Between The Lines

thirty two

        Tuesday morning is one of my favorite stores.

        Not days.

        Tuesday's are basically Monday's. 

        They are busy and i'm always just as exhausted.

        The elevator dinged when it reached the 16th floor. I followed the people out and made my way to my office. Lucas sat in his office, pandora playing what ever Led Zepplin song it shuffled to. Tasha was walking by the offices, i noticed her slow down past Lu's, giving him a quick wave and smile, before speeding back up not to make people wonder.

        I turn and walk into his office, plopping into the chair across from his. 

        "Morning" He says, reaching to pause the song.

        "Morning" I say, "I saw that"

        "Saw what?"

        "Tasha's little sneaky -not so sneaky walk by" Lucas blushes and i smirk at him. "You guys can't hide that kind of thing from me, i invented that move"

        "Well, look at you" He says.

        "How are you guys anyway?"

        "Well, i asked her out on Saturday so i guess it's officially official"

        I smile, "Yay"

        "Yeah" He says, "I'm pretty excited to. I really like her"

        "I do too" I nod, "She seems perfect for you"

        He gives me a smile, his cheeks becoming red again. I lean back in the chair and pick at my skirt. Ever since yesterday, Lucas hasn't quite been himself. I don't know what to do about it exactly, this hasn't happened before. He's always been the one to remain grounded and stable when something is going on.

        "What's wrong?"  I say finally. Lucas looks up at me, his eyes wide, almost as if i caught him.

        "N-nothing" He stutters, bushing his glasses further up his nose.

        "Cut the crap Young" I sigh. He looks down, licks his lips before looking back to me.

        "I got a job offer" He says.

        I stay silent for a moment. "...and?"

        "and" He says, "It's in London"

        "Okay" I shrug, "Say no"

        "Soph"

        "Lucas" I reply, "Look i know you think it's cool how people want you to work for them, but we made a promise we wouldn't leave LA without each other. We are going to stick together"

        He sighs. "Sophie" 

        "No" I say, "Don't 'Sophie' me"

        "Can't you see that we are grown up now? We don't need each other like we used to. Hell Soph, Grace is having a baby. I'm hoping one day i settle down with Tasha.. this isn't high school anymore"

        "I can not believe you are saying this" I say, standing from my seat, "After all these years"

        "That was a childish and unrealistic promise Soph, c'mon" Lucas says, "This job could mean really amazing things for me"

        "Then take it" I sigh, "I need to go"

        I run out of his office and into mine. I slam the door shut and slump in my chair. Tears begin to pool in my eyes.

        Now, i know what you are thinking:

        Wow, she is so childish and selfish.

        Well, hear me out.

        Lucas, Grace and I have been this trio for years, literally years. It's hard to think that we won't be together like that anymore. I know we are grown ups and sometimes as mature human beings you have to do things that suck and that you don't wanna do. But this is different, this is like my family. Hell, It is my family.

        I don't wanna lose my family.

        There is a soft knock on the door. I call who ever it is in, the door opens a bit and i see Noah smiling back at me.

        "Hey" I sniff, giving him a small smile. He smiles back and walks around my desk, then leans down to my level.

        "Are you ok Soph?" He asks, i shrug and look down at the floor.

        "I dunno" I whisper

        "Hey" He says,"Look at me"

        His fingers hook under my chin and raise it up to look at him.

        "It's gonna be okay" He says, "I'm right here"

        Thats when i completely break down into shaking sobs.

        "Soph" He mutters, holding me into his chest. I grab onto his blue dress shirt and cry, tears running down my cheeks and landing on his shirt.

        "I-I don't w-wanna l-lose them" I cry

        "I know" He says, rubbing my back, "Hey look at me, Soph"

        I do as i am told.

        "I know everything seems super crazy and maybe even a little scary, but you have to trust me on this: You won't be alone no matter what happens. They still love you just as much as i do"

        "You love me still?"  i ask.

        "Yeah" He says, "I never stopped"

        Oh. My head is spinning now.

        "I thought you were just saying that"

        "No" He says. "I mean it, i really really mean it"

        There are a few moments of silence and i look up into his brown eyes.

        "I love you too"