Sidekicks and Criminals

Chapter Sixteen: Grey Area

Sophia was huddled in the corner of the sofa, her attention on the television screen, not really listening to the rerun of an interview with Cat Grant but wanting to see what the woman had to say, wondering if she might mention Adam, or any of the things that had happened there. She knew that Cat wouldn't, but it was easier to dwell on frivolous things like that than think about the pain. To remember that not twelve hours ago she had watched Winn walk away at her decision. That he had accepted her annoyance, allowed her a time to think.

She pulled the blanket closer over her shoulders, tried to tune back into the things that Cat was saying. The emotions of the previous day bubbled up to the surface though. She tried to supress them, but it didn't work. Instead she rubbed her twisted ankle and reached for one of the cookies that she had taken from home a few days before.

A knock on the door broke her, momentarily, from her stupor. Her heart thundered against her ribs as she glanced at the clock. There was no chance that it could be Winn, that much she was grateful for.

'Phia, open up.' Kalie's voice was soft, but there was still a kind of urgency behind it that piqued Sophia's interest.

Today, however, she was able to ignore the pull that it had over her. She didn't have the energy to speak to anyone. She was thinking about holing herself in her room for a little while so she didn't even have to deal with Robbo when he returned.

'Sophia, I will kick this door in if you don't open up,' Kalie assured her, tapping on the wood a little under the lock. The sound was slightly softer than before.

For a moment Sophia wondered if it might be worth allowing her friend to do just that. It would give her something to smile at. Though, she half hoped that the effort would be too much. That Kalie was just talking in the hopes that it might urge her into action. She'd already ignored a phone call from Cass, a text of apology that showed just how furious she was with her cousin but also how she was going to try and be there if Sophia needed her. The thought behind it was sweet, but Sophia couldn't accept it.

With a sigh, however, she started towards the door.

'I know you're in there,' said Kalie, but there was a slight amount of doubt creeping into her voice. 'You can't – Oh, hi.' Her expression flipped from worried to cheerful as soon as Sophia opened the door. The look didn't last long. Pity and concern took over quickly as Sophia moved aside, motioning her friend into the apartment.

'You could've used the spare key,' she noted simply, hearing and hating the flatness of her own voice.

Kalie didn't give her time to shut the door before she pulled her into a tight hug. Sophia wriggled for a moment but knew there was nothing that she could do. In fact, there wasn't anything she wanted to do. It was nice, having Kalie there, knowing that she'd listen, that she'd know to sort the whole thing out somehow.

'Robbo told me what happened,' Kalie explained, gently pulling away, kicking the door shut behind her and guiding Sophia back towards the sofa, taking charge of the situation in a way that Sophia was grateful for. 'He and Robbo would be here but –'

'What're they doing?' asked Sophia quickly, panic flaring in her chest.

Kalie gave her shoulder a pacifying squeeze. 'This one's really got his hooks in you.'

Sophia heaved a deep breath. However much he'd annoyed her nobody not erring on their side of the law really deserved the full wrath of the Laverna brothers... No matter how much her irritation had flared. But there was also the fact that Kalie had a point. She still liked Winn, she didn't want him to get hurt because he'd messed up, messed up with the rwrong family involved.