Number Seven

014

Sophia woke up feeling unusually light-hearted. The night before had been quiet—a rare moment where the world around her slowed just enough for her to catch her breath. Mason had left for his pre-season tour earlier that morning, and for the first time in a while, she didn't feel the weight of their complicated relationship pressing down on her.

It had been a rollercoaster with Mason—the excitement, the trust, the hurt. But today was different. Today, there was no pressure, no need to decode texts or overthink every message. Today was just about her, her mom, and Harper. It was a much-needed break, and she was determined to enjoy it.

Harper, as always, was already bouncing around the house, ready to dive into whatever plans they had for the day. "Soph!" she shouted from down the hall, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Are you ready? We've got an event today, remember?"

Sophia smiled, walking out of her room. "I'm coming. Just trying to find the perfect outfit for a charity lunch, that's all."

Harper held up a dress that could only be described as "Harper Beckham chic"—bold, eye-catching, and definitely not for the faint-hearted. "This one. You have to wear this one! It'll be perfect for today."

Sophia laughed, shaking her head. "It's a charity lunch, Harp, not a runway show. But I'll wear it if you really want me to."

"Of course, I do!" Harper's eyes sparkled. "The more glamorous, the better."

Sophia slipped into her own outfit—a simple yet elegant beige blouse paired with a black pencil skirt and delicate heels. Nothing too flashy, just enough to feel put-together. She could already hear her mom's voice in her head, reminding her to keep things classic and effortless.

When they were ready, they piled into the car, and Harper chatted non-stop about everything she was looking forward to. "I bet we'll see loads of people from the football world today. I can't wait to see Gemma. She's always so fun, don't you think?"

Sophia smiled at the mention of her childhood friend. Gemma Owens, Michael Owen's daughter, had been a constant in her life for years. Their dads had met through football, and it wasn't long before the two families became inseparable. Sophia and Gemma had spent countless hours together growing up, running around the football fields, playing with their younger siblings, and getting into all sorts of mischief. It was a friendship built on shared memories and a deep sense of trust.

"I'm excited to see her, too," Sophia said, glancing over at Harper. "It's been a while."

As they arrived at the venue, the atmosphere was lively but relaxed. The event was an annual charity lunch, an opportunity for people from all walks of life to gather for a good cause. The guest list was a mix of business moguls, athletes, and celebrities—all gathered to support the event. But today, Sophia was just looking for a moment of peace, something to take her mind off everything that had been weighing on her lately.

Inside, they were greeted by a familiar face. Gemma stood at the entrance, looking effortlessly chic in a deep green dress that made her stand out amongst the crowd. Her face lit up as she spotted Sophia and Harper approaching.

"Soph! Harp! Over here!" Gemma called out, waving with excitement. She hugged Sophia tightly, the kind of hug that only a childhood friend could give. "It feels like forever since we've all hung out."

Sophia grinned, hugging Gemma back. "I know, it really has been too long. How's everything going?"

"Oh, you know. The usual. Football, more football, and trying to keep my dad from embarrassing me too much." Gemma rolled her eyes playfully, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement. "But seriously, it's good to see you. How are you? I can tell something's been up with you."

Sophia hesitated, not wanting to spill everything. The last thing she wanted was to lay all her emotional baggage on Gemma in the middle of a charity lunch. But Gemma knew her too well, the two of them having grown up together and shared everything.

"I'm alright," Sophia said, giving a small shrug. "Just... dealing with some stuff. You know, life, school, and... other things." She looked at Harper, who was already pulling Gemma into conversation about the event, her lively energy filling the space between them.

Gemma's gaze softened, and she leaned in a little closer. "If you ever need to talk, you know I'm always here, right? You don't have to carry it all on your own. Especially not when it comes to those boys. They can be a pain."

Sophia let out a soft laugh, appreciating the comfort in Gemma's words. It was nice to know that even though their lives had changed over the years, their friendship hadn't. "Thanks, Gem. I'm just... trying to figure things out."

Gemma gave a knowing nod. "I get it. Boys can be complicated. But you've always known what you want, Soph. Don't forget that."

Sophia looked at her childhood friend, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes. "Thanks, Gem. That means a lot."

The conversation shifted, and Gemma excitedly began talking about her recent experiences on Love Island. "Honestly, I don't know what was crazier—being on the show or all the attention that followed afterward. It was wild." She rolled her eyes playfully. "I mean, who knew people would go that crazy over a reality dating show?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow, impressed despite herself. "I still can't believe you did that. The whole world was watching!"

Gemma smirked. "Tell me about it. At first, I thought I'd hate the whole thing, but it actually wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. You get to meet people you'd never usually get the chance to. And I did end up learning a lot about myself, if I'm being honest."

Harper, who had been listening intently, jumped in. "Wait, so do you still talk to any of the guys from the show?"

Gemma laughed. "Of course, I do. Some of them turned out to be really good mates. I'm not sure about the romantic side of things, but it's all about the connections you make, right?"

Sophia smirked. "I thought you and Luca were really cute together. What happened there?"

Gemma's face briefly flickered with an emotion that Sophia couldn't quite place. "Oh, Luca..." she started, trailing off for a moment before continuing. "Yeah, we were great on Love Island, but sometimes things just don't work out. It's hard, especially when you're in the public eye. People expect things to be perfect, but it's not always like that."

Sophia nodded, understanding that. She could only imagine the pressure of having such a relationship scrutinized by millions of people. "I get it. The whole Love Island thing must have been so intense, especially after everything with Luca."

Gemma smiled softly, clearly appreciating Sophia's understanding. "Yeah, it was. But honestly, I think it was for the best. I'm just focused on myself now. I've learned that you can't force things, and sometimes you just need to let go and move on."

Sophia sat back, reflecting on her own feelings about Mason. Maybe Gemma was right—trust, love, relationships—they all took time to build, and sometimes, they fell apart when you least expected it.

The rest of the lunch passed by in a blur of laughter and conversation. At one point, Gemma began to joke about how she'd become a "proper celebrity" thanks to her Love Island stint, and Harper eagerly asked her about the behind-the-scenes moments from the show. They all laughed at Gemma's stories, but Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that Gemma had truly learned a lot about herself during her time on the show.

As the event ended and they made their way home, the sun began to set, casting a soft glow over the countryside. Sophia found herself grateful for the lightness of the day. Being around Gemma, Harper, and her mom had allowed her to forget the weight of the drama with Mason and just focus on the simple things in life—the comfort of old friends, the joy of a quiet afternoon, and the reminder that not everything had to be figured out right away.

Maybe one day, she'd be able to let go of the weight that Mason had placed on her heart. But for now, it was nice to just be herself.