting to be part of the chaos anymore. She needed a break, a chance to escape from the emotional turmoil that had been consuming her life lately. Her friends were waiting for her, and that was the one place where she could find comfort.
When Sophie arrived at the park, her four best friends were already gathered near the swings, chatting and laughing. Zara, Ella, Zane, and Kai had been her rock through everything. She knew she could count on them, no matter what.
"Sophie!" Zara waved enthusiastically as Sophie approached. "Come on, we've been waiting for you."
Sophie managed a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Sorry I'm late. Had a bit of a… family thing to deal with."
The others immediately noticed her mood. "What happened?" Ella asked, her voice gentle.
Sophie sat down on the bench, looking down at her hands. "Same old stuff. Another fight between my parents. It's getting harder to deal with. And with everything else going on in my life right now…" She trailed off, not wanting to go into too much detail.
Kai, ever the optimist, put an arm around her shoulder. "You don't have to go through it alone, Sophie. We're here for you, always."
Zane nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've got us. We'll get through this together."
Sophie smiled at her friends, grateful for their support. She shared everything with them—the fight with her father, the strange encounter with Aiden at the restaurant, and the whirlwind of emotions she had been feeling ever since. As she spoke, her friends listened intently, offering words of comfort and understanding. They made her feel like she wasn't alone, and for the first time in days, she felt a little lighter.
After spending hours with her friends, laughing and talking, Sophie finally decided it was time to head home. She wasn't looking forward to the inevitable confrontation with her father, but she had to face it eventually. As she walked through the quiet streets of Melbourne, her mind kept wandering back to Aiden. She hadn't seen him since the restaurant incident, but she couldn't stop thinking about him. Her heart still fluttered at the thought of him, even after everything that had happened.
As she neared her street, Sophie's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. She turned to see Aiden standing at the end of her block, just outside the park. He was talking to someone—his ex-girlfriend, Amelia Morris. Sophie's breath caught in her throat as she watched them from a distance.
Amelia was holding onto Aiden's arm, pleading with him, but Aiden was pulling away, his expression distant and cold. Sophie's heart ached at the sight. She didn't know why it hurt so much to see them together, but it did.
"Please, Aiden," Amelia begged, her voice trembling with emotion. "We've been through so much together. I can't lose you. I need you."
Aiden shook his head, his face set in determination. "Amelia, it's over. We're done. I'm not going back to you."
Sophie stood frozen, watching the scene unfold. She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Amelia, even though she knew she had no right to. Aiden's rejection seemed to have shattered something in Amelia, and Sophie couldn't look away.
As Aiden turned to walk away, Amelia called out to him one last time. "Aiden!"
Aiden didn't turn around, but he muttered over his shoulder, "Don't bother me ever again."
Sophie's heart skipped a beat. The revelation made her feel both excited and nervous. She couldn't believe that, after all this time, she had finally learned the truth.
Sophie watched Aiden disappear into the distance, and as she turned to walk back home, she couldn't help but wonder: Was this just the beginning of something new, or was it another dream that would fade before she had a chance to reach it?
.....