Healing Sophie

13

Hey, Soph. We keep missing each other. Give me a call back.

Sophie frowned at the voicemail from Finn. School had become very busy and to be honest, a part of her didn't really know how to act around him. Being around him made her head spin. 

She shot him a quick text.

Sorry, I've been busy with school and homework.

She sighed, settling into her desk right next to Theo. He had his head buried in his arms. She poked him. "Theo."

He groaned. "What?"

She giggled. "What's your problem?"

"Too early. Must sleep." She rolled her eyes at the dramatic boy and faced forward as the professor walked in.

"Good morning, everyone," he grumbled. He was a grumpy old man who spoke with zero passion. "Today I'm going to have you pick a partner and you're going to go visit a history museum of your choosing and create a presentation for the class based on your favorite exhibit."

Sophie giddily bounced in her seat. "Yay! I love history," she exclaimed, loud enough for only Theo and her to hear.

"Nerd."

She elbowed him and finally got a glint of a brown eye peaking from his arms. "Will you be my partner?"

"Of course, as long as you do all the work and get us an A." He gave her a tired grin.

"As if," she replied. "Want to go to a museum today after school? There's one in the mall that I've been eyeing."

He shot up with a devious smile. "Sophie Middle-Name Hart, are you asking me out on a date?" He held a hand to his heart. "Why, I am flattered."

She flushed. "Not a date, a study session."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "Sounds like a date to me."

She remained quiet for a moment as an old ache re-formed in her chest. "Mavis," she whispered.

"Hmm?"

"My middle name is Mavis." She shrunk in her seat and kept her eyes forward the remainder of class.

Scenes of history exploded around Sophie as she entered the Museum of Living History with Theo in tow.

"Wow, look at this place," she whispered excitedly.

Theo let out a fake yawn and she shot him a glare. "I'm hungry."

"We can go get food after this. Let's go look at nerdy stuff." Sophie grabbed Theo's arm and dragged him around the museum. They stopped in front of a scene from Ancient Rome. One of her favorites. "What even is your major?"

"Depends on the week, this week I'm leaning towards psych." She raised any eyebrow at him. "I'm bored," he whined.

She rolled her eyes. "How on earth can you be bored? This place is so cool!" She bounced excitedly and stopped once she noted Theo's gaze on her chest.

"It's just a bunch of dead people, and dead things. They should call this the Museum of Dead History."

Sophie continued on but paused when she realized Theo wasn't in tow. He had stopped in front of a painting. She walked over to him and followed his gaze.

It was a gothic piece from centuries ago. It depicted a woman drowning in a river, shadows encircling her.

Sophie's phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out to see the name.