The sun was high in the sky by the time Rose and Jake awoke - Jake having slept away most of the day before, just as Sophie did. As he trudged halfheartedly to the small table in the corner of the living room, Rose emerged with four plates of steaming, fluffy and buttery pancakes, drizzled in syrup - her signature breakfast, with three cups of tea, and one orange juice.
The chatting was light and far between as everyone dove into the meal, Collie and Rosemary watching from afar, eating their own designated breakfast, when a new figure snuck up onto the table - a sleek black cat with grey eyes, preening itself.
"Silly cat - off you pop now, we're tryna eat here. Go on dafty, move." Brian poked the cat's stomach lightly as Jake stroked it's tail, receiving a purr of approval before jumping down and padding softly into the kitchen. "That there's Jaz, the greedy thing he is; attention and food - heck anything he can get, he'd get it or die tryin," he explained, noticing Sophie's confused expression, though it seemed like he never looked up from buttering his pancake more.
"I met him yesterday" Jake voiced, "he's okay, nibbled on my finger a bit, but pretty harmless." Sophie nodded, putting the rest of her pancake into her mouth before heading to wash her sink.
"So sweetie, I heard you met our newest horse this morning" Rose's voice piped up from where she sat. Sophie voiced her agreement before Rose continued, "even named her - she took a right liking to you eh? Anna was it?"
"Ava, actually." Rose made a noise of understanding, and Sophie turned in time to see her flick Grandpa Brian on the forehead - claiming he told her the wrong name, he just laughed at her minor scolding. Rose stood up not long after and joined Sophie by the sink, leaning her head slightly closer to Sophie's, lowing her voice - not enough to be a whisper, but low enough for the boys not to hear what exactly was being said.
"I was thinkin' when I woke up, I'd ask you about this, but you were out with the horses, so I'll ask you now okay?" Sophie nodded. Rose grabbed the tea towel and started to idly dry the dish. "What do you think about a little girl bonding session - not today!" She added quickly, seeing Sophie's falling expression - one of deep confusion. "No, not today, but at some point, and by girl bonding, I mean I'd show you around the town, maybe we'd pick up some new clothes, some supplies? How's that sounding?" Sophie pondered for a moment before agreeing with a decisive nod of her head, Rose's smile reappeared on her face and she put the tea towel - of which she was twisting violently - down onto the bench, placing her arm on Sophie's shoulder.
"Anyway," Rose raised her voice to talk to the boys who were still eating, "the tractor's still backed up Brian, could you help me out with that when you're finished eatin'?" There was a muffled grunt. "You two - I see you trying to scurry off Jake - could you go down to the market for me - we're needin' some bread and - y'know what, I'll just write it down, got it?" They nodded as Rose scurried off to the notepad Sophie had scribbled on earlier. She could have sworn she saw Rose wink to Brian but brushed the thought off.
It had taken twenty minutes before they left, as Jake had to get ready and Rose implanted the directions to the market into their heads, even writing it down just in case, giving them her work phone and telling them to ring the top number if they get lost - her personal mobile number.
They set off, Sophie still with her Grandpa's scarf, but now instead of welly boots, just regular old trainers Rose never wore. Jake almost matched her with a darker blue hoodie, black jeans and similar trainers, looking eerily like twins with his height at fourteen being the same 5'7 as Sophie's sixteen-year-old frame.
The market truly wasn't hard to miss, it was the only building with the shutters open so close to Christmas on it's street, though - in the window under the 'help wanted' sign, showing the opening hours were significantly reduced, though the two of them had plenty of time to get what they needed, the store shutting at five, and it only being about twelve quarter past if the chiming of the clock tower had any say in it.
Upon entering out of the cold weather, the temperature in the store was noticeably warmer, but still holding the bite of cold from the freezers to the right., Sophie opted to take the top half of the items listed - all of which stayed on the left side of the store - and Jake got the meats and frozen foods needed, they agreed to meet back up within fifteen minutes at the checkout.
Walking into the first aisle, Sophie absentmindedly fiddled with the change in her pocket, eyes scanning the shelves, and briefly down again to check the list in a consistent pattern. Eyes up, twiddle coin, read labels, eyes down, twiddle, flip coin, and repeat. The basket on her arm kept bouncing off her hip every step she took, it was irritating, and as she tried to adjust it whilst walking, she bumped into a figure, knocking the both of them over, the few objects in her basket rolling slightly away - thank god it was just soup and not vegetables.
"I'm so sorry, are you-you okay?" Sophie stood slowly, keeping her eyes on the redhead but her head lowered in apology - as a sign, projecting 'please don't get mad' - onto him. He just laughed and stood up easily.
"No harm done." He smiled, revealing quite sharp canines, yet his eyes remained closed, when they opened he stuck out his hand, Sophie flinched noticeably before covering it up by shaking the outstretched hand. "I'm Karma by the way - don't think I've metcha' before? Funny, thought I'd met everyone?" He muttered the last part to himself, not as if he didn't want her to hear. Sophie shook her head.
"You might, but I'm new. Sophie, my name." Her mind still hadn't cleared itself up from the immediate sense of fear that filled her, it would take some time - she supposed. Instead of staring into his amber eyes any longer than she had, she started to pick up the cans that had fallen.
"Oh, new? Not many people move here this close to Christmas - or are you just visiting?" Sophie responded quickly - maybe too quickly? - with a shake of her head, Karma just looked confused at her response.
"Moved in with my grandparents a few nights ago - Berry-well ave." Cogs turned in Karma's head before he clicked his fingers and grinned at her again.
"Well, then I suppose we're like neighbours then - ha. Wait, are your Grandparent's - what's the name? Flower, flower" Karma muttered, before snapping his eyes open with a victorious humph - "Rose and Brian?" He received a swift nod in response, there were a few moments before Sophie realised she was walking, continuing on auto-pilot to get the required items on the list - Karma walking beside her, hands resting lazily on the nape of his neck. They walked like that for a few minutes before Karma spoke again.
"You don't talk much I gather?" Sophie shook her head, he looked slightly bashful. "Ah, well if I'm making you uncomfortable and you don't want me with you then-" She shook her head.
"It's okay. The company isn't too bad now, and I'd like to start making new friends." His smile returned, arms rising to his neck again as they continued to the checkouts, where Jake had seemingly also just arrived, Sophie stood on his right and tapped his left shoulder - he always fell for it. This time was no different as he turned his head to the left, then the right as he heard her giggling.
"Hey, Sophie, ready to pay and go." She nodded, before pointing to Karma. "Oh, hi - I didn't see you" he chuckled nervously as Karma stood at seemingly about six foot, slightly intimidating, other than his infectious grin, he stuck out his hand.
"My name's Karma, seems like you're related?" He looked between them, nodding. "Well then, I'm one of your neighbours I guess, so welcome." The items had been bagged and paid for as he talked, accompanying them out of the store also - with his own bag on his arm, a peek saw lots of strawberry milk and pocky.
They arrived at their home, Karma still by their side, but before he went, he spoke.
"If you guys want, you and your Grandparents could come over for dinner sometime?" He scratched his head but smiled once they nodded, Jake promising to tell Brian or Rose, and they watched him walk up the street.
YOU ARE READING
A little love goes a long way
FanfictionHow does losing a sibling feel? Or the loss of a parent's love? How does isolation and separation from almost-friends feel? Ask Sophie. She has suffered through all of this and more, though there is a light side in the shape of a true family, in the...