New Girl

What are you doing this weekend?

Unknown POV:

I've been worried recently. At first, it looked like I'd be able to do everything she asked me to do fine. But now ... I feel like I'm failing. I've tried, but I think I went about this the wrong way. How am I supposed to fix it now without ruining everything for good?!

But as stressful as all of that is, the worst part is probably that I just feel so torn. Why did I get myself into this? And how am I going to get out of it?

Y/N's POV:

I thought Sophia talking to me was a one-time thing but the next time we are together in that car, it happens again. And again. And again.

Laura looks just as baffled as I feel - continue to feel - when I tell her.

"That is so weird, Y/N!", she exclaims. "She's never made up with one of her victims as far as I know."

"I wouldn't call it 'made up'", I note. "But yeah, it is really fucking weird."

"Any ideas why?"

I shrug. Honestly, I have no clue. "I don't know. Maybe it's her way of saying please?"

I wait to see if Laura gets what I mean. I'm careful to avoid the topic of me leaving this city in her presence. I don't wanna hear suggesting I should again, because that hurt more than I'm willing to admit. Laura's my friend - my only real, close friend - here, and to hear her of all people say such a thing really did not feel nice. A bit like my parents moving me out of their house all over again.

Laura hums absentmindedly and picks at her sandwich. "Yeah ... maybe it is."

Does she still think I should leave? Actually, I don't wanna think about that. So I plaster a smile on my face and excitedly clap my hands.

"Hey, what are you doing this weekend?"

~

"There's a party this weekend."

"Oh, really? Where?"

Sophia cocks her head sheepishly. "At my place. Sorry if it's too loud." And for once she really sounds the tiniest bit sorry.

"I see." I nod slowly. Of course, I don't expect to be invited. I don't even know if I would want to be invited. Sophia's my archnemesis after all. Or at least she used to be. "Are your parents away?"

"Yeah", she confirms, "they'll be out of town until Tuesday."

"Interesting", I say and turn my head toward her to throw her a smirk. It happens so naturally that I don't even realize it. But when I do, I freeze. I don't know why I did that.

Luckily, Sophia doesn't seem to have noticed. Or at least she pretends she hasn't. And that's already a step up; old Sophia would have latched onto the opportunity and had a field day with it. But she doesn't now. Somehow, it nudges me one tiny step further away from my dislike. One of many tiny steps in the last few days.

Actually talking to Sophia feels peaceful. I wonder if we could've been friends if she hadn't decided to bully the shit out of me the second I arrived. And I wonder if she still wants me to leave.