Sophia

Chapter One

Its funny how my parents met, how doggedly my father pursued her without caring a bit about his pride or her rather ignorant boyfriend whose right punch could knock out a giant for days.

He was the lanky new kid of the block and she was the beautiful princess who already had her Prince Charming. It was like imagining Sleeping Beauty ditching her guy for the court jester.

For weeks he pursued her, taking up her time and her love.

He asked her out for prom and she said yes.

It cost him a cracked tooth and a pretty, little scar beneath his eye, but everyday he tells us how worth it it was.

"When you find someone who you can love completely..." My dad fondly wrapped his arm around my mom and smiled "You've got to believe in the impossibility of being ecstatically happy." My mothers grin spread across her thin, peach face.

Sappy words from a sappy guy. Still, it was easy to see why he'd talk like that. His first love was a miracle. Even he couldn't believe it worked out.

But Sophia and I was different. We were always together and always linked together. Back in the day when I was interrogated by all the big kids whose eyes inevitably fell on Sophia, I gave the same excuse over and over again. Not that I didn't care about her, but I did care about getting beat up by the same group of guys each day.

"She's just a child." I laughed, mockingly.

Of course she'd be standing right behind me when I was saying this. Staring at me with sad eyes that brimmed with tears as I stupidly told the guys that there's no chance I'd like a girl as childish as Sophia. In her hands was an art book that she read each day, Sophia was an artist ever since she was a child. I would joke that I was her muse, but her brillance never relied upon me really.

"Ah..." She smiled softly, her stricken eyes staring straight into mine "I just wanted to show you...nothing. Never mind me." Her hands clenched tightly around the book as she spoke. She had grown up a lot since childhood. Considering how much of a shrimp she was as a kid, she grew up like a bean sprout. But I was still always taller, thankfully because I had a few years on her. She was always looking up to me and I was always looking down on her.

"I've got to go." She won't even give me a chance to speak. Instead, she turns and leaves so quickly that it looks like she's running away from me.

"Oh no, is the little girl crying?" The big kids laughed, calling her as she ran away.

I laughed with them, too scared.. To idiotic to fight for her.

Back when we were kids, I had a system worked out whenever I messed up around Sophia. It wasn't something that happened often, thank goodness. I couldn't stand it if Sophia was upset with me. It was back at an age when girls and boys didn't really hang out together. But, Sophia was different. It was just her and me. It was something I never questioned, like the air I breathed. So when she wasn't happy....

"I won't forgive you next time." Sophia would say each time she bit angrily into her favorite toasted bagel.

Oddly enough, it was charming. As she tried to appear angry as she bit into her toasted bagel, I'd find myself hiding a smile the entire time. She'd always forgive me, no matter what screw-up I made.

Even though I felt comforted that she had forgiven me in the past, it didn't make the memory of Sophia's hurt face feel any better. I had to do something, but what?

Ice cream bribery, of course.

"I can't believe you ordered the Mega Chocolate Sundae Supreme." Sophia's voice is awed as she surveys what surely is the largest chocolate sundae topped with cherries.

"Plus chocolate sticks and hot chocolate, just in case of unexpected brain freezes." I smile eagerly towards Sophia as I nurse a tiny baby dip of ice cream.

"You really regret what you said, huh?" A tiny smile formed on her lips, those perfect lips that I could stare at all day.

"My wallet does. But I don't." Smiling back, I lick my ice cream cone "I get to see you eat the entire Mega Chocolate Sundae Supreme by yourself."

"Hey, I thought we were sharing!"

I laughed, staring into her golden eyes.

"We are." Her hand stayed in mine, with a smile.