Will You Wait

Chapter 1

Discomfort and despair. Those were the words to describe Mr. Haines' classes. As if his monotone voice wasn't torturous enough, he was cross eyed, and the students found that to be unnerving.

Despite the questionable quality of Clark Haines' teaching method, Sophia liked Chemistry lessons, even if they were theoretical, and was paying as much attention as humanly possible.

-I need someone to answer the fifth question of the present page. In the back, Lana! Would you please?!

Lana smoothed her fiery hair, straightened herself in the chair and began her line of thought.

After her response - that according to Mr. Haines had been satisfactory, ("a foot up your ass would be satisfactory" Lana muttered) - the teacher pointed the class the text on the board they would have to copy to their notebooks.

-Any news from Eric? - Lana asked.

Sophia got her phone out of her front pocket and handed it to her friend. She opened the inbox, reading the second text.

-Basically he won't have service for undetermined time. - she said looking away from the board. -This time is the French Pyrenees.

Lana gave her an apologetic smile. Her best friend's boyfriend was climbing with a group of friends. He did that for the fun of it and also because he loved the adrenaline. Despite her immense support of her boyfriend, Sophia missed him terribly. All the little things like going for lunch between classes, him driving her to the flat she bought near the campus (and consequently sleeping over), the morning coffees...she missed all that.

A curl of hair fell in front of her eye as she realized she'd stopped copying the text on the board and the teacher had already moved on. She even looked over to Lana's notebook, but luckily the bell rang, indicating the end of the class. The students picked up their books and quickly began to leave the room.

Suddenly Sophia's phone rang and Lana handed it to her. The caller ID said "Dad".

-Hey, I was just leaving. We're still having lunch? - she greeted happily, but on the other side, her father sounded a bit uneasy.

-I am so, so sorry love. Apparently there was a car crash involving four vehicles...

-And they're calling every unit, right? - Lana and her exchanged a worried look. -Don't worry dad, we'll always have dinner, or tomorrow's lunch.

-Yes! And again I'm really sorry.

-It's your job, and you know very well I'm proud of you for it. Now go, and be careful!

-Thank you darling. Love you.

And with a "Love you too" she hung up. There was always a dreadful feeling whenever Paul Collins had to go into accident scenes. Being a police officer he had to control and disperse the traffic and although his daughter knew he would be fine, she couldn't keep herself from worrying.

-So, no lunch plans? - the red haired asked, her large, perfectly black rimmed eyes pouring with sympathy. -I mean, I can reschedule with Matt...

-No, no, no! I forbid you!

No, Sophia would no let her best friend cancel her "study" date with Matt, the Electromagnetism hottie, just because she was left alone at last minute.

-You sure?

-Yes, now go! I see a dark haired god standing at the entrance of the library.

Lana looked over to where her friend was staring, and gave Sophia a quick kiss on the cheek, flashing her wining smile and strutting over the guy with strong jaw line, chilling blue eyes and...

-... and stop, Sophia! For Christ's sake you have a boyfriend!! - she giggled, heading for the exit.

It was raining, of course it was. And Sophia forgot her umbrella... of course. She now had two options: run and get drenched, or walk and get soaked. Wasting money on transportation when her apartment was so near, was not an option, so she got the hood of her jacket, clutched her bag to the chest and ran. She saw the cars and the black cabs passing her by, and that brought a realization to her mind. "Your flat is NOT that close, you dumb shit!".

And in fact it wasn't, not when the gods were conspiring against her and making the water of the whole world pour out upon London.

A couple - alright, a lot - of curses later, and a very wet jacket, she got home. Sophia got her keys and rapidly opened the door, shaking the water off her purse and jacket and opening the mail box.

-Nothing! - she sighed, more of an habit than actual disappointment. Then headed to the elevator, calling it.

-That's alright... no one cares about me. Not even the water company. Not even a small warning that I have bills to pay...

She was mumbling now, and never saw Mrs. Lawson, the widow from the second floor, behind her. Sweet lady, very, very kind and liked Sophia, but she was now sure the girl was going insane.

The curly haired kept talking nonsense until the elevator doors opened and she saw the reflection of the 76 year-old lady on the mirror, smiling at her.

-Uhh... Hi, hello, didn't see you there Mrs. Lawson! - she clumsily spoke letting the old lady get in first.

-Oh, it's alright, dear! I speak to myself too. You know, when my Martin died I had to talk to myself to keep my sanity. Heh, - she laughed heartedly. - it got to a point where I was arguing alone because of the newspaper on the kitchen table.

The young girl stared at the older lady sweetly. She sort of reminded her of her grandmother.

-Well, this is me! - a "bing" noise got them to the second floor. Sophia waved as the widow left the elevator, and continued ascending until the fourth.

She lived in an isolated floor because no one lived on the third and the couple from the fifth had a baby and moved to the outskirts. Hers was a nice flat. One room, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen, perfect for her needs. Had decorated it herself with the help of her mother and Lana. Speaking of that, she needed to get some photos in that house, the only thing remotely close was a postcard from her aunt, recently moved to Cardiff, that was pinned to the fridge by a banana magnet.

She opened the apartment, getting in and locking the door. Her keys hit the bowl and she hung her wet jacket, dropping her bag on the floor and kicking off her soaking wet boots. Sophia congratulated herself for programming the heat, and now her house was warm and comfortable. She took off her socks, heading for the kitchen to put them in the washing machine. As she closed the door, a noise came from somewhere not far from her. The living room was visible from the kitchen, so it was not from there. Slowly, and without making any noise, she walked out the kitchen and down the hallway. Whatever it was, it came... yes, she was sure now that she approached it... her room.

The door was open but she was afraid someone, a thief perhaps, was hidden beneath the bed.

"Remember those self defense classes you had on 9th grade and you'll be fine." her inner voice said. But her inner voice also said there was no problem in eating that extra custard tart, and that made her spend a night bending over the toilet, vomiting.

She took a silent deep breath and got in.

-AH! OH MY FUCK! - she yelled. -Sweet Jesus, Balthazar!! You scared me!!

It was the Persian cat from the writer of the first floor, probably got in when she left that morning and didn't even noticed the pet. She crunched down, picking up the purring animal and hugging him.

-Here, let's give you a treat, how's that?

Balthazar made a pleased noise and rested his head against her shoulder. But something changed, and the cat was trying desperately to get free from Sophia's loving embrace.

-What's the... oh God...

She turned around and there he was. Tall, menacing, ghost like.

Balthazar ran somewhere, the girl could feel the color vanish from her face, and ice going through her veins. She turned for the door until something hit her head, hard, and the last thing Sophia saw was a pair of bright green eyes.

"God no..."