The Ecstatic Life Of Sofia

Chapter Five: Meadow View Part 1

The next weekend she packed her bags and headed out to Colorado, she would tour the campus Sunday and attend a Psychology class, choosen for her by the school, Monday morning. Finally, Monday evening she would return to her town and either accept or reject the acceptance she had recieved.

When she arrived the town was just as she had read and she quickly checked into a small inn.

Saturday morning she got up and began to explore the town. The older couple who ran the inn seemed nice enough and told her several places she could explore in town.

She first found a small cafe and waited in the line patiently. When she reached the front, she was cut off by a man. "Hey!" she said. "There's a line you know." she glanced back at about five other people waiting in line behind her.

"Sorry sweetheart, stick around and you'll find lines aren't really my thing." He grabbed his coffee and paid. "Thanks sugar." He winked at the barista. When he turned he fixed eyes on Sofia. "See ya 'round sweetheart."

Sofia ordered a hot chocolate for the slight chill she hadn't been expecting in April, and well because she didn't drink coffee, she also ordered a donut and sat down to eat. It tasted great, probably some of the best hot chocolate she had ever had.

Sofia walked up to the counter and pulled out money to pay. She smiled at the girl who was about her age. "Thanks" Sofia said.

"No problem, umm?" the girl asked.

"Sofia."

"Sofia, I'm Sara, it's nice to meet you." The barista smiled and held out her hand.

"Thanks Sara, I'll see you around." Sofia smiled and shook her hand.

Sofia then headed outside and began to walk down the street. She eventually came to a small park. She smiled and walked over to a bench where she sat down. She pulled out a book and began to read listening to the children play, the birds chirp, and the wind blow. About an hour later she put the book away and began to walk towards the woods behind the park. She walked and eventually came upon a bench, almosy the same as the one back home, it sat in the shade near a small pond with turtles and small fish. She smiled, then turned and left.

Sofia continued her walk as the sun began to set, suddenly someone hit her hard in the back she stumbled forward.

"Sorry!" It was Sara the batista from earlier. "Sofia! You're coming to the town annual right?"

Sofia stared back blankly. "Town annual?"

"Yeah! Don't tell me you've never heard of it!" Sara stared back wide eyed. "You haven't!? Okay, the town annual is one of the festivities we have for founder's month here in Meadow View. The annual is a fundraiser to raise money for improvements around the community. Donations are made and a big masquerade dance is held."

"It sounds like fun." Sofia smiled. "But I don't think I should go."

"Why not, it's open to the whole community and it's a lot of fun." Sara said. "Come on! We can go dress shopping together!"

Sofia stared at the bubbly girl in front of her and before she knew it, was in a dress shop.

"Okay, Mrs. Simmons, we need dresses for the annual tonight." Sara walked right up to the older woman behind the counter.

"Well," the woman said looking at Sofia. "Who is this here? What's your name child?"

"Sofia." Sofia smiled at the older woman.

"Well Sofia, I have a few dresses that would be perfect for you tonight." She smiled. "But the real question is are you planning on meeting anyone special tonight?"

Sofia flushed red. "Uh- no- I-" she stumbled over her words.

"Oh, you already have a beau." the old woman smiled.

"Um, no." Sofia said.

"So you do want to meet someone?" Sara asked.

"No, I'm not trying to meet anyone, because I'm only in town for the weekend." Sofia smiled.

"Well why didn't you just say so?" The old woman walked to a rack of dresses and pulled out an a-line teal dress that fell into a sea foam green, shook her head and replaced it on the rack. Next she pulled off a deep crimson red dress that looked like it would cling to your figure it had a large slit up the side, the woman looked at the dress as though she'd never seen it then placed it back on the rack. Finally, her eyes brightened as she pulled a deep blue dress off the rack and handed it to Sofia. "Go try this on." she smiled.

Sofia stepped out of the dressing room feeling like a princess, the dress clung to her stomach and chest, but the skirt was of chiffon and fell beautifully around her.

"You look lovely child." Mrs. Simmons smiled. "Here you go." She pulled a blue box off of one of the shelves.

Sofia smiled, back in her street clothes, holding her dress and the box she hadn't looked in. "What about you Sara?"

"I've already got my dress." She picked up a dress and box. "I think that's it."

"Oh, one more thing girls." The old woman said as they paid. "Here, have fun tonight." She held out another box to each of them.

"Thanks." Sofia smiled.

Sofia and Sara arrived back at the inn.

"Sara, dear. It's so good to see you again, how's your mother." The old woman behind the desk asked.

"Oh, she's fine Mrs. Sala"

"Her wrist healed up nicely?"

"Yes, thanks to your advice. The doctor said you were right about not moving it for a few days after the pain subsided."

"Yes, well Anthony had quite a few broken bones as a boy." The woman smiled and turned to Sofia. "Do you need anything dear?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." She smiled.

Sofia and Sara put on the dresses and did each others hair. Sara's dress was a pink a-line dress that faded into white towards the bottom. Sofia flattened Sara's curly hair and pulled the top layer back, leaving two strands to frame her face. Sara curled all of Sofia's wavy hair into tiny spirals and pinned them back loosely, leaving several small curls free to frame her face.

Sofia finally looked inside the two boxes, one held a dark blue mask with gold trim to match her dress, a gold necklace with a stone she had never seen hanging off it, stud earrings with the same stone as the necklace, and to complete the ensemble a ring with the same stone. She felt slightly uncomfortable with the jewelry, she had never really liked jewelry. The other box contained blue shoes to match the dress.

She turned to see Sara was fully dressed and looking lovely the light pink going wonderfully with her lightly tanned skin. And the silver jewelry with pink stones was amazing.

Sofia and Sara walked downstairs where Mrs. Sala stopped them to chat. They stayed for a moment moment before Mrs. Sala sent them off. "Have fun tonight girls."

Something continually nagged at Sofia, where had she heard that name, Anthony Sala.

Sofia was in deep thought, running through the past years of her life trying to remember who Anthony Sala was, when Sara nudged her. "We're here." Sara was practically exploding with excitement.