Sophie

Last day of school junior year

I felt a cold shiver down my spine as the ice-cold of Amber's drink poured down my shirt. I gasped as I tried to catch my breath.

Everyone in the cafeteria laughed. Including the person, I hated the most, Logan Spencer, I could see his smirk by my side. To the other girls, popular or not, he was the school's heartthrob.

Sure, he was great-looking. I won't deny that! With his beautiful smile, brown hair, and captivating green eyes! But he was the biggest asshole when it came to me.

He, along with his dumb football squad and model-like girlfriend, Amber Devoroux, ruled this school, and they made sure everyone else stayed faithful to worshipping the aisles they walked upon on our school. Everyone loved them, no matter how cruel they could be. So why do 'they' hate me so much?

Well, you see, when Logan and I were about 12 years old and entering sixth grade, I was invited to a party to celebrate McKenzie's birthday.

McKenzie is Amber's best friend by the way, and ironically is also my best friend, Alexa's cousin. I was surprised when she invited me, but I was still relentless to go. Or more like, I refused.

Flashback

"Come on honey, it'll be fun. You rarely get to go out. Plus, these girls seem nice, don't you think so?" My mom was the one who obligated me to go, and so, I was stuck at the party. Mom dropped me off and warned me not to walk home, for she'd come to get me in a few hours. I was stuck there.

She pulled up to their house and dropped me off. It was a pretty small town, so everyone pretty much knew each other. "I'll see you in a few hours, ok?" She said as she drove off.

Everyone was oddly nice to me, despite the fact we had rarely spoken before. That's when I met my second best friend, Troy Michaelson. He was a timid boy with beautiful features. He had dark black hair and blue eyes. Soft light skin a girl would kill for. Needless to say, things were going to turn from bad to worse for both of us.

Troy and I were both loners. We both had no friends, other than my best friend, Alexa Garlik who ideally, was very unique. No one understood why she was friends with me, knowing that the popular kids actually talked to her. "Hi," I said shyly.

"Hi." He responded annoyed, his hands crossed over his chest and he sighed as he took a seat next to me on the couch.

"So, you're Sophie, right? I've seen you before. You're in Mrs. Richard's class."

He asked as he turned his body towards me, and leaned his head on his hand prompt on top of the couch.

"Umm, yeah. How do you know me? I've never seen you before. Are you new here?" I crossed my hands over my chest and narrowed my eyebrows. He smiled and leaned his head down.

"Yup! I'm new here. You were absent the day I came. I sit all the way in the back next to McKenzie. That's why she invited me, I think. She keeps asking if I want to hang out." He leans closer in my ear so no one else can hear. "But, can I be honest with you?" He whispers. He pulls away slowly to see my response.

I nod in agreement, "She is not really my type. Actually, I hate all the girls she hangs out with." He squints his eyes in disgust and folds his hands over his chest.

"Why is that?" I tilt my head to a side and wrinkle my nose, making him chuckle. He nods his head and comes closer to me, our shoulders touching.

"I see how rude they are to the other girls. I don't like people that bully other kids. So, she got herself on my bad people list." He shrugs his shoulders and smiles. We kept talking together until my best friend Alexa arrived at the party and joined us, sitting on the couch. The three of us hit it off right away, and I was glad I had met him. I just knew he was going to be an important person in my life from that moment onwards.

I was so glad to have Alexa at the party. But since she and McKenzie are actually cousins, it was obvious she'd be here. It made it one positive point in my favor as I was forced to attend this ridiculous party.

When all was going well and calm, the adults decided to go upstairs, leaving us in the fully lit basement to give us space; that was when things took a turn from bad to worse for us.

It was then, that they told us to gather around and play seven minutes in heaven. I really didn't want to. I knew things were gonna go bad! But Troy insisted I played, so they wouldn't pick on us more than what they already were doing.

"I hate this game too, Sophie! But if you don't play, they're just going to pick on you more. I'll tell you what... if I get picked to go, I'll make sure I chose you to go with me. That way, no one will mess with you, and I don't have to kiss any of those dumb girls either. We can just hang out in there until the time is up." He shrugged his shoulders. He had a point.

If I didn't play, they would just pick on me. And if he chose me or I chose him, we avoided kissing someone we didn't want to. So, the game began. The first ones to go were amusing, since they came out either pale or looking awkward, with their hair all messed up and everything. I knew Alexa had a crush on Carter, so it made me sad when McKenzie chose him to go inside the closet with her.

"Hey, Lexie? are you ok?" Her eyes were a bit watery and her head was hung low. "I'm fine, Soph! I knew it was never gonna be anything between him and me anyway." She got up and brushed her dress down.

"I'm gonna go home. I'll see you tomorrow at school, ok?" She spoke in a soft voice. "Ok. Call me if you need to talk, ok?" I assured her she wasn't alone, she smiled and hugged me.

"You're the best Soph. I'll see you! And nice to meet you, Troy!" She waved at him and turned on her heels skipping quickly up the ladder.

When McKenzie and Carter came out, McKenzie couldn't take her eyes off of Troy. It's almost as if she had done it on purpose to try and make him jealous.

"Ok! Who's next." She called out breathless, and a big smile on her face.

Amber jumped up quickly and grabbed Logan from his wrist. "My turn! I chose, Logan." She smiled. Logan looked puzzled. He hadn't been paying attention to what was going on this whole time. He and two friends, Steven and Sam, had been cornered up by a wall, talking about the last football game they were going to have this upcoming week.

"Wait, what?" He looked at her and walked at a fast pace as Amber pulled him inside the closet. I rolled my eyes annoyed. I hate this game!

The game went on with a few more kids taking turns, and I was glad no one had noticed Troy and I hadn't gone. We thought we had gone undetected by staying on the far end of the room. That is...until Amber pointed it out.

All eyes fell on us as she pointed out that we had to go as well. "You have to participate too. This is McKenzie's birthday party. You don't want to ruin her party, do you?" She looked at both of us. My face felt hot, and I was shaking from how nervous I was.

Logan for once stopped talking about football and had joined all of them in their dumb staring contest. "Enough Amber! She doesn't have to do it, if she doesn't want to." I was surprised that he'd say that. He had rarely ever talked to me. He smiled and turned back to Amber. "Not all girls want their first kiss inside a dark and dirty closet, Amber." He said to her making her angry.

"Well I didn't exactly hear you complain in there a few minutes ago, did you?" She spat at him in anger.

He smiled tilting his head down. "Amber, any guy would take advantage of the situation, if the girl is willing."

"Whatever Logan! Are you gonna go, or not Sophie? Because if not then you can-" She was beginning to get furious.

"Oh for God's sake! Come on Sophie, let's get it over with." Troy grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the closet.

Logan suddenly stepped in front of him blocking our way. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He spat at Troy, getting close to his face, making me get more nervous than I already was.

"What does it look like, lover boy? I'm going in the closet, with Sophie!"

"The hell you are! Do you not see that she doesn't want to go?" Logan responds angrier.

"Well, Sophie? Do you want to go in the closet with me? Or would you rather go in with someone else? Either way, these girls are not gonna let it go, until you take a turn." Troy pointed out. I remembered what he said, we can just go in together and hang out until our time was over. But, if I was forced to go in with someone else, they would want to kiss me. I didn't want my first kiss toge stolen in a dirty closet.

"It's fine, I'll go with Troy," I said as I walked a few steps. Troy smiled and turned towards the closet walking inside.

"Sophie?" Logan looked angry and he held my arm. "It's fine, Logan, I'll go."

"You gotta be kidding me. Seriously? you're going in there? With him?" He pointed to the closet and then towards Troy. "Yeah, he's my friend, Logan. I trust him."

"But why him, Sophie?" He got closer to me, making me nervous. We both suddenly realized everyone was quiet, and looking at us.

"Why not? I told you. He's my friend."

"Yeah, but-"

"Oh for crying out loud. Logan, let her go already. You act like you're her damn brother!" Amber pulled him back and looked at me as if I disgusted her.

"Hurry up, nerd girl! We don't have all day!" She spat. I slowly made my way towards the closet, closing the door behind me. I don't think I was in there more than a minute talking in whispers with Troy when the door burst open.

Before I knew it, Logan and Troy were on the floor hitting each other. Logan hovered over him, hitting him with his fist wherever he could. The boys managed to pull them apart. But sadly, the next day...was the beginning of my long endless journey.

Logan took it upon himself to bully me, prank me, and be as cruel as he ever could be.

End of Flashback

Last day of high school Junior year

Troy walked into the cafeteria seeing the scene before him. The football guys were laughing, along with Amber's squad as she poured the cold icy soda on top of me. He dropped his backpack and ran towards me.

"What the hell is your problem?" He yells at Amber, and like always! Logan steps in to defend her ugly deeds.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Don't fucking talk to my girl like that, asshole!" Logan pushes Troy on his chest, making him take a step back. Troy hadn't had it easy this year himself, so I knew any day now, he was going to blow off. I ran in front of him with my arms pressed against his chest.

"Troy, please! It's not worth it, ok! Just. . . . Take me home, please?" I hung my head, unwilling to see anyone as I felt the shivers from the ice that was still lingering inside my shirt.

"Yeah Troy, listen to nerd girl. Go on and run along like a little bitch." Logan said making me look back, clenching my jaw. Troy stepped forward, ready to throw a punch at him. But I pulled my hands forward, placing my hands on both of his arms.

"Troy! Please? Let it go! It's not worth it." My voice broke and I tried to fight back the tears from my eyes from the anger I was feeling inside. Troy hated to see me cry, and he knew how hard I tried to not cry in front of them. His eyes softened and pulled me into a hug.

Logan's hands fisted and I could hear the clenching of his jaw. But the last I wanted was to keep standing here and begin arguing with him like we always did.

"Please take me home!" I whispered.

"Ok baby girl! Let's go." He grabbed my bag and his, as he pulled me by my hand out of the school.

We could still hear the others laughing. I looked back, though I hated doing so, because I knew it was probably going to make me cry from anger. Logan still looked pretty mad, and Amber, along with everyone else was laughing in amusement.

She waves at me as she sees me look back. "Have a nice summer nerd girl!" She yells as I turn back and continue walking with Troy.

Alexa had already left a few days ago on her vacation. Troy and I had gotten tickets to fly out to Quintana Roo this weekend. We got to his hummer and he slowly opened the door. I felt the warmth of his body as he pulled me in for a hug.

"Just forget them, Soph! Tomorrow we'll be on our way to your parent's beach house. Alexa will join us in a few weeks, and we will have the time of our lives. Believe me! This summer is going to be the beginning of a new life for the both of us."

"How so? You're finally going to allow yourself to be happy too, by telling your parents the truth?" I smiled and hugged him by his waist.

"Soph! You know my situation, but. . . I don't know if I'm ready to tell my parents that I'm. . .you know!"

"Gay? Troy, seriously! Your parents love you. They'll understand." I tightened my grip on his waist as I looked him in his eyes.

He kissed the top of my head and sighed. "I I don't know Soph! What if they hate me? I rarely talk to them as it is. When they're not on one of their many vacations they're on business trips, I can't even remember when was the last time I saw them, which I can careless, I have you and grandma, what more do I need?"

I punched him lightly on his arm. "Shut up! No one can hate you, Troy! 'You are lovable, and you're right... You have grandma and me.., and Lexie." He smiles and hugs me, placing his chin on top of my head, since he was much taller than me.

"Look, we have this whole summer to make changes for the best! If I have to come out of the closet, then you need to make drastic changes too. Let's make a deal!" He pulls me away and brings out his pinky.

"By the end of this summer, if I see my pare, I will tell my parents the truth. And you have to come back to school as a new and improved Sophie! You will no longer be known as Sophie, the nerd girl, but 'Sophie' the strong, smart, and beautiful girl you hide behind those glasses. Deal?"

I looked at him from behind my glasses and slowly gripped his pinky with mine. Scared put of my mind? Yes... But he was right. I had to do this...for me.

"Deal!"