Case Reopened

At Fault (Part 1)

"No one is stabbing my back," Sophia said.

"No, but if Harrison and I don't know anything, someone might."

"You think I'm important enough to be assassinated?" Sophia asked.

"That's not what Kenny meant," Harrison said.

Sophia smiled and Harrison and Kennedy froze.

"I was making a joke," Sophia said. "I hoped that it would help you both understand that I am okay and your concern is not needed for this situation."

"Oh," Kennedy said. "Fine, I still won't ask. You do seem better than yesterday so I guess I'll have to settle for that. But next time." She pointed at Sophia. "Next time you come to us, okay?"

"I am not going to promise that."

Kennedy didn't seem surprised by Sophia's refusal and Sophia appreciated that Kennedy understood Sophia was more likely to seek the wisdom and counsel of an adult before going to her.

It wasn't that she didn't feel comforted by Kennedy's want to help her, she simply saw that Kennedy's temper was more likely to cause additional trouble rather than solve the issue calmly.

Inside the school, Sophia excused herself from Harrison and Kennedy, cutting her way through the throngs of students. She found Charles among his group of friends. She strode up to him and tapped his shoulder.

When he glanced at her, she saw his eyes widen a fraction and didn't know if it was from surprise or possibly fear. She had made him cry, she didn't know if that was enough to make him nervous to see her.

"May I talk to you in private?" she asked.

Charles didn't answer right away, looking at his circle of friends first. Sophia waited, not knowing if they knew of the incident or not. If they didn't, she didn't want to talk of it in front of them in case that made it embarrassing for him.

"Yeah," he said.

They left the group, finding a more secluded spot in a hall that led to the staff room.

"What do you want?" Charles asked.

Sophia held out the bag of cookies to him. "I would like to apologize for what I said to you. I made you cookies because I know when I feel hurt that sometimes something sweet can feel comforting. What I said was cruel and I hope that you can forgive me."

Charles hesitated a second before taking the cookies. He stared down at them. Sophia said nothing, simply standing there. She didn't know how to interrupt his silence since she didn't know him well enough. She hoped he would answer and give her some clue whether her gift had been the right one and if she'd said enough to convey that she was sorry she'd hurt him.

"You made these for me?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Thanks," he said.

"You're welcome."

She still waited, wanting to know if her apology was accepted. Charles let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked down the hall and then at her.

"I'm sorry for what I said."

"I accept your apology. Though it does not justify what I said, I was hurt by your words."

Charles held her gaze. "I'm really sorry."

"Thank you for saying that."

For a second longer, neither of them said anything then Charles took a step back towards the noisy hallway. "I'll see you around."