10:

SOPHIE GETS TIPSY

Sophie Carmella was drunk. Not piss drunk but just drunk enough to feel like she was a bit tipsy. She was not at home and if her mum found out that she left to get drunk at some random bar that she couldn't be bothered to remember the name of - she would be dead before dawn.

Sophie knew the reason she was here, though. Sometimes when Andrew got too angry or sad with the life he led he would take a break and visit a bar, stand in a corner alone and drink his beer, the sound of the music so loud that it actually gave him space to think - his words not hers. He was underage, of course, but that was why fake identities were created. And because Sophie knew Andrew was suffering just as much as her - but both of them were too stubborn to be the first to come around - she knew that he would be at some bar. So she had to skip bar from bar until she found the bar where Andrew was silently drinking in a corner, his eyes focused on the floor as many pairs of feet jumbled before his vision, his body slowly swaying to the loud music.

She watched him, swaying sloppily as she tried to be as discreet as possible. She walked close, but not too close as she tried to formulate a way to approach him. Things shouldn't be like this between him and her - this was not how they worked. They were meant for each other and no matter how cheesy it sounded they both knew it. It was a shame, really, that they were perfect for each other. Things would be much more simpler if they weren't. There would be less hardships. There would be less heartache.

She was close to him now but she knew that he wouldn't notice her. Andrew didn't go to a bar to get high and and wasted. Andrew Smith went to a bar to think. She couldn't understand how it helped. There really wasn't any logic behind it. But if it helped him she could tolerate it. Anything that made him happy, weirdly, made her happy as well.

It was then that was when Samantha stalked up to Andrew, placing her hand on his chest as she sashayed her hips to the rhythm of the music. "Dance with me, Andy."

Andrew scowled. He hated that nickname. He preferred Andrew. It was much more him. He picked her wrist up with two fingers only, like her hands were contagious, and dropped them to the side. "Not interested, Sam," he said, his tone monotonous.

Sam pouted. "You're not?" she asked. She leaned over a little bit and her neckline dipped even lower.

Andrew glanced at her cleavage and scrunched up his face. "Sam, I'm not interested," he said.

She huffed. "Way to let a girl down easy, Andy."

He rolled his eyes. "Can you leave now? I'm kind of in the middle of thinking-"

"Why aren't you interested?"

His eyes widened when she cut in. Sophie wasn't even angry watching them. She was only mildly amused. Samantha was wasting her energy.

"Because I'm not?" He paused. "I'm interested in someone else. Have been for the past four years, Sam. You know that. Heck, everybody does, so if you'll please-"

"I thought you and Sophie broke up."

He narrowed her eyes at Sam. "We didn't."

"Then why don't you two talk to each other anymore? Why are you avoiding each other?"

Andrew sighed out loud and moved a little further away from Sam. "Just because we're having a little lovers tiff doesn't mean we aren't together."

Sophie snorted and quickly put her hand over her mouth. Oops. Did he hear that? But when she looked at him he was still looking at Sam, annoyed as hell. Lovers tiff, Sophie thought. That would be one way to describe it.

"What are you two even fighting about? One second you're inseparable and the next is like being in this relationship is killing you-"

"It isn't." His tone was sharp. Angry. "Now will you leave me-"

"What did you say to keep her away? Oh wait, what did she say?"

Andrew sighed, knowing that Sam wasn't going to bugger off without any answers. "Look, Sophie and I had a little disagreement. We both got angry. We both said things that we shouldn't have. But see, the things we said were true so both of us need a little time to think-"

"Two weeks isn't enough time?"

"Samantha!" Andrew exclaimed. "If you want a story, shut the fuck up." Andrew wasn't angry. He was furious. He wouldn't be so rude otherwise, no matter how much he would dislike the other person.

She huffed dramatically, rolling her eyes as if Andrew was being the dramatic one. "So, what's the deal? You two fought. It's done. Why not break up?"

"Because I love her and I know she loves me. If she wanted to break up with me then okay. If that's what makes her happy I'll leave. But she doesn't want that. I know her inside out. She wants me and she needs me-"

"You know me inside out, huh?" Sophie was surprised by her own voice.

Andrew looked at her, his eyebrows high with surprise but then he smiled. He didn't look guilty at all.

"Just like you know me inside out," he winked before he strode to her. He wasn't even hesitant when he placed his arms around her and pulled her into a big bear hug.

Sophie tucked her head beneath Andrew's chin and they both looked at Samantha who was eyeing them with the what-just-happened look.

"You two are so confusing," she rolled her eyes and stalked away.

"One sec," Sophie told Andrew and rushed after Sam.

"Sam! Samantha, wait up!"

Sam whirled around to glare at her. "Why are you bothering me now?"

Sophie smiled softly at her former best friend. "I heard about your Mum-"

"They're rumours," she cut in icily.

"They're not. Ma and I went out for ice-cream the other day because - well, since we're no more best friends you aren't entitled to know why. Anyway, I saw your your Mum with Fredrick Noires."

"Okay, so what? It doesn't mean they are dating-"

"They kissed."

Sam's eyes glazed over. "Can you butt of my business?"

"You clearly couldn't butt out of mine."

"You've been drinking," she noted. "Sober Sophie wouldn't be so straightforward with me."

"Drunk Sophie is as honest as Sober Sophie. Drunk Sophie just wastes less time."

"Sober-"

"You're trying to change the subject. I know who you are, Sammy."

Sam huffed. "What do you want to hear me say?"

Sophie tilted her head. "Nothing." Pause. "I just wanted to tell you not to hate your mother for this-"

"I don't-"

"-I know you do. But she needs someone right now, too, Sam."

"Yeah?" Sam yelled. "What about me? Don't I need someone, too? Mum is a bitch, she's such a slut."

Sophie frowned. "That's hypocritical considering you shag almost all the guys in our school and your mum is loyal to one-"

"Are you calling me a slut, Sophie?"

Sophie's eyes widened. "Oh my goodness, no! But you can't call your mum a slut. She's lonely. And she needs company. The company that a daughter even can't provide."

Sam laughed cynically and gained a few head turns but people were too engrossed into dirty dancing on the dancefloor that they were unaware of the drama that was unfolding. "So my dad left. Big deal. That's what porn is for. If she need release-"

"Do you resort to porn, Sam?"

"Ew, what the fuck? Why would I?" Sam scowled then, knowing that Sophie caught her there. Sam looked at her ex-best friend then. "It's only been six months and she's moved onto another man. Dad left because she was intolerable-"

"He left because their marriage didn't work, Sam."

"How would you know? Were you there? No! Mum was crying when she was signing those divorce papers. She loved him and now she's replacing him so easily. Dad was sort of a jerk to fall for another woman-" Sam paused knowing she slipped something she never intended Sophie to know about "-but whatever. Dad was Dad. She can't replace him. And yeah Mum loved him. She loved him so much. Then how could she have moved on so fast? Your dad died, Sophie, and that's sort of the same. You don't see your mum finding someone else."

Sophie felt her eyes prickle. Wow, that was a little harsh. "The thing is, your dad's still around. My dad's not. And that fact makes all the difference in the world, Sammy."

"Would you be okay with your Mum loving another man?"

Sophie pursed her lips, deep in thought but she couldn't formulate a proper answer. "I don't know, Sam. If the time ever comes we will see then. Maybe I won't be okay with it but I'd want to see Ma happy."

"Well I don't. If I'm suffering, so should she."

"You know what I think?"

"No, and I don't plan on staying any longer to find out," Sam bit out icily and turned around to leave.

But Sophie quickly stepped in front of her. "I think you don't hate your Mum. I think you love her. I think you don't really mind her with another man because seeing her smile and laugh and be happy - that makes you happy. I think that the person you're mad at isn't your mother. It's your dad because he was the one who ruined your family."

Samantha's eyes widened and she backed away from Sophie. "Damn," was all she said, hurt flashing across her eyes as she darted past Sophie to the exit.

But Sophie didn't chase Sam. Sam needed time to think. And Sophie needed to be with Andrew. So she made her way to him and said, "lead me home, Andrew."

And so he did.

He lead her back to him.