Sophia

Chapter 9: Erin Johnson

With school starting tomorrow, my mom decides to take me clothes shopping. After all, with everything that has happened within a very short time, she hasn't had any time to get things prepared, let alone go shopping with me. So, when I hear her say, "Sophia, it's time to go." With a happy note in her voice, I hurry and grab my purse before we head out the door.

As soon as I step onto the grass, I smile when I see the sun high up in the crystal-clear blue sky. There is not a cloud to be seen anywhere and that makes me extremely happy. Another thing that makes me smile, is the fact that it has been several days since I have seen the shadowy figure named Elijah or heard his voice. That makes me feel so much better about going back to school. Honestly, my mother had told me that if I didn't want to, I didn't have to, considering the circumstances.

This is something that I really want to do though, because otherwise I would just mope around the house and my imagination would start playing games with me again. Besides, I am hoping that in the little bit of time that I do have on this earth, I can find a best friend who will help me forget about this whole thing for now. To me, that makes it worthwhile in my book.

I know that my mom would rather have me at home so she could spend whatever time I still have with her. But every time I stop for a moment to look into her eyes, I suddenly begin to feel guilty for doing this to her. I know that it isn't something I did or can help, but still, I feel bad just the same.

Opening the passenger side door, I notice something a bit odd out of the corner of my eye. When I stare down at my seat, I see a green tree frog. It looks up at me and stares with its mouth open, as if it wants to tell me something. I glance over to my mother who is seated and in the process of buckling, before I say softly, "Mom, look." While pointing at the frog.

She smiles the moment she sees it and then reaches over to pick it up as she states with a sense of urgency, "I will take care of it, get in. We only have a couple of hours before the mall closes."

Watching as she quickly scoops it up and aids it in leaving the car, I sit down and buckle up before she turns on the car and I hear the engine purr. Right before she puts it into reverse, I see something in the side mirror. As I turn my head, I watch as a black cat sits behind us in the driveway.

I glance over to my mother before exclaiming, "Stop! There is a cat behind us. You are going to run it over."

The moment she hears me, she quickly stops and scans the area behind the car before staring at me and stating, "Honey, there is nothing there. It is in your head. Don't you remember what the doctor said?" She hesitates and then acts as if she suddenly remembers something before continuing, "That reminds me. Tomorrow after school, you have a doctor's appointment with him." Before backing up the car and putting it into drive.

Had I forgot about going to the doctor tomorrow? I think I had been trying to desperately forget about it, considering that the last time I saw him he told me I only had a few months to live. That is not what a teenager wants to hear before they ever have their first of a lot of things, including first date, boyfriend, kiss, and a whole slew of other things.

As I sit in the seat, I watch the other cars drive past us in the opposite direction and wonder what it is like to drive one. That is yet another thing I will never get to experience. "Why did this have to happen to me?" I ask myself before tears form in the corner of my eyes.

Realizing that we are finally at the mall, I patiently wait until my mom parks the car next to this old rusty, red minivan. It makes it hard to get out because we are so close to it, but I manage to squeeze out my door. Trust me, if there is one thing I love doing, it is shopping. So, I will be going even if I must climb out the back window.

While approaching the building I find myself happier now that I am finally here. However, when I scan the entrance of the mall, there seems to be a long line for some reason. Mom glances over at me and announces, "There must be something going on. What a crowd." She says while sounding disapproving of all the patrons outside the building before we walk past them and in the doors.

There are people everywhere today. Matter of fact, it seems like everyone in our town is here. I guess it's a good thing that the mall is so big that it could probably fit the White House in it. However, I am wondering too why so many people are here today. Surely, not everyone is clothes shopping the day before school starts.

When I hear a girl's voice from behind me, I instantly recognize it. It's Emily Van Buren. I went to school with her last year at Kellogg's Junior High School. She is one of the popular kids who doesn't ever say hi to me, unless none of her friends are around.

"Sophia, why are you here? Are you trying to get Erin Johnson's autograph?" She asks happily while looking all around her.

Wondering what she is talking about, I reply in a much quieter tone, "No, I am here with my mom, shopping for clothes. Who is Erin Johnson anyway?"

Cocking her head, she stares at me for a second before stating in disbelief, "You must be joking. You haven't seen At The Beach? He is so cute!"

Shaking my head, I glance at her before repeating, "No." And then I hear my mom's voice.

"Sophia, we have to hurry." She says while sounding exhausted already.

She nudges me in the side and gives me a cross look before I turn to Emily and suddenly wish that I did have time.

Standing before me is a guy with dark brown curly hair. He is 6 foot plus and I can tell by the way his shirt hugs him, that he is ripped. This must be Erin Johnson by the way everyone is fawning over him. My mom once she notices him standing there, even stops to gawk at him before she hurries me along.

Grabbing my hand, she leads me away as I continue staring in his direction. With my head still turned towards him, I watch Emily practically faint when he says something to her. "Oh well. Too late now." I think to myself as my mom whisks me away to the nearest clothing outlet.

After picking out a half dozen outfits, I feel like I have run a marathon. My mom on the other hand, looks like I feel as we stand in the checkout lane. Her hair is all messed up, there are large dark circles underneath her eyes, and she is practically dragging her Nike runners. While staring at her, I begin to realize that my condition has been worse on her than it has been on me.

Feeling worse now than I did before, I lower my head before asking so quietly it almost sounds like a whisper, "Mom. Can we go home now? I just want to order Pizza and watch a movie with you."

Seeing her nod her head slowly, I fake a smile and wait to pay for our things. After we finally manage to escape the horrendous lines before closing time, my mom drives home. While relaxing for the rest of the evening, I keep feeling that something is wrong. I can't tell what, but when I start to hear his voice again, I remember that in just a couple of months I won't be here anymore.