A Twisted Situation

Chapter 2: New Crush?

Thomas drummed his fingers against the steering wheel nervously. He checked the mirrors every five minutes just to have something to distract him from the awkwardness.

"Sorry about them. Will wanted to come, and I knew you were waiting, so I didn't have time to argue. Then Cece and Jem decided to tag along," Sophie said, pulling her legs up to sit crisscross. Out of everyone she knew, she was the only one who did this, and everyone told her she was weird for it. It was just more comfortable.

"No, no, it's fine. The more, the merrier, right?", Thomas answered, turning his head and flashing his pearly whites at Sophie. She smiled back, and looked ahead of the car.

"So how have you guys been?", Thomas asked, looking at the top rearview mirror to get a better look at Jem, Cece, and Will. "Anything new?"

"No, not really," Jem said, not even giving him a glance.

"Will?"

"Got a new girlfriend", he replied, looking very pleased with himself.

"That's not new," Thomas said, looking back at the road. Sophie let out a small giggle, and he silently high-fived himself for it. It was true though. Will has had many girlfriends. He always dumps them, and then finds some other poor girl to string along. Thomas had stopped learning the names of each, since they never last long anyways. And he doubted this one would.

"Actuallyyy, I think this one is it," Will said smugly, smiling to himself a bit.

"It? Like, you think this girl could be 'the One'?", Thomas laughed.

"Yes, that's correct."

Thomas laughed, and looked back at Will through the rearview mirror. "Oh-oh, shi- you're serious! Oh, wow!", he let out a small chuckle, surprise masking his face. "Really? Good for you, buddy!"

"Yeah, right. I bet they end up next week," Cecily piped up, looking at Jem and Sophie expectantly.

"Uhh.. I'm giving them three days," Jem said, after careful consideration. "Wait, no, four. Four days, just in case."

"Okay, Sophie?"

"Hmm? What- yes?", Sophie asked, clearly not paying attention.

"How long do you think Will and his new girlfriend will last?"

"I can't believe you guys are betting against me and my girlfriend! Do you guys do this everytime?!", Will said, obviously irritated.

"Calm down, Will. Yes, we do bet against the relationships. Y'know why? Because its no fun for us. We can't become friends with any of your temporary girlfriends since you dump them and then they hate us, and won't talk to us. So we decided to start putting bets against you and your pathetic relationships, and so that way, we have fun and we win money," Cecily shot back, glaring at Will.

"Why do you guys need to have fun in my relationships?"

Silence. No one answered, no one made a sound. He was right. Why did they need to have fun in his relationships? Were they that lonely? Or was it something else? Was it because they wanted to somehow be involved more in Will's life? They were his siblings, of course they were involved. But Will just didn't give them enough. Sure, he talked to them, but never nice. Never once was he wanting to hang out with them, just because they were family. He was such a distant person, yet, somehow, he was still right there.

"Fine. We won't do it anymore, let's just forget it, okay?", Sophie pleaded, crossing her arms and looking out the window.

Just then, they pulled into a small cafe called, "Cup-o-Coffee." It was Sophie's favorite place. They had great coffee, amazing food, awesome music, and hot waiters.

They all got out of the jeep, and walked into the cafe. Sophie and Thomas immediately went to their spot. It was a little booth in the corner on the left side, in the the front. It was the perfect spot. They were by the windows, so there was plenty of light, they were in the back, so they could watch people come in and out, and no one ever sat there.

"What do you want?", Thomas asked Sophie, already pulling money out of his wallet.

"Bagel, please," Sophie answered, pulling money out of her pocket and handing it to Thomas. Most days Thomas pays for her, but she didn't want to depend on that, so occasionally she paid for herself.

"You got it sweetheart," Thomas joked, winking at her, and walking to the other side to order.

All of a sudden, Jem, Cecily, and Will's head popped out of the booth in front of them. Sophie gave a little gasp, and her hand flew to her chest.

"Guys! What the hell?!", Sophie whisper-screamed.

"He likes you," Jem observed.

"Well he should, I'm his best friend. Otherwise, we'd have some problems."

"No, Soph, he-", Will broke off and sighed. He got out of his booth and slid around into hers. "He likes you."

Sophie's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What? That's ridiculous!", she laughed.

Jem and Cecily looked at each other, before Cecily said, "How could you not see that? Are you blind or something?!"

"Okay, whatever you guys are smoking, you need to lay off, cuz this is getting ridiculous. Look, he's coming back, go back to your own booth, and eat."

Will got up and went back to his own seat, in his own booth.

Thomas liked her? What a lie! He couldn't have. They were best friends. They probably just misjudged their close friendship for something else. Besides, how could he like her? With the scar running down the side of her face. Sophie didn't hate the scar. She thought it would help her. It wouldn't send guys running to her, it wouldn't make it easy for her to find someone who truly loved her. In some ways, she was happy with it. It was a part of her. Nothing could change that.

"One bagel," Thomas chirpped happily, sliding back into his seat with a waffle in front of him.

"Thanks. Now do you have the notes for..."

"Cereal? You're eating Cereal?", Will asked, his eyes glaring at his sister.

"Ahem. Yes, I am. Do you have a problem with that?", Cecily shot back, her eyes playing the same dance as Will's.

"Guys, stop. You're giving me a headache, and you keep talking with food in your mouth. Stop it, it's gross," Jem complained, rubbing his temples with his fingertips. Will and Cecily both mocked Jem by showing the food in their mouths. "Seriously?"

Cecily and Will laughed and high-fived each other, both proud of themselves over something small and stupid.

"Let's go guys. We gotta get to school," Thomas said, passing by them to throw the rest of his waffle away.

Everyone threw out what was left of their breakfast and left the cafe. They all got in the jeep and were on their merry, little way to their school, St. Johnathan's.