Between Us

☆ part twenty five ☆

Sophie's pov

I woke up to sunlight streaming through the thin curtains, the soft glow warming the room. For a moment, everything felt weightless, like I was floating. My thoughts immediately flickered to last night—Lark's touch, her words, the way she'd looked at me. My heart fluttered in my chest. She liked me. I liked her. It was perfect. And then, reality hit me. The weight of Liam's arm draped over me pulled me back to earth. His grip was loose but protective, his face relaxed in the kind of deep sleep I envied. He looked so peaceful, so innocent, and my chest tightened with guilt. How could I feel so much for Lark when Liam was right here, holding me like I was his world? I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling. Last night had felt like a dream, but now the reality of it was inescapable. How could I reconcile this? Lark made my heart race, made me feel alive in ways I couldn't explain, but Liam was sweet, dependable, and mine. At least, I thought he was. The thought made my stomach churn. I sighed quietly, trying to suppress the storm inside me.

Then I heard it. Raised voices outside. I froze, listening intently. The muffled sound was coming from the backyard. A sharp tone cut through the air, then another voice, louder this time. My pulse quickened. Carefully, I slipped out from under Liam's arm, holding my breath as he shifted but didn't wake. My feet hit the cold floor, and I tiptoed to the window, peeking through the curtain. What I saw made my blood boil. Lark was standing outside, her face tense, while Kitty stood in front of her, yelling about something I couldn't hear. The scene played out too quickly for me to process everything, but then Kitty's hand flew up, and she slapped Lark hard across the face. Something inside me snapped. I wasn't someone who got angry easily. It wasn't in my nature—I preferred calm, rational thinking. But seeing Lark get hurt, seeing Kitty's anger directed at her like that, sent a wave of fury rushing through me. My hands trembled as I turned from the window and headed straight for the door. I didn't think about Liam still sleeping upstairs. I didn't think about how this might look. All I could think about was Lark and making sure she was okay.

The house was quiet as I made my way downstairs, but my heart was pounding loudly enough to fill the silence. When I reached the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks. Lark was there, leaning against the counter, her cheek red from the slap. Indi was standing close to her, talking in a low, urgent tone. Lark looked up as I entered, and her eyes softened the moment they met mine. "Sophie," she said quietly, almost as if she wasn't sure I was real.

I rushed over to her, ignoring Indi's curious gaze. "Are you okay?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "I saw what happened from my window."

Her lips curved into a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine," she said, her tone steady but tired.

"No, you're not," I said firmly, stepping closer. My chest was tight, and I couldn't keep the worry out of my voice. "What did Kitty say to you? Why would she—"

"Sophie," Lark interrupted, placing a hand on my arm. The touch sent a jolt through me, and I fell silent, my breath hitching. "It's fine," she repeated softly, her thumb brushing against my arm as if she were trying to soothe me. "She was just... upset. That's all."

I frowned, not believing her for a second. "Upset enough to hit you?"

Lark sighed, glancing at Indi, who was watching us with raised eyebrows. "It's not worth talking about," she said, her voice quieter now. "I don't want to make it a thing."

"Well, it is a thing," I said, unable to hide my frustration. "She doesn't get to treat you like that, Lark. You don't deserve it." Something flickered in her eyes—something that looked like gratitude mixed with something deeper. She opened her mouth to respond, but Indi spoke first.

"Okay, okay," Indi said, stepping between us and raising her hands. "Let's take a breath, yeah? Lark's fine. Kitty's a mess. And, Sophie, you look like you're about to pop a blood vessel." I blinked, realizing how tightly I'd been clenching my fists. My shoulders relaxed slightly, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. Indi looked between the two of us, her expression amused. "Why don't we all just chill for a second? I'll make some coffee or something."