Sophia, Marisa Redhead16 [phonics reader txt] 📗

hadn’t told the truth when he said he would stop drinking. I grabbed the knife and slit my wrist. Unfortunately, Tony decided to walk in then. He unlocked the door with a toothpick and came in. He saw me with the knife. “Tobias, stop this. Mom thought you were done, that’s why we don’t see Daniel anymore.”

We heard Mom come in then. She and Dad started arguing. I heard footsteps, high heels, come up the stairs. Loafers, next. “Fine! Here’s your suitcase! Get out and never come back ever!” I heard Dad complaining about me and Tony as he threw stuff in his bags.
“I know what you’re thinking. Dad doesn’t hate you, he doesn’t have a high alcohol resistance.” We hugged and he cleaned up my wrist and bandaged it. I read the book, A Guy’s Guide. I should have read it earlier. It helped me to understand the opposite sex more. And it was written by a woman named Rebecca Harkins. So I was getting real expertise, plus she’d been a guest star on on several shows and movies involving a lot of love and romance. I decided to Google her later.

For now, I was content. I had been upset earlier, but I have low self-confidence. I was madly in love with someone. I loved Sophia, I liked her sister, who was also my best friend, who liked me. Sophia loved me back, but she didn’t trust me because I had kissed her sister. I still kind of liked Valerie, at least I still got those butterflies in my belly today. Ruth, Chloe, and Mia liked me. Maureen secretly liked me, she just hadn’t flirted because of Sophia and probably Nina. I realized I had at least six girls who were crushing on me. Wow, I was shocked.
I felt myself collapse on the bed. I was exhausted and hungry. I read a magazine article about love and what it can do to you. I found a lot of interesting stuff. My stomach felt like a feather was brushing it. I shoved my jacket off. I could feel myself dozing off.
I slept through dinner. It was ten o’clock when I woke. Mom and Dad were talking. “It doesn’t matter. He’s fifteen years old, he’ll be fine. His weight shouldn’t matter. He knows he’s overweight, and he doesn’t like it. I seen the look on his face when he steps on the scale.” Dad said. “He’s young, Joseph. He’s a teenage boy. He’ll get over her. Nina said she feels terrible but her sister acts like she hates Tobias. We all know she doesn’t, she loves him to death. I’ve met Sophia, and I think she’s a lovely girl. She’s exactly like Tony described, but when I saw her she was wearing a green dress. We talked for a bit and I could tell she was nervous. Personally I think Nina set us up on purpose.” I didn’t say anything.
Nina would do something like that. I decided to ask her about it later.
I turned over to face the wall. My door opened, and my floor squeaked. Somebody placed a hand on my shoulder and kissed me. “I’m so sorry, Tobias. I didn’t realize how drunk I really was. I’ve taken a nap since then, and I’m sober now. I love you.” Dad said. He kissed me again, and left my room.
I got up, took a shower, put clothes on, the usual. I went to my bedroom to get my bag, but it wasn’t there. I went into the livingroom. I thought I’d left it there, but I hadn’t. I looked in the diningroom. Not there. Tony’s room. Yes, it was there. Tony will do that at least once a year. I looked in it to make sure everything was there. Yes, but there was also a piece of paper. It said ‘Tobias, I can’t live like this anymore. I ‘m going to move to Kevin’s. Not Nina’s brother, my friend. Bye, you’ve been the best little brother. Miss you. Love Tony.’

I couldn’t believe it. My older brother, the guy I’d mimicked when I was five, the guy who held my hand when I got checked, the guy whom I’d always thought was brave and strong, was gone. He’d run away. I showed the letter to Dad, who turned pale. “I found it in his room.” I said. Dad didn’t say anything. “Get in the car.” he said.

I worried about my brother all day. Nina hugged me once and Victoria looked jealous. She knew Nina had a crush on me. Nina knew I liked her sister. Nina was my old crush and my best friend. I stopped by the band room after school, where the cheerleaders practice. Maureen was leading the routine. Duh, she was the captain. The coach wasn’t a very good one, all she ever did was eat and put makeup on. So she didn’t care if friends or boyfriends or girlfriends stopped by.
We have two yell leaders, Zeke Mattey and Jack Peters. Zeke had the megaphone and was shouting cheers, his blond hair whipping around his face. ‘wher r u? its mom.’ ‘I’m in the band room. R u off work yet?’ ‘Almost. B ther in thirty minutes son.’ ‘k’
Maureen called a break. I cornered her. “Why are you treating me like this? You kissed me when you knew I liked her!” “Whatever. I get whatever guy I want. Plus more.” She winked at Jack, who blushed. “Maureen, you have a boyfriend!” “He broke my heart. I am not going back to him.” “I didn’t realize…” “Of course you didn’t. Sophia thinks she’s the hottest girl in school. She’s not. I am.” I couldn’t believe how vain she was acting. She was talking about her best friend behind her back, flirting with somebody she didn’t have a crush on.
I knew I was getting nowhere. “Now look, I’ll tell Sophia you kissed me. I text everyone I know and tell them you also kissed me.” Her eyes went wide. “You wouldn’t dare!” “Oh, I would.” If there’s one thing Maureen can’t stand, it’s having her reputation ruined. I also surprised myself. A year ago, I never would have made that threat. I would have walked away.
I walked away, satisfied with myself. I saw Sophia sitting on the bench, writing. “What are you writing?” I asked. She glanced up. “A song.” “About what?” “You.” “Can I see it?” “Sure.” I noticed she had a handbag with a bunch of c’s on it. I recognized it as a Coach bag. The only reason why I knew that was because Mom carried one around sometimes, and I’d asked her about it.
Sophia’s song was very good. It was about a girl who wanted a boy but he’d broken her heart. “Was it a friendship kiss?” she asked. “I used to crush on her, she has a crush on me.” “She didn’t tell me.” “She’s your sister, and she loves you. She knew you had a crush on me.” “That’s because I told her.”
“She asked for a kiss. I accepted. That’s it. It was supposed to be quick.” I said. A tear fell out of her eye. She wrapped her arms around me. I smelled her perfume, felt her touch. I’d been waiting for this moment. I loved her. “Is it possible…?” I asked. She looked at me. “I’m not sure…not yet at least Tobias. I’m sorry.” I felt like she’d poked my heart with a knife. She leaned against me, sighing. Her sweatpants were loose around the legs but tightened at her ankles.
I saw her ankles. They were smooth and bony. I could feel her heart beating on my chest. Mom walked up to us. Sophia leaned up. “Hello, Mrs. Grass.” “Dear, call me Anne.” Mom said, nodding at her. “Anne.” Sophia repeated.
I leaned back and listened to the Foo Fighters on the radio. “There goes my hero.” I said, talking about Tony. Mom looked at me. I completely ignored her. All I wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep. I was dead tired. No homework fortunately.
I set my bag on the floor in my bedroom. I kicked off my shoes, closed my door, shut off my light, and got my ‘Do Not Disturb Tobias’ mood on. I laid onto my bed. I pulled the covers up and closed my eyes.
I was in a ravine. A little one. I climbed up the hill, not knowing where I was going or doing. I felt my shoes almost slip. There she was, in a strapless lavender dress. She smelled like roses. She looked like a red rose. She smiled and stretched her arms out to me. I grabbed her hands and pulled her closer. “Tobias, come closer, my love. Come closer…” I felt myself be punched in the gut and sent backwards. He grabbed her and started to lead her away. No way. I quickly got up, wanting revenge. My sweet was being taken away from me. I grasped her arms and pulled her to me. “Mine.” I said. A honeysuckle blossom formed on her arm, then disappeared into her. A honeysuckle formed on the ground. Something told me to lick the few drops of honey that were in it. I picked it up and licked it. I gave it to Sophia, and she licked it too. It sort of reminded me of Adam and Eve with the fruit. No one knows for sure if it was an apple or a grapefruit or some other fruit. Either way, the juice was yummy, just like honey from a honeysuckle flower is yummy.

I woke up with a pang of hunger. Dinner time. I could hear my stomach growling. You could hear it from a mile away. I looked in the cupboard. Then I saw the time. Midnight. Dang. And I was starving. I grabbed a granola bar and went back to bed.

The next day was weird. Nobody talked about me anymore, which I liked. Finally, everybody lost interest in the fat nerd. I was still madly in love with Sophia, and I blushed every time she walked by. I headed toward my first class. Mr. Kurl had glasses on, and was talking to, guess who, my mother. Embarrassing, yes. My mother glanced at me then turned back to her high school secret admirer. They would have made a good couple, had Mr. Kurl worked up the courage to ask her out.
I sat down at my desk. I set my backpack on the chair and turned around. Guess who? Billy Paers. Oh boy. He completely ignored me. “Tobias, can you come here for a second?” Mr. Kurl asked. I got up and walked toward his desk. “If you need anything or have any problems, call your mother right away. Don’t go to the nurse, the office, restroom, anything. Okay?” “Okay.” I was glad he was whispering really softly.
I walked back with no regrets, then I saw Billy’s face. He’d heard. He looked pissed. I didn’t say anything. Mr. Kurl also saw Billy’s face. He ignored him. We finished Romeo and Juliet quickly. We all know how it ends. Everyone thinks ‘Just give her five more minutes!’ but he’s not a mind reader.
I decided that if Sophia was a goddess, she’d be Aphrodite. She was wearing lavender eye shadow, (honestly, who doesn’t look gorgeous in that color?) and she was wearing the infamous green dress with a blue cardigan. On her feet were the shoes with straps, the ones Mom called ‘gladiator sandals’. Now that I looked at them more closely, they did look like gladiator sandals.
My love walked toward me with all the grace and beauty of the infamous Greek goddess. I decided