Dear Diary

Chapter 28

"I just loved that party last night!"

"I don't know. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't much talent."

"What do you mean? Josh was there and that was enough for me."

"Yeah, but Luke wasn't."

"Oh yes. He never goes to parties."

Sophia stayed silent as she and the rest of the track team were busy doing warm-up stretches.

"Bummer," Blair said as she stretched her hamstrings. Her long brown hair pulled back into a French braid.

"I know right! If he was there, I totally would've danced with him instead of Tanner," Alice said as she sighed in dismay, allowing her black bangs to conceal her crystal blue eyes for a moment.

Normally Sophia wouldn't allow the girls to talk while exercising, but it was only stretching and they were still waiting for Miss Dempsey to arrive. And, to be honest, Sophia was a little curious to see what Blair and Alice were going to say about Luke. She couldn't understand why though.

"I wonder why he never goes to parties though," Blair pondered.

"Do you think he has a girlfriend?"

Blair shrugged. "Who knows. He never posts anything on social media."

Alice thought for a moment before turning to the captain. "Hey, Sophia. Do you think Luke has a girlfriend?"

Sophia paused mid-stretch and looked at the raven-haired girl. "Why would I know if he does?"

"Because you spend the most time with him other than his guy friends. Does he ever talk about a girlfriend?" Alice asked.

Sophia shook her head. "No."

"So, he's single then?" Alice beamed a hopeful smile.

Sophia shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know."

Blair stared at her for a moment. "Is something going on between you two?"

Sophia straightened from her last stretch. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I saw you two eating lunch under the trees one break."

Alice gasped. "Blair, you never told me that!"

Sophia rolled her eyes slightly. Honestly, did these girls have nothing better to do than talk about boys? Yes, Luke sat with her one break, but that was only because he needed help with one difficult assignment that Mr Evans gave them for History. But she didn't need to explain herself to anyone.

"There is nothing going on between us," Sophia clarified.

"But don't you find him dreamy and handsome?" Alice exclaimed.

Sophia sighed at the love-struck girl. "Even if I did, it wouldn't matter. I'll be leaving in a couple of months anyway."

At her words, the whole team paused and looked at her. "You're leaving?" Sally asked.

"Eventually. My dad's job makes us move around a lot," Sophia explained and Sally nodded her head in understanding.

"But ..." Alice brought her attention back to her, "if you aren't interested in Luke then how come he's always talking to you? What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything."

"Ah! So I must play hard-to-get then?"

"I didn't say that either."

Alice pouted. "It's not fair. What do you have that I don't?"

"For starters, she doesn't fawn over him every time he glances her way, meaning he can at least have a decent conversation with her," Blair said and Alice's eyes lit up as she snapped her fingers.

"That's it! I need to find something to talk about that he's interested in! Sophia, you know him best. What does he like?"

Sophia thought for a moment. "He likes motorbikes," she said, recalling the many conversations they had over the two-wheeled machines.

Alice's enthusiasm deflated. "But I know nothing about them!" she whined. "Do you think he'll know something about make-up brands?"

Blair sighed. "You know, Alice, for a dark-haired girl, you sure can act like a blonde. No offence," she said as she looked at Sophia.

"None taken."

-

Sophia sighed as she took a long drink of her water and pulled her hair into a low ponytail. Track work had just finished and she had gone to the locker-room to change back into her usual wear to ride home. Her hair was a little damp from sweating, so the quicker she got home the better. She would have to save the ice-cream till after she's had a shower.

"Sophia!" 

A yell brought the girl out of her thoughts and she turned to see Rachel marching up to her with a guy trailing behind her. Sophia internally sighed. Here we go again. 

"I told you not to go and talk to Luke and yet you went and did the exact opposite! You even had the audacity to sit with him at lunch!" she yelled, clearly displeased.

"You have no authority over me, remember?" Sophia replied calmly as she took a moment to look at the massive guy in football gear standing next to Rachel. "And can I help it if he prefers my company to yours?"

The football player howled with laughter. "Burn!"

Rachel sneered and puffed out her chest as she glared. "Justin," she warned and he stopped laughing, but couldn't contain his smile.

"Sorry."

Rachel's glare intensified. "Don't say sorry, just do what I told you to do!"

Sophia watched his smile fall as he looked at Rachel, then at her, then back at Rachel. "Do I have to?" he pleaded. "She's hot!"

Rachel's cheeks tinted red. "Just do it!" she hissed before her eyes locked on Sophia. "You're about to get everything you deserve."

Justin sighed before charging towards Sophia. He swung his right arm at her, but his eyes widened in surprise when she quickly ducked and spun her leg around, hitting his out from under him and he landed on his face with a loud thud.

Sophia stood calmly and heard Justin give a low groan as he held his nose. Because her father was a General, naturally she would know how to fight as well. He never taught her though. When she was young, she would have to go with him to the base and the lieutenants and captains were the ones who taught her everything from defence to offence.

It's been years since she practised, but those men had drilled it into her for a good ten years that she guessed it became muscle memory. Not that she was complaining.

She looked at Rachel, who stood before her flabbergasted. 

"You know," Sophia began as she stepped away from the still groaning Justin, "next time you want to 'teach me a lesson', at least find someone who sort of knows what they're doing. Okay?" she said and, without looking back, left the speechless girl and her groaning partner in the hallway.