"Sophie..." He starts walking up to her.
Sophie panics and hands her ice cream to Mark.
"You alright Soph?" He asks.
"Yeah, he's a....friend" She says tucking her hair behind her ear.
Sophie walks towards him and they meet in the middle.
"I didn't see you after we landed" Sophie says looking down a little disappointed.
"Uh yeah.. about that, sorry.. I had an emergency call, so I had to get off quickly" Mike sighs.
"It's okay.." She says smiling.
"So did you make up your mind?" Mike asks.
"Uh.. about what?" Sophie looks confused.
"The hangout?" He says.
"What!" She looks taken aback.
"Oh wait! Did you happen to get my note?" He asks.
"What note?" Sophie sits on the sand.
"Before I left, uh I left a note on your lap, saying: Sophie, I really enjoyed talking to you.. I hope to see you around and how about we hang out sometime?" He says sitting down next to her.
Sophie holds her head in her hands and sighs.
"I'm so sorry Mike, it must've fallen off when I got up" She says giving him a look of sympathy.
"You know, it was a stupid idea anyway" He shrugs his shoulders.
"No it wasn't and of course I would love to hangout with you" Sophie smiles.
"Okay, what about 6 tonight... I'll pick you up?" He suggests.
They exchange numbers.
"Sure, see you then" Sophie smiles, and she gets up and walks towards Mark.
Mark hands her the ice cream back and she smiles.
"So who was that?" He asks in a high pitched voice.
"A guy I met" She giggles.
A few minutes later...
Sophie finishes the last of her ice cream.
"I think I'm gonna go for a swim" She gets up and takes her shorts off.
She runs into the sea. After ten minutes she comes out and walks to Mark.
"I think we should go home" She says wrapping herself in a towel.
"Okay come on" Mark leads her.
They get into the elevator and reach their floor. Sophie walks to the door of the suite.
She stops as she hears her parents talking loudly. She gives Mark a worried look.
Sophie's POV:
I was about to open the door to the suite when I hear my parents almost shouting at each other.
I am kinda scared cause that's maybe the first time they've ever had an argument.
I look at Mark and he walks over to knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I hear moms voice.
"It's uh.. me, Mark" He says.
The door opens to show mom standing there. I see dad sitting on the couch looking down.
I walk straight past her and into my room. I decide to take a shower.
I wash my hair and I start singing 'I have a Dream' by ABBA.
When I finish I get out and I choose my outfit:
As I am doing my make up and hair I hear a knock at my door.
"Honey...can I come in?" I hear moms voice on the other side.
I sit and stare at myself for a while, I realise that I have no reason to be mad.
"Sure" I say.
I hear the door open and mom sits on my bed. My back facing her, I continue to brush my hair.
"Soph-" Mom started.
"Mom, It's okay.. I mean, every couple has ups and downs, right?" I cut her off.
"Yeah, I guess... but honey, I could tell you weren't happy" She says.
"It was just because, I haven't heard you two argue like that ever" I blurt.
"Well, I'm sorry.. and just so you know, I don't think your father and I are gonna be talking for a... uh while" Mom starts crying.
I look at her in the mirror and turn to face her. She is covering her face with her hands.
"Mom, don't apologise..you and dad are fine" I say holding her head.
"If I hadn't mentioned her than he wouldn't be mad" She cries.
"Wait who?" I ask.
"Elizabeth" She says wiping her tears.
"Who's Elizabeth?" I say leaning against the bed frame.
Mom looks at me with shock.
"Soph, I didn't want you to find out like this" Mom says looking down.
"What is it mom?" I ask sternly.
"Okay, well.. when I was fifteen, I got pregnant with my first child. She was born when I had just turned sixteen. My mom told me to keep her, but I wanted to attend school, and I wanted a normal teenage life, so your dad came and his parents took her, away from me.. and he gets emotional every time I mention her, because he knows it was a bad choice to let her go..." Mom says sniffling.
"Mom.. why didn't you just tell me? I'm not mad, do Emily and Rose know?" I stutter.
"Yes" Mom answers.
"Do you see her?" I ask.
"I always see her at Academy Awards, and she runs up to me, and hugs me so tight, and she always whispers 'I missed you mom' and I try not to cry every time I see her" Mom chokes back tears.
She lays down on my bed, I lay next to her and I look at her.
"Can I see a photo?" I ask.
Mom reaches for her phone and starts scrolling:
"This one was when we saw each other two years ago":
"She's so pretty" I say.
"This is her and Emily":
"Aww cute" I smile.
"And her and Rose":
"I really want to meet her" I say looking at mom.
"You will, soon" She says stroking my hair.
"Mom, I have a date" I blurt out.
"What?" She says.
"Well, not a date but a hangout" I explain.
"Do you know this guy?" She asks.
"Yeah, the guy who sat next to me on the plane?" I confirm.
"Make sure you take Mark" Mom warns.
"Of course I'm taking him" I say.
"Well, I'll be here... thinking about your dad" She says pulling the blanket over herself.
"Bye" I smile and kiss her on the forehead.
I walk out of the room and into the lounge, dad is sitting there drawing a picture of mom.
"Dad, what are you doing?" I ask.
"Thinking" He says.
"About mom?" I say sitting down next to him.
"Yes Sophie, I don't know why I got mad" He sighs.
"Dad, you don't have to worry. I know about Elizabeth" I say.
"You do?" He asks.
"Yeah" I say.
He sighs and looks down at his feet.
"Why don't you go and talk to mom" I suggest.
He nods and I get up and leave. I walk out the door and into the elevator.
"Hey Soph! You didn't think you were going to get away that fast did you?" I hear Mark.
I turn and he steps into the elevator with me.
"So, just so you know we're only hanging out" I reassure him.
"Yeah, I'm just here if you need me" He smiles.
"Okay" I say as we exit the elevator.
I see Mike standing there. I walk up and say hi.
"Oh hey" He says looking a bit surprised.
"Hey, are you okay?" I ask.
"Uh yeah" He smiles.
We start walking to his car, Mark gets into the black SUV behind us. Mike tells the driver to go.
"So.." He smiles.
"I'm glad you asked me to hang out with you" I say.
"Me too" He says talking hold of my hand.
I smile at the warmth of his hand. A few minutes later we arrive at a rose garden.
"Come" He says hopping out of the car.
I get out and I follow him through the path. We reach an area, with a fort and lights everywhere.
"Woah.. I thought it was a hangout, not a date" I laugh.
"Well, if you think of it as a date... then it could be" Mike smiles.
"Then it is" I smile.
We sit down and he hands me a cup, he pours some sparkling water.
"Wait! How old are you?" He asks.
"I'm 20, what about you?" I ask.
"I'm 21" He says taking a sip of his water.
Half an hour later...
Mike and I are lying on the blankets on the grass, looking up at the starry sky.
"What's the best thing that has ever happened to you?" I ask looking over at him.
"Hm.. I'm not sure" He sighs.
"Mike, tell me about yourself" I smile.
"Hmm... My full name is Michael Jay Taylor. I am an only child, I grew up in . I currently attend Yale, and I really want to be an actor but my dad wants me to be a full-time football player" He says staring up at the stars.
"Michael Jay Taylor?" I smile.
"Yeah yeah, make fun of me all you want" He laughs and takes hold of my hand.
"No no, I love it" I say holding his hand.
"Your turn" He whispers, I know he's smirking.
"Ok, Sophie Grace Mitchell-Smith. Born in LA California, I have an acting career. I live with my parents, and I have two older sisters, well three.. I just found out about one" I say looking over at him.
"You're an actress?" He asks surprised.
"Yeah... I acted in Mamma Mia" I smile.
"I've never heard of that" He says.
"What?! Okay you definitely need to come over and watch it" I squeal.
"Ok let's go" He says getting up.
I follow him to the car and I see that Mark is already sitting in there.
"Where to?" Mark asked.
"Home" I smile.
We reach the hotel and get out. We walk into the elevator and we go up to our floor.
Mark opens the door and I walk in with Mike grabbing onto my hand.
"Please sit, I need to get my parents out here to meet you" I smile.
Mike sits down and Mark leaves. I walk over to my room and open the door.
"Mom? What are you still doing in here?" I ask seeing her just lying there.
"Oh I just needed some thinking time you know?" She says getting up.
"Wait! Mom did you have some drinks?!" I sigh.
She giggles. I shake my head.
"So uh did you and dad talk?" I ask.
"Yeah, and then we made some lo-" I look at her.
"Ok ok ok! Too much information" I say taking her by the hand.
"So how was your date?" She asks.
"It was amazing! And I want you to meet him" I squeal.
"Oh ok" Mom says raising her hands.
"Go get dad and I'll be waiting for you two to come to the lounge to meet him okay?" I explain.
"Okay" She says walking over to their room.
I walk out into the lounge and I sit on the couch. Mike smiles at me and I smile back.
"Ok. Just a little heads up, my dad is very protective of his daughters so it might take a while for him to actually like you" I explain.
"Yeah I get it" He says.
Suddenly mom and dad walk in. Well, more like.. dad walked in dragging mom.
"Oh uh and my mom's a little tipsy" I say under my breath.
Mike and I stand, Mom also gets up and holds dad by the waist.
"Mom, dad... this is Mike, well Michael" I say.
"Nice to meet you Michael" Dad smiles.
"I'm-" Dad gets cut off.
"James Mitchell! Oh my god! I can't believe it" Mike beams.
"I take it you're a huge fan?" Dad smirks.
"Oh yeah! Oh my- James Bond! You were so amazing in that" He says back.
"Oh yeah? Do you like the part when.." Dad takes Mike over to the bar and they start talking about his movies.
I am surprised by this because it took dad a year to like Eric and it took 9 months for him to approve of Joe. And now he's just bonding with a guy I just met!
Mom stumbles and I catch her. She sighs very loudly and starts walking to her room.
I follow her, she lays on the bed and closes her eyes.
"Mom... are you okay?" I ask.
She stays silent.
"Mom?" I say again.
"Yes Soph, I'm perfectly fine" She says getting up and looking at me.
"Well then why did you have too much to drink? I didn't want this trip to be one where you and dad sit around and drink and make love or whatever! I mean, I know it's your anniversary but please just think about what you're doing to me when you get this drunk.. It hurts me when I see you like this because I feel like failed at being here for you and so you have to drink to forget about it.." I burst into tears.
"Honey.. Oh Soph!" Mom says getting up.
She hugs me and I just cry into her shoulder.
20 minutes later...
Mom and I are sitting on the couch in their room when dad walks in.
"Soph, Your boyfriend is spending the night because he has nowhere to stay so I guess he'll be sleeping with you?" Dad says walking up to us.
"What?! Dad? You don't even know him that much" I say getting up.
"Well, surprisingly I knew him when he was a wee boy and his dad was my best friend in college!" Dad smiles.
"So you're okay with your daughter sleeping with this guy?!" Mom freaks out.
"Well, I think that's up to Sophie" Dad says walking into his closet.
"What the hell has gotten into him?" Mom whispers.
"Ok, I approve of him because I know his family very well and I know he is a very good chap!" Dad says walking out in his pjs.
"I think you're going crazy" Mom teases.
"Well, goodnight mom and dad" I say giving them a kiss on the cheek.
I walk out and over to my room. Mike was sitting on one of the chairs facing the tv.
"Mike.." I start walking towards him.
"I can go, it's fine.. I can ask a friend if I can sta-" He gets up.
"No no, I want you to stay here" I say grabbing his arm.
"But why do you want me here?" He asks.
"So I feel safe" I sigh.
He smirks and pulls me in for a kiss. I am so in love!
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