The sun had been beaming into Sophia's room, yet there she was, lying comfortably on her messy bed with her headphones pulled tight over her ears. She'd had a bad day at school, but she wasn't about to let her confidence falter.
Sophia had sharp, tired eyes and a faint, stubborn scowl. Her dark hair was sprawled across her pillow in messy tangles, and she wore a loose, oversized t-shirt, looking completely checked out from the world.
"Sophia!" a voice shouted from downstairs.
Her eyes snapped open. She plucked her headphones out of her ears and placed them on her bed. It was probably her mom, who was having a bad day as well. She stood up, scratched her head, and stared at the full-length mirror where her features were reflected like she was a Disney princess. Her long, brown ponytail, her sharp nose, and her blue Titanic eyes were sparkling with determination.
I still look fine, as always, she thought as she tucked both of her hands inside her pockets, then headed downstairs with heavy legs.
Sophia spotted her mother in the kitchen, furiously sweeping the floor with a worn-out broom. The paint was disappearing from the handle due to old age, and the metal neck of the bristles was rusted. Her mother's expression reflected deep exhaustion, and Sophia worried that her mother was suffering from significant back pain because of the many chores she handled alone inside the house.
"Mom?" Sophia asked, scratching her neck.
Her mother wore a red shirt and a long skirt that highlighted her pale legs. Her face was as pretty as Sophia's—they shared the same face shape, nose, and eyes. The only physical trait Sophia had inherited from her father was her massive ears, though they looked normal to people from a distance.
The atmosphere shifted instantly as her mother's voice rose. "Why didn't you do your chores? It's been a week, Sophia! I told you to do all of them before I gave you the hundred dollars you wanted," she said, pointing a finger at Sophia. The gesture caused Sophia's heart to race with hurt.
"Sorry, Mom. I forgot," Sophia responded, her hands on her chest like a mother bear protecting her cub.
"That is not an excuse, young lady!" her mother snapped, throwing the broom onto the floor. The clatter echoed through the kitchen. "Clean all of this. I have an emergency meeting to attend at your school because of your behavior today."
With that, her mother furiously stepped out of the kitchen, her head practically boiling with steam. Outside, the bright sun began to disappear behind thick, grey clouds. Sophia stared at the broom for a long time as her eyes began to tear up. She felt terrible for her mother and thought to herself that her mother didn't like her.
The plates were still unwashed. A mountain of cups, utensils, and dishes sat gathered in the sink. The sound of a single drop of water dripping from the faucet made Sophia suddenly remember her plans.
"I forgot about the game today," she whispered to herself.
Sophia, Shawn, and John were supposed to play a game together. Thinking quickly, she grabbed her coat from upstairs and exited the house immediately. She climbed onto her bike and pedaled through the streets, her heart racing because she was going to be late. Above her, the humidity was boiling, the heat reflecting off the pavement just as the sky finally broke.
The sky changed completely as raindrops started to fall. Sophia pushed her limits, pedaling through the puddles even as her heart raced and her legs began to feel exhausted. She soon arrived at a normal, modern small house—it was John's house. Sophia parked her bicycle beside the woven fence, entered the yard, and stepped toward the front door as the rain grew heavy.
She knocked on the front door twice. The door was unlocked by Uncle Roger, John's stepfather. His mustache was as sharp as ever, and his almond-shaped eyes gave him a distinct look.
"Well, what do we have here? Sophia, hanging out with the boys again? They're downstairs," he said.
Sophia nodded and replied politely, "Yes, Uncle Roger. I'm sorry for being late for the game today."
"Okey-dokey, now go downstairs, dear," he replied. Sophia cringed slightly at Uncle Roger's "cringiness"—he looked like an older man but often tried to act much younger. She nodded and walked past him as he shut the door.
The basement had a classic, lived-in feel, dominated by a worn-out, stained couch where the boys spent hours. It was a dedicated gaming sanctuary where the rapid clicking of controllers provided a constant soundtrack. Despite the clutter, it was a cozy retreat from the heavy rain outside.
Shawn and John were sitting on the faded couch like goofy teenagers who had been stuck there for a year just to play a game. Their controllers were in their hands, their fingers clicking the buttons rapidly without even needing to look down.
Sophia stepped down and said, "Hi, guys."
The two of them slowly turned their heads. They set their controllers down on the couch, and John said, "Sophia, we've been freaking waiting for you, man. You're twenty minutes late."
"Come on," Shawn added, gesturing for her to join them.
Shawn was wearing a grey hoodie and baggy jeans, trying to hide his slender body. His curly black hair and sharp nose made it impossible for girls to not lose their hearts to someone like him.
John was wearing a tight white sando. Sophia felt a shiver of annoyance because she was not comfortable seeing her own cousin trying to show off in a tight sando. John's abs and muscles were visible through the shirt, paired with black shorts.
Sophia sat in the middle, her mind reeling from what had happened at her house earlier.
"So, what are we playing?" she asked curiously.
"Frenzie and Freeze," John replied, grabbing the controller from the couch.
Sophia groaned, placed her finger on her chin, and thought that the game was so boring.
"Can we play something else?" she said, following the arrow on the large screen in front of her.