The Alpha's Apocalypse

2. Just Friends

 She stood there, staring at herself in the mirror wondering why Oliver wanted to talk. But deep down she knew he was going to break up with her. This is how it always happened. 'Why am I so unlucky when it comes to guys?' She asked herself.

    She changed her outfit 3 more times, trying on a couple dresses and a flowy shirt before finally settling on a pair of blue jeans with a plain black t-shirt. It was her go to outfit, it made her feel comfortable, it made her feel safe. No one noticed a girl in jeans and a t-shirt, it helped her blend in. Standing once again in front of her mirror, giving her long fiery red hair a toss, she let it fall to the middle of her back. Sighing,  she pulled it up into a messy bun on top of her head. She swept a little lilac eyeshadow across her eyelids, liking the way it made her green eyes pop. Next was pink lip gloss, then she opened her jewelry box and slipped a necklace made of moonstone on her neck. A nostalgic smile appeared on her face as she pulled the moonstone charm back and forth against the chain. It was one of the few things she had left from her parents. The necklace, a handful of photographs, and a few fading memories were the only things left of her life back then. Sighing she stepped back asking herself. 'How am I going to handle yet another break-up?' 

"Sophie!" Emily called, breaking her away from her thoughts.

"Yes?" Sophia called back.

Emily opened the bedroom door, "Oliver is here."

A small frown crept onto Sophie's face. 

"Soph? What's wrong?" Emily walked up to Sophie and wrapped her arms around her. "I thought things were going good?".

"I thought so too, but I think he is going to break up with me."

"Oh, don't think like that. Put a smile on your face, go kiss that cute boy, and have fun tonight!" Emily grabbed Sophie by the hand pulling her out of the bedroom.

 As they walked in to the living room, her eyes connected with Oliver's, a huge smile bloomed on his face. He walked over and kissed her on the check. "Hi." He said pulling her into a hug. "Are you ready to go?" Holding his hand out to her.

"I'm ready." She replied, placing her hand in his. "Bye Emily, I'll see you tonight." 

Sophie smiled back at her friend, as Oliver lead her out the door. 

'BE POSITIVE!!' Emily mouthed to her. 

'I know, I know!' Sophie mouthed back.

    Oliver lead her to the passenger seat of his red Jeep, still covered in mud from his last adventure. He loved everything outdoors, hiking. fishing, camping. He was always up for another adventure. Sophie had always admired that about him. He opened the door for her to get in, then went around to the drivers side climbing in himself. Turning the key, the Jeep fired up. Oliver turned to Sophie. "So, what do you want to do tonight?"

"I don't know. Go see a movie maybe? That 'Everything' movie just came out." Sophie looked over at him,  hoping going to see a romantic movie would change his mind from doing what she knew he was about to do.

Turning around, focusing on his rear view mirror, he pulled out of the parking space. "So, I was thinking more like dinner or ice cream. Somewhere we'll be able to talk."

    Sophie placed her hands together twiddling her thumbs around each other and reluctantly replied. "Ok, we can do that, you pick the spot."

    Oliver drove them just a few minutes away to an ice cream parlor called Scoops. Oliver smiled at Sophie as he went around and let her out. As he opened the door she thought how much of a gentleman he was. Always opening the door for her, buying her flowers at random times, he always thought of her first. That's why they were at scoops, Oliver knew it was Sophie's favorite. He much preferred The Sugar Shack across town.

    He grabbed her hand and helped her out, leading her inside. It was a cute little ice cream shop with a bright blue counter top that spanned almost the entire back wall. Sophie loved it because they had cones with candy bars on them and just about every kind of topping you could think of, from chocolate syrup to bacon. She had always had a pretty bad sweet tooth. Despite the options, Sophie pretty much ordered the same thing every time she came in here.

"Welcome to Scoops! What can I get for you guys?" A sweet blond girl said from behind the counter.

"I'll have 2 scoops of caramel in a heath cone." Oliver told the young girl, then turned and smiled at Sophie. "What would you like Soph?"

"I'll have one scoop of strawberry in a waffle bowl, topped with gummy bears please." Sophie replied, smiling at the young women.

"You are a creature of habit." Oliver laughed. "And we'll take two waters, as well please." He said, as he made his way down to the register to pay.

Oliver paid, and the young girl gave them their waters and ice cream. They walked over to a booth table in the far corner and sat across from each other.

"How is school going?" Oliver asked.

"It's going good. I can't believe I'll finally be done and graduating in just a month, heck, we both will."

Oliver smiled. "It is pretty crazy! Have you decided what you're going to do after graduation?"

"No." Sophie replied, looking down at her ice cream. "I'm just not sure what to do next. I know a business degree gives me lots of options. I'm just not sure if I want to go into Human Resources, events." She sighed. "I just don't know."

Oliver reached across the table and grabbed her hand. "Soph, whatever you decide to do you'll do great. Don't worry so much."

She smiled at him. "You're right!" 

'He really is good to me', she thought.

Oliver nodded and then pulled his hand away. He cleared his throat. "Soph, the reason I didn't want to go to the movie was so we could talk, about, well us." He looked her right in the eyes, those deep brown eyes she had grown accustomed to. As she stared back at him she thought about how handsome he was. Not the stop you in your tracks kind of handsome like movie stars. But with his blond hair that always seemed to fall back in front of his brown eyes, and how fit he was, after all, he was always hiking, running or doing something physical. He was definitely a very good looking guy.

"Soph, did you hear me?"

Startled Sophie replied "Yes sorry, what about us?"

    "I like you a lot Sophie, we always have so much fun together. You probably know me better than most people, I've told you things I haven't told anyone else." Oliver paused and took a drink of his water. "But do you ever feel like we're stuck? We both like each other, but it feels like we're stuck there, not ever moving past the stage of liking each other."

    Sophie plopped a spoonful of strawberry ice cream and gummy bears into her mouth as she thought about what Oliver said. If she was being honest with herself, Oliver was right. She really liked him a lot, but was that all? After all, they had been dating for 3 months and she didn't feel herself falling in love with him. Heck they had only kissed on the lips one time, and didn't get that weak in the knees feeling, or sparks fly or any of that like they talk about in the movies. She knew now real life isn't like the movies, but she should have felt something, right? She looked up at Oliver.

"Yeah, if I think about it, you're right. I like you a lot too, I love hanging out with you, but I don't feel like I'm falling in love with you." Her eyes showed her sadness.

Oliver grabbed both of her hands in his and smiled at her. "So, then what do we do?"

"I don't know. I know I don't want to lose you. I know I want to have you in my life."

He smiled back at her and squeezed her hands in his. "I don't want to lose you either, Soph."

"So I guess we're just friends then?"

"I guess friends it is!"

    Looking at each other they laughed. They finished their ice cream, and talked about their upcoming graduation, what they were going to do after, all the memories they had made and how the crazy college life was soon coming to an end. After they were through, Oliver drove Sophie home.

    As they pulled back into the apartment, Oliver, of course, ran around and opened the door for her to get out. 

'He really is a gentleman,' Sophie thought. 'Someday he is going to make some lucky girl really happy. I guess I'm just not that lucky girl,'.

Sophie turned around and gave Oliver a hug  as they got to her front door. He hugged her tight and said "Let's hang out next week. We can go see a movie or whatever you want, but nothing romantic." He laughed and winked at her.

She pulled away and smiled at him. "Sounds good, maybe a comedy instead." Sophie smirked.

"I'll shoot you a text next week then, bye Soph!" He waved and hopped back into his Jeep and pulled off. Waving back. 'I hope I end up with a decent guy like Oliver.' She thought. Sophie had definitely had more then her fair share of terrible guys in her life. Guys that didn't treat her well, both the ones she had dated,  and the men in her life that were supposed to take care of her and protect her.

Sophie put the key in the door as it swung open making her jump back. Emily stood there wide eyed. "What the, Emily! You scared the heck out of me!"

"What happened?!" Emily Asked.

Sophie shook her head and chuckled, "Well, if you'll get out of the way and let me in, I'll tell you all about it you crazy person!"