The sun beamed into Sophia's room, yet there she was, lying 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 possessed sharp, tired eyes and a faint, stubborn scowl. Her dark hair 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 the headphones off and tossed them onto the bed. It was probably her mom, who was likely having a bad day as well. She stood up, scratched her head, and stared at the full-length mirror. Despite the mess, her features reflected back at her with the grace of a Disney princess. Her long brown ponytail, sharp nose, and blue "Titanic" eyes sparkled with determination.
I still look fine, as always, she thought. She tucked both hands inside her pockets and headed downstairs, her legs feeling heavy.
Sophia spotted her mother in the kitchen, furiously sweeping the floor with a worn-out broom. The paint was peeling from the handle due to old age, and the metal neck of the bristles was rusted. Her mother's expression reflected deep exhaustion. Watching her, Sophia felt a pang of worry; her mother was surely suffering from back pain because of the many chores she handled alone inside the house.
"Mom?" Sophia asked, scratching her neck awkwardly.
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 thankfully, they looked normal 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 sharp finger at Sophia. The gesture caused Sophia's heart to race with hurt.
"Sorry, Mom. I forgot," Sophia responded, pressing her hands to her chest defensively.
"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. They're talking about suspension, Sophia!"
With that, her mother stormed out of the kitchen, her face flushed red with steam. Outside, the bright sun began to disappear behind thick, gray clouds. Sophia stared at the broom for a long time, her eyes beginning to tear up. She felt terrible for her mother, and the dark thought crept in that perhaps her mother didn't like her at all.
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—plink—made Sophia suddenly remember her plans. She knew she shouldn't leave the mess, but the urge to escape before her mom got back with more bad news was stronger.
"I forgot about the game today," she whispered to herself.
Sophia, her friend Shawn, and her cousin John were supposed to play a game together. Thinking quickly, she grabbed her coat from upstairs and bolted from the house. 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 reflected off the pavement just as the sky finally broke.
The weather changed completely as raindrops started to fall. Sophia pushed her limits, pedaling through the puddles even as her legs began to burn with exhaustion. She soon arrived at a normal, modern small house—John's place. Sophia parked her bicycle beside the woven fence, entered the yard, and stepped toward the front door as the rain grew heavy.
She knocked 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 politely. "Yes, Uncle Roger. I'm sorry for being late for the game today."
"Okey-dokey, now go downstairs, dear," he replied.
Sophia forced a smile, internally cringing at Uncle Roger's "cringiness"—he was an older man but often tried way too hard to act young. 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 glued to their hands, fingers clicking buttons rapidly without even needing to look down.
Sophia stepped down the stairs. "Hi, guys."
The two of them slowly turned their heads. They set their controllers down, 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 gray hoodie and baggy jeans, trying to hide his slender body. With his curly black hair and sharp nose, it was impossible for girls not to lose their hearts to someone like him.
John, on the other hand, was wearing a tight white tank top. Sophia felt a shiver of annoyance; she was not comfortable seeing her own cousin trying to show off his muscles in a tight shirt. His abs were visible through the fabric, paired with black shorts.
Sophia sat in the middle, her mind still reeling from what had happened at her house.
"So, what are we playing?" she asked curiously.
"Frenzie and Freeze," John replied, grabbing his controller back from the couch.
Sophia groaned, placing a finger on her chin. That game is so boring, she thought.
"Can we play something else?" she asked, her eyes following the arrow on the large screen in front of her.