Jack: Have? Is Sophie in love with Ashton?

 

Sophie: HAD! I HAD feelings for Ashton on some tiny miniscule level when I initially met him and it lasted like 5 seconds. I found a quote one time that sums up my personal take on love: “Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.”

 

Jack: Sounds like the words of a scorned lover.

 

Sophie: Love is just not for me. It’s a fairytale. I am crawling into bed now. Tired from work. Next time we talk about you.

 

Jack: But I like talking about you more. You are far more interesting.

 

Sophie: Trust me I’m not and I don’t like talking about me. You’re lucky you got this much.

 

Jack: I like talking about you and I appreciate you opening up.

 

Sophie: Did Ashton tell you he is a nude model for my art class?

 

Jack: No. How does he look naked?

 

Sophie: No comment.

 

Jack: No comment? How disappointing.

 

Sophie: Fine…he is not disappointing. Happy?

 

Jack: Not disappointing…you can do better than that. Give me something else.

 

Sophie: No and no more talking about Ashton. Goodnight.

 

Jack: Night. xox

 

Sophie: xox

Chapter Six

Sophie woke with a start the next morning. She had slept in and was going to be late. “Oh no,” she whimpered as she scrambled out of bed and stumbled to the washroom. She couldn’t afford to be late for her art sitting this morning. It was the last session, and the painting was worth a substantial portion of her final mark. She flew through her morning routine and settled for running a brush through her hair before twisting it up in a messy bun. She pulled on her favorite oversized T-shirt and jeans before grabbing her supplies and running for the door. She had only a few minutes to make it to the bus stop.

As she rounded the corner, she saw the bus pull away. She cursed the punctual driver and herself for staying up late. She’d given up on the prospect of sleep and did some late night painting of a particular image she could not erase from her mind—Ashton.

Sophie turned when she heard her name called down the street. Mel was leaning out of the upper window of her apartment with a cigarette in one hand and the other waving at Sophie frantically. Sophie sighed as she made her way back toward their apartment.

“I have my boyfriend’s car. I’ll drive you!” Mel hollered down. “Just give me a sec.” She took a long pull on her cigarette before she snuffed it out and disappeared back into her apartment.

Mel shuffled out the front door a few minutes later with oversized sunglasses and an ensemble that was unusually modest for her.

“You’re up early,” Sophie commented as she watched Mel descend the stairs. Sophie could tell that Mel was tired by the way she carried herself. “Did you even go to sleep?”

“No, I’m too angry to sleep.” She huffed. Sophie followed Mel down to where an old black sedan was parked at an odd angle against the curb.

Sophie opened the passenger door and slid into the front seat. The smell of cigarettes assaulted her senses as she sat down in the disturbingly messy interior of the car. Mel reached over and grabbed some garbage by Sophie’s feet and threw it into the backseat. “He’s a fucking slob, if you haven’t already come to that conclusion,” Mel complained. Sophie noticed a dark shadow on her cheek.

“What happened to your face, Mel?” Sophie asked with concern.

Mel leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath. She reached up and pulled off her glasses, revealing a dark bruise that darkened the skin beneath her eye. “Corbin,” she confirmed.

“Don’t do this again, Mel.” Sophie’s tone was more demanding than she intended, but she couldn’t help her own anger at the sight of Mel’s injury.

“Why do they always turn into shitheads after a few months? It’s like they use up all their ability to be nice and all that’s left is the ability to use their fists to communicate,” Mel uttered in frustration. No matter how upset Mel got she never cried. Sophie took Mel’s hand in hers and squeezed affectionately. Mel was never one for displays of affection but Sophie knew the odd time when Mel needed it. Mel squeezed back tightly.

“You have to break up with him. You know what’s going to happen. You’ve been here before…you’ll see him again and he’ll tell you how sorry he is and want to kiss and make up but then it will happen again, and it will be more than just your eye next time.” Sophie laid it out for her. She didn’t dance around the subject. She had tried that the first time Mel was going through a bad relationship. It was shortly after they had met. Mel ended up in the hospital with broken ribs.

“I know, but—” Mel began but Sophie cut her off.

“What would you do if Mr. Cleary took a swing at you?” Sophie cut in.

“What?” Mel looked confused as she looked back at Sophie.

“What would you do?”

“I would kick him in the fucking balls before beating the living shit out of him.” Mel’s mouth turned up into a satisfied grin.

“Exactly. You are the toughest girl I know. You don’t let anyone else push you around, so don’t let the men you date do it. You deserve better than what Corbin can offer you.” Sophie smoothed Mel’s hair back to get a better look at her eye.

“I’m a fucking stripper, Sophie. What if this is all that I’m ever gonna have?” Mel said sadly.

“You are not just a stripper, Mel. You are a strong woman, a daughter, a sister, and my best friend. You deserve as much love as anyone else in this whole entire world. If you don’t want to be a stripper, don’t. If you do, then don’t let it define you. Just do me a favor and don’t date customers anymore. Find someone that doesn’t see you naked on the first encounter and stay away from the ones that seem to have an addiction problem. Someone good is going to fall in love with you, treat you right, and sweep you off your feet. You just have to stop putting obstacles in your way. Corbin, Billy, and what’s his name are no good for you. Start listening to that tiny voice in your head, Mel.” Sophie smiled with a warm heart. “I know that warning bells go off when one of those idiots walks up to you.”

“You don’t sound like someone who doesn’t believe in love, Sophie.” Mel’s small smile brought Sophie relief.

“I don’t believe in the whole fall in love and live happily after ever for me…but you believe in it and I want you to be happy.”

“What is wrong with us? I can’t find a man with any good qualities, a drawback to my line of work, and you…when are you going to tell me why you are so against believing in happily ever after?” Mel looked up at her with the question in her eyes.

Sophie shrugged. “I have never witnessed happily ever after. My father left my mother before I was born. We struggled through life, trying to survive. I have seen lots of heartache and had my share. I just don’t want to risk the pain. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Wow…we are pathetic and damaged, Sophie.”

“True that, Mel.” Sophie laughed.

“Tell me though, ’cause I’m curious why don’t you take advantage of the fact that you look like a freaking supermodel and hook up with some hotties?” Mel asked in disbelief. “Seriously, the walls in our building are thin and I would have known if you brought someone home with you. I know it’s not for lack of intent on the male side, either. They practically drool when you walk by.”