Different Together
1370 Words
Sofie
Someone is knocking on my door as I’m putting my pajamas on and I see my phone flash. Delaney.
I hurry to open it and she barrels in grinning like a madwoman.
“Oh my gosh Sofie. I can’t believe it can you?!”
“No I can’t” I say sarcastically wondering what she’s gotten into.
“I almost couldn’t answer him but then I remembered to breathe and it was unreal and I had to ask him to repeat it because I wasn’t sure it was real and then he said it was.” She grabs my hands and jumps up and down a few times.
“Delaney pretend you just met me and I have no idea what you are talking about.” I stare at her worried. Has she cracked under pressure or something?
“Did you not get my text?!” She eyes me.
“No I just got out of the bath.”
She rolls her eyes “Sofie I just had the most pivotal moment of my life and you missed my text announcing it. Clint asked me on a date!!!” She squeals and I grin. I pull her into a hug and squeeze her “I’m so happy for you. Do I get to be the maid of honor?” I tease her.
“Oh stop. But yes of course you do.” She can’t stop grinning and neither can I.
“When is your date?”
“Tuesday night. They finish practice early on those days. Will you go shop with me tomorrow and help me find something? He told me to dress up.” She looks nervous.
“You mean our standard jeans and shirt fare won’t work?” I mockingly ask.
“Nope. I want to impress him a little too. Look good you know.” She bites her lip.
I pull her into a quick hug “Oh babe you always look good. I wish I looked half as put together as you on a bad day. And I think he’s plenty impressed already seeing him watch you lately. But for you, let’s hit the shops.”
“I heard your dad joined you and the other boys for dinner.” She teases.
“Ugh I wanted to kill him. He has no problem embarrassing me. I had to stop him from telling them about Bennett and…other history.”
Delaney frowns. “Hey you know they seem different. You might could tell them about Bennett.”
I shake my head “No I prefer to keep that quiet.”
“You know Webb can actually talk to me now. Since I’ve been at their place working with Clint a lot.” Delaney tells me as she watches my face. She’s always tried to get me to flirt with him after catching me checking him out last year during one of his practice sessions where he had no shirt on. The guy was hot, and he had this perfect darker tan that summer making him panty dropping. Not an adjective I normally use but the campus girls had a specific list of sports players for that phrase. Webb was at the top and for once I agreed with the other girls. I had drooled internally.
“You know come to think of it, he spoke a few sentences tonight too. Some of them directly to me. And laughed.” I remember.
“That’s good since you are stuck with him till May.” Delaney says with a grin.
Sunday
Webb
Sofie is coming to my apartment with Delaney today and I am anxious to see her. I find myself counting down the days until we work together. She sits in front of me in class too and I cannot keep my eyes off her. I am rapidly becoming obsessed.
I hear them as we walk up the stairs to our apartment. They are only one level above us. Delaney “I am telling you Sofie that guy was checking you out.”
“Yeah right, he probably wondered what you were doing hanging out with me. Or the real reason; he wanted to ask me about you. That’s usually how it works when I go anywhere with you.” Her voice is just matter of fact, no malice or upset.
“One day you might realize that you are pretty and guys look at you. And that not everyone wants to ask you about me.”
“Yeah right; hell has officially frozen over if they look at me over you.” I frown at that. She’s gorgeous and I see lots of guys checking her out. Which drives me insane. I want to tell them to look away, claim her as mine.
We catch up to them finally. Sofie isn’t wearing her glasses today and I wonder about that. I have a feeling she uses them to hide behind.
After we finish our writing, I lean back and ask “Did you kill your dad or is he still alive?”
She gives me a small smile “He’s still alive…but on probation. Sorry for his questions. He’s nosy.”
“I had fun.” I tell her and she gives me a funny look.
Colby comes in complaining. “Man my writing partner is slowwwww. It took her a week to write a page and a half.”
“Sounds like she might be related to me writing wise.” Sofie jokes.
I glance at her grinning “Nah you get to two pages maybe two and a half in a week easily. Maybe second cousins writing wise.”
She turns wide eyes to me. “Are you actually making a joke Webb?”
“Yeah…” Colby cuts me off “He’s like this with us. With girls, Webb can only barely speak much less crack jokes.”
“Thanks Colby. Who needs enemies to embarrass you when your best friends are so willing to take on the job for them?” I grumble half playfully.
He shrugs “Truth hurts.”
Sofie smiles “I probably should take my two page writing skills and go home. I have to finish literature questions.” She makes a face and I laugh.
“Not a fan of that either?”
“I like the reading part. But then the questions “compare and contrast the antagonist’s point of view with the protagonist.” Like anyone cares about those things when you just like to read. I hate having to write up technical answers for it and I know you will be shocked and appalled but I suck at it.” Her last comment is sarcastic and I chuckle.
“Would you like me to help you with it? You have Professor Bateman, don’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“I took that class last year. You have the question list with you?”
“I do but….” She bites her lip and looks damned cute doing it. The urge to kiss her again roars forward in my head. Not sure I’d stop once I started either.
“But what?” I ask instead balling my hands into fists to avoid reaching for her. When did I get so brave to need to restrain myself?
“I don’t want to bother you Webb.” She says softly.
“You’re not bothering me. I offered. Grab the paper and come sit over here.” She doesn’t waste time and moves to my side quickly. I might have had an ulterior motive offering to help. She smells so good again.
As they leave, Sofie says “Next week I have something on Sunday afternoon. If y’all want, you can all come to my place after practice and I’ll cook dinner.”
Delaney shouts “Accept on my part even if everyone else says no.”
“Like I didn’t already have you down as a yes…” Sofie calls back and Delaney chuckles.
Colby “Ugh can I come too Peppermint? Even if I’m not doing homework.”
“Yep Jello you can.” He grins.
"Sounds great." I tell her with a smile.
- Writer
