Lucas
I walk into BioKin, after having had my easy-going morning with a bowl of Greek yogurt and honey and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. I’m definitely ready to start my day.
I wonder how Sofie is doing. I haven’t heard from her at all today so far. I’m growing accustomed to her sending me a text message before her first lecture.
Judging by her habits I’ve noticed so far, I’m going to bet she overslept and had to rush to class. No matter, I’ll send her a message around noon I think. That way I’m giving her time to say something first and not seeming so...needy.
The last thing I want is to seem like a stalker. That damn ex-boyfriend of hers really has my blood boiling and she needs a little of that in her life as possible.
I arrive at my office and fumble with my keys, struggling as much as I do any other day to remember which of the two belongs to my door and to my storage. I try one.
Nope. Well damn. Maybe I’ll get some custom keys made to differentiate the two and spare myself the thirty seconds I spend being wrong.
As I slide the second key in and turn it to unlock my door, I notice it’s already unlocked. Strange...I recall locking it before my departure yesterday.
I pull the door open to find Oliver sitting in my chair. I should have guessed.
“Good morning, Oliver,” I greet him. “Have you been in long?”
“I’ve been here for about an hour,” he says, tossing my stress ball in the air and catching it repeatedly. “I’ve only been in your office for about five minutes, though.”
“Ah, I see. Why have you been here for an hour? Had something you needed to finish?” I prod.
“Yeah, kind of. I’ve noticed I’m taking longer than usual to finish my proposals and I wanted to just take some time in the morning to set myself up for the day,” he responds.
“You know, now that you’ve mentioned, I’m also realizing I’m taking a little longer to get my business settled before I go. I hadn’t thought too much about it, but I notice it’s getting worse the more I look back,” I add.
“Well, there is a shared common interest between us,” he says, treading lightly.
“Ahhh, yeah. You’re right. Sofie,” I say.
“You know it. Lucas, I just don’t know what we’re doing with this girl and I really wish I did. She’s not like any of the other girls. She’s actually got a head about her and it’s the most attractive quality I never knew I needed in a woman,” Oliver goes on.
“I know exactly how you feel...I have the same thoughts,” I continue. “Hey, have you talked to her at all in the past few days?”
“No, I haven’t. I’ve been so busy in meetings and playing catch-up with all my shit I just haven’t been able to devote the time I want to with her.”
“Me either,” I say. “I’ve been getting a good morning text from her and I didn’t see one today.”
“Shit, you’re right. She texts me too, and Elijah also I would imagine. But this morning, nada,” he explains.
A sudden feeling of panic coursed through me. I feel compelled.
“I’m going to call her,” I announce. Something isn’t right.
I swipe through my phone to her contact and begin a phone call, and I put it on speaker. She’ll be happy to hear Oliver here with me. As the phone rings, we grow more and more anticipatory.
The ringing stops. Someone’s picked up the line. We’re excited to hear her adorable greeting.
“Hello?” an unexpected voice travels through my speaker.
“Hello?” I respond, confused. “Is this Sofie?”
“No, it’s Chloe. This is Lucas, right?” she asks.
“Yes, it is. Is Sofie alright?” I ask, panicked. My heart is practically beating out of my chest waiting for her response.
“Sofie is here, and she’s physically fine. But I think she needs you. She won’t tell you that, but I’m not afraid to,” Chloe suggests.
“What’s wrong?” chimes in Oliver, demandingly.
“Who is that?”
“It’s Oliver,” he says. “Listen, we want to help Sofie. “What can we do?”
“Just come over. I told her professors she was sick. She’ll be home all day, but the sooner I see her happy again the sooner I can relax too,” requests Chloe.
“Alright. We’re on our way,” I assure her.
I’ve never been in such a short and long car ride in my life. Oliver and I are going over what might be wrong.
Is it something we did? Is it her grades? Is it her ex-boyfriend?
We pull up to her address and fly out of the car to go knock on the door. Chloe answers.
“Thank you for coming! Sofie is really bent out of shape. SOFIE!” she calls. “Sofie! Oliver and Lucas are here!”
She leads us through the front hallway to Sofie who is through the back door, on the balcony crouched over the rail. Oliver and I approach her carefully.
“Sofie, what’s wrong?” I plead. “We’re worried sick about you.”
She turns to us, and I can see in her eyes that she’s delighted to see us. I crack a smile at the sight of her momentarily happy gaze.
She goes to speak but stops herself. It’s almost as if she just can’t get the words out. In her hand is a tri-folded letter. She extends her arm out, offering it to me.
I unfold it and scan it, seeing that it’s from the International. As I read through the paragraphs, I can see why she’s so distraught.
“Sofie, why didn’t you tell us what was going on?” asks Oliver, gently.
“I was just so...upset. And prideful I guess. I don’t want to seem like I can’t stand on my own feet but I’m seriously lost here trying to. It feels wrong to put it out there,” she explains.
“Sofie, it’s no bother for us to help you. We have all the means to ourselves — and others — to accommodate you. Please don’t shut us out,” I assure her.
“We’ll have this taken care of. I promise we will help the foster homes, with or without the auction money. It’s the least we can do for you,” says Oliver.
I can’t agree with him more that this is the perfect way to help.
“We know how much helping the children mean to you, and how happy it would make you. We would enjoy nothing more than to help,” I add.
“I don’t know what to say, guys. This is all overwhelming. I’ve been through such a roller coaster with all of this,” she says.
“Then don’t say anything. Let us cheer you up. How about you get dressed and we take you out and let you shake off all of that worry,” I say.
“Yeah,” she says, now smiling. “I do need to relax some. That sounds lovely.”