Sophie's Life

Chapter 35: The New Feelings from a New Perspective

Daniel's POV

As the night went on, our laughter got louder, the music more upbeat, and the room felt alive. I watched Aiden crack up at one of Alan's jokes, practically doubling over in laughter, and couldn't resist going over to mess with him. I threw an arm around his shoulder, pulling him in, and he slung his arm around me in return, grinning.

"Alright, Dan," he said, playfully bumping me, "think you can handle a night of partying with the science guys next time? I bet we'd turn you into a genius."

I scoffed, nudging him back. "Me? Handle you guys? Please, I'd be the life of your science party."

Aiden rolled his eyes, smirking. "Yeah, because science equations and business proposals are basically the same thing, right?"

We burst out laughing, each one-upping the other, until Mia appeared beside us, holding a drink in her hand. Her smile was a bit looser than before, her cheeks flushed. She looked at us with a mix of amusement and curiosity, and I realized she was swaying just a little.

"So, what's this?" she asked, glancing between me and Aiden. "Bromance of the century?"

Aiden laughed, ruffling my hair. "You got it. Dan here's been my partner in crime for years now."

I chuckled, smacking his hand away. "Partners in crime? Says the guy who's always dragging me into his nerdy experiments."

Mia laughed, tipping her head back a little too far. I raised an eyebrow, noticing the drink in her hand again. It looked like she'd had more than a couple.

"Hey, Mia," I said gently, "maybe take it easy on that drink, yeah?"

She gave me a lazy smile, leaning a little too close. "Don't worry, Daniel," she said, her voice dropping playfully, "I'm fine."

Aiden shot me a look, clearly noticing the shift in her tone too. I gave him a nod, deciding it was time to get her home. As she wandered off, chatting animatedly with Riley, I slipped over to Jules, who told me Mia's address.

When I came back, Sophie was watching us from across the room, a strange look in her eyes. I went over to her, hoping to explain, but before I could say anything, Mia called out, "Dan! Are we going?"

I felt Sophie's eyes on me again, sharp and almost... jealous? But before I could think too much about it, I nodded and went to help Mia get her things.

Sophie crossed her arms as I passed. "So, you're her designated driver now?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow and a tone that sounded halfway between teasing and annoyed.

"Looks like it," I replied, trying to keep my voice light. "Don't worry, Soph. I'll be right back."

As I guided Mia to the car, she leaned her head back and laughed, completely at ease. I drove in silence for a few minutes, glancing over occasionally to make sure she was okay. She leaned her head against the window, a dreamy look on her face.

"You're nice, Daniel," she mumbled, half-asleep.

"Just doing the right thing," I replied, feeling a bit awkward.

When I finally got back to Jules's, I found Sophie waiting outside, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her expression was unreadable.

"Everything okay?" I asked, stepping out of the car.

She looked up, biting her lip. "Yeah. Just... wanted to talk."

We wandered back inside, finding a quiet corner. She glanced at me, hesitating, before saying, "So... you and Mia, huh?"

I frowned, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you seemed to hit it off pretty well. Like, right away," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I rubbed the back of my neck, surprised. "Mia's nice, but I barely know her."

She looked away, a flicker of something I couldn't read passing across her face. "She just... fits in so easily, you know? Maybe too easily."

I raised an eyebrow, realizing what this was. "Are you... jealous?"

Sophie scoffed, rolling her eyes. "No! I'm just... concerned, I guess. I don't want you to get hurt or anything."

I chuckled softly, nudging her shoulder. "You worry too much, Sophie. Mia's new, yeah, but I'm not about to fall for someone just because they laugh at my jokes."

She looked up at me, a faint smile on her lips. "Alright, fine. But if you start seeing hearts around her, let me know, okay?"

I laughed, feeling a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with Mia and everything to do with the girl in front of me. "Sure thing. I'll keep you in the loop."

She smiled back, and for a moment, it felt like everything else faded away.