Mismatched Socks

Sophia - Chapter 10: The Grinch

Around midnight I wake up from Molly scratching the door. 'She's been doing that every half hour,' Renée says. I frown. 'Haven't you slept?' 'No,' she silently says. 'What's wrong?' I ask and look at her. Not that I can really see her, it's pretty dark. She sighs. 'I have insomnia,' she whispers. 'How long?' 'Ever since I remember. Due to the lack of sleep, I get ill every few months,' she says. Now it clicks that she could've gotten that bad cold so suddenly.

'Why haven't you gone to a doctor?' I ask. 'They're scary,' she says and turns on her side to face me. 'And it's not that I'm tired all the time,' she says. She comes closer and plants a kiss on my lips. 'Goodnight again,' she says. 'Night.'

That morning Renée wakes me up. 'Soph, you got your period,' she says carefully. 'What?' I ask and wipe the sleep form my eyes. 'You got your period,' she says. 'How would you know?' I ask turning over so I can sleep again. 'The sheets have blood stains on your side,' she says. 'Oh, crap,' I say and climb over her to get out of bed.

I go to the bathroom, change underpants and pyjamas, and put a period pad in my panties. It's early in the morning, so I try not to wake my parents. I take a bucket, fill it with cold water and put the clothes with bloodstains in the bucket. My period is not going to ruin my favourite pyjama's.

I silently walk back to my room and see the light on. Renée is changing the sheets. 'You don't have to do that,' I say. 'I don't mind,' she says and takes the dirty sheets and puts them in the corner of my room. 'I'm not good at making the bed, but it looks okay I think,' she says looking at the work she did. 'It's fine,' I say and hug her. 'Thank you,' I whisper. Renée hugs me back. 'My pleasure,' she says and kisses my cheek.

'Do you want to sleep a little longer?' Renée asks while holding me in the middle of the room. 'No,' I say. 'Can we go downstairs?' I ask. Renée nods. We silently walk downstairs. On the way to the living room, Renée picks up Molly and holds her to her chest. 'Can I steal her?' she asks. 'It wouldn't be stealing if you asked,' I say and go sit on the couch. Renée and Molly join me. Renée lays a blanket around us while I start the tv.

'What do you want to watch?' I ask clicking on the search bar on Netflix. 'The Grinch,' Renée says. 'The what?' I ask. She looks at me too stunned to speak. 'How the Grinch stole Christmas? One of the best Christmas films ever made?' I shake my head. 'Have you been living under a rock?' Renée asks surprised. 'No, I know the film. I was just teasing you,' I laugh. Renée looks at me, serious, but doesn't say anything.

One hour and forty-four minutes later the film ends, and Renée fell asleep on my shoulder. Now I have a cat on my lap, and my girlfriends head on my shoulder. There's no possible way to stand up and not wake them up. My parents walk in the living room. 'You are up early,' my father says and gives me a quick kiss on my forehead and then walks by to get some tea in the kitchen.

'I threw the sheets and your pyjamas in the washing machine,' my mother says. 'Thank you,' I say. Renée wakes up. 'Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Appleton-Botticelli,' Renée says. 'Hah, it's so fun when another foreigner pronounces my name,' my mother laughs. Renée laughs too. 'But please call me Annie,' my mother kindly smiles. 'Sure thing, Annie,' Renée says. They both smile, and I smile too.

We take a seat at the dining table and eat some breakfast.

'So, dinner with your friends is replaced to today?' Renée asks while petting Molly. 'Yes. You can wear what you wanted to wear on New Year's Eve, we can throw it in the laundry if it's dirty.' Renée sighs. 'I only have one gift for you. If I give it to you tonight, I don't have anything to give you on Christmas.' 'You were going to give it to me on New Year's.' 'Yeah, the whole planning is ruined.'

'Give it to me whenever you want,' I say. 'I don't want your friends to judge me,' Renée sighs. 'They won't judge you!' I comfort her. 'I don't have gifts for them!' Renée panics. 'You don't know them, that's okay.' Renée sighs and sits on my bed. 'You are nervous,' I say, looking at my stressed-out girlfriend. 'I am.' I give her a comforting hug.

One hour later, we are at the pub. We enter. I see my friends waving me over. 'Hi!' Jessica says and hugs me. 'You must be Renée, it's nice to meet you! I'm Jessica,' she says and gives Ren a short hug. Renée smiles. 'It's nice to meet you too, Jessica,' Renée says. 'I'm Riley, Sophia's best friend,' Riley says and extends a hand to Renée. 'Hi,' Renée says and shakes her hand. 'I'm Simon,' Simon nods. 'Renée.' Riley starts laughing.

'What's so funny Riles?' Jess asks. 'Her accent!' Riley keeps laughing. 'Stop laughing!' Jessica says. Renée looks offended and shocked. 'You didn't laugh when you met my mother,' I say to Riley. 'True, but your mother has an exotic accent,' Riley says and takes a sip from her drink. 'Riley, stop laughing,' Simon repeats. 'Okay, fine,' Riley sighs.

I look over at Renée, she looks angry. 'So, tell me what do you study?' Riley then seriously asks. 'Biology,' Renée answers. 'And ar-' I want to ad. 'No, just Biology,' Renée says and gives me a stern look. Is she lying? 'Then you must be smart!' Simon says. 'Yeah, I guess so. You seemed like someone who would be into art. And that's so lame!' Riley says mockingly.

Suddenly I don't feel comfortable with my own friends. 'Riles, Art is not lame,' I say. 'Yes, it is!' Renée looks sad at her drink. 'So, Renée, what do you want to do after you graduate?' Jessica kindly asks. 'I would love to work in a zoo, with turtles and others, maybe even pinguins!' Renée says excited. Riley burst into laughter. 'The way she pronounced those animals!' Riley laughs.

Renée stands up. 'Jessica, it was really nice to meet you. You too, Simon. But I have to go,' Renée says, puts some money on the table for her drink and leaves. 'Renée, wait!' I shout. 'You are rude!' I say to Riley and run outside. 'Renée, wait!' I shout again and run to her. 'You can stay, they're your friends,' she says and keeps walking. 'But-' 'Go back inside, Sophia.' She sounds stern. I'm shocked by the way her voice sounded. She starts walking faster and I can't keep up with her and let her go. 

Wordcount: 1181