Borderline

Session One Chapter 2

Alice had quickly become Sophie's first friend, and they were practically inseparable. One Friday, January 17, Alice came home with Sophie to have a sleepover. Mrs. Coleman was thrilled, Mr. Coleman said it wouldn't last. Alice had packed her pajamas, and a "Hannah Montana: The Movie" CD, along with 2 medium sized Tupperware boxes filled with rice, because 'popcorn and a movie is too cheesy' as she would say, real reason is her parents want her to be healthy. That didn't stop her from melting cheese on top of the rice. Saturday morning Alice invited Sophie to her birthday party next week, which would be another sleepover but with more people. Maybe she really could be normal.
January 25th, Saturday night, the long awaited night finally came. Sebastian walked Sophie to her first chance at being a normal kid. Alice's house was just a few blocks off and Sophie's dad refused to drive her, claiming it'd be a waste anyway since she'll end up coming back before morning.
"You know that sleeping bag isn't just for sleeping you know, it can be used as a bag to hide snacks in to give to me tomorrow" Sebastian joked as they neared the door. Sophie only offered him a smile as the door swung open, revealing a girl who's face turned tomato red as she saw Sebastian. A lot of girls at their school had a crush on him.
"You-you're Sebastian Coleman" the girl stuttered in surprise. "Hi. Tessa right? Don't worry I'm not here to intrude on your girl's sleepover, just here to drop off my sister. Have fun" he said with a smile as he started his way back home. Sophie turned to look at this Tessa girl to find her in shock, probably due to the fact that Sebastian knew her name.
Once she was inside she found 4 other girls seated in the kitchen, preparing to make cupcakes. They watched a movie and made art projects and then talked all night. Everything was so nice and Sophie was finally beginning to feel like a normal 11 year old.
Then one of the girls, Jen, turned to acknowledge Sophie "You're not as weird as people say, you're actually fun to hang out with, but why do you just stick to your brother all the time?" Another one, Josie, said, "Some people say that you're like crazy, and you get weird episodes or something, is that true?"
Sophie's whole world had come crashing down, she thought she finally had a chance at being normal. She was furious with everything and everyone,how could she be so stupid, of course no one would want to be her friend. She didn't even hear Alice as she started defending her. "You think you can bring me here and just humiliate me in front of all your friends? You guys just wanna test out the crazy girl, see if she'll freak out and break a table right? Well that's not working ok, I'm not some game you can play with." Sophie had exploded, she had given them what they wanted.
"Sophie, we're not playing games, you really are my friend!" Alice had tried to reason with her.
"You can't lie to me anymore Alice, you would never be friends with someone like me, this is your birthday trick right, you always wanted to play a prank on someone for your birthday, you said so yourself" Sophie couldn't listen to any reason.
"I meant both of us play a prank on someone. Together" Alice was pleading.
"Forget it, I'm leaving, and I'm not breaking anything if that's what you're waiting for." Sophie stormed out of the house, not looking back, walking the streets at 11 p.m. all alone, leaving her first true friend and her shot at a normal life behind. Her dad was right, she'll never make it till morning.

***
"That's an unexpected turn of events. I was really starting to get hopeful" Dr. Claremont commented as I took a cookie from the platter on his coffee table.
"You and me and both, Doc. But my novel takes on to be more realistic. And there's no room for hope in a world of evil" I told him returning to the couch to sit with my feet up. "You think Sophie was right to blow off like that? You don't think she should've stopped to listen" the doctor speculated.
"It doesn't matter what I think, someone would've said something eventually" I told him with a shrug.
"I'm inclined to think that it didn't matter if people were sincere or not. I think Sophie took what her father said to heart, she let it influence her actions"
"That's what you got here? Sophie doesn't care what her father says or thinks, he's been saying it all his life and it never mattered to her, it's not about to start now" I told him, getting a little defensive.
"I like to think otherwise, you've mentioned Sophie's father a couple of time in your story, what he thinks how he treats Sophie, the impact she has on his life. I think he always mattered. More than anyone else and there's a reason behind it"
"Perceptive as always doc. Maybe you'll get to know that reason next session"