Chapter Nine
Sophie
As soon as I walk into my dorm room after the bookstore, I leap into my bed and grab the mystery book. But then I remember I promised Mom I would call her.
Raven isn’t here. I think she went for a walk around campus for inspiration for lyrics. I don’t mind video calling my parents in front of her, but it is nice to have privacy sometimes. So I make myself comfy on my bed and start the video call.
Mom’s smiling face appears on the screen a few seconds later. “Hey, sweetie! Jorge, come. Sophie’s on video call.”
I hear some shuffling and footsteps and then Dad plops down near Mom on the living room couch. He also wears a huge smile and greets me enthusiastically. I look like my mom, with the same blue eyes and features, but I inherited my dark hair from my dad. Dad’s mom immigrated to the US from South America with nothing but the clothes on her back. She worked hard to build a life for herself here. I’m grateful for all that she sacrificed. Mom’s side of the family is Italian, and Dad’s father’s side is many generations of Americans.
“So tell me how school is going,” Dad says. “Feels like we haven’t heard from you in ages.”
“And wasn’t there a dance this past weekend?” Mom asks.
I spend the next half hour telling them all that happened the past few weeks, giving them as many details a possible because they literally want to know everything. My parents tend to be overprotective of me and they sometimes are too much in my business. But I get it. After losing two children, they hold on to me as though I’m the most precious thing in the world.
“I’m glad you had fun at the dance,” Mom says. “But I’m sorry you couldn’t find a date.”
“She doesn’t need to be distracted with boys,” Dad mutters. “She should put all her focus on her studies.”
“Jorge, let the girl have fun. Sophie, I want you to put all your effort into your studies, but it’s okay to let loose and have fun sometimes.”
“Just not too much fun,” Dad warns.
I laugh. “You have nothing to worry about, Dad. There are no guys on the horizon. I already told you that the guys here are not my type.”
“You mean, they’re not at your level, my smart girl.” Dad beams proudly.
“Dad,” I say with a laugh.
“What? You’re smart,mija. Own it. A guy would have to be someone really special to earn my daughter.”
If I let him, Dad could spend the whole night doing nothing but praising me. I know my parents love me to death, but sometimes it feels like they put too much pressure on me. Dad with school and Mom with wishing we had more things in common. It’s not that we don’t or that we don’t get along, but she and my sister Gina were like two peas in a pod. I don’t remember her or her twin brother Adam much because I was only three when they died, but I definitely remember Gina and Mom being super close. I do consider myself close to my mom, but sometimes I feel like she wishes I were more like my sister.
“Thanks, Dad,” I say. “A smart guy would be nice, but really, all I want is a kind guy with a huge heart.”
Mom nods. “That’s what I want for you as well.”
For some reason, Damian’s face flashes before my eyes. Weird. Why would he pop into my brain right now? Because he was kind to me today?
“Oh! Speaking of school, I’m tutoring a new student,” I inform my parents.
“That’s great, sweetie!” Mom says. “Is she one of the younger students?”
“Actually, no. He’s in my grade, but he just started yesterday. He’s Principal Harrington’s son.”
“A ‘he,’” Dad grumbles.
“I’ve tutored lots of boys before, Dad.”
“But they were all younger than you.”
“True…”
“Oh, let her have fun, Jorge. She’s only sixteen years old.”
“I remember what it was like to be that age, Angela. And the boys at her school are rich. I don’t trust rich teenage boys.”
