Chances of That

Second Chances

Weeks passed and I was acutely aware of the hole in my life where Peter used to be.

Other than Olive and my mum, I barely saw or spoke to anyone.

A few texts from my fellow cheerleaders asking about my birthday party, but I always replied with a rude 'Nothing is happening on that day.' And that was all my social happenings for thw majority of my summer holiday.

I would sometimes hear a muffled giggle coming for the Harrison's house or I would see Peter and Pepper walking together hand in hand. They seemed to be completely back on track and completely in love.

Pepper did come to visit me a few times. She baked my cookies every time and told me about how she had decided to extend her stay with Peter until the end of the summer.

I had to admit that I was happy for them. I really was.

But every time I heard the giggle, every time I saw them together, every time they kissed and I caught sight of it, the break in my heart deepened and widened and sometimes I had to place my hand over my chest for fear that it might break completely and fall out of my body entirely.

It was Monday the 5th August when Olive came knocking on my window.

"Bitch I have had enough of having to spend my summer either inside your house or by myself at my own house. Your birthday is tomorrow and we haven't even got outfits yet. So get up, get dressed and get out of this house because you wonderfully amazing best friend ... Is taking you shopping!"

I stared at her from my place on the floor that I was currently occupying whilst readin my book.

"Olive? I'm not having a party. Nothing is happening on that day."

She looked at me with a 'So?' expression so I carried on, "So ... I don't need an outfit."

She opened her mouth and gasped in horror, "Sophia Bernado Ofelia!"

I cut in with a flat "That's not my name."

But she conitnued, "Every single year, I have always taken you out for a birthday meal regardless of if you were having a party or going on holiday for your birthday, I have always made sure that we go out for dinner together. So we need to get you an outfit that you look hot in, and we are going to go out for dinner and possibly go clubbing afterwards, because after all you are 18, so you're going to come with me and like it."

10 minutes later I'm following after Olive down my tree and climbing into her car whilst spying a very shy looking Matt in the back seat.

"Hey Matty, how's it going?" I say to him kindly but not really looking at him.

"Yeah good thanks. I got dragged along by the way, incase you're wondering why I'm here! Olive said she'd buy me food and some new clothes." He said with a smile and I laughed.

"Yeah well it;s one or the other Matt, I'm not made of money!" Olive said rather rudely as we pulled off my driveway and towards the centre of town.

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"Olive. We've been round the whole shopping centre twice now, can we please go home! You have 3 outfits and Sophie has 4 to choose from, please take me home." Poor Matt panted by the side of me and tried, for the hundredth time, to get Olive to take him home.

"Matt. I bought you lunch and 2 new shirts. We go home, when I say we go home. Besides, We haven't even been round once!" Olive retorted.

Matt looked at his surroundings, "Really? We're still going round? How big is this place?"

"Too big." I replied and he laughed.

Olive then ran off in the direction of a shoe boutique and I suggested that Matt and I went and sat down on the benches outside the shop.

"So, other than the constant walking around, have you had a good time today?" I asked Matt hoping he wouldn't shoot me down.

"Yeah, it's actually been really fun! I like hanging out with you two, you're kind of like complete opposites of each other and it's fun." I looked at Matt curiously.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked kindly with a smile on my face.

He returned my smile and said, "Well you're both absolutely gorgeous," And then he blushed slightly, and so did I, "But Olive is really loud and outgoing. I mean even her choice of clothing reflects that about her, the bright red lipstick she always wears, the short, tight clothes. You know I mean this nicely, but she likes the attention. Whereas you," His speech slowed down a bit, "You're just something entirely different. You sometimes dress in short, tight clothes but it never looks the same on you as it does on Olive. For instance, when you wear shorts, it's because it's a hot day and you look cute in them, not to get the attention of every male with a pulse." We both laughed at this because we weren't bitching about Olive, it's true, she evens admits herself that she dresses the way she does because she likes the attention, "And you're make-up's so much more focused on the eyes instead of the lips which shows that you prefer to look at people and have a conversation rather than kissing them all the time. Basically, Olive's a fantasy and you ... you're the girl next door that everyone wants to date."

Now that ... that was a satisfying answer.

I missed this. I missed being around guys and just kicking back and having a good time, especially with Matt, something still nagged at me that I shouldn't discount him. He was so sweet and obviously had a major thing for me!

"Thanks Matt. That was ... really, really sweet of you."

He smiled that infectious smile of his and mine appeard almost instantaneously.

"Hey Soph? How 'bout I take you on that date we talked about a while ago? I know you've had some stuff going on lately and it's your birthday and the anniversary of your dad's death and all. But maybe I could take you out like next week some time? Or even further away then that you know?"

He looked so hopeful and so innocent, but still my first instinct was to say no.

I thought about the fact that Matt had never hurt me and he'd never really done anything to offend me or tried it on with me or .... actually Matt had never done anything to hurt me.

He was just a genuinely nice guy, that liked a nice girl.

Why shouldn't he get what he wants? He's always looking after everyone else, always putting his friends before himself. Well, this time, Matt was finally trying to get something for himself, and who was I to take it away from him?

"Yes. Absolutely." I answered.