Chapter 13: So it Begins

SOFIA'S POV

The smell of chlorine and detergents, mixed with bodily fluids hit my nostrils like an experiment on air.

"You left before I woke up. Was the kiss part of the 'chauffeur' service too?"

She runs her hand through her hair.

Looking at the lockers, unable to meet my eyes, "It was a mistake, Tinkerbell. I was drunk."

"You told me you don't kiss people, Nova. Was that a lie too?"

The silence didn't feel comforting.

It peirce my ears with every second she didn't deny it.

"Are you afraid of what people will think? I mean your reputation must be more important than admitting you felt something last night,"

I push. She takes it. She stands there, her eyes locked with mine as I lean against a row of lockers.

My arms folded.

Her hand slams against it, so close to my ear.

Our faces inches apart.

Her eyes move to my lips, jaw tight enough to snap.

"It was a mistake,"

Was she telling me or convincing herself?

"You don't kiss people like that by mistake. You don't hold someone like they’re the only thing keeping you on the ground if it’s just 'the alcohol'."

I reach out, my fingers brushing the hem of her unbuttoned blue dress shirt. From a distant she looked every bit the villain in her black baggy jeans and a white tank under her folded blue sleeved shirt. The fabric and the V symbol on it showing that she shoped from Vescovi.

Her hair was perfect in its on way. Like she'd roll out of bed straight into a hair commercial.

I raise my heels, balancing on my toes to close the distance between us. The metal door screeches open with heels clicking from a distance.

"Well well well, if it isn't charity case number irrelevant," Delia says with a huge grin.

I should have known it was her when the room got ten degrees colder.

She doesn't look at me.

Not once.

Her focus is on Nova.

Nova's hand drops from the locker.

Her face flat.

Dead.

Was she only soft with me, or did she only pretend to be?

"Yet you're the one who knows nothing about me. Projecting is a disgusting look paired with that outfit,"

The words come out naturally.

Doesn't she know, that I'm not as naïve as she thinks to me be?

"We're just talking, Delia. Cut it out,"

Nova takes a step forward.

Like an older sibling taking the fall for the younger one.

Delia didn’t look at me. Not for confirmation. Instead, a wide smirk spread across her face.

"Talking? Is that what we’re calling it now, Nova? I’d say you’re ahead of schedule on your project."

Project? What fucking project? Was I the project, was them playing games the project?

Nova's posture was stiff, like a soldier waiting for execution.

"What project?" I ask her. For the second time, I was being reminded that I knew nothing about her. Not enough to have her turn and explain because she cared about what I'd feel.

​Delia laughed, a sharp, artificial sound that set my nerves on edge.

"Oh, Sofia. You’re so sweet. So... unaware. Nova is very goal-oriented. When she wants something, she does whatever it takes to get it. Isn't that right, Nova? You’re dedicated to the win."

"Delia, enough," Nova said. Her voice was a low growl, but there was a tremor in it I’d never heard before.

​"Is it enough? Is it...really enough?" Delia stepped closer to Nova, reaching out to flick a piece of lint off Nova’s shoulder. It was a gesture of pure possession.

"Because the group is starting to wonder if you’ve gone soft. If you’ve forgotten the stakes,"

​Nova finally looked at me. But it wasn't the Nova who kissed me until I couldn't breathe. It was the "Captain" everyone else knew. The one who didn't date. The one who fucked for fun.

​"She’s right, Sofia," Nova said, her voice devoid of any warmth.​"Go back to your class, Sofia," Nova continued, her eyes cold as ice.

She'd never called me by name before and somehow that stung.

"I’ve got a game to prepare for. And a project to finish."

​Delia’s smirk widened. She looked like she’d just won the lottery.

I didn't feel embarrassed.

Atleast not infront them.

I hadn't gone all the way with her so this felt like reality reminding that gravity existed. But even then I wanted to know what Delia had on her.

What were the stakes?

"Sof Pow!" A familiar voice calls out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Mila stood there with an extra can of diet cook and chips on her free hand.

I chuckled.

"I passed my test thanks to you!! We need to celebrate," she yells with the rest of the students sending glares at her loudness.

Her eyes focus on something behind me, so I turn to confirm if it's what I'm thinking.

Nova and Delia leave the locker room with her arm over Delia's shoulder. Everyone's eyes focus on the duo.

"Are they making it official?"

"No fucking way! Nova would rather sleep around than choose Delia,"

"I heard she lives with the sophomore girl who wears her hoodie on campus,"

"I mean we get it. She fucked you, now get over it. Stop wearing it like a trophy," another student added.

For a weird reason I felt relieved to not have worn it today.

Is that what they thought of me though? That i was hang up on a fling so I wore her hoodie to let everyone know? I laughed at the thought.

I mean it was silly.

"What's so funny? People think you're desperate and clingy," my bestfriend says. I laughed even more when she reminded me. How stupid and deluded could people be?

"It's a shame that we didn't fuck, then," is all I say walking away from the gossip. Did it bother me? Yes. But for the wrong reasons. What was it about her? Her being a misfit or the layers to her?

"Hey wait up. This is serious Sofia. Stay away from Nova. Especially because no one here knows who you really are,"

Her tone was smaller now. She knew everything about me but my condition. If that was ever out in the open, Nova's friends would make it hard intentionally. Only I'm not a charity case or some scholarship kid.

"What if I like her? What if i told you that I have liked her since the hospital visit? Would you hate her less?"

"I'd want to kill her more,"

She jokes. But no hint of it was on her serious face.

"Why? What do you know about her that disqualifies her from being with me?"

"She's intentionally destructive. Nova has all the right traits of a caring and loving person, but chooses to see them as weakness. She'd rather hurt someone than admit it,"she says genuinely.

She didn't discredit her or focus on rumours, she never mentioned that. She told me the truth.

There's no hate on Nova, just caution on people she cares about.

"You're the best thing to ever happen to me you know?"

She gasps dramatically.

"I didn't know that,"

She was being playful.

"Promise you won't hate Nova because I decided to keep pursuing her,"

I wasn't going to stop.

She hadn't given me reason to.

And I'm not one to feed on assumptions.

But it did sting, how easy it was for her to dismiss me like we hadn't shared a bed together, or she hadn't gone out of her way to get me tiramisus, or replaced my alcoholic drink with a self made diet Cola.

Anyone could have done that, but only she knew why.