Sophia, Marisa Redhead16 [phonics reader txt] 📗

marks. Even dried blood from fresh wounds.

His hair was long, tousled, and damp from a shower. Dad looked at us. “Tony, Tobias, come here.” We sat down beside each other. Mom went to get some wine and cheese. “Boys, I love you so much. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost you. I apologize for the way I’ve treated you both. Especially you, Tony.” He paused for a second. “Come here.” We leaned forward and he hugged and kissed us.

We went to watch a movie. “The Scarlet Letter or Sarah Plain And Tall?” Mom said, getting on her knees to put the movie in the DVR. “Sarah.” Tony said. “All right, then.” Mom said, putting the movie in. “No, Sarah sent me a text. It says ‘Ur bros a rotten cheater and so r u. He followed in ur footsteps. Wen u get the chance ull buy a stripper pole. Spring called me a t-w-a-t cuz I find u incredible!!! But also I find u a total cheat and I sholdnt b in love wit u!’ Wow, she has probs.” Tony gave me a smile that was full of humor, ‘Can you believe this chick?’, and love. “I’m not dating a girl who calls my brother a cheater. Those days are over. Now I know how Rita felt when I dumped her for being a bad kisser.” “Good boy. I won’t let you date someone like that anymore.” Tony ignored him.

He said ‘I wont date any1 who says tht about my bro. sry my ex called u tht. She still likes me.’ I stared at the TV screen and we watched the movie. After the movie I went to my room. I decided to take a short nap. I set my alarm clock for twenty minutes. I fell asleep wanting my life to end.

I heard a loud song by a heavy metal band. I realized it was on Tony’s friend’s favorite station. He’s always pulling tricks like that. Tony, not Antonio. I found myself wanting Sophia. If I had another chance, if I could go back… I couldn’t. I went to see what was happening elsewhere. My stomach growled loudly. I felt a vibration in it. Well, duh, Tobias. You’re fat and you’re hungry. “Where’s Tobias?” I heard my father ask. “He went to take a nap twenty one minutes ago. Oh, he’s back.” My brother said.

I yawned and rubbed my eye. I laid on the floor. I became pummeled with doggy claws and kisses. Jazz was happy to see me. Girlfriend licked my face. “Hey, baby.” I petted my dog and her boyfriend. I hadn’t been paying much attention to her. I scratched her pretty ears. She rolled over on her back, wanting her belly rubbed. Tony scratched Jazz and I played with Girlfriend. Dad got the video camera out.

For thirty minutes, we played with our dogs. I stole Girlfriend’s carrot from her and made her so dizzy she fell over. Dad laughed. Tony tried to teach Jazz to play dead. Both our reputations were wrecked, but we had each other, our dogs, and parents.

Girlfriend wanted a treat. I told her to say ‘I love you.’ “I love you!” To my amazement, here’s what happened in a dog voice, “I love you, Tobias!” Dad grinned and Tony laughed. I felt incredible. I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. Not even with Sophia. Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’ came on the radio. I gave my dog a treat. She gave me an ‘I’m innocent’ look. Tony and I both felt happy. I nibbled on some caviar left on the table. Caviar is a rich food, and a lot of rich people eat it, but it really doesn’t cost much, depending on the fish eggs. That’s basically all it is, raw fish eggs.

Dad had recently gotten a police scanner for free. Supposedly, it didn’t work. Now it did. A male voice came on, “There’s been a robbery at Sixty five Sweet Street. Black male, long black pants, navy shirt, wearing Nikes. The second male is Asian, white pants, navy shirt. There might also be a female, white, long brunette hair, black pants, black tank top, wearing high heels.” “What color are the shoes?” “Grey for the Nikes, black sandal-like high heels.” “Canine units on the scene. No sign of the suspects…except…oh, here’s an earring. Large silver hoop. Also a ring, wedding ring. Are any of them married?” “The female and the black male are married together.” “Ten-four.” “Stop right there or you’ll get bit by the dog!” “Asian male spotted. Officer Davis and Canine Auggie are there.”

I leaned on my stomach and stared at Girlfriend. She licked my face like a Boston Terrier. I remembered my old Boston Terrier. Man, I loved that dog. Her name was Lilyann. Mom named her. I had just taken her for a walk when she collapsed. I wondered if I’d overheated her. Dad assured me it wasn’t my fault, and we rushed her to the vet. She had a brain tumor and we had to put her down. It happened to be the day before my birthday. Worst birthday ever. A year later, I got Girlfriend as a Christmas present from Mom. She was an extremely obnoxious puppy, worse than a Labrador.

Sometimes I still wonder if there’s anything I could have done. Feed her a different food, take her on less walks, give her some special medication.

“So what are you doing for your and Mom’s anniversary?” I said, hoping to think about something else. “Probably drive to Kansas City or go to New York again.” Dad said. As usual. On their honeymoon, they’d gone to Paris and went to several big cities. “Cool.” Tony said. Their anniversary was in a few weeks. Tony and I usually stayed at Michael’s.

I got to bed early. The next morning, I went to my bathroom. As I took a shower, I noticed some loose skin on my gut. I’d lost some weight! But how much? I stepped on the scale. I lost two pounds. Just two pounds. I’d lost my appetite lately. Maybe that was it, I was eating less. I combed my hair, which was ridiculously long now. I could have put it in a ponytail if I wanted to. Not really, I was being dramatic. I brushed my teeth until they sparkled and I could use them for a squeak horn. I dressed in grey jeans and a blue shirt. I didn’t like the way you could see my bellybutton. I ignored it.

There was a man in my kitchen. He looked familiar somehow. Brown curly hair, navy jeans, an olive green flannel shirt. “Mr. Reed, what are you doing here?” He turned around, and I realized it was my history one. “Hello, Tobias. I heard about what happened between you and Jake. I’m sorry.” “It’s all right, it happened a year ago.” “No, I mean, I…I’m sorry about what happened between you and I. I made a mistake. It’s just that you remind me of someone I used to…” he stopped. He knew I knew.

“I’ll be near you and your brother today. I’ll be behind you. That’s why I’m here.” “What for?” “To protect you. From Billy and paparazzi.” “But why?” “Because I felt a need to protect you. You’re one of my favorite students and you remind me so much of Bryce.” He looked sad at the word ‘Bryce’. I knew that Bryce had been his fiancé. I felt a sincere pain for him. He’d lost someone he cared about more than anything else. Even if Bryce was still alive, it wouldn’t matter. I reminded Mr. Reed of someone he once loved more than anything else in the world.

I found myself in the backseat of Tony’s truck. Mr. Reed was riding shotgun. “So, Tony, how’s school going?” “Okay.” “Found a girl yet?” “Actually, yes. Her name’s Juliet.” “Juliet who?” “Juliet Aberdale. Blond, brown eyes, pretty. Wearing a denim skirt and a tank top today.” “I won’t even ask…” Mr. Reed glanced at me. “…how you know.”

I got out and started to make my way to my locker. I opened my locker up. I saw green eyes out of the corner of my eyes. It was Valerie, a girl who I’d sort of dated. She’d liked me for a while after we stopped. I wondered if she still did. She smiled at me and gave me a flirtatious look. I half smiled at her. She walked towards me. “Tobias, I think I know what really happened.” Did I mention that she has an English accent? “I’ll call you after school. Do you have the same number?” “No, my new number is 785-385-4501. Got it?” “Yes. I’ll call you later. Do you want to try dating again.” “Not right now, but maybe later.” “All right then. See ya.” I gazed at her leaving.
Nina approached me. “Hi, Tobias.” “Hi.” “Okay, look I’m really sorry for the way I’ve been treating you lately. It’s uncool.” “It’s all right. It was really my fault.” “No, it was mine. I shouldn’t have asked you for a kiss and should have kept my door locked.” “It was heat of the moment. But you know, if I hadn’t crushed on your sister this whole thing would have been avoided.”
“Tobias Shane Grass, you of all people should know that you can’t control love. It controls you. Expected love only happens when you look in different places. I still love you, but I know you don’t want to date me. Especially not after this. I only dated Michael to get closer to you. It was wrong, and that’s one of the reasons why we’re not talking anymore. I never expected to fall in love with him. After I caught him with that whore, I stopped loving him and started loving you again. You know why?” “You were jealous?” She grinned. “He wasn’t right for me.”
“So I saw you talking to Valerie. Are you dating her again?” “Sort of.” I immediately regretted saying it. Nina’s face fell. “Oh.” She said. I noticed how perfect her lips were, pink and full. I’d seen Nina without makeup on, and she was still pretty. I thought she was pretty, but I sort of stopped liking her in that way. Or had I?

“It was unbelievable. My first thought was This can’t be true! She’s my best friend! Then she smiled at me and walked away and my world turned upside down.” I told Tony in the car. Mr. Reed had gotten a ride from his brother. “Sounds like you like her.” Tony said. “Just ask me or Spring. We fell in love when neither of us expected it.” I realized something. “Oh my gracious, Tony you did not cheat on her.” He gave me a sad smile and nodded. “Yeah, I did. I have a notebook for all the girls I’ve dated or hooked up with. Numbers and addresses.” “Isn’t that stalkerish?” “Who’re you gonna tell, Squeaky?” “Don’t call me that. I have a lower voice than you anyway.” He glanced at me. “That’s why you’re so embarrassing. People are thinking, ‘Hey, isn’t that the guy with the fifteen year old brother who has a lower voice and bigger zippers?’” I glanced down. He was right.

I walked through the door quickly. Dad was at the table. And he was drunk. “What the hell were you thinking? You kissed both sisters. Maybe you are a cheat. You both are. I wish neither of you had been born!” I ran to my room, shut the door, and locked it. I sobbed in my knees. Dad hated me. He hated Tony, too. They were shouting and arguing. Dad