● S O P H I A  H O N E Y ●

      THE LOOK on Theo's face when I acted like I didn’t know him should have been satisfying—especially since he hasn’t exactly been the warmest host since I arrived. But instead, an uncomfortable feeling gnaws at me, and I hate it.

It’s like I just ruined his day, but how? I only pretended I didn’t know him.

So why does he look so sad? And why is that bothering me?

“Hey Theo, sorry about that,” Scott says, flashing his pearly white teeth at Theo, clearly trying to smooth things over after my little act. “Sophie’s new, that’s all.”

Theo doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he just stares at me. We’re standing so close, almost too close, and I suddenly remember how tall he was when I first met him at the airport. But seeing him now, here, he seems even taller, more imposing.

“You angry man?” Scott presses again, but Theo doesn’t say anything for a long moment. He blinks, his expression shifting slightly.

“Do I know you?” Theo asks, and Scott’s face drops, his surprise clear.

“Oh, maybe not,” Scott laughs awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying not to look too embarrassed. “I’m just a fan, I guess.”

“Thanks,” Theo says flatly, and I can tell from his tone that he’s not being sincere, but Scott’s too busy trying to act cool to notice. “Nice cap, by the way.”

“Thanks.” Scott beams, oblivious.

Theo nods, then turns back to me. “Sorry I didn’t see you earlier.”

Oh. I guess he’s playing along now.

I clear my throat, trying to act casual. “It’s alright. I wasn’t looking either.”

He lets out a quiet scoff, just loud enough for me to hear. “Clearly,” he mutters.

I almost ask him what that’s supposed to mean, but I catch myself. If I say anything, Scott will start asking if we know each other, and I’m not ready for that conversation. I swallow the retort that’s on the tip of my tongue, but Theo knows I wanted to say something—he can see it in my eyes, and he smirks. That stupid smirk of his is starting to seriously irritate me.

“See you later then,” Theo says, smiling briefly at Scott before turning to me with that infuriating smirk again. “You too… Sophie.”

And just like that, he’s gone. He brushes past me, so close that I can feel the warmth of his body, his arm almost grazing mine. His cologne lingers in the air between us, a scent I hate to admit smells good.

I watch him as he leaves the café, my eyes drawn to his broad shoulders. They’re even broader than I remember from the picture Blair showed me—annoyingly so. Painfully so.

He nearly bumps into Blair and Alex as they enter the café, mumbling a quick apology  without even looking at them as he rushes past. They both stand there, staring after him in shock, just like I had.

“Guess he has that effect on you too, huh?” Scott’s voice breaks me from my thoughts.

“What effect?” I snap my attention to him.

He’s about to explain when Blair and Alex join us. Blair is fanning her face dramatically, making Alex laugh.

“The universe definitely loves me,” Blair declares as we all head to a four-seater table to take a sit.

Before all this, Scott suggested we start a study group to plan ahead. Since the lecturer had already given us a syllabus with the assignments, he thought it would be a good idea to start working on them right away and study more in-depth at our next meeting.

When Stephanie heard this, she immediately said she wasn’t interested, and I couldn’t have been happier. Maybe it was because it meant I’d get more time to talk to Scott.

And also hang out with Alex and Blair too. Yeah.

“Why do you say that?” I ask, already suspecting the answer.

“Didn’t you see that? Theo Gray literally looked at me.”

Alex bites her lip, shaking her head with a slight smile. “I think he was more looking past you.”

Scott snickers at that but goes quiet when Blair glares at him, then scoffs.

“Whatever,” she pouts, turning away from us to call over a waitress who’s heading in our direction.

“What can I get you guys?” the waiter asked, pen and notepad ready as she stood at our table.

Everyone started rattling off their drink orders—one fruity flavor after another—until it was my turn. “Black coffee,” I said. The guys gave me weird looks, and honestly, I didn’t blame them.

I wanted to try all the delicious drinks they mentioned. They sounded tempting, and part of me was dying to taste every one of them. But I couldn’t. Why? Because I’m trying to lose some baby fat here.

Yeah, I know—it’s the typical story. The curvy girl trying to lose weight because of low self-esteem, right? But it’s not exactly like that.

Okay, maybe it's partly that. But I just want to feel good about myself. Sure, I feel good now, but I want to feel good enough to wear crop tops and short skirts like Blair and the 200 other girls I’ve seen today alone.

Like Stephanie said, my dressing was too… normal. And even though it’s a stupid comment, she’s not entirely wrong.

“I’ll wait for the drinks; you guys should start getting your notes out,” Scott said, giving me a quick smile before heading off to the register.

As I watched him walk away, feeling a little flutter in my chest. Alex leaned over with a grin. “Seems like Scott really wants you around, Sophie.”

“Huh?” I blinked, confused.

“What she means is…” Blair cut in with a grin. “Scott’s super nice, right?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah, he seems like a nice guy.”

They nodded back at my words but didn’t say anything else. Before I could dwell on it, Scott returned with our drinks. The moment he set my black coffee in front of me, regret hit me like a brick.

I should have ordered the mango drink.

I’ll start my weight loss thing tomorrow, I promised myself, knowing full well it was a lie. I grew up in a house where eating sweets was practically a tradition, and I’d spent more time cooking delicious food than I could count.

Which was... all the time.

“Alright,” Scott said, taking his seat. “Let’s get started.”

~~~

I didn't know how long I have been researching since I lost track of time—was it an hour? Maybe forty minutes? All I knew was that my stomach was growling like a wild beast, demanding attention.

I glanced up at the guys, who were focused on their laptops, and then back to my own screen. The words I had typed blurred as one thought took over my mind: a hot burrito with a refreshing mango drink.

Hmm. Taste delicious.

My mouth watered at the mere image, almost causing me to lose focus. I took a deep breath, shaking off the distraction, and returned to my research.

The lecturer had given us until next week, and I was grateful we had started early. She wanted us to develop a critical understanding of how to analyze photographs and articulate our creative choices. Concepts like loneliness, movement, and portraits of strangers were all on the table. It felt overwhelming at times, but Scott had been a steady guide through it all, making the complex seem manageable.

After a while of typing—who even knows what—I heard a notification ping from my phone. Curious, I reached for it.

Gray: Have you eaten?

I blinked, making sure I read it correctly. I really wanted to ignore his message, but that felt too childish.

Me: No.

I dropped my phone and focused back on my laptop. A minute later, another message came through.

Gray: Are you at the apartment?

He was starting to irritate me.

Me: No.

I left it at that, hoping he’d take the hint that I wasn’t in the mood to chat. But apparently, he didn’t get the memo, because another message popped up.

Gray: Are you still at that café

Why is this guy bugging me?! Hasn't he done enough for today?

I clenched my teeth, lowering my phone, hoping the guys wouldn’t notice how hard I pressed the screen to reply.

Me: Why do you ask?

Gray: Just curious.

Me: Why?

He took his sweet time replying this time.

Gray: I don’t know.

This man.

Why bother me if you don’t know? I sighed, resting my forehead on the table.

“Okay, I’m tired,” I hear Blair announce as I lifted my head just as she closed her laptop with a whine. “I’m pretty wiped, guys. Let’s continue next time.”

Scott frowned, glancing at his watch. “It’s actually getting late, so we should head out.”

“Finally,” Alex huffed, packing her laptop into her bag. I followed suit.

“See you guys later,” Scott said, waving as he rushed out.

“Where’s he running to?” I asked, tucking my phone into my pocket.

“Maybe to see Steph—” Blair began, but immediately clamped her mouth shut, realizing she shouldn’t have said anything.

“Oh, they’re dating?” I nodded, my thoughts of Scott fading away.

Alex shook her head, clearly annoyed with Blair. “You really need to learn when to keep quiet, don’t you?”

Blair ignored her and turned to me, guilt flickering in her eyes. “Sorry, that slipped. And no, they’re not exactly dating.”

“What does that—” Then it hit me. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “It’s been going on for a month now, so they’re pretty attached.”

“So they are serious then,” I said as we started leaving the café.

“Not exactly.”

That didn’t exactly make me feel better, but I nodded anyway.

“Okay, let’s drop you at the dorm,” Alex said, pulling out her car keys and pointing them at a shiny red car that beeped in response.

“Yeah, let’s drop you off, and you can show us your room!” Blair beamed, making me panic a little more.

Oh gosh, how do I get out of this?

“Oh, umm…” I cleared my throat. “Don’t worry, guys. I’m actually not going to the dorm right now. I still want to do more research for the assignment.”

Blair frowned. “Oh really? Aren’t you hungry or something?”

Oh trust me, I am.

“Nah, not really,” I lied, hoping they wouldn’t see through my words.

“Okay then. We’ll see you later!” Blair said, giving me a quick hug before turning to leave.

Alex waved goodbye and followed her into the car. They zoomed off, leaving me standing there, contemplating where I would find a bus stop to get to Theo's apartment.

Seriously, why did Ryan set up this arrangement? I could be sitting in air conditioning right now, with no worries other than the food cravings that were currently dominating my thoughts.

My stomach growled again, seemingly agreeing with my earlier frustrations.

“Theo Gray,” I sighed, rubbing my face. “Theo Gray.”

Why did you have to come into my life?

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket, opening the map app to search for the nearest bus stop. I didn’t even know what street I was on. Scott had driven me here earlier, and now I was stuck, watching people stroll in and out of the café while I sighed for the hundredth time.

As I began my search, a notification popped up, and my frustration hit its peak when I saw the name—Theo Gray.

Not again.

I wasn’t in the mood for his pointless questions, so I decided to ignore it and continue with my search. But before I could even find the right bus route, my phone buzzed again. This time, he was calling.

“What is wrong with this guy?” I muttered under my breath, maybe a little too loudly, as a couple passing by glanced in my direction before heading inside the café.

The buzzing stopped, and I relaxed for a second—until it started again. He was persistent. I bit my lip, trying to keep my cool, but I was two seconds away from throwing my phone in frustration. Finally, I gave in and answered.

“What?” I snapped.

I rolled my eyes. “Did you call me just to laugh like a madman?”

“Oh no,” he said, laughing again. "It’s just... that you look like an angry mom waiting to kill her husband, with your hand on your hip.”

I glanced down at my hand, realizing it was indeed planted firmly on my hip. I immediately dropped it, but hold up. How on earth does he know what I'm doing?

“Where are you anyway?” I asked, my brow furrowing.

Before he could answer, the sound of a car horn grabbed my attention. I looked up and spotted a sleek black car idling a few feet ahead. The window rolled down then a hand waved lazily from the driver’s side.

“Either get in," Theo’s voice came through the phone, "or I’ll come out. And judging by the scene you caused earlier, I don’t think you’d want that… Sophie.”

Did he just… blackmail me?

"You don’t get to tell me what to do," I shot back, feeling my blood pressure rise. Who did he think he was? My dad?

He sighed dramatically, like I was some child throwing a tantrum. "You’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that? What are you, seventeen or something?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Says the guy acting like he’s my dad."

“Oh, Sophie,” he said, his voice dripping with mock pity. “Do you want me as your daddy because—”

I groaned in frustration as he burst into laughter again, each sound deeper than the last.

"Look, Gray. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don't need you."

He scoffs at my words. "Perfectly capable, my ass. Because you’re doing such a great job standing outside, staring at your phone," he mocked, his tone smug.

I bristled at his words. “What the hell is your problem?”

“Right now? It’s you standing out there when you could be in this nice air-conditioned car. Get in, or I’m coming out, and trust me, I’ll make a scene, remember this is New York not your hometown so if you don't like drama, get in.”

I glanced around nervously, noticing the growing number of people walking past. The last thing I needed was Theo making some ridiculous spectacle of himself. He was already quite known in college and I didn't know if anyone in school was even here. I can’t risk it.

I glanced at the car again. The tinted window was still down, and I could see his hand resting casually on the wheel, like he had all the time in the world. The sight of it made my resolve weaken just a little.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But don’t think you won this time.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, his voice still amused. “Now come to me Sophie.”

With a sigh, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and made my way toward his car. The sleek black vehicle looked like it belonged in a movie, parked at the curb as if it owned the entire street.

I reached for the door handle, hesitating for a split second before opening it. As soon as I slid inside,the cool air hit me, making me realize just how hot it had been standing out there.

The smell of leather and that faint, musky cologne of his filled the air, making me momentarily forget my irritation.

Theo glanced over at me, a smirk playing on his lips. “See? Isn’t this better?”

“Just drive,” I muttered, crossing my arms and glaring out the window.

He chuckled again, shifting the car into gear. “Whatever you say, princess."

The car smoothly pulled away from the curb. As much as I hated to admit it, being in the cool car with Theo was a hell of a lot better than standing out there alone, waiting for a bus. Still, I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

“So, what’s your plan?” he asked casually, one hand on the steering wheel as he glanced over at me.

“My plan?” I asked, confused.

“Yeah, you were standing out there like you were lost. What were you going to do? Wait for a bus?”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “What else would I do? Walk ten miles back to the apartment?”

He shrugged. “You could’ve called me earlier. Save yourself the trouble.”

“Right, because I love depending on people who randomly stalk and blackmail me into their car.”

He laughed again, shaking his head. “You make it sound so sinister. I was just offering a ride.”

“By the way,” Theo started, glancing at me with that cocky smirk. “What took so long at the café?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “How long were you outside?”

He shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road. “Not long, but long enough to catch a glimpse of that guy with the ugly cap leaving the cafe.”

I blinked, trying to process what he just said. “Wait, you were out there that long? And, weren’t you the same person who said you liked that cap? I think it suits Scott pretty well.”

Theo scoffed, his expression shifting into pure disgust. “Scott?” He practically spat out the name like it left a bad taste in his mouth. “Sounds like a fuck boy’s name.”

I crossed my arms, turning to face him fully now. “Oh please, like ‘Theo Gray’ doesn’t scream that. And by the way, congratulations—you just upgraded your reputation today, from what I’ve been hearing.”

He shot me a quick look, eyebrows furrowed. “What news?” He glanced back at the road, making sure no cars were ahead.

I smirked, leaning back in my seat. “Oh, you don’t know?” I teased, savoring the tension in the air as he gave me a confused look. “Does last Saturday night ring a bell? Maybe the part where you were screwing some girl whose name I bet you’ve already forgotten?”

Theo shifted uncomfortably, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “Becky?” he muttered, as if testing the waters.

His answer made my jaw clench, my irritation bubbling up. Becky. So he remembered her name after all. Great.

“Well, isn’t that lovely,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “And here’s something else I realized…”

He gulped, and for a moment, I swore he looked genuinely nervous. I almost wished I could snap a picture of his face and set it as my phone wallpaper. Priceless.

“W-What?” His voice came out smaller than usual, and I could tell he was bracing himself.

I leaned back, crossing my arms tighter. “Funny thing about weekends. Saturday comes after Sunday. And Sunday, just so happens to be the day I landed at the airport, and you wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone, blaming me for everything?”

Theo groaned, rubbing the back of his neck like he suddenly had a headache. “Sophie, listen… I’m really so—”

“Honestly Gray, I'm not bother about it. It's your life. Just wanted to tell you.” I cut him off, ”So please drive.”

The finality in my voice made him clench his jaw. He turned back to the road, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel. The silence between us thickened, but all I could feel was the sweet sense of victory spreading through me.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, but I heard it loud and clear.

I couldn’t help but smile. Fuck, indeed.