Lost Lovers | Tom Holland

Prologue Part 2: Sophie Goes to Hollywood

Prologue Part 2: Sophie Goes to Hollywood

Within 20 minutes from leaving the venue, she was in her apartment, wearing her Led Zeppelin t-shirt and checkered red and black pyjama pants. Realising that she hadn't eaten since lunch, she entered the kitchen. Feeling sentimental, for it was still her birthday, she made waffle-batter and started warming the iron. She laughed at herself thinking that a girl who just turned 21, left all her friends at a party downtown to come home and dance around in her PJs to Queen while making waffles. When she thought she heard a knock on the door, she paused the music and out of breath listened for another sound. Thinking she was paranoid or delusional, she quickly forgot about it. But when she was on her way to crank up the volume again, there was another knock. It took a while before Sophie was able to open the door, it being all crooked and old, but finally it gave in with an ear-deafening squeak.

"What's going on?" Sophie said, amazed at the sight of the two men standing outside of her door, one hollowed and limp and the other looking annoyed. It was Tom and Sam.

"Don't be daft. You know exactly what's going on." Tom snorted and forced his way through the door with Sam's full body weight on his shoulder.

"Eh... Nope, I don't." Sophie said, baffled that this man had changed persona from nice to crude in a matter of hours. She ran to help Tom carry Sam into his bedroom. Without saying a word to each other they settled Sam in his bed, Sophie took off his shoes and Tom covered him with a blanket. Quietly they closed the door behind them. Once they stood facing each other in the living room, Tom did not look at Sophie's face. It took a while before he spoke.

"I don't usually get angry. I mean, I'm a moderately calm, easy-going lad." Tom started. Sophie didn't know if she should be annoyed or amused at this declaration of thought. Tom continued.

"But when it comes to family, I can't just sit and watch. Now, when he told me that you'd had this massive fight at the party and you told him you cheated and left and he got more drunk than I've ever seen him in my life, and then to see you back here, in your shared apartment after what you did. What kind of person are you? What kind of person does that?" Tom, now straight-out yelled at Sophie, who after a second of confusion now understood what was going on.

"Emily cheated on Sam?" She said calmly and sat down. Tom, standing as if frozen, lay his head in his hands.

"Jesus... You're Sophie." He said quietly and sat down facing her. "I'm so sorry." He said embarrassed.

"I didn't actually say my name at the party so I guess I see why you'd be confused...." She smiled.

"I'm so sorry." Tom said again, very serious. Sophie stood up and quickly patted his shoulder.

"It's fine. To be honest, you're not as scary when you're angry as you think..." She said and they looked at each other intensely for a few seconds. Tom was amazed at how his outburst towards her had dripped off like water on a goose.

"I'm making waffles, do you want some? You have to tell me everything." Sophie said and headed towards the small kitchen.

"Sure..." Tom said as he followed her.

"Hey Siri, play the music." Sophie said to her phone. Bohemian Rhapsody started playing.

"Wow... Queen?" Tom said, surprised.

"The girl with the Led Zeppelin shirt listens to Bohemian Rhapsody?" She laughed. "It's not that far-fetched."

"No, I guess not." Tom smiled. Again their eyes met and a strange tension spread across the room. Tom realised he held his breath. Sophie smiled and looked down to the heating waffle-iron. She watched the smoke wreath its way upwards like white, transparent snakes. From her hands she could feel the electric warmth of the iron evaporate further into her body. Despite the apparent silence in the kitchen, there seemed to be something meandering that vibrated through the room, from one body to the other.