Chapter 8: The final warning

NOVA'S POV

Being in the apartment feels like an all white room with no door and a seat in the middle. Sofia is that seat. She's out of the hoodie she wouldn't let go of now replacing it with a green oversized t-shirt. Her right hand rests on the blender lid gently while trying to control the level of intensity with the other one. If she's trying to piss me off, its working. I just sat down to watch this movie.

She eyes me from the corner of her eyes like she's being discreet. She's lucky I know she needs whatever that is for her health. The occasional noise doesn't stop there so I get up from the couch and approach her by the kitchen counter.

"Chronic rejection," I start.

"Don't,"

"You don't get to demand my attention then act uninterested,"

"I can't control scientific inventions,"

"So...Chronic rejection. That’s a big phrase for someone who claims they’re fine."

She sighs, takes a gulp from the thick mixture straight out of the blender.

"It’s just a word, Castiello. Doctors love words. They make them feel like they're in control of things they can't fix."

"I can't fix it either,"

"So why are you still fussing me about it? Unfucking believable this one,"

She scoffs, walking past me and taking her weird mixture with her. Her phone is still on the counter and I'm about to go back to the couch when it lights up with an annoying ringtone filling the apartment. It reads "Father dearest". What is with me and prying unintentionally? She jogs out of her room picking up. "Hey dad,"she starts, cleaning up the messy kitchen.

"Yes and she said the tests were fine. There's nothing to worry about," she says. Is she lying or that wasn't the most serious she's ever gotten? She disappears into her room still on the phone and doesn't come out for a while. Maybe I should insist on fucking off like she said earlier.

I think to myself heading to my room to grab my kit for practice. I write down on a sticky note and stick it on her door before heading out. I'm the captain so I still have responsibilities.

"Look what the captain dragged in,"

"Confidence and Aura?" I ask smirking.

"Just get changed and join your disappointing team," the coach says and I just know she's not pleased with practice. I lead the practice pointing out the areas each player has to work on and after 3 hours the coach is smiling off the court.

"Still coming to the party? Got a guy with better candy than the last one,"

"That is why you've been on the bench Shirley. Stay off the high until we win the season,"I say sternly because to them, its a hobby but to me its a passion. Regardless of my status.

"Aye Captain," she teases before the team disperses to the locker room. I remain behind, taking a seat facing the court. There were times I just hopped to let off steam and then the captain saw me and made it hard to resist joining the team. If I didn't know about dad's contract, would I still be as hopeless about what I want to do with my life?

In the showers, I let the jets of cold water fall on my face and make their way down my naked body. Why did she look at my lips like that earlier? Why does she look at me like that? Like she's worth risking everything for? She's brave but not because she's scared, but because she thinks it'll make everything else in her life feel small. What the fuck are you doing to me Sofia? I turn the shower off grabbing my hanging towel the same time i hear the lockeroom door open.

"Did you see the way she carried that girl out of the party?"

"I think her name is Sofia. She's that weird transfer student,"

"what's with her anyway? Does she think thee Nova, would ever like someone like her?"

"I heard that she hangs around Paolo and Mila because they're rich and pay for everything,"

"Probably a scholly kid, wannabe," one of them says before their faint voices fade out and the door closes again.

I step out of the stall and dry myself. It's easier for people to make up lies about someone they don't know than to find out the truth for what it is. Why would they think that she's putting on an act about who she is. Why must she automatically be from a midfle class family if they don't like her? I get dressed and leave the locker room.

I walked to campus so the walk back actually feels even better. The coupled pedestrians just clinging onto each other like it had always been so easy to be happy. When I was little, I'd make scrapbooks of pictures I took on my polaroid. I pictured myself happy, like my parents were. The older I got the less i liked play dates. Even more when i was homeschooled my entire highschool. Dad's choice. He wanted me to learn more without distractions.

I think the only chance i got to be free was accepting to study at Castellani University University. Both my parents attended it and they were the highlight of it. Both business majors and competitive. Their rivalry resulted to a power couple adored by any person who'd later join the university. Not me though, because it's not real.

"Miss Castiello," the café worker says. This has been my favourite café since i found it. So imagine my surprise when i saw Sofia seated by the corner, my corner, enjoying coffee and tiramisu. Was it a coincidence? She comes here every morning before her classes and sits there. I never meant to notice but she made it hard not to notice. A girl with a camera filming the place but never caught me in her frame. If she did she chose to disregard it.

"Can I have a tiramisu to go? In all the flavours you have,"I say. Sofia orders the same thing every time so wouldn't hurt to get her them for her. She missed her classes today.

The door to the apartment gives a drastic difference between the street noise and the laughter coming from inside.

"Mila stop it! I don't even kiss like that,"

"Oh Nova mwah mwah mwah....your lips taste like honey..mwah mwah mwah," Mila mocks kissing a throw pillow from the couch running around it with sofia standing on the couch trying to get to her. I watch it for another minute chuckling softly at how frustrated Sofia looks. I clear my throat with both of them looking over to me, Mila just scoffs but her bestfriend's faces looks flushed.

"How long have you been standing there?" She asks resting her hands on her sides. Why is she mad at me and not Mila? She's the one teqsing her about me. "Long enough to know you're curious about my lips,"

"Are you fucking happy now? You made the terrible flirt over there think she has a chance with me," she barks at her best friend.

"Hey you did that on your own when you zoomed on her Instagram picture," Mila retorts throwing the pillow at her before sprinting to her room and Sofia follows. And I'm the weird one? They practically live like siblings. I put the tiramus in the fridge for her to find because if tell her about it I get the feeling she'll be agitated at my gesture.

They reappear in the living room both short of breath.

"So you stalked my Instagram huh?"

"Not a fucking word, Castiello," she retorts storming to her room.

Mila's eyes squint as she walks over to the kitchen counter.

"Something happened today, didn't it,"

"You mean me being her chauffeur, then yes,"

"No. You're getting on Sofia's nerves, more than i do. And i do the most,"

"And you're grinning because..."

"I think she likes you. Which means you seduced her with your fucking charm!"

She gritts her teeth at the last bit.

Her tone more hostile.

"Are we still talking about the same bestfriend you have?"

"I will rip your limbs apart if you hurt her, and that's a promise Nova Castiello,"

The veins on her forehead are assuring enough that she means it. What did I do? I just did what she told me and took her bestfriend for the check up. I have no control over her actions.