Case Reopened

Finding Understanding

"Okay," Sophia said decisively.

"That doesn't bother you?"

"Other's opinions are simply that, opinions. Opinions aren't facts and so I'm not going to accept them as such."

Zander gawked at her. "I think I'm in love with you."

"I highly doubt that. We haven't interacted enough for you to form an attachment that would be long lasting."

Zander laughed, his head falling back which made his whole body tilt. Still, he kept his fingers locked with Sophia's. Sophia watched him and something about the boyishness of his laughter made her lips twitch.

"Never leave me, Sophia," he said after containing his laughter.

"I will have to. We have different classes."

Smiling, Zander didn't respond but sat there looking at her and brushed the back of her hand with his thumb. Sophia felt her heart react and she ripped her hand free.

"What?" Zander asked.

She flexed her fingers and wiggled her hand.

"When you did that my heart did something strange and I'm not sure I liked it."

"Oh."

Sophia noticed that Zander's face turned red. She wasn't sure what he found embarrassing. But since her hand was no longer in use, she made to stand up.

"Are you leaving?" Zander asked.

"It seemed like you were done being comforted by my hand."

"Would you mind staying?"

"Are you going to want to hold my hand again?"

"I don't have to."

"Okay."

Sophia settled back on the floor and waited. Zander wanted her there and figured he would let her know for what reason. He'd made it clear before and she trusted he would do it again.

In that regard, she did appreciate who he was. His ability to look one way but be a completely different way still baffled her. But at least when talking to him he let it be clear who he was.

"What do you do for fun?" Zander asked, wrapping his arms around his legs.

"I put computers back together. My father is teaching me computer coding and I enjoy that."

"That's cool. I play the violin."

"Are you good at it?"

"I think so. I've been doing it since I was eight."

"Then I'd imagine you're fairly proficient at it."

Zander nodded to this. When he said nothing more, Sophia decided to remain silent as well. She didn't feel uncomfortable in the silence. Most of the time she preferred silence to the endless chatter that a majority of the world felt the need to say. She spent a lot of the time with her father in either long discussions or complete silence. Both felt normal to her.

"How did your father do it?" Zander finally asked. "I've heard my dad talk about their high school days and the attention never seemed to be overwhelming to your father. How did he do it?"

"That's not a question you should ask yourself since you are nothing like my father."

Zander laughed but Sophia didn't hear any humor in it.

"Yeah, I'm aware of that."

His tone came out harsh and Sophia faced one of those moment that she faced so many times where she didn't understand exactly what she'd said wrong. But as her father told her, clarifying was key to communication.