Chapter Five

“Morning, Sweetheart,” Mason mumbled, lightly stroking my hair.

I yawned and smacked my lips tiredly. “Is it morning already?” I cuddled further into Mason, drinking in all the warmth his body provided.

“Looks like it.”

I sighed, rolling over to face him. The edges of my lips tugged upwards. He was just so perfect.

He chuckled lightly. “I’m not perfect.”

I froze. I should not be allowed to talk when I’m sleepy. “I—I said that out loud?” I stammered.

“You’re adorable, Soph. But if I was perfect, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” he started, “we’d be in a mansion in a king-sized bed with a billion servants at our beck and call.”

“If that were true, we’d have never met.”

“Soph, why don’t you go back home?” he asked suddenly.

“Home?”

“Yes, home; back with your family.”

“I—I can’t Mason. They probably wouldn’t even want me.”

“Who wouldn’t want you? You’re absolutely breathtaking.”

I blushed. “You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not, but really, I’m sure they’re missing you as we speak.”

“I couldn’t go back if I wanted to, Mason. I can’t afford money for a bus.”

“But I do.”

I gave him an incredulous look. “What…how do you…”

“I have just enough money to buy you a ticket for a bus ride home.”

I shook my frantically. “No, Mason. You shouldn’t waste your money on me. Go buy some fancy bonbons or something.”

“I’ll survive without fancy bonbons. I’m not wasting it, Sophie. I’m giving my girl the best Christmas present she could ever imagine.”

“Really?” I croaked quietly.

“Really. Now let’s get you home, shall we?”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine. And most importantly, you’ll be fine. You’ll be warm, full, and happy.”

“I won’t be as happy if I’m without you.”

“You sound sappy.” He smiled reassuringly. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Is this letting me go?”

He nodded. “You’re free.”

“And what if I don’t want to be free?”

“You and I both know that you’d rather be home than out here succumbing to your wild animalistic instincts.”

“Thank you, Mason.”

***

That morning, as promised, Mason bought me a one-way ticket and saw me off. “Don’t ever forget me,” I murmured in his arms. I was going to miss the comfort of just being with him.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Sophie. With all those suitors after you, I just hope you don’t forget me.

I chuckled. “I don’t have any suitors vying for my attention. Besides, how could I forget about my guardian angel?”

“Stop watching so many movies.”

I grinned toothily. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Me too.”

We both leaned in for our last kiss, knowing that we were never going to see ach other again. It was gentle, sweet. I felt his grip tighten around my waist. In return, I drew him closer, savoring him.

“You should go,” he whispered. “Your bus is leaving soon.” I nodded, wiping a stray teardrop that managed to escape my eyes away. “Hey, don’t cry. You’re going to be home soon.”

“But you’ll still be homeless.”

He shrugged like it was nothing. “I’m used to it.”

I shook my head, smiling sadly. “But you shouldn’t be. No one should.”

“It is what it is.” He pushed me gently towards the bus. “Now go, my butterfly.”

I took a deep breath and followed the line of people into the bus. Before I got in, I glanced back at Mason and mouthed, “Thank you.”

He nodded. “You’re welcome,” he mouthed back.

I found my seat fairly quickly. Mason had gotten me a window seat near the back. The person sitting next to me was a middle-aged lady. She wrinkled her nose at me, but didn’t make any rude comments.

I scanned the area outside, wondering if Mason had decided to leave yet. I spotted him. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his tattered sweatpants. His eyebrows were creased, and he too was looking for me, running his eyes up and down the bus aisles. I rapped on the window, not caring if I was disturbing anyone. His eyes landed on me, a smile forming. He waved. I waved back.

I felt the bus lurch forward. Before he was completely out of sight, I blew him one last kiss. Out of the window behind me, I saw him catch it. My heart thumped loudly, yearning for him already. I couldn’t believe I was leaving him, but then I remembered where my destination was.

Home.

***

The bus station wasn’t very far from my house—easily walking distance. I didn’t even break a sweat, aside from the fact that it was warmer than San Francisco. I wasn’t really walking half the time, more like skipping. I was just so giddy and excited to see my family. The other half I moped. Keeping my mind off of Mason was harder than I thought it would be.

The streets were painfully familiar, but I wasn’t. I saw a few of classmates, but they looked at me like I was a complete stranger, an alien, scum. I didn’t know if they recognized me or not. I guess my appearance changed drastically when I was gone. Or they really didn’t know me. Like I said before, I wasn’t insanely popular.

Unlike the people in San Francisco, their dirty looks hurt. The people there were strangers, but I actually knew these people, grew up with them. Eh, kind of. Most of them didn’t really grow up much. I’m sure they were more mature in Kindergarten.

I shuffled faster and faster until I was standing in front of my house; two floors, not including the basement, white siding, five front windows, darkish grey roofing, and a two-car garage. The small tree that was growing in our front yard was still there, only a little taller and prouder—the opposite of how I felt at the moment. The grass was still as green as ever.

I walked slowly up the path to the front door. My footsteps seemed to grow louder and louder. It was like my fear made their volume grow. I was absolutely terrified to see their reaction. Would they be happy to see me or would my first reaction be right? Would they just leave me homeless, this time without Mason for me to depend on? Or would they take me back with open arms?

I stood numbly in front of the door. My hand was in position to ring the doorbell, but it refused to move forward, leaving me between Hell and Paradise—limbo. All I had to do was press it and I’d be home free (not literally, I hope). Somehow, through all my clouded thoughts, I’d managed to ring it, hearing the bell ring.

I heard the pitter-patter of feet getting closer to the front door, then the clattering of the door lock. Then the door swung open.

I was face to face with my baby brother. “Leo,” I whispered, feeling myself getting emotional.

He frowned and slammed the door shut. The wind of the impact between the door and its panel blew in my face. He didn’t recognize me. My own brother had no idea who I was.

“Mommy!” I heard him scream. “There’s a weirdo outside.”

Those words sent a slicing pain through my heart. I only hoped that the rest of my family knew who I was. If they didn’t, I’m not sure I could handle it.

I heard Mom’s delicate footsteps tread closer. The door opened once again. My mother’s once flawless face was now etched with wrinkles and worry-lines. Perhaps my disappearance took a toll on her. She did a once over at my appearance and smiled sweetly, a smile I knew she only reserved for pity. “Leo, bring Mommy’s purse over here.”

She didn’t even recognize her own child. It was like a punch in the gut. I thought mothers and children had some sort of unspoken bond. I guess not.

Leo popped up, handing Mom’s white purse to her. She turned away from me, leafing through her purse for something. She turned back to me, that smile still pasted on her face. She tossed me a handful of one dollar bills. “Here you go, Sweetie.”

I angrily tossed the money back. “I don’t want you money.”

Her eyes sparked a bit; confusion. “Then what do you want?”

“I want to go home.”

“Would you like to borrow a phone or—“

“Do you even know who I am?”

“Should I?”

“It’s Sophia, your daughter.”

Her facial expression changed quickly, flashing through uncertainty, shock, and finally awe. Her eyes glistened. “Is it really you?”

“Yeah, I’m home.”

I was soon in her embrace. “You stink, honey.”

I laughed. “I’ve been gone for months. I probably do smell.”

“I just can’t believe you’re actually home. We thought…we thought you were dead.”

“I can assure you that I’m very much alive.”

There was a grin on her face, more relieved than amused. “Come on in,” she ushered, shutting the door quietly behind her. Once I was situated on the couch, she began her interrogation. “Where were you?”

“San Francisco.”

“Why did you leave?”

I knew my story would take forever to explain, so I asked permission to take a shower. It felt weird just using it whenever I pleased; I wasn’t used to that anymore. She more than happily agreed.

It felt wonderful to be clean. Although I felt sorry for whoever was going to use the shower next. I’m sure there was some sort of weird stench lingering around.

When I came back down, Leo was sitting on the floor, playing with his plastic dinosaurs. Stella was tapping away on her phone, like always. Mom was sitting patiently on the couch, her ankles crossed and her hands folded on her lap.

They all looked up at me as I came down the stairs, drying my damp hair with a soft, fluffy towel. Stella shrieked, throwing her phone aside, and attacked me. I patted her back lightly, smiling at how much I had missed her.

“You’re not a ghost, are you?” she asked.

“Nope.”

“I missed you, Sophie. You’re not going to leave again, are you?”

“Trust me, Stella. I won’t be leaving for a long while.”

“Good.”

Leo pushed my sister aside. His big blue eyes looking up at me, his lips curled into sort of a whimper. “Soapy?” It’s what he’s always called me.

“Hey, buddy.”

He squealed and broke out into a grin, hugging my legs. I scooped him up and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Sorry for calling you a weirdo.”

“It’s alright, Leo.”

“Kids, let Sophie sit, okay?”

Leo grumbled, fidgeting to be let down. He led me over to my usual seat. My mother took my hand into hers. “Tell me about San Francisco.”

And I did.

After my siblings left the room, either from boredom or my mom’s insists, I told her about Mason. She knew there was something that I wasn’t telling her. She had good mom instincts, aside from the incident at the door.

“Is he the reason that you left?” she asked tenderly, but sternly.

I shook my head, smiling at the thought of him. “No, Mom. He’s the reason I came back.”