Chapter 33

Sophia wasn’t much of a dancer, but tonight, she was making an exception. It was a party to celebrate her, so she had to enjoy it in the very least.

With her arms raised and feet tapping to the beat, she let herself enjoy the moment. Of course, that didn’t mean she was about to start dancing with the boys who kept coming up to her. One after another, they tried, and one after another, she refused. It was almost funny at this point. She checked for the seat she put her bag on, and it wasn’t there.

Across the room, Caleb was hyping up the crowd, pumping his fists and moving around like he was the official party MC. Sophia shook her head, amused, before making her way to him. He must have taken it.

She had barely opened her mouth when he suddenly grabbed her hand and lifted it high into the air.

“Everyone, give it up for the best of the brains!” He shouted.

A loud cheer erupted, and Sophia felt a rush of heat creep up her neck. She smiled nervously, nodding at the crowd while Caleb kept going.

She leaned in to whisper.

“I appreciate all your praises, but I need to talk to you. Alone.”

Caleb blinked, then smirked.

“Ooooh, private conversation? Should I be worried?”

Sophia rolled her eyes.

“Just come with me, big head.”

He nodded and followed her to a quieter room upstairs, away from the noise.

Once they were inside, Sophia turned to him, looking sort of concerned.

“I think someone stole my bag. I can’t find it anywhere.”

Caleb frowned.

“You’re sure? Did you check well?”

She nodded.

“I searched everywhere I could think of in there, but it’s gone. I thought you had taken it, even.”

Caleb ran a hand through his hair, looking both frustrated and annoyed.

“I should have. Wow. People can be so evil. Stealing from the star of the show? That’s so low, the bar is in the deepest parts of Hades.”

Sophia sighed.

“I don’t even care about the bag itself. I just need to find it.”

Caleb put a hand on her shoulder.

“Alright, I’ll go and look around. You go back and enjoy the party, okay?”

She hesitated.

“But—”

“No buts.” He grinned. “You’re the guest of honour. You deserve to have fun. Leave the searching to me.”

Sophia nodded reluctantly and made her way back downstairs. The party was still in full swing, and most of the faces she had seen earlier were still here. But Caleb’s house was huge, possibly bigger than hers, so whoever took her bag could have easily hidden it anywhere.

Maybe she should help Caleb search after all, in spite of what he said. Two heads were better than one.

She went on to start checking around the second floor, peeking into different rooms. She even asked a few people if they had seen a black leather backpack with a silver zipper, but they all shook their heads.

Just as she was about to give up and go further upstairs, she noticed a door slightly ajar at the end of the hall. Something about it felt off.

She went inside.

Sure enough, she saw her bag. It was lying open on the floor with its contents spilling out.

She rushed forward, kneeling as she quickly checked through the contents.

Books, phone charger, keys… everything seemed to be there.

Except for the spare change she had tucked inside.

Sophia let out a small, bitter laugh. So that was it? The thief just wanted money? She sighed in relief, she hadn’t been majorly robbed.

Shaking her head, she zipped up her bag and stood, ready to tell Caleb that she had found the bag.

When she got back downstairs, the party had shifted to karaoke. A group of students stood near a projector screen, singing their hearts out while the rest cheered them on. Caleb wasn’t down, so she figured she’d send him a text.

Sophia smiled and took a seat, deciding to relax for a moment as she got out her phone.

Then, all of a sudden, the screen went blank and the singers stopped as their vocals weren’t being backed anymore.

Something was wrong, she could feel it in her soul.

She stood abruptly, her eyes scanning the room. Then, she spotted them.

Allison and Trisha, standing right behind the projector stand.

Sophia didn’t hesitate. She stormed forward, pushing through the people until she got to them.

She barely registered Trisha’s gasp before she shoved her aside with all the strength she had. Trisha yelped, stumbling backward and landing hard on the floor.

Ignoring her, Sophia turned to the laptop that had been connected to the projector.

Her heart stopped.

Displayed on the laptop’s screen were photos. Photos from her notebook. One of the notebooks that she had kept in her bag.

The one where she wrote about her feelings, her private thoughts, her struggles, where she had rants about her health, physical and mental.

Sophia’s hands trembled as she disconnected the projector from power.

“How dare you?” She whispered, her voice shaking with rage.

Allison smirked.

“What’s wrong, Sophia? Afraid that people will see the real you?”

Sophia didn’t respond. She went straight to the laptop, her fingers moving quickly as she deleted every single file Allison had uploaded. Permanently.

What was the problem with this girl called Allison? How did she even have friends?

Allison let out a low growl.

“I knew your little brave and confident act was all fake. You’re still the same weak, pathetic girl we know.”

Sophia turned angrily and shoved Allison aside, her patience finally snapping.

“And you’re the same miserable, insecure brat you’ve always been.”

Allison’s eyes darkened.

“Oh really? At least I know who I am. You? You have no identity.”

Sophia stiffened. How could she say that?

Then, before she could stop herself, she said.

“And you’re the girl whose own mother doesn’t even love her. How rich of you to talk about identity.”

The entire room went silent. Everyone had heard.

Allison froze, her expression stunned, like she had just been slapped.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Allison lunged at Sophia.

“I’m going to kill you!” Allison screamed.

But before she could reach Sophia, Caleb stepped in, grabbing her arms and holding her back. “

“Alright, that’s enough.” His voice was deadly serious. She had never seen Caleb like that. “You’re ruining my party. Get out.”

“Excuse me?” Allison struggled against his grip, her face red with fury. “She started it!”

“I don’t care.” Caleb said coolly. “Leave, or I call the police.”

Allison glared at Sophia, her eyes filled with hatred, hit she was smart enough to know that she had lost this one.

“You. I will expose you for the snake you are!” Allison hissed.

“What are you even talking about now, sister?” Sophia blinked at her.

With a bitter scowl, Allison spun on her heel and stormed out. Trisha quickly scrambled up from the floor and followed after her.

The second they were gone, Caleb turned to Sophia.

“You okay?”

“That was so awful. How could I have said that?” Sophia sighed. “I was so angry. I should have controlled my tongue.”

“She deserved it, don’t kick yourself.” Caleb went to turn the music and entertainment back on before shouting at the guests. “Drama’s over guys, go back to dancing!”

Turning back to Sophia, he asked.

“Ice cream? No one can stay mad while eating ice cream.”

Sophia let out a laugh.

“You’re so unbelievable, I love it.” She said as they moved to the kitchen.