Sophie's Life

Chapter 20: Falling Out Again

***Few days later***

A few days after that study hall, things took a surprising turn between James and me. We'd been on pretty neutral ground since the whole trip and the Abby situation, but something felt off lately. We weren't as close as before, and I couldn't tell if it was just because of his new relationship or something else.

**LUNCH**

One day during lunch, James and I ended up sitting together outside, away from the usual crowd. The awkwardness between us hung in the air, but I tried to brush it off, thinking it was just part of how things changed after the trip. We joked around about classes, and for a brief moment, it felt like the old days when everything was easy.

But that didn't last long.

"Hey, do you remember that time in science class when we set off that little experiment too early and almost burned down the lab?" James asked, laughing. I smirked, shaking my head. "Yeah, and you blamed it on me. Still haven't forgiven you for that." James gave me a playful nudge. "Come on, it was harmless. You have to admit it was funny." "Funny for you," I replied. "I had to stay behind and clean up!"

James's grin faded a bit, and he leaned back, his voice quieter. "You're still mad about that?" I shrugged, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal, but the truth was, it wasn't just about that incident. "No, I'm over it. But sometimes... I don't know, I feel like you always get away with stuff, and I'm the one left to deal with the fallout."

James frowned, sitting up straighter. "What are you talking about? It's not like I do it on purpose." "I know," I said quickly, but then the words came out before I could stop them. "It's just... you never think about how things affect other people. You're always off doing whatever you want, and people like me end up cleaning up the mess."

James's face fell, and the playful vibe between us evaporated. "What, so now I'm a bad friend? Is that what you're saying?" I hesitated, unsure of how we got here so fast. "No, I'm just saying... sometimes it feels like you don't consider other people. Like that time with Abby and me—" "Oh, here we go," James interrupted, rolling his eyes. "This is about Abby, isn't it?"

"No, it's not about her," I snapped, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's about you not realizing how your actions affect the people around you. Whether it's in science class or with your friends." Before James could respond, our conversation was interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a teacher's voice calling us over. Mr. Bennett, our history teacher, had spotted us sitting outside during a period we weren't supposed to be.

"James, Sophie, what are you two doing out here? You know it's against the rules to be outside during lunch." We both froze. "Uh... just talking, sir," James said, his usual charm trying to kick in, but Mr. Bennett wasn't having it. "Talking or not, you know the rules. Both of you—detention. Friday afternoon."

I glanced at James, and he gave me a sheepish look, but I wasn't feeling very forgiving. As Mr. Bennett walked away, I crossed my arms, shooting James a glare. "See what I mean?" I muttered. "Now we're both in trouble, and I bet you'll find a way to weasel out of it." James frowned. "Why are you being like this? We were just talking."

"Because it's always like this, James. You pull something, and I get dragged into it." His expression hardened. "Fine. If I'm such a problem for you, then maybe we shouldn't hang out anymore." The words stung more than I expected, but I kept my face neutral. "Maybe we shouldn't."

And just like that, the small spark of reconnection we'd had was gone. We walked back inside separately, the weight of unresolved tension hanging between us.  When Friday rolled around, detention wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We were stuck cleaning up old textbooks in the library, and to my surprise, James didn't even try to talk to me. It was strange—being in the same room with him but feeling like we were miles apart. 

Later that day, as I sat on the bus home, I replayed the whole conversation in my head. Maybe I had been too harsh, but it wasn't just about that one moment. It was the buildup of everything—of feeling like I was always cleaning up the mess, of watching him with Abby, of feeling left behind.

But as much as I wanted to put the blame on James, part of me knew that maybe it was time to move on. Maybe we weren't the same people we used to be, and that was okay.

Besides, there was a subtle shift happening elsewhere. I couldn't help but think about Daniel and the way he'd been around me lately. He was different—steady, thoughtful—and maybe it was time I focused on people who didn't make everything so complicated.

As the bus pulled into my stop, I sighed, feeling the weight of the day settle in. Things with James weren't fixed, and maybe they never would be. But there was something freeing in letting go of the drama—of stepping back and seeing what else was out there, like the quiet chemistry with Daniel that was slowly beginning to take shape.