●above is a picture of Sophia (left) and Addison (right) one night with a gorgeous sunset. ●
I signaled right around eleven the next morning, Cooper and me in the car on the way to brunch. The night before was silent and my chest ached while I laid in my uncomfortable hotel bed. I had texted Addison about the kiss and what Cooper had informed me and she responded with, "What an idiot."
I agreed with her, but I didn't have the slightest clue what to do about it. I had to respect that he didn't want a relationship, but at the same time, I didn't know how to respect that he actually thinks he can't give me what I want when he has given me so much already.
But I had to ignore the urge to tell Cooper that, this brunch was already swelling up my mind. I wasn't feeling as anxious as I would be if Cooper wasn't there with me; if he wasn't, I probably wouldn't have handled the wedding as well as I did. I would have cowered beneath my parent's low eyes and crossed arms.
I pulled into the parking lot of our brunch destination and reached behind me to give Sydney a pat on the head. Cooper spoke as soon as I cut the engine, "Are you sure I should be here?"
"I think so," I responded, actually not entirely sure he should be there. It was a family brunch, after all, I didn't know if Cooper fit into that category for everyone else but me.
"I really don't want to intrude on this, Soph," he said softly, his eyes on the restaurant in front of us. I was silent before realizing that I only agreed to the fact that Cooper was invited to this brunch because I was scared to face it alone. A wave of guilt overwhelmed me, looking at Cooper, his hair nicely brushed to the side and wearing a nice outfit just for this. He didn't need to be here and I felt like I had dragged him into something he had no place for.
"You're right," I sighed, slumping a little into my seat. "I'm sorry for making you come along, this is probably something I should do myself. I'm just nervous to do so."
"I understand," Cooper affirmed, brushing off his jeans. "As long as you order me some eggs Benedict to go, I'm more than happy to sit in here with Sydney for awhile."
That option wasn't my favorite either, although it was most likely the better one. I giggled at his request and gave him reassurance that he will get it. "And Sophie, I have full confidence that you can strut right into that restaurant with your head held high and walk out of it even higher. You can face your family, you have the strength to do so."
I gave him a half smile, not sure if I wanted to agree with him or not. Trying my best to convince myself Cooper's words were true, I popped my door open and hopped out. I thanked Cooper and gently shut the door. Checking my watch, I learned that I was about ten minutes late which wasn't the best way to start this meal. But I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a couple seconds once I reached the glass door to the restaurant.
You can do this, I thought to myself. It's just your family.
Wrapping my hand around the handle, I opened the door to smell the aroma of sweet breakfast foods. The scent of maple syrup and greasy sausages filled the air and my stomach grumbled, reminding me how hungry I was.
The place was small and cute, decorated with white and green. The chairs were white and wooden with mint green cushions, the walls were covered with cute little plants, making the air a little fresher. At a large booth table next to the large window sat my family. My jaw clenched.
Penny and Jonathan sat on the right side of the booth, their arms locked together and eyes bright with love. Across from them, my parents. My father's face watched his oldest daughter with pride while my mother still had a slight grimace, most likely still upset that she had nothing to do with this wedding.
I noticed the chair at the end of the table, designated for me I assumed. I remembered Cooper's words, sucked in a breath and tilted my head a higher than usual, hoping his advice would work. I glanced out the window to see my car, Cooper still in the passenger seat with Sydney on his lap. He was smiling, playing with her tail.
If Cooper could stand up for himself in front of my parents, damn it, I can do it for myself.
I sauntered toward the table, ready for anything that was to be thrown at me. I was greeted with smiles from the just married couple and small voices from my parents. Ignoring it, I sat down and congratulated my sister for what seemed to be the millionth time but I meant it every single time.
After a couple minutes of small talk with everyone, my father asked, "Where's your friend?" I furrowed my eyebrows, "Cooper?"
They nodded in response then my mother joked, "He couldn't find his way here?" As I sat there unamused, my parents once again chuckled with each other. "Are you guys talking about the blind guy?" Jonathan asked, his knee got hit by Penny, most likely for being so blunt with the word "blind."
"Yes, they are," I spoke. "Once again, his name is Cooper." I really hoped they could acknowledge that, yes he is blind, but he shouldn't be labeled as such every second.
After he silently apologized to his newly wed, Jonathan turned to me. "Yes, Cooper," he affirmed, "I don't think you bothered telling Penny or anyone that you two were together!"
For a second, I was confused. Then I remembered the confident kiss Cooper had laid on me in front everyone. My heart softened when I recalled it, how smooth his lips were, how hard he had pulled me in. I felt my cheeks blush and I shook my head, answering the question posed and to make my skin back to normal. "Um, no we're not," I forced a smile in an attempt to keep the conversation light.
"That was just a moment, it's no biggie." I saw Penny's I-know-you're-lying eyes but I brushed them off. Everyone seemed to accept that as an answer or they just didn't care enough to keep the conversation going, and either way, I was grateful we didn't discuss it any further. We continued speaking about how pretty the wedding was and how happy we were for Jonathan and Penny.
I genuinely was, I knew they were going to be happy together and that he was going to treat my sister right. On the way home from the wedding that past night, Cooper told me that even he could see the love they had for one another. Sitting at the table with my family, looking out the window at him sitting in my passenger seat, I wondered if he thought he could see the love I had for him.
We all ordered our meals, my parents sharing a classic breakfast plate, Jonathan ordering a country fried steak, Penny requesting a bacon avocado omelet and me ordering a poached egg plate. I figured I would get Cooper's breakfast on the way out.
We discussed Penny and Jonathan's honeymoon destination, which was Orpheus Island about ten miles off the reef and they were scheduled to leave two hours after brunch ended, they were to stay there for about a week then go house hunting around Queensland. Penny invited me to go with them since I was "the expert on this place" and I humbly agreed. A few minutes into that exchange, our food arrived.
"So, Sophia," My mother began, gently folding out her napkin and scooping up the silverware into her hands. "When are you coming back home?"
I set my glass of water down on the table as I gave her a befuddled look, not understanding the question. "Well, I'll be home for Christmas of course. It is a holiday after all."
"No, Sophia," she responded as she cut her knife into her sausage links. "I meant when are you coming back to Broken Hill? It's been four months, you've had your fun. It's time to come back, I've already talked to the dean. You're welcome to finish your courses."
My breath became slow and I glanced over to Penny for reassurance or explanation but she looked just as baffled as I did. My eyes trailed back to my mother who didn't seem to understand why I was confused, she went on eating her breakfast. "Mom," I said softly, "I live in Cairns now, I'm not going back. I have a job, I'm painting on the-"
Suddenly, she pounded her fists on the table and exclaimed, "You are not an artist, Sophia!"
Her outburst caused us at the table to slightly jump and for every other customer around us to glare. I didn't notice much, my mother's dark eyes were staring into mine with a fire that seemed to be built up over the years. I looked right back at her defensively.
"Yes, I am-"
"No, Sophia!"
My breath picked up again, anger started to boil inside me. She was trying to take away what I wanted again. I caught Cooper's face behind my mother's head for a split second and tried to calm down.
"This whole artist thing needs to stop." My mother grinded through her teeth. "It's just a phase. Why can't you be more like Penny?" She pointed her fork towards my older sister, the medical school graduate, the newly wed and the one who had her life together. Penny put her hands up as if to leave her out of it.
"She's only a couple years older than you and she's already done so much better. You should have sucked it up and just dealt with finishing school like she did, you can't find a nice boy and the only one you really seem to like is fucking blind," She started laughing out of despair, "Penny has a real job, Sophia. She saves people's lives, she doesn't waste her time stroking a stupid brush onto a white piece of paper like a bum!"
"Mom!" Penny interrupted, giving out mother a glare then looked to me with sympathetic eyes, the eyes she always gave me. And even though I knew she genuinely wanted to help, her caring face did not slow down my beating heart.
The truth was finally coming out of my mother's mouth, what she kept bottled up all these years dealing with me. Up until now, she ignored my motives and my decisions, most likely hoping that her neglect would change my mind about everything.
It never did, and neither was this confession going to.
"You've always wanted me to be something I am not, Mom," I spoke rather calmly, "You've ignored everything I've ever presented to you that I took pride in. You want me to be Penny, I am not." I looked at my sister.
"I am not the favorite child. I am not the scholar. I am not the picture perfect girl, I have never been, I never will be." Once again I looked past my mother's red vexed face to Cooper's smiling one. He was once again playing with Sydney.
Closing my eyes for a couple seconds, I opened them back up into my mother's. "However, I am a strong child. I am talented, I love what I create." I heard my voice getting louder. "I am so much more than you would ever care to see. I am not a failure, I am a dreamer. I am the moon and I live by the sun," I rose out of my chair.
"And I am definitely not going to ever live by your rules. I am more than your daughter, I am whoever I want to be. And I am a goddamn artist, whether you like it or not. Deal with it."
I stepped out of the table and to the side, turning my back with my chin high to the ceiling, walking toward the glass door. "Sophia!" I heard my mother screech, and I flipped my middle finger to her next to my head, not turning around. As I pushed the door I could hear Penny's laughter and Jonathan's clapping. Finally, I had shoved everything my parents gave me back into their face. I smirked, feeling something powerful rise from my stomach to my chest into my throat.
I clicked the jeep unlocked and hopped on in. "That was a quick bru-" Cooper tried to say before I grabbed his face and smashed my lips onto his. We kissed once again, and hard. I ran my fingers through his hair and I felt his large hands on my knee.
I pulled away, his face still cupped in my hands. He was smiling brightly and for the first time, his eyes appeared to be looking right into mine. I laughed out loud, "You ready?"
"For what exactly?"
"I'm about to pay you back, Coop."
--
AUTHOR'S NOTE
this might be one of my favorite chapters! i love sophia, i love her developement as a character! i am so glad i got to share this powerful chapter with you! and also, sorry this chapter is like a couple minutes late, i totally forgot to get a picture off of google for this chapter.
i love you all! thank you so much for reading, remember to comment and vote! love hearing from you (:
-nicole robinson