Healing Sophie

25

When Sophie and Finn were little, Sherry bought Finn a spy kit. It came with a cheap magnifying glass, some spy goggles, and a listening device.

Finn would almost always give the two of them away with his loud voice and Sophie, the brains of the operation, would have to pinch him. They were quite the pair and had both decided they were going to grow up and be spies together.

Twelve years later, that dream kind of came true. Sophie and Finn were currently in Finn's car, parked outside of the shelter that her mom and brother stayed at.

As if he could read her mind, Finn said, "Just like when were kids, huh?" Sophie smiled and faced towards the building. Sophie's mom had been trying again and again to borrow money from her, but she was starting to feel skeptical. She wanted to believe the best in people and she couldn't imagine someone lying about something so horrible, but she just couldn't shake the feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She had called Mavis earlier that day to meet up, but her mom said she had a doctor's appointment. Finn convinced Sophie that they should go see what she was really up to.

Finn whined, "I'm bored."

Sophie turned a pressed a finger to her lips. "Shush. Pay attention."

He smirked and casually placed a hand on her thigh. She tried her best to ignore it until it began tracing its way upward. She gave him a stern look. "You're not a very good spy." He looked at her with those playful honey-brown eyes and she felt her soul melt to mush. "Stop it."

He gave a sweet, innocent smile. "Stop what?" His hand continued its torment and shivers shot down her spine.

She went to swat his teasing hand away but she caught a motion from the corner of her eye. She tapped Finn on the arm, pulling his attention away. "Finn, look."

Mavis had just come out of the shelter and was walking down the sidewalk. Finn waited a minute longer before pulling out from the curb and following her.

Chase's mind felt scrambled. He had poured all of his energy into his homework and into cleaning, and when that only lasted so long, he tried switching to video games.

He cursed as his character got attacked and threw the controller to the floor.

He had yet to tell his roommates of his father's ultimatum. He didn't know how, though. He couldn't just leave them all with nowhere to go, but he also couldn't give up something he was passionate about. Every option ended poorly. But if it came down to choosing between losing his friends and studying something his heart just wasn't into, he would make that choice. He would protect them at all costs. They were his family. Hell, he would even protect Finn, despite him being a bit of an asshole.

"This can't be right," Sophie said. Her body was frozen in shock. Finn and her had followed Mavis for several blocks until she reached a small, brown house that had seen better days, and they waited as she knocked on the door. The door swung open and Sophie felt like she would pass out any second. In the door frame stood Sophie's dad. He looked horrible. His clothes were dirty and his skin looked sunken and sickly. Sophie just stared on in horror as Jeffrey gave Mavis a kiss and they disappeared inside.

"Sophie?", Finn called out, but Sophie was already ripping off her seatbelt and reaching for the car door. "Sophie, wait. It might not be safe to go in there."