Sophie's Secret

  An honest, nice guy who liked me? It didn’t add up. “I just don’t get it.” “Don’t get what, Sophie?”

  “Why me?” Why me when he had hundreds of girls to chose from?

  Lara sighed. “Does this have anything to do with that chubby picture of you from the seventh grade?”

  “I was a dork, Lara. Didn’t you see me?” The memories of my seventh grade year came flooding back, forming a tight knot in my chest. ‘So Fat Sinora’, ‘Eats-A-Pizza Sinora’, ‘Cellulite Sinora’. I didn’t even know what cellulite was until seventh grade when Cody Miller pointed at my thighs in front our entire geography class.

  “People change, Sophie.” Lara rested her hand on my shoulder. “Frankie sees that, why can’t you?”

  I put my head down, trying to repress the tears, as my throat tightened. “They called me ‘So Fat’.”

  “Kids are mean. How’d you like to be labeled the school slut? It’s a lot easier for you to change your image than it is for me to get some respect.” Lara’s voice rose a few octaves as she turned her head.

  Poor Lara. The hottest guy in school asked me to Freshmen Formal and I thought I was having a bad day. Her life was much worse. “I’d never thought of that. I’m sorry, Lara.”

  “It’s okay.” She quickly brushed the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m used to it. Listen, promise me you’ll go with him because if you don’t, I’m never talking to you again. Just think about it, you’re my only friend so I’ll be losing a lot, too.”

  ****

  “Okay.” Mrs. Stein scanned the room with a subdued smile that didn’t quite mask the sadness in her eyes. “Open your books to page seventy-two. I want you to do all the practice equations.”

  I looked at the equations. Funny, they didn’t seem so challenging now. With enough work, and maybe the right tutor, I knew I could pass math. “Sophie.” Mrs. Stein kneeled beside my desk and spoke in a low whisper. “Where were you this morning?”

  “The bus was late.”

  She clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Frankie Salas waited all morning for you.” Her voice rose just loud enough to be dangerous.

  “Really?” I squeezed the pages of my book and beamed. I had the boy hooked.

  Students in nearby desks began whispering and looking at me. They must have overheard us.

  “Sophie likes Frankie Salas.” Cody Miller yelled to no one in particular.

  Mrs. Stein rose and glared in his direction. “Hush, Cody, that’s none of your business.”

  Many students quietly laughed and snickered.

  Scanning the room, Mrs. Stein threw her hands in the air. “Leave the poor girl alone and get to work. I swear some days you kids have me at wits end.”

  Grody Cody stuck out his chin, smirking. “But you know you love us, Mrs. Stein.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed and shook her head. “You know I do.”

  “Mrs. Stein.” Cody chewed on the tip of his eraser, lost in thought.

  I held my breath. I never knew what was going to come out of that boy’s mouth. He was known to say totally off the wall, weird things. Hopefully, he’d forgotten about Frankie Salas and me.

  Cody stopped chewing and a light went on in those dim eyes. “Why don’t you have your own kids?”

  I knew it was a rude question so I wasn’t shocked Cody had asked it. Curiosity got the best of me as I waited among the silent audience for the answer.

  Oh, God, why didn’t I die with them? I just want to die.

  As Mrs. Stein’s painful thoughts projected into my brain, an overwhelming, numbing pain washed over me, sinking my spirit into a chasm so deep, I felt my soul encompassed in pure, depressing darkness. I knew I was not just listening to her thoughts; I had entered Mrs. Stein’s soul. Who died? And now she wanted to die, too? Not my favorite teacher!

  She clutched her book so fiercely, I thought she would crush it. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she didn’t say a word as she quickly walked out of the room.

  The class waited in silence, but she didn’t return.

  “What’d you open your big mouth for, Cody?” AJ sneered.

  Cody cowered and whined, “What? What’d I say?”

  “Her family is dead, Cody.”

  I gasped at the sound of The Beast’s harsh voice. I hadn’t even heard Tyler enter the room.

  Tyler glared at us from the back of the classroom, arms folded across its chest. “You kids shut your mouths and get back to work. I’m watching you while your teacher cools down.”

  My heart sank into my stomach, as I closed my eyes trying to understand what had just happened. Mrs. Stein was a great teacher who loved us. She didn’t deserve this. She was depressed because her family died and I seemed to be the only one who knew the depths of her inner turmoil. She needed help, but I couldn’t help her if she didn’t willingly tell me. No adult would believe me if I said, “Mrs. Stein’s thoughts said she wishes she was dead.” They’d get me the shrink, not her.

  ****

  The incident with Mrs. Stein kind of shadowed my excitement about Frankie. I thought about my favorite teacher all day, even when Frankie flirted with me in English. He probably thought I was playing hard to get. I hoped not. I didn’t want him to think I was some annoying little tease.

  I needed to get home, so I could have some privacy. I couldn’t really think about Mrs. Stein’s problems until I was sure no one else’s thoughts would pop into my head. In the meantime, I had the bus ride to face. I was sure AJ and Krysta wanted to know if Frankie had asked me to the dance. Krista had already sent me several texts during fifth and sixth periods, which I ignored. I just wasn’t in the mood to gush about my life when the life of my favorite teacher was in jeopardy.

  They were already waiting for me on the bus. Their wide-eyed expressions said it all. They wanted me to spill the news.

  I couldn’t suppress a laugh as I scanned their eager faces. “He asked me.”

  AJ slapped the back of her seat and yelped. “You said ‘yes’ I hope.”

  I shook my head. “The Beast interrupted us.”

  “You’d better say ‘yes’,” Krysta squealed.

  “Okay, I’ll go.” I sighed and tilted the back of my head against the seat. “I guess I’ll have to fight off his groupies all night.”

  AJ folded her arms across the top of her seat and looked into my eyes. “What’s your plan?”

  I raised my chin up, keeping my voice firm. “I need to show all Greenwood girls I won’t take any crap, starting with Summer Powers.”

  “Awesome.” AJ nodded approval. “You’re learning.”

  “How are you going to do that?” Krysta didn’t sound sure of my plan.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”

  AJ balled her fist into her hand. “You need to throw the first punch.”

  I grimaced. “That’s what I’m thinking.”

  Krysta shook her head. “You’ll be suspended, and then Sparks won’t allow you at the dance.”

  Krysta was right. I’d never considered myself much of a fighter, anyway. I needed to catch Summer off guard. But how? Suddenly, I had a revelation and I sprung from my seat. “Wait a minute! First punches don’t always have to be physical.”

  AJ raised her brows. “You gonna clue us in?” My mind was racing. I had a lot to do to prepare for the first punch. All I needed was some tape, some courage, and Lara’s cooperation. My plan could work. It had to work.

  I focused my gaze on my friends, smiling as it all came together in my head. “It’s a surprise. Don’t you wish you were mind readers?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Finally, alone. I threw my bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed, rubbing my aching temples. So much to think about. So much to plan. Mrs. Stein, Frankie, Summer—they were all running through my head and I didn’t know where to begin.

  “Hey.” Rose Marie stood in the open doorway. I looked at my sister, annoyed I’d forgotten to shut the door. “Hey.”

&nbs
p; Rose Marie put her head down, squeezing the door frame. “I kicked him out.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My sister had come to her senses. I had thought she was hopeless. “What?”

  A single tear slipped down her cheek. “He decided he’s not ready to be a father.”

  For the first time, I felt sorry for her. I had been an idiot over a guy once, too, although I never let my crush go nearly as far. Still, she was my sister and needed my support. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She managed a half-smile. “Never been better.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my gaze. “You don’t sound better.”

  “Well, you were right.” Keeping her head down, she ran a hand over her belly. “I am fat for three months.”

  “I never said that.”

  Rose Marie looked up, more tears began to flow. “There were two heartbeats, Sophie.”

  I didn’t know what to say. She obviously wasn’t happy, so I couldn’t congratulate her.

  She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “How am I going to raise two babies?”

  I tried to sound reassuring. “You’ve got us to help you.”

  She sat on the bed and placed her head in her hands. “What was I thinking, Sophie?”

  “Love is blind, I guess.” Unfortunately, I knew what I was talking about.

  “No, love is stupid.” She stood up and paced the room. “I thought I’d be able to finish college after the baby. I had all these crazy ideas. Now I’ll be stuck with a minimum wage job, living with my parents, raising two kids with no father.” She turned, pointing an accusing finger. “Don’t be stupid and screw up your life like I did, Sophie.”

  “I don’t plan on it.”

  “So.” She threw her hands in the air and rolled her eyes. “How was your day?”

  I bit my lip. I didn’t know if she’d be eager to share my good news. “Frankie Salas, the hottest guy in school, asked me to the Freshmen Formal.”

  “That’s great!” Rose Marie patted my knee. “Look at my little sister, growing up so fast.” She glared at me. “This guy had better have ambition.”

  I shook my head, laughing. “I’m not marrying him, Rose Marie.”

  “Good, don’t marry or have any kids until you finish college.” Her face twisted while she looked me over. “So why the long face when you came home?”

  “You noticed?” I sighed and laid back, folding my hands behind my head.

  “Yeah, even though I seem focused on only my problems lately, I still pay attention when my sister comes home with a frown, dragging her feet.”

  I rolled over, clutching my pillow. “Do you remember Mrs. Stein?”

  Rose Marie smiled. “Mrs. Stein? If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think I’d have scored a 1500 on my SATs. She was my favorite teacher ever.”

  I sat up. “Mine, too.” Maybe Rose Marie could help me with Mrs. Stein. I didn’t have to tell her all the mind reading details.

  “How’s she doing?” Rose Marie leaned in and lowered her voice, as if she was about to leak top-secret information. “She lost her family, you know.”

  My shoulders fell. This was the second time I’d heard the bad news and it didn’t get any easier. “Yeah, I heard. She’s been pretty depressed, Rose Marie. I’m worried about her.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. What exactly happened to her family?”

  Rose Marie bit her nails. Something she only did when she was in a really serious mood. “Her husband and kids died in a car wreck a few summers ago. It was really bad. I heard her youngest daughter survived for a few weeks, but she was brain dead. They had to pull the plug.”

  Brain dead? That’s why she got so upset when I told her I was brain dead at tutoring. This was bad. This was worse than bad. What a horrible thing to happen to my favorite teacher! “Was she in the car?”

  “No, she was at some teachers’ retreat up in the mountains. They were going to pick her up when their car went over a cliff.”

  “That sucks.” I slowly exhaled, trying to process this new information. Was this why she was so overprotective of her students? Why she became distraught when Tyler tried to snatch one of her ‘babies’? She wasn’t in the car to save her babies, so she was intent on saving all of her students. It made sense, in a morbid sort of way.

  “She was still teaching eighth grade math. I was in high school when it happened.” She grabbed a tissue off my nightstand and blew her nose. “I went to visit her, but they said she took the year off. Some kids said she was in a mental hospital. But you know how kids lie.”

  “Yeah.” I rested my chin on the pillow. “I know.”

  “Anyway, I never got back to thank her for everything she did for me. I was too wrapped up in that loser.” I can’t believe how many people I’d neglected when I was with him.

  Hearing my sister’s thoughts, I looked up to see she’d started crying again. She was hunched over, her forehead resting in her hands.

  I leaned over and rubbed her back. “It’s too late to change the past, but maybe you can stop by and visit her. I’m sure it would make her feel good to see an old student. She could use a boost.”

  “You’re right.” She perked up. “Maybe I’ll stop by tomorrow morning. My morning sickness is easing up.”

  “Great. You can drive me to school. Our bus driver made me late to class today and I missed tutoring with Frankie.”

  “Ooohhh.” She swatted my shoulder. “So I get to see Mrs. Stein and the hottest guy in school.”

  “Yeah.” I cringed at the thought of my sister teasing me or Frankie. “But could you do me a favor?”

  “What?”

  I looked at her through the corner of my eyes. “Don’t say anything to make me look stupid.”

  “Would I do something like that?” Rose Marie gasped and batted her lashes.

  Yeah, she would but Rose Marie was the least of my worries. I had worse trouble than an embarrassing big sister. If my plan worked though…my problem would be solved. Tomorrow morning, I planned to throw the first punch.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Sophie, what took you so long?” Hands on hips, Rose Marie stood at the front of Mrs. Stein’s classroom. “I thought you would just be gone for a minute.”

  Rose Marie, Mrs. Stein and Frankie were waiting for me in the classroom, although by the looks of it, they weren’t missing me too much. I had walked in just as Frankie and Mrs. Stein had burst into laughter. Something my wicked sister had said, no doubt.

  “Sorry.” I shrugged, trying to shake off my nervousness. “I had to stop off at my locker.”

  Actually, I did more than stop off. Summer hadn’t made it to her locker yet, and the halls were empty, so I had time to carry out my plan. I tried not to look at what I’d done as revenge. Even though it felt good to know that soon Summer would be the laughing stock of the entire school.

  “That’s okay. We’ve been keeping Frankie company while you’ve been gone.” Rose Marie laughed. “I’ve been telling him lots of stories about your childhood.”

  My childhood? Was she telling him about the fat me? I felt like I should have been alarmed but somehow that didn’t matter anymore. “Thanks.” I rolled my eyes and gave my sister a warning glare. “I’m sorry, Frankie.”

  “That’s okay.” He was sitting on top of a desk in a casual pose, looking just as hot as ever.

  “Rose Marie, why don’t I take you into the staff lounge?” Mrs. Stein said between laughs while pressing her palms against her ribs. “Mr. Dallin is subbing here. He still talks about you. I bet he’d love to see you.” Mrs. Stein’s eyes lit upon my sister.

  They locked arms and headed toward the door. Well, if it made Mrs. Stein happy, it was worth it to see her laughing at my expense.

  “Okay, we’ll leave you two alone to your…uh…equations.” Rose Marie deliberately bumped against my shoulder as she walked past.

  “Go away.” I made a mental note to clean my toilet wit
h her toothbrush when I got home.

  “So.” Frankie grabbed the tips of my fingers and gently placed them in his hands. “What’s the answer?”

  The shock of his touch sent shivers through me, but I was starting to figure out Frankie Salas and having a lot of fun doing it. “Answer to what?” I batted my eyes.

  He instantly released my hand. You bonehead. She doesn’t want to go with you. Just drop it. “Uh, never mind.”

  Listening to his insecurities and instantly missing his touch, I reached for his hand. “Do you mean that equation you taught me?”

  He gently squeezed and moved closer. “Yeah.”

  I bit my lip, smiling. “I’ve been thinking about that equation all night.”

  “You have?” His chest rose.

  “I think I came up with a better one.” “What is it?” He whispered.

  Afraid to break the spell, I inched closer. “S + F = FF. Now imagine S stands for a girl and F stands for a guy. What dance do you know has the initials FF?”

  He laughed, cupping my chin in his hand. “This is why I like you, Sophie.”

  His soft touch turned me into butter. I wanted to melt into his arms. “Why?”

  “Because you’re you,” he said softly, “that’s why.”

  “Well, in that case.” I looked into his eyes, wanting nothing more than a kiss from the hottest guy in school. “We need to get some pictures together next Friday.”

  He pulled my chin toward his lips and bent down for a kiss. “What was that?” Frankie jerked his head up.

  The shrill scream of the meanest teen in the school echoed through the halls and broke our spell. Of all the rotten luck.

  I groaned. “I think it was a girl screaming.” Frankie pulled me toward the door. “Maybe we should check it out.”

  I pulled back, digging my heels into the pasty yellow school tiles. “It’s probably nothing.” Which was a lie, but I had two very important reasons for staying put. First of all, I didn’t want to blow my second chance to get a kiss from Frankie. Secondly, I didn’t want to get my butt kicked.

  Suddenly, I started to have major doubts. Yeah, I knew Summer would be furious when she went to her locker. I knew by playing this prank, I would be forced to confront her. But after listening to her angry scream, which was still reverberating in my ears and down to my toes, I wondered if throwing the first punch was actually a good idea.