All Cloaked Up For You

Chapter 14 - Alexander

I raced Jake Bloque across the city. Because that's what normal rich kids do. We have done everything because we have the money to do so.  As I try to pass Jake, I see Sophia in the corner of my eyes. I see her three-striped sweater. It looks comfy and beautiful on her. She adjusted her eye contact towards my direction. I look at her. I was about to say something to her but I forgot I'm not C.M. at the moment. I am Alexander Herrington. 

I look away. I hated looking away. I do. I want to see her one more time. Sophia got to my mind and I lost. Jake is always good at racing so it was no surprise for him to win. He swung his door open, "Good race," Jake said as he smiled from his car. I got out of the car. "Yeah good race," I responded to him. I remember racing toy cars with Jake when we were younger, now it's real. We are still basically kids but with adult money.

I look at where I originally saw Sophia, she is gone. She isn't in her spot. Jake came in my direction and I turned my head toward him. He looked at me in concern. "Dude, are you okay?" Jake asked. I look at him perplexed. "Dude, what do you mean?" I asked. He blinks his eyes. "You look like you are in love with some bitch again," he said. I raised my eyebrows. "Me?" I asked. "Yeah, who the fuck I am talking to? the air?" he said remarkably. 

I chuckled. "Alright, maybe I am," I said. He looked at me with a grin. "Do I get to know who is the lady?" he asked. His face was lit with hope. I cringed looking at his face. "No," I said. He tried to give me puppy eyes. "Hey, I kept your relationship with Madeline a secret, how about you let me in on the details" he begged. I sighed loudly. "I'm not sure if she is the one or if I even like her yet," I said. I didn't want Jake to know yet.

 I know I do like her but I just don't know if love is the right word yet. I don't think love is the right word because love kills me every time. The first girl I dated, poof she is gone. There's a girl that would kill everyone I touch. Even business partners. I left her. Then there are other girls and each of those girls got me done with relationships. Of course, I changed my mind when Madeline came around. Sophia, I don't know if she likes me yet that doesn't matter. I want Maddie. 

Jake took a quick look at his watch. "Shit I have to go. My dad will kill me if I don't get home at 8:00 pm sharp." "Goodbye, see you tomorrow at school. Meet at school early, we have to do awards for the school" I reminded. "Oh right, almost forgot about that. I see you tomorrow," he said got in the driver seat, and slammed his door. I sighed softly getting a big breath in and got into my car. I drove to my different penthouse. I don't want to see my parents at the moment. 

I made it to the door of my penthouse. My penthouse that I don't share with my parents. This time, Daniel moved to this penthouse to work and care for me. I asked Abitha to join me in this penthouse because she could lend me good information about Sophia. I open the door quickly wanting to hear the news about Sophia so far. Daniel met me at the door, "Your blazer sir." he said with his hands out. "No need," I responded.

I went to my room and changed, I placed my clothes in the laundry basket when I was done. I went out of the room. Abitha went up the stairs, went into my room, and snatched the laundry basket. "Abitha," I called. She looks up at me. "Yes sir?" she said. "report me about Sophia about today's uniform exchange, in my office at 9:00," I demanded. She nodded and went to the laundry room with my laundry basket. 

I caught up with some schoolwork in my office. Yes, at 9:00 Abitha heads to my office and quietly closes the door. I closed all my folders and looked at Abitha. "Go on, tell me about Sophia Reynolds," I indicated to her to talk. "She's well my good sir, her house is better than the other house in the wasteland after the war, she reads books," she said. I realized Joe Tumbleweed must have given her a better house to bribe her to marry him. 

"I already get that she read," I said. My face feels molten. I crossed my arms. "Like anything useful, she says about me or anything else besides the obvious?" I said. Abitha looked at me and pondered. "Oh, she said nothing about you but, she said she lost her books she worked hard for during the war," she said. "Perfect, just the thing I want to hear," I said and smiled. "You are excused," I snapped. I decided to go wash up and then sleep for tomorrow. 

As promised, I see Jake Bloque early in the morning for school because we are a big brand ambassador for the school. We took professional pictures and hoped for the best that we would show up as the greatest alumni of the school. As we both made it to class I saw Sophia filling up her 3 big water bottles again. I didn't question anything, because I now know that Sophia is secretly filling water bottles for wasteland. 

I sit at my desk and see Sophia reading dystopian, romance, and thrillers. I know because most of the books Sophia reading right now I had read secretly. I decided later or soon, I would go change into Cloak Man and give her some of the books I already own that fit that genre. I hope that the gifts will make her like me. I stare at Sophia's long black hair and her slender hands flipping those pages.