Dear Diary

Chapter 63

The news of Sophia's father dating got to Sophia more than she liked to admit. Her brain was constantly bursting with questions that she could hardly think of anything else. Who was this woman? Why did her father like her? Why does he start dating now of all times? Why? Why? Why?

These thoughts lived with Sophia, pushing anything else in her life out of her mind completely. They clawed at her conscience, seeking release, but all that she let show was the fact that she was in a very sour mood. The thoughts appeared on her face and made her scowl for most of the days and week that followed.

Luke and Mindy realised quite quickly that something was up with the stoic girl, but with the mood she had been in, everyone was walking on eggshells around her and didn't dare ask her what was wrong.

In a way, Sophia guessed, there was a bright side or two to this. It was clear now that she wouldn't be moving any time soon and her father was spending more time at home ... but only to be with Susan. But a part of Sophia had wished that they did end up moving. She couldn't stand the sight of her father being with someone romantically.

But, in her defence, Sophia had dealt with it considerably well: she locked herself in her room whenever they were home. But what really made her angry was that she had been forced to sit down to dinner with them the one night and Susan openly flirted with her father in front of her.

Sophia felt betrayed beyond words. What about her mom? Did she suddenly mean nothing to him? He still had yet to tell her a single thing about her. Maybe Sophia would be more accommodating to this whole thing then, but right now it felt like he was replacing her mother with this ... this-

"Alright class, listen up," Mr Evans droned. Sophia forced herself to focus on the present. "There will be a group project due in two weeks on the chemical warfare used in World War One. So get into groups of three while I hand out the worksheets."

Mr Evans grabbed a stack of papers then proceeded to hand them out to the students. Luke and Mindy instantly moved to Sophia's side and she knew that she would be working with them. She was fine with that, but she really didn't feel like being around anyone at the moment.

Mr Evans came to them and gave them each a paper. Sophia silently read the information as Mindy and Luke, mainly Luke, began discussing plans to meet up somewhere to begin. 

"My sisters won't give us peace if we go to my place," Luke said.

Mindy looked down at her lap. "I can't really have people over by me ..." she trailed off and was thankful when Luke didn't push it.

Sophia, who had since delved back into her troubled domestic thoughts, glanced at the two teens to see them staring at her expectantly. 

She sighed. "Fine, you can come over after school."

-

The house was empty when Sophia entered, followed by her two friends. Without much care for the couch, Sophia tossed her bag down on the grey leather and plopped down next to it. She stood a second later and scowled. The room was starting to smell like Susan.

If Luke and Mindy noticed her strange behaviour, they didn't let on as they seated themselves on the white carpet and placed their books on the black wood and glass-top coffee table. Without a word, Sophia walked to her room and grabbed her laptop. She should be glad for this project: it will force her to focus on something else.

She returned and set down the laptop on the coffee table and sat down in front of it as it woke up before silently beginning her research.

They had been working on the project for a good hour when Luke stretched, causing his back to click in multiple places and he grumbled beneath his breath about a stiff muscle. "Hey, Soph?" he asked. Sophia raised an eyebrow to acknowledge she heard him, but didn't look away from her laptop screen as she furiously typed on the keys. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hall, second door on the right," she replied monotonously as she continued to type. 

Luke nodded and stood before walking off down the hall.

"Sophia?" Mindy asked cautiously as she shuffled closer.

"Hm?"

"Is ... everything okay?"

Sophia paused her typing to look at Mindy for a moment before returning her attention to the screen. "Of course, why wouldn't it be?" She tried to hide the way her jaw clenched as she forced out the words.

Mindy looked nervous. "Well then ... have you thought about talking to Luke?"

Sophia stopped typing as she stared at the words on her screen. She's been so otherwise about Susan that she'd completely forgotten about her situation with Luke. 

Sophia bit her lip slightly. "I ... haven't had time to think about it."

"Think about what?" Luke asked as he entered the living-room, causing Mindy to jump out of her skin.

"Just on a section of the project," Sophia replied smoothly and Luke instantly accepted the reason as he sat back down to continue working.

It wasn't long that when Sophia heard a car pull up her driveway. She gritted her teeth subconsciously, thinking it was her father and Susan. But she was pleasantly surprised when the door burst open and a loud voice half-yelled, half-sang:

"And where is my favourite niece?"