Caught in the Middle

Chapter 1: Part 2

Sophia and I share most classes together. We became friends on my very first day of high school. I think her and I only originally became friends because we were the exact opposite of each other, surprisingly making our friendship very comfortable. While I barely spoke, as silent as a mouse, she would on the other hand do most of the talking for me... so much so her words would usually drown out any conversation like the Niagara falls. I do have to admit I have gotten better since then...
She were small and short with a bubbly personality, just the slightest bit shorter than myself, with a reddish brown bob hair do, which she always wore up and almost always kept short since I had first met her. She always made me feel like home...

We are both now in junior year. And junior year really sucks... it's hard. Constantly inundated with work and tests... That is why Sofia has turned to coffee for her daily morning source of caffeine. Coffee, for me though, has been a life long tradition... it runs in my blood literally.
We sit together in a cafe across from our school, where we like to meet for coffee every Monday morning. If I could afford this bit of luxury everyday, of sitting across from my best friend as we both sip away at our frothy drinks that awakens and brings life to our deathly souls at this time of hour in the early morning, I would. Which reminds me, I should really take up that job opportunity at the grocers so that I could afford this bit of bliss a little more on a regular basis with my dear friend...

This morning is particularly different though...

Her eyes shine at me as she leans closer.
"I'm mugging you of your coffee." She says in a ridiculous tone, I would say sounds alot like a threat from the cookie monster if I were trying to be more specific, and coming from her it had sounded a little terrifying. She laughs, reaching for my cup and dragging it slowly away from me. Even so, I roll my eyes at her playfully.
"Kill me than, coffee criminal." a smile rolling on my lips as I reclaim my coffee back. "No one steals my coffee in the morning."
She snorts. Suddenly Sophia leans over excitedly, as though her caffeine boost had just begun to take its full affect.
"Do you like my pun though? Look at me, being all clever and annoying at this time of hour." She says, eyes bright and wide, a mocking proud grin spreads over her lips.
I scoff. "Not clever. A takeaway cup is not even a mug... Its too early for this, Soph. Your doing my head in." I complain, rubbing at my temple with my fingers.
I am exhausted... and I cant help how I feel. I lean back into my cozy chair. How had that caffeine worked unbelievably fast for Soph, but not I? Maybe I had become immune... to caffeine that is... I quickly glance down at my phone. It's still only 7.30am, and I did have barely enough sleep the previous night, I guess. Completing my history assignment like a 'responsible' student, shredding away at my paper... catching up on what should have been started a week ago. Then I had caught sight of Isaac sneaking back home late at night, climbing through his own window when I had gone in to retrieve a pen from his room... but never mind that...
I begin to casually look away. Sophia's eyes catch mine, and she then begins to scan the room. Her bright hazel eyes, wide, and they glint back at me when they find mine again.
"Oh." She whispers aloud with an intrigued laughter in her tone, trying her best to keep her voice down. "You... I know what your doing... you think his coming, don't you?" She breaths, eagerly watching me for a response. Her feet tap excitedly under our table as she breaks our gaze and scans the room again. "I think he will, Gabs, I think he will."
My eyes widen on her as she says this, heat rising to my cheeks.
And ladys and gentlemen, I'm awake. Well wide awake. Maybe too awake. She's woken the demon inside me... my anxiety... I let out an awkward laugh, hoping 'he' doesn't suddenly appear through those doors.
"His not turning up ok, what are you talking about?" I respond quickly. I'm looking and sounding too awkward, ... and if Sophia catches on... god, she could make my life hell! If he does turn up... Sophia will undoubtedly make this... the worst day!
Sophia drops back into her chair... eyes assessing me with a little snarky smirk, curiosity substancing on her face... The light in her eyes is what's currently scarying me. She picks up her cup, and I can already see a grin forming from behind it as she takes a long sip. She mumbles something into it, I couldn't quite hear. I purse my lips at her, not knowing if I should ask... I wont, I decide. She can come to her own conclusions, I can't fight her on that.
But as we both hear the bell above the door ring as it opens to the little cafe, we both just as quickly simultaneously turn toward the sound. I had already half expected to see him standing there in his red and white sports team bomber jacket. Why had Finn seem to be everywhere... ever since Troy had bothered me on the bus over a week ago?
It was him... standing there, pulling his wallet out as he then begins to make his way to the front. His in his school sports jacket like all the other jocks, adidas tracksuit pants, and runners, a black and white gym bag swung over his shoulder. He pretends not to notice Sophia and I as Sophia practically stares him down as he makes his way to the counter. I pick up on his 'little' glimpse over at our table. Even so, it's hard to shake off the feel of his presence as he stands there taking his order. My heart races when he seems so close.
My heart then pounds when I also hear Soph as she giggles... I shush her when her giggling gets louder! She suddenly reaches over the table and snatches my hand, catching me off guard and frightening me alittle.
"What did I tell you." She giggles some more, a wide grin dancing on her face. I find myself wincing. She's not going to make this easy... she's just not...
"Soph?" I whine, hoping for once she may hear me out. I have many doubts...
"I think his stalking you-" She whispers aloud, before, horrified, I shush her again and try kicking her under the table. She clutches at her leg, wincing a little, before poking her tongue out at me. My mind is running too much to even care how hard I may have kicked her.
"Sophia? Stop? Ok?" I say, feeling the pound of my heart in my throat. I seriously hope his attention wouldn't find us.
"But why is he suddenly everywhere now, Gabs? Everywhere? And here every Monday?-"
"You mean last Monday." I say with clenched jaw, correcting her quickly. She completely ignores me. She's already made up her mind, there is no going back... My eyes narrow on her.
'And why does he just happen to 'appear," she quotates with her fingers "in the library... suddenly... last Thursday... you know, only after he had stalked you there? The only place he hasnt stalked you to is the girls restroom... because, you know, that would be seriously weird! But other than the ladies lavatory... his practically everywhere!" She hisses. I gape... can she hear herself? I slowly shrug, speechless, as I try to comprehend how she thinks she knows where everyone is at all times... and how she came to assume that he were stalking me??
Either way, this is not the best time or place to discuss this...
When the chair beside me suddenly draws back and someone drops down into it, startling the hell out of me, I almost scream, almost tipping what were left of my coffee...
"Hey hey, dorks. How's it all hanging, girls?"
"Fuck Tess." I wheeze, dragging a hand over my chest, my heart pounding so strong I could practically feel it through my hoodie. These two will give me a heart attack some day! "What are you doing here? Don't you have bio or something... this morning?"
She cackles as she pulls out her book from her bag, noticing how pale I had looked... I mean, as pale as my tanned skin could practically get. Sophia only leans in to Tess, a slightly creepy grin emerging on her face.
"Finn Walker is stalking Sanchez." She mentions this like it were an actual fact... I want to wringe her neck! Tess instantly swings her whole body to search for Finn. He happens to catch eyes with her and Soph as they gaze on him whilst he casually retrieves his order from a worker. His brows pin together, in what looks like pure confusion. Maybe frustration? All I can think is... poor Finn.
He darts his eyes away and heads for the nearest table, lowering himself down into a chair, his back completely turned to us. Purposely, I'd assume.
As Tess tosses her long black braided hair over her shoulders, she shoots her gaze back to me, eyes narrowing in curiosity. She bites down on her lip watching me. Somehow I already know what she's thinking...
"Do you want me to go over?" She questions. But ofcourse, her mind is already made up, does she really have to ask? Soph squeals and claps her hands in excitement.
"No!" I try quickly... but not quick enough!
"Yes!"
Both Sophia and I exclaim at the exact same time... Tess has a knowing smiling... it grows into a smirk as she reaches to her feet... my eyes grow... horrified. Its useless, but I do try to scrumble for her hand, whilst she ducks it away, I completely miss. It only means she'll be making her way casually over to him, whilst I can only look on in horror... as though my life slowly crumbles to an end right infront of my own eyes... time slows down... the slow motion of time and I can only look on like a pathetic loser... am I being way too dramatic? Or is it just part of my anxiety threatening to cause me death! I practice breathing in... breathing out... God, why should I even care? I shouldnt... I really shouldnt. Maybe it's ok if mum wants to move this time!
This is all ok, everything will be fine. I continue to try to convince myself as I practice my slow breathing... but no... its too damn hard to just ignore... Should I get up and chase her?! Should I try to make some sort of big distraction of some kind?! How the hell do I even do that?! But... either way... it's too late... and how the hell did she get there so damn quick! The girl is like some sort of Speedy Gonzales... She'd been talking to him... already... for God knows how long, me having blanked out for a short while... My jaw clenches as I watch her. She smiles as she says something, waving her hands about like a total douche, as though she were even explaining something remotely the bit interesting.. and then as they both turn to face me an instant chill runs down my spin. I feel dizzy. Was I blushing? I think I may be blushing... I guess my only option now is to bury my shameful face deep into my own hands... bury my humiliation...
Sophia reaches and pulls down the wall around my face, successfully bringing down one hand, then peering through, smile curled annoyingly on her face.
"He" she chortles before she continues "... ahhh... he smiled at you. But you look... pathetic." She says with an amused smile, raising her brows at me. As I glimpse over, I see Tess walking back to us. She swings into her seat dramatically before dropping herself over toward me.
"He has ascertained me, madam..." she begins "... he is in no way stalking you, Gabz." She pulls a crossiant out of her bag. Shit... she had actually asked him that?!... my jaw drops. What the hell Tess?!
"W-wha-?" I choke, the rest of my words stuck, refusing to spill from my gaping mouth...
Her eyes roll at me.
"He just asked for your number... not something stalkers do... right? I wasnt sure..." she winks at me.
My gape widens on her more.
"Mmmm... huh?" Clearly my words aren't wanting to form into proper sentences...
"Yes, deary." She plays. "Honestly, he just..." she smirks "he just wants to ask you something? Or..."she rolls her eyes. "Ask you out, I can't recall."
But the look on my face, she can't resist to further tease me.
"But, I mean, it could literally be anything... for example, do you like to spoon? What kind of Bender are? Are you into anime? Do you know the answer to my assignment questions? Or what do you want to feel my hot sexy abs?" She teases