The Lover and The Dreamer

Chapter 17 - Alice

Chapter Seventeen

Alice

On Saturday morning I was sitting on the couch staring at the items that I once lost and thought I'd never see again. I raised my cup of tea to my lips and took a sip, my gaze not moving from the box, blanket and pictures scattered across the coffee table, not even lifting my gaze to the TV, which was on. Suddenly, a thought came to me. Where's Sophie? I thought with confusion.

I jumped to my feet and called, "Sophie?" But there was no reply, so I decided I'd go wake her up. I danced all the way to her door and gently opened it, she was sitting up with her back facing me, her gorgeous hair flowing down her back. I crept in and slide on to the bed next to her, laying on my stomach and looking up into her eyes, which were full of confusion and longing.

"What's wrong?" She turned her head to look me in the eyes.

"Everything." She whispered.

"How about you get dressed and brush your teeth and we go do something...just you and me, eh?" A small smile crept to her lips.

"Shopping?" She sounded excited yet tired and slightly weak at the same time. I nodded and she practically flew out of bed and into the bathroom. Well, that worked. I thought with a chuckle.

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We collapsed on the park bench, shopping bags surrounding us. Sophie let out a big sigh.

"That definitely worked."

"What?" I was confused, to say the least.

"I mean, 'that was fun.'" Right, I rolled my eyes. I stood up and grabbed my shopping bags.

"Lets go home." I slipped my sunglasses on. She jumped to her feet and picked up all her bags, a smile on her face that didn't look completely real. We began walking and Sophie started taking about random little things so we wouldn't walk in silence.

"Soph?" She stopped and looked at me,

"Are you okay?" She stopped walking and sighed.

"I don't know, but I'll tell you what. When we get home I'll try to explain it." I nodded and we both stayed silent the rest of the way home.

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I pushed the door open and stepped inside. I walked down the hall and I heard the front door close. I opened the door to my bedroom and threw all of the shopping bags inside, closed it again and walked into the living room where Sophie was sitting, looking at the photos from my parcel. I sat down next to her and she put the pictures back into the box.

"So, um. I, uh..." She said, trying to say the right thing. "I-I think I might sort of, kinda, maybe like Adam." She slammed her hand over her mouth and I smiled.

"OMG, double dates, here we come!" I squealed.

"Um, no." She bit her lip and continued. "I've been racking my brain all night about the possibilities and, well, I don't really think he likes me. And I'm not completely sure I like him."

"Oh, Soph. He likes you, trust me." I leaned over and pulled her into a hug.

"I do." She whispered into my hair. She pulled away and looked at me, a sad smile on her face.

"Sophie, if you think you like him and I know he likes you, well then I guess there will have to be some meddling involved."

"No, no, no! I don't want you to do that!"

"Then ask him out!" I squealed and jumped to my feet.

"No!" She stood up,

"Then I'm helping!"

"Fine, I'll ask him out, okay?" She sighed, ran a hand through her hair and stomped to her room.

Yes! I thought, excitedly.

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I took another sip of my licorice tea. The sweet, warm liquid slid down my throat. The beautiful music played from my old jewelry box as I sat in the kitchen on the floor, stretching my legs as I drank my tea and listened to my box.

I heard a loud thump and Sophie came stumbling through the hall, half asleep like a normal Sunday morning, except this time she looked annoyed.

"Morning sleepy-head!" I teased. She groaned.

"There's still some water in the kettle if you want some tea," She nodded a response and filled her mug with tea. The song from the box ended and I leaned over and began winding it up again.

"I can't do it," She groaned, sitting down next to me with a thunk.

"Come on, Sophie! I know it's the right thing to do!" I grabbed her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"I know. I'll try, I promise." She smiled weakly.

"I know he likes you," She slammed her mug down on the ground.

"Stop saying that!" She growled, her eyebrows furrowing. "Stop saying, 'I know he likes you,' because I know you're just trying to make me feel better!" She stood up, on the verge of tears.

"Wait, Sophie!" I grabbed her wrist and she looked down at me sadly.

"I know he likes you because he told me himself." I bit my lip and let go of her wrist.

"Really?" I nodded and she blushed.

"H-he told you?" She stammered and sat back down. I nodded again and her cheeks turned a darker shade of red.

Sophie and I had been talking for awhile but suddenly, something - I mean, someone - interrupted us. The doorbell. I got up and walked to the door, slowly opened it and smiled at the face of Adam.

"Is Sophie here?" He asked nervously, his hands clasped together. I nodded and turned my head.

"Sophie. Someone wants to talk to you." I called and Sophie came running. "It's-"

"Adam." She breathed and I backed away.

"I'll be in my room..." I walked backwards down the hall. Their voices got muffled by the distance and I sighed, sad that I couldn't hear them.

I sat down on my bed, sighed and let my eyes wander around my room. "Good luck, Soph."

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Hey, everyone! sorry I took so long to update, and sorry it's shorter then usual.

Vote, fan, comment.

-The Dancer<3