We're Still Human

Chapter 31: Sofie Had a Little Lamb

My mom and I have been talking a little. Not a lot, but it's been enough to make me feel something other than just pain.

Coach is sending Nadia, Stacy, and I for the 3 by 3 national basketball tournament held in Brisbane near the end of this term. Nadia and I haven't spoken since I found out what she did for me, but I do think it's necessary if we're going to be roommates for a full week in Brisbane. That can wait though, this term needs to end, and with about 2 more weeks of this fuck ass term, I can get away from Sofia and her now love driven rivalry with me. If we're being real, this has been one sided since the girl she's in love with is my girlfriend and my girlfriend does not have one ounce of romantic feelings for her, it makes the prefects body a little more complicated, especially when you can tell Kendall doesn't want to work with her.

Hell, not a lot of us do.

I walk to the Devotions room and stand by the door quietly as Sofia plays the piano, each key she presses harder than the last. I walk up to her and sit right in front of her as she continues to play the piano version of 'Overcome' by Skott. It's as if she senses my presence, though, her melody sounding a little more softer than when I first walked in. She stops playing, and I clap, watching as she slowly turns around, a look of disbelief and amusement etched on her face.

"You're not the only one that can play," she mumbles, closing the piano with one hand.

"I always thought there was something you and I have in common. Surprisingly, I didn't think it would be piano," I compliment her. "You're pretty good."

"Not great, but we live to see another day, right?" She shrugs, and I stand, turning my head to the side. "It's a little bit early for Devotions, don't you think?"

"I wasn't expecting to see you here so early. In fact, I was here to play," I tell her. "I'm the pianist, remember?"

Sofia scans me. "Not the greatest either."

I give her a tight smile as I skirt past her, sitting by the piano. "Unlike some people, I'm not striving for perfection."

"Wow, that loss of captaincy to Nadia must've really shook you," she says as I clench my jaw before relaxing it again. "How's mom, by the way?"

"Will you ever stop being such a prick about it? It's none of your fucking business anyway," I snap, lifting the cover. "Stop fucking with me."

"I'm only asking, no need to get aggressive." Sofia shuts the cover.

"So much for not being aggressive, right?" I roll my eyes. "What do you want from me, Sof?"

"Kendall's been ignoring me for some reason, I just wanted to know what you planted in her head."

I sigh. "Sofia, we all know the reason. It's actually a miracle that I'm even talking to you after you said you liked my girlfriend."

She shrugs, sitting by me and flipping the strands of hair that covered her deputy headgirl badge. I scoff, adjusting my blazer and moving my prefects badge in similar motion. Sofia smirks, patting my shoulder lightly.

"Do you even know Kendall like that? Do you know why I even did such a heinous thing in the first place?"

"I'm sure Kendall would love to know that if you're willing to share," I quip. "I'm not interested in you telling me my girlfriend's past, and you for one shouldn't be interested in knowing her present...and future." I stand up, looking down at her. "I think you have bigger problems to deal with, like those split ends."

Sofia laughs. "Does Kendall know how rude you are?"

"She does, but does she know about those God awful split ends of yours?" I touch the ends of her hair, much to her surprise. "So dry...soft. lacks volume and rise, much like yourself, you know? I suggest getting a life and maybe a good moisturizer, I'll give you a link to my Amazon cart if you will."

Annoyed, she slaps my hand away. "As if I'd need advice from you."

"Thando?"

I turn to the door, seeing Nadia by it. She walks in, and Sofia nudges me a little bit. I roll my eyes, waiting for Sofia to make one of her snide comments.

"What do you want, Nadia?" I ask her.

"Yeah, Mrs Thompson, what would you like?" Sofia chuckles. "Am I thirdwheeling?"

I look at Nadia with a trusting gaze, and she nods. "Sofia, out."

She proceeds to blow me and Nadia a kiss before walking off, her lifeless hair trailing behind her. I shake my head, letting the blonde strands of hair latched onto my fingers fall to the ground.

"Yeah, um, just wanted to talk about who's getting the window seat on the bus, that's all."  Nadia fiddles with her fingers a bit. "Coach is releasing the chart and rooming tomorrow, and I just wanted to talk to you, that's it." Nadia explains. "I'm sorry if I-"

"Don't be, really," I interrupt her, walking closer towards her. "Hey, if anything you saved my ass back there, I was starting to crack under Sofia's command."

She cocks her head to the side, laying her phone on the seat. I sneak a glance at it, noticing her paused song 'remember that night' by Sara Kays on her Spotify. I then look back at her slightly red eyes, and instinctively, I hug her. She stands still for a little bit, and then in a moment, I feel her hands around me, patting me.

"Why?"

"Just, I think you need this more than I do," I whisper in her ear and close my eyes.

Nadia rests her head on me, her hold on me tightening. It was as if for a moment, her and I forgot all the animosity and anger just to be there for each other. In a way, I guess we are always going to be there for each other; even if neither of us says it out loud. This doesn't erase the pain of the past, but right now, it does feel like it can.

She knows me, and I know her, and maybe, we have to get to a point of understanding, not just knowing each other.