20 minutes earlier
I waited patiently outside the door, awaiting a frazzled and half dressed Sophia to come to the door. I always came early on Monday's wanting some time to catch up on all that happened during the weekend. I knocked again, a shiver coursing through my veins under the hat and wool overcoat I sported. A sigh escaped my lips when I bent down, fiddling with the fake rock to find the extra key hadn't been replaced. I straightened, my numb gloved hands find the door handle, a brass fixture contrasting with the wood of the door. Its well oiled hinges slid soundlessly open with ease. Before I could take my first step, I saw Sophia coming around the corner leading to the hallway. She had all of her clothes on for the first time in a month, but her hair was a mess, sticking in every direction. A tired smile lit up her face, but it faltered slightly when she saw me. She stopped, her lower half still hidden behind the wall,"Chloe, What are you doing here?" She bent down slightly her head bobbing and her breath hitching, her eyes glossing over. Is she okay? I stomped my boots on the mat outside, before stepping into the house, and closing the door behind me, "I'm here every morning at the same time Sophia. You should get a move on before we're late". She opened her mouth as if to say something, but all that came out was a strange squeak, as she disappeared down the hall, carpet crunching under her feet. I slid across the back of the nearest arm chair, my hand grazing the seams of the fabric exterior. I scanned the room, focusing on the children's art on the walls, poorly drawn fish and finger paintings of landscapes among a collage of family photographs and mementos of the many trips they had taken together. My eyes fell to the ground spotting a jungle green condom, tied in a knot next to a orange tinted wrapper, a scenic picture of a mountain below a field of clouds, the corner reading "One trip to cloud nine". So this is what she was doing Friday night. I retreated to the kitchen, opening up the cabinet below the sink, greeted by the smell of chemicals and multicolored bottles with warnings of toxicity and burning if it were to come in contact with skin. I rummaged around the unorganized mess, finding blue latex-free gloves and returning to the living room and my perch on the sofa. As I passed the hall, I heard a giggle coming from the direction of Sophia's room. What is she doing? I saw the door twitch open, before my view was interrupted by a wall. I eyed the condom before hearing Sophia come down the hall. I tilted my head to the side, " I know what you did the other day". Emotions flew across her face, her eyes widening before she blurted, " I can explain", her hands flinging into the air, arms length from her body. What is she talking about? I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it, "I know it seems crazy, but have you thought about giving him another chance? He's nice and actually cares about me, and I don't think he's anywhere near as bad as you think". She paused, taking a short breath in before continuing,"I know you must be pissed, but he's changed, and he's not that same person anymore". I could barely contain the laugh bubbling up in my throat, as I blurted out, "Why would I be mad? You're happy and he's clearly making you happy, if you're willing to argue this much for him". She tense shoulder sagged considerably, her face morphing into excitement, as she leaped into my arms, a gripping me in a fierce hug. Her voice was muffled against my shoulder, "I'm so glad you are okay with me and Peter. I fe—". I shoved her away from me cutting off her rant, "I can't believe you. I thought you were fooling around with some random guy, but with him?". I gesture wildly at the condom in the corner before shoving past her and strutting to the door, where I paused remember the glove in my hand. Throwing it at her feet, I sneered "Pick up your trash, Sophia". I yanked the door open, marching outsides before slamming it shut behind me. I can't believe she would do something like that to me. I spotted Grace's car pulling into the court and headed toward the warm haven that awaited me.
Present
Grace slammed the car door behind her, followed by Rowan who were in a hurry to leave the thick tension between the front and back seats occupied by me and her. She bored hole into the back of the seat, willing me to turn around. I felt betrayed. There was no other way to describe the sharp pains radiating throughout my chest. She knew how I felt and she did it anyway. He treated me like shit and I told her everything, from how he tried to grope me at dinner with my parents, his hand sliding up my inner thigh as I fumbled with with my fork, trying to find a way to shrug him off without alerting the hawk eyes of my mother, to his awkward motions and grunts when it came to feeling me up, leading to one too many close calls with a door opening unexpectedly. Her timid voice broke the silence, "Chloe say something". She reached forward, tugging on my shoulder in an attempt to turn me around. I violently threw her hand off, "Leave me the hell alone". Her voice cracked, "I know you're mad, but I never meant to hurt you". I twirl around staring at her incredulously,"Didn't you?" The hesitation flitting across her features, and the pursing of her lips, was indicative of the internal struggle she was having. Truthfully I had almost said it out of spite, expecting an exclaimed "No" or anything rejecting any possibility of deliberately causing pain, "Were you ever going to tell me or just mess around behind my back?" My voice had raised considerably, a petite woman in grey running tights with a matching pink jacket and black Nikes slowed down, her Black Lab puppy, tugging on the leash to continue their morning run, as she glances over at the car, concern etched in her face, before giving into the whims of her dog, speeding up into a jog. She whispered, barely audible from where I was sitting, "I would've told you sooner if you didn't overreact all the time". Did she really just say that? She continued, her voice raising with every word she uttered, "Not everything is about you, I deserve some happiness to and Peter isn't the villain you make him out to be. Did you ever think that maybe the problem isn't with him, but with yourself. You're the only one with an issue with him". She shook her head waving her hands in the air, "Wake up Chloe! You're just upset because he doesn't want you anymore". Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. She continued her rant, gaining momentum with every angry word, "You were always jealous of me. Every time a guy even glances in my direction you play the victim card 'I'm Chloe, Why doesn't anyone like me? Blah blah blah' Get it through your thick skull that I'm happy and for once in your life could you stop raining on my parade and be happy with me? Just because he likes me instead of you doesn't give you an excuse to be bitter" I felt tears in my eyes threatening to spill over. Why would she say that to me? I felt my heart clenching over and over. She knew where it would hurt and she went there. I bit my lip, struggling to breathe, against the harsh words from what was supposed be my best friend. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, my head was pounding and my stomach had tied itself in too many knots to count. My usually racing mind was quiet in disbelief. Her face was almost triumphant, anger replacing her previously apologetic eyes. She opened her mouth taking in a quick breath, attempting to talk again. As if she hadn't already caused enough damage. I slapped her hard across the face, reaching across the center console to reach her. I shoved myself away from her, glaring at the street sign in front of me, seeing the disbelief evident upon her face. Silent tears slid back along my throat, burning like acid. I shifted my eyes to the side when I heard the door of Tessa's click shut, a group of 3 dumbstruck girls watching the exchange in disbelief. How long have they been standing there? Glancing to the side mirror, Sophia didn't seem to notice our audience, only fuming silently, arms crossed over her chest in frustration. Rowan led the pack, hesitantly leading the way to the metal beast. Tessa seemed confused looking back and forth between Sophia and I, presumably wondering what the cause of all the tension could've been. She leaned over whispering to Grace, it was a short conversation, ending with realization dawning on her face, and then a glare sent in the direction of the back seat. At least someone is on my side. Before they breached the car, I leaned back in my seat, hoping that Tessa would take the back for the day, "Don't ever talk to me again".
A/N What was Peter doing with Sophia in the morning? *Waggles eyebrows*
