Queen in hell

Chapter 4 - Sofia

I was talking to Melanie and Christian just outside the school entrance, the September sun shining on us after a longer school day, full of orientation activities for me and AP classes for my new friends.
I found I was rather enjoying the American school system, even with all its faults.

Melanie was complaining about her Econ teacher giving extra credit work already on the second day of school, when a shadowed figure came strutting towards us.
With the sun in my eyes I couldn't quite see well who it was, but my first thought was Lucas, who we were actually waiting for.
Against my better judgment, I waved and soon after I realized the person walking towards us was most definitely not Lucas.

Parker Royale was throwing me a thousand watts smile that was almost as blinding as the sun.
I let my hand fall and my mouth automatically turned into a frown.

"Hey Soph-Soph, how you doin'?" he said, putting his hand on my bike - nobody can touch my bike if I haven't given permission.

I got closer to him with a wicked smile and put my hands on his strong chest - he looked at me with a glint in his eyes, which he quickly lost when I pushed him away. I would have never been able to move him, but he was expecting me to instantly fall for him like every other girl in town did.

Too bad for him.

"Do not call me that, idiota. We're not friends, nor will we ever be."
"Oh come on, don't be like that Soph-Soph". He took a step back with his hands in the air and a grin on his face.

He clearly had a death wish.

"What do you want, Parker?" I ask, crossing my arms in front of him, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice, failing quite miserably.

"We need to talk about our History project for Miss Swift, partner" he remarked.

"I don't plan on spending too much time with you on that project. I'll do my part, you'll do your. We can meet tomorrow after class in the library. Now go away." Having said that I got my keys out of my pocket and put on my helmet, wanting to get away as quick as possible from the deep sea green eyes that were staring at me, confusion slowly creeping in.
"Bye guys, I'll see you tomorrow..." I waved at Melanie and Christian, who were looking at each other, a look between them that I didn't necessary like.

As I was starting my bike, I caught a glimpse of Lucas, who was coming out of school, quick paced.
I didn't stop, I was not in the mood.

When I got home, I parked right in front of our garage and got into the house, throwing my back pack by the front door and dashing upstairs to my room.

I threw my phone in my bed and decided to take a hot long shower.

I took my time and when I got out I was feeling calmer by the minute. I put on a pair of sweatpants and and old school T-shirt from my second year at my Italian high school. The multicolored logo was already fading due to the over excessive washes.

I got my laptop from my desk and sat down on my bed, looking outside my window at my backyard while I waited for the computer to boot up.

The pool was shining and I got lost in my train of thought looking at the glimmer water.
My phone got me out of my trace, a text message popping up.

The effect left over from my calming shower officially went down the drain, and I loaded my emails while trying not to think to the stupid blonde bimbo who decided to consider me a threat for something I couldn't care less about.

Parker was someone I didn't want to have anything to do with, and it was not my fault I had better grades than he did, even transferring from overseas.

I saw I had an email from Emma, my childhood best friend, updating me on everything I missed since I moved here. I decided to give her a FaceTime call, it must have been around 7am back home, she was supposedly getting ready for her first day.

Her tired face was staring back at me from her kitchen table, a cup of espresso in front of her.
"Buongiorno Emma. You slept well?" I asked, snickering, noticing the bags under her eyes.
"I'm not used to waking up early anymore. I got back from Riccione only a couple days ago..."

That's something I was missing dearly. Late nights at the beach with my friends until the last possible day, sleeping in and having lunch under the sun.

"At least you got the last rays of sun. You happy of going back?" I was almost daydreaming about our seaside Spritz.

"You know better than I do that school is not exactly my forte. And with you gone I don't know how I'm gonna survive these last couple of years. And to think that you're graduating earlier than us! That's not fair, I miss you too much..."
Sadness veiled her eyes and I really wished I was there to hug her and make her happy. I hated to see her like this, wether it was because of me, a boy or anything else.
As she drank her coffee I told her everything that happened in my first few days here and how school was going.
I was debating on wether to tell her about Parker or not, but at the end I thought it would cheer her up, hearing about my boy problems.

"Oooooh, two days and you've already got a queue of boys waiting for you, you go girl!" She weakly fist pumped and gave me a full smile.

We said goodbye and I went down stairs to start on dinner, I was starving. I turned on some background TV and I opened the fridge, deciding on a mushroom chicken recipe than I know Mom loves.

While I was stirring up the sauce, my phone lit up with an incoming call. Lucas' name and picture smiled back at me as I answered.

"Hi Sof, how you doing?"
"Hi Lucas, cooking dinner. What are you up to?"
"Nothing much, I actually wanted to give you some details for the party tomorrow night, seeing you like running away as soon as school's over" he snickered.
"Ah Ah, very funny. I just wanted to get away from Parker..."
"I noticed, wanna tell me what's up with that?"
"Not really. The party?"
"Mhm okay. Yeah, the party, we've got food, music and booze, the only thing you gotta bring is your fine ass. Literally everyone from school will be there. Dress cool, bring a swimsuit for a last season dip if you feel like it."
"Okay, just an everyday party then. I'll see you tomorrow morning, yeah?"
"Sure Sof, be good" - I could feel him winking even through the phone.
I rolled my eyes even if he couldn't see me.
"Good night Lucas."
"Night Sof."

My mom walked through the door as soon as the call was over, and we spent the evening watching some Netflix and eating dinner.
"I'm not gonna be home tomorrow night, Lucas invited me to a party at his house. Is that okay?" I asked, already pretty sure the answer was going to be yes, my mom being pretty laid back.

"Sure honey, go and have fun, meet some new friends." Just as I expected.

Back in my room I put my phone on the charger, brushed my teeth and slid into bed, picking up a book from my night stand.

I opened The Kite Runner where I last left it, but soon I was sleeping, the open book draped over my duvet.
I didn't notice my phone vibrating with a new text message.