Of Gold and Sapphires

Chapter 5: Sweet Fantasy

The waves of air conditioning were a cool respite to the smouldering Saturday heat outside the car. Sophie and her best friend Maria were in relaxed and joyous spirits as the vehicle twisted and turned around emerald country lanes to their intended destination away from the suburbs. The music suddenly filled the airwaves. Both girls swiftly succumbed to the seductive melody, crunching beats and sang lyrics in honeyed harmony:

Oh, when you walk by every night

Talking sweet and looking fine

I get kinda hectic inside

Mmm baby, I'm so into you

Darlin' if you only knew

All the things that flow through my mind

The song was Maria's choice, being heavily influenced by her parents' love of British and American pop music from the nineteen eighties and nineties. The fact that she was named after the famous singer Mariah Carey added to the nostalgia.

Maria certainly had a more extroverted and flamboyant persona that contrasted with Sophie's self-conscious shyness. She was more outspoken and occasionally brash, but both girls knew that this was a cover for a deeply sensitive soul. Maria had learned to play this role because of her strict and masculine father who had served in the army. He was very keen for his sons and daughter to share the same tough and disciplined values. Being with Sophie allowed Maria to indulge her feminine side through glamorous makeup, colourful dresses and unique hairstyles. Sophie was plainer in appearance; her clothes and subtle makeup reflected this. Shared secrets and passions of art, nature, and music further cemented their bond. Maria's unique dream was to be a singer or a performer like her famous namesake, whereas Sophie's lay in the science of forensics.

However, Maria kept one deep dark secret from Sophie. She was gay and terrified of revealing her true nature. What further complicated matters was that she was truly, madly, and deeply in love with her best friend. She planned to tell Sophie of this revelation today, yet she was filled with self-doubt. She also knew that Sophie had developed an attraction to the recently arrived Jake Macdonald and was deeply jealous of this bond. This was something that she had never experienced before, adding further chaos to an already raging storm of conflicting emotions.

"Come on Maz, let's go to our favourite hideout where we can put the world to right, bitch about the boys and enjoy mother nature."

They sauntered down a farmer's dirt track, framed on either side by prickly hedgerows and colourfully decorated below with daffodils, foxgloves, and bluebells. This led into a winding path that opened out upon sunbathed fields of corn and maize. Sophie paused to gaze upon their golden magnificence.

"Reminds me of a famous painting... I think it's one by Vincent Van Gogh."

"Isn't that the guy who cut his ear off? Remind me never to date an artist, " sniggered Maria.

"Okay, he had his issues.... but even you must admit he created stunning works of art, " giggled Sophie.

"Yeah, well poor Vincent certainly did; I'll leave the struggling artists to you, Soph."

The fields gave way to wild shrubbery, rose bushes, ash trees, and the occasional mighty oak. The soothing sounds of flowing water could be heard in the distance. The path finally emerged to the water's edge of the meandering River Dane, dense marsh grass and elegant willow trees gracing either bank. There was a small grassy hollow indented into the bank side, which gave a picturesque view of the winding river and surrounding landscape. The gentle rolling of the river's currents was a soothing balm to the girls' mood, and Sophie felt her worries and concerns drain away. Except for one nagging memory from last night.