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MidReal Story
The Soccer Player
Scenario:Margo secretly loves her friend Sophie at High school sophomore year. They have struggled in the past with whether they want to be even be friends but now has a stable friendship. Margo doesn’t want to ruin the friendship but also wants it to be more. Sophie also loves Margo and wants to make a move on her except she worries that Margo will bring back the past and blame her for our friendship status. With jealousy and intimate moments, Margo and Sophie will have to find each other feelings out before someone else sweeps them off their feet first. Margo is loving, caring, sarcastic, and plays soccer. Sophie is a songwriter, funny, smart, and loves to read.
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Margo Thompson
caring, and sarcastic. Margo has secretly harbored feelings for her best friend Sophie since freshman year, but fears ruining their friendship. She struggles with her emotions, especially when Sophie starts dating other people. Margo's relationship with Sophie is complex, marked by unspoken feelings and a deep bond. She navigates the challenges of high school life while trying to reconcile her feelings for Sophie.
Jen Thompson
adventurous, and somewhat reckless. Jen has a history of dating multiple partners simultaneously without commitment or consequences due to her age and freedom from parental supervision. Her carefree attitude contrasts with Margo's more cautious nature but serves as an inspiration for Margo to explore her own desires without fear of judgment.
Lily Chen
outspoken, and loyal. Lily often provides advice and encouragement to Margo regarding her feelings for Sophie. Her straightforward nature helps Margo confront her emotions and consider taking action in pursuing a relationship with Sophie. Lily's presence adds a layer of humor and camaraderie to the story, highlighting the importance of friendships during high school years.
Margo
Sophie was mine.
Not in the sense that I was actually dating her, but in every other sense.
She’s been mine since our freshman year in high school, and I knew exactly when I fell in love with my best friend.
It was the first time we hung out alone, and it took me three more years to realize that it wasn’t just friendship feelings I had for her.
I didn’t want to take the risk of losing our friendship, so I never made a move on her.
Besides, it wasn’t like either of us had been lonely.
We’d both dated other people, and it worked for us.
It was weird, I knew that.
But it was the only thing that worked.
I just wished that it could be like that all the time.
That we could have each other, but also have fun with other people too.
Just for fun.
Like my older sister Jen did when she was in college.
I sat at my desk, pretending to study my calculus homework.
Sophie was sprawled across my bed, her textbook lying on her stomach as she stared at it.
The room was quiet except for her humming.
It was something she did when she was stuck on a problem.
She twirled the end of her blonde hair around her finger and frowned at the equation.
Her hair was down, which meant she wasn’t expecting anyone to see her today.
I liked when she wore it down because I loved seeing how much of the room it took up.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I rubbed my sweaty hands over my jeans.
It was time.
I’d rehearsed this all week, and I knew what I wanted to say to her.
I just had to do it before she could get away from me.
"Soph?"
"Yeah?"She looked up at me with a smile that made my insides flutter.
"Can you help me with this one? I don’t understand how you’re supposed to know when you’re supposed to take the derivative."
"Sure."
I stood and walked over to sit beside her on the bed, making sure our shoulders were touching.
She didn’t pull away, so I counted that as a good sign. Her shampoo smelled like lavender, and I licked my lips as I tried to remember everything I wanted to say to her.
I opened my mouth to tell her how I felt, but before any words could come out, Sophie’s phone buzzed from where she’d set it on the bedside table.
She picked it up and read the text, then frowned at it.
"Can we take a break? I need to tell you something."
"Of course, what's up?"
She hesitated, biting her lip before speaking.
"I think I might be falling for someone, and it's confusing because it's not who I expected."
I froze, my stomach twisting with a feeling I didn't want to acknowledge.
She sat up, clutching her phone in both hands as she stared at me.
Her eyes shone with excitement, and her cheeks were flushed.
She bit her lip again, a habit she had when she was nervous.
I'd seen it a thousand times before, but this time it made my heart race.
She shifted to sit on the side of the bed, facing me, and the mattress dipped between us.
The distance between us was more than I wanted, but I forced myself to breathe normally and keep my face neutral as she started to speak.
My hands gripped my notebook too tightly, making the pages crinkle.
Sophie's voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned closer to me, her hair brushing my shoulder.
"I think it's you."
I stared at her, the words hanging in the air between us.
My hands relaxed, and my notebook slipped from my lap, crumpling on the floor.
Sophie watched me with wide eyes, waiting for me to speak.
I opened my mouth to tell her how I felt, but before any words could come out, my bedroom door flew open.
Alex strode into the room, waving her phone in the air.
"Hey, Margo! Sophie! I need your help with something. I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I just got the most ridiculous text from Jake."
She hurried over to my desk chair and plopped down in it, not even looking at us as she continued talking a mile a minute.
Sophie jerked away from me, scooting to the edge of the bed.
I forced myself to look away from her and back to Alex, who was still rambling on.
I'd been about to tell Sophie how I felt, and now she'd just confessed her feelings for me.
I couldn't let Alex's stupid Jake drama ruin this moment for us.
I needed to find a way to get rid of her so we could talk.
But how?
I didn't want to be rude to Alex, but I needed Sophie alone.
Sophie shifted uncomfortably on the edge of my bed, not looking at me as she stared at her phone.
Alex kept talking, and I tried to focus on what she was saying.
She was telling us some story about Jake getting kicked out of the movie theater for yelling at the screen during a Marvel movie, but my mind kept going back to Sophie's words.
She liked me!
But then why was she sitting at the far end of my bed instead of closer?
And why had she looked so uncertain as she said it?
It wasn't like Sophie was shy or anything.
She was one of the most confident people I knew, and she always spoke her mind.
So why had she seemed so nervous?
"Sophie?"
Alex asked, turning in my desk chair to look at her.
"Are you listening? Do you think Jake will ask you to winter formal? He said he might. He knows you're single now." Sophie's head jerked up, and our eyes met across the room for the first time since Alex barged in.
There was uncertainty in her expression that mirrored my own thoughts.
"I don't know," Sophie said slowly, standing up from my bed and tucking her textbook under her arm.
"Maybe. I don't know."
"Well, tell him yes if he does," Alex said cheerfully.
"I'm sure you two would make a cute couple."
Sophie didn't respond, instead heading toward my door with an unreadable expression on her face.
"I need to get home before dinner," she mumbled as she left my room without a backward glance.
I stared after her, wanting to run after her and demand we talk about what we'd been about to discuss when Alex interrupted us, but I couldn't because Alex was still here talking a mile a minute. "Anyway," Alex continued as if nothing had happened between Sophie and me.
"I'm sure he'll ask me to winter formal. He's been really sweet lately. Oh, and guess what? I heard the theme is going to be masquerade ball! Isn't that so cool?"
I slumped against my headboard, barely registering Alex's continued chatter about Jake.
My fingers traced the warm spot on my bed where Sophie had been sitting only a few minutes ago.
Sophie was gone, and I'd let her leave without talking to her about what she'd said.
Why had I let Alex ruin the perfect moment?
I'd been about to tell Sophie how I felt, and now she was gone.
Alex kept talking, but I wasn't listening.
I stared at the empty doorway where Sophie had disappeared, wondering how I could fix this.
Finally, Alex paused in her monologue to look at me.
"Hey, Margo? Are you okay? You're not even listening."
She frowned at me as if I were the one who'd interrupted us.
I glared at her, annoyed that she still didn't get it.
"Can you leave now?"
I snapped.
"I'm tired."
Alex looked hurt by my outburst, but she stood up from my desk chair and headed toward the door.
"Okay. Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow."
She closed my bedroom door behind her, and I was finally alone in my room. I grabbed my phone off the bedside table and opened our chat with Sophie, wanting to text her and beg her to come back so we could talk.
But as I stared at the screen, trying to think of the right words to say, I couldn't come up with anything that sounded right.
I deleted draft after draft of texts, feeling frustrated with myself for not being able to say what I wanted to say.
I threw my phone down on the bed beside me and groaned in frustration.
Why couldn't I just tell her how I felt?
I stared out my window into the dark night beyond, watching as a few cars drove past on the street below.
The moon was full overhead, casting an eerie glow over everything.
As I watched, a figure hurried down the sidewalk across the street from my house—the blonde ponytail was unmistakable even from this distance.
Sophie was heading home.
I pushed off my bed and walked over to my window, watching as she hurried down the street toward her house a few blocks away. Her ponytail swayed behind her as she walked quickly, her hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket.
I opened the window, calling out into the night, "Sophie, wait!"
She stopped and turned, her face illuminated by the streetlight, hesitation clear in her eyes.
"Margo, I... I didn't mean to make things awkward," she said softly, her voice carrying across the quiet street.
"I need to know if you meant it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sophie gripped the windowsill tightly as she approached, her footsteps slow but deliberate on the concrete path to my front door.
The porch light clicked on automatically as she stopped at the bottom of the steps, illuminating her face in a circle of light.
She fidgeted with the strap of her backpack, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
I held my breath as I waited for her to respond.
Finally, she looked up at me again, and I could see uncertainty written across her face.
"Can I come back up?" she asked quietly, her voice barely carrying through the evening air.
Without waiting for my answer, she moved toward the front door.
I nodded, though she couldn't see it from where she stood.
"Of course," I called back, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I watched her climb the steps, I realized this was the moment I'd been waiting for.
When Sophie reached the top of the stairs, she stood in my doorway, her backpack clutched tightly to her chest.
Her hands trembled slightly as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
The house was impossibly quiet around us—the only sound the ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room downstairs.
Mom was working late at the office, and Jen was out with friends.
Even the ancient radiator in my bedroom had stopped rattling, as if it too were waiting for what would happen next.
Sophie took a few tentative steps into the hallway, her sneakers squeaking against the polished hardwood floor.
As she passed me, her shoulder brushed against mine, sending electricity through my body.
"Margo, I meant every word," she confessed, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.
"I just... I didn't know how you'd react, and I got scared."
I stepped closer, feeling a surge of courage, and whispered, "I'm glad you told me because I feel the same way."
Sophie's eyes widened, and she took another step closer, her backpack slipping from her shoulder.
It hit the floor with a thud, sending a small puff of dust into the air.
The impact must have triggered a hidden mechanism because a tiny pocket on the side of the backpack popped open, spilling its contents onto the floor.
A folded piece of paper slid across the polished wood, coming to rest at my feet.
Sophie lunged for it, but I was faster.
I snatched it up before she could reach it, holding it out of her grasp as I backed away down the hallway.
Sophie's face turned bright red as she reached for the letter.
"It's nothing," she said quickly.
"It's an old letter. I wrote it months ago."
She looked down at her backpack, then back at me.
"I forgot it was even in there."
I turned the folded paper over in my hand, studying it carefully.
My name was written across the top in Sophie's neat handwriting.
"Then why did you keep it?"
I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. Sophie shrugged, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.
"I don't know. Maybe I thought someday I'd be brave enough to give it to you."
She reached for the letter again, but I held it out of her reach.
"Please give it back," she said softly.
"It's private."
I hesitated for a moment, staring at the folded paper in my hand.
Part of me wanted to open it and read what Sophie had written inside—maybe there would be some clue about why she'd been so hesitant to admit her feelings to me.
But another part of me knew that would be wrong—to invade her privacy like that when she was clearly so uncomfortable with me having seen it in the first place.
Finally, I nodded and held out my hand.
"Sophie, if you want me to read it, I will," I said softly, offering the letter back to her.
She took it from my hand, her fingers brushing against mine, and whispered, "Maybe it's time you knew everything."
With a deep breath, she unfolded the paper, her eyes meeting mine with a mixture of fear and hope.
I watched as she opened the letter, the worn creases in the paper a testament to how often she'd folded and unfolded it over the past few months.
Sophie leaned against the wall of the hallway, her eyes never leaving mine as she waited for me to read the words she'd written.
The paper trembled slightly in my grip as I focused on her familiar handwriting.
The first line made my breath catch in my throat—"Dear Margo, I've been trying to find the right words to tell you how I feel."
My eyes moved down the page, taking in Sophie's confession.
She wrote about how she'd fallen for me during our movie nights and study sessions, how she couldn't stop thinking about me even when we were apart.
As I read the first letter, another folded piece of paper slipped from the unzipped pocket on Sophie's backpack and fluttered to the floor.
Sophie lunged for it, but I was faster.
I scooped it up before she could reach it, unfolding the paper to reveal a list of dates and times.
It appeared to be a detailed log of every interaction we'd had over the past few months—when I'd looked at her during class, when boys had talked to her in the hallway, and even when she'd caught me staring at her during our movie nights.
The final entry was a series of questions: "Does Margo look at me more than other girls?
Does she blush when I'm near?
Does she touch my arm when we're talking?
Does she want me too?"
Sophie's face went white as she realized what I was reading.
She took a step closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I had to be sure," she explained, her eyes pleading with me to understand.
"I couldn't risk ruining our friendship without knowing how you felt. I needed to be certain."
I clutched the paper in my hand, my heart pounding in my chest.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
Suddenly, Alex appeared around the corner, her eyes darting between Sophie and me and the paper in my hand.
"I've been watching you two dance around each other for months," she said, leaning against the wall.
Sophie tensed beside me, her fingers brushing against mine as she tried to take the list from my grasp.
Alex stepped forward, gently pushing Sophie's hand away.
"Let's all sit down and talk about this," she suggested, gesturing toward my room.
I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to share this intimate moment with anyone else.
But Sophie's grip on my wrist told me she needed the support.
"Fine," I agreed, nodding toward my room.
Sophie let out a shaky breath, her eyes flicking to Alex with a mix of gratitude and apprehension.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible as we made our way down the hallway together.
I settled cross-legged on my bed, Sophie perching nervously on the edge beside me.
Alex sprawled in my desk chair, her eyes fixed on us both with an unusual amount of patience.
The paper trembled in my grip as I smoothed out the creases, my gaze catching phrases like "smiled at me in Bio" and "touched my hand at lunch."
Sophie's breathing quickened when I cleared my throat to read.
The first entry was dated three months ago: "Margo stared at me during soccer practice. Missed two goals because I couldn't stop looking back."
Sophie shifted uncomfortably, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I didn't mean for you to see that," she admitted, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Alex leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. "It's time to be honest, both of you. What do you really want from each other?"
I gripped the list tighter, the words spilling from my lips as if they'd been bottled up inside me for far too long.
"I wanted to tell you for months," I confessed, my heart pounding in my chest.
"But I was afraid of losing our friendship. I didn't know what you'd say."
Sophie's eyes widened as she shifted closer on my bed, our knees now touching.
Alex leaned forward in the desk chair, her usual sarcasm momentarily replaced by a surprising quiet.
The list still clutched in my hands, I continued to pour out my thoughts, unfiltered and raw.
"I've wanted to kiss you since that first movie night," I admitted, the words tumbling from my lips like a dam finally breaking.
"But I couldn't risk ruining everything. You're my best friend, Sophie."
Sophie's fingers brushed against mine once more, sending electricity through me like a jolt.
"I wanted to tell you too," she whispered, her voice filled with longing.
"But I was afraid of what you'd say."
Just as Sophie began to open up further, the sound of Mom's car pulling into the driveway echoed outside my window.
Sophie glanced toward the window, her expression shifting to one of urgency.
"We don't have much time," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Alex nodded, her gaze steady on us. "Then make it count before you lose the moment."
I gripped Sophie's hand tighter, the warmth of her touch sending shivers down my spine.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder with each passing second.
Alex quickly grabbed the list from my lap and shoved it into Sophie's backpack, her eyes darting between us.
Sophie shifted slightly away from me, but her fingers remained intertwined with mine.
Mom's voice called out from the hallway, her tone cheerful and casual.
"Hey girls, what's up? Want to grab dinner tonight?"
I responded automatically, my gaze still locked on Sophie's.
The electricity of our touch crackled between us, but I fought to maintain a casual appearance.
As Mom's shadow appeared in the doorway, Sophie's hand trembled in mine.
Neither of us let go.
I squeezed her hand once more, then released it, watching as her fingers slipped away from mine.
Mom bustled into the room, her eyes flicking between us as she spoke.
"I was thinking we could order some food. What does everyone want?"
Sophie shifted farther away on my bed, her hands shaking slightly as she smoothed her skirt.
Alex jumped in, diverting Mom's attention with a suggestion of pizza and a debate over toppings.
I caught Sophie's eye across the space between us, and she gave me a tiny nod - a silent understanding passing between us.
As Mom headed back downstairs to place the order, Sophie gathered her things, whispering "text me" in my ear before pulling me into a hug goodbye.
I held her close for a moment, whispering back, "I will, I promise."
Alex watched us with a knowing smile, adding softly, "You two have a lot to figure out, but you're not alone in this."
Sophie pulled away, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of hope and uncertainty.
As she left, I sank down onto my bed, staring blankly at my phone in my hands.
The screen glowed softly in the dim light, tempting me to take the first step.
Alex gave me a reassuring nod before gathering her things and heading out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Through the window, I watched as Sophie walked away down the street, her silhouette growing smaller with each passing step.
I took a deep breath and opened our chat, my fingers hovering over the keyboard as I contemplated the words to type.
The old swing set at Wilson Park, where we first hung out freshman year.
Tomorrow after school?
I sent it off into the void, waiting anxiously for a response.
The three dots appeared almost instantly as Sophie began typing back.
"Wilson Park sounds perfect," her message read, followed by a heart emoji.
I felt a rush of relief and excitement, my heart racing as I typed back.
"Great, I'll bring snacks. See you there."
I stared at my screen, rereading her heart emoji over and over.
The sound of thunder rumbled outside, growing louder as the storm closed in.
Suddenly, heavy rain pounded against the window, the droplets pelting down in rapid succession.
I heard rapid footsteps on the front porch, followed by the creak of the door as it swung open.
Sophie burst into the house, soaked to the bone.
"Only made it to the corner," she gasped, wringing out her hair as she caught her breath.
Mom's voice called up from downstairs, offering to drive her home later.
But Sophie caught my eye, a look passing between us that spoke volumes.
I nodded slightly, and she followed me back to my room.
I handed her a towel, watching as she dried off and settled onto the floor in a cross-legged position.
The storm raged on outside, creating a private bubble around us. The rain pounded against the window like a drumbeat, its rhythm steady and relentless.
The air inside was charged with anticipation, thick with tension.
Sophie took a deep breath and turned to face me.
"I didn't just come back because of the rain," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I leaned forward, my heart pounding in sync with the storm. "What is it, Sophie?"
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine for reassurance. "There's something I need to tell you about the list."
I nodded, watching as she shifted closer on the floor.
Droplets of water fell from her hair onto the towel beneath her, creating a tiny puddle that slowly grew in size.
Sophie reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as I took her hand in mine.
Our palms pressed together on the soft carpet between us, creating a connection that felt almost electric.
The rain pounded on outside, its relentless rhythm echoing through the room.
But in this small space, surrounded by the storm, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.
Sophie's eyes never left mine as she gathered her courage to speak.
She squeezed my fingers tighter, her grip almost desperate.
Then, with a deep breath, she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a second piece of paper.
This one was worn and crumpled, its edges creased from being folded and refolded countless times.
"It's not just one list," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"There are two."
Sophie unfolded the paper in front of us, revealing a neatly printed list of observations about me. But this wasn't the same list she had shown us earlier - this one looked older, its ink faded slightly with time.
As I scanned down the page, I realized that it was handwritten - each line carefully crafted in Sophie's own script.
"This is your original list," I breathed, my eyes locked on hers.
Sophie nodded softly, her voice still barely audible over the pounding rain.
I leaned forward, reaching out to take the paper from her hands.
The list shook slightly as she hesitantly released it, our fingers brushing against each other during the exchange.
Outside, the rain continued to drum against the window, creating a rhythmic backdrop for this intimate moment.
I unfolded the paper carefully, smoothing out the creases that threatened to tear through.
As I did, Sophie's gaze never left mine - her eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
The handwriting on this list looked different from the one she had shown us earlier.
It was messier, more urgent - as if Sophie had been writing in a hurry, driven by a mix of emotions.
My eyes scanned down the page, taking in each line carefully.
The first item on the list read: "Margo defended me during soccer practice when the other girls were being mean."
I remembered that day vividly - it was one of the few times I had stood up for Sophie in front of our classmates.
As I continued to read, more memories flooded back.
There was the time I had shared my jacket with her on a particularly cold day, and the afternoons when I stayed late after school just to walk her home.
Each item on the list was a reminder of the ways in which we had connected, even when it felt like no one else understood us.
The paper shook slightly in my hands as I held it, the tremors echoing through my entire body.
Outside, thunder boomed loudly, causing Sophie to jump slightly in surprise.
But she didn't look away from me, her eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.
Sophie inched closer on the carpet, her knee brushing against mine as she leaned forward.
The touch sent shivers down my spine, and I struggled to find my voice.
"Why did you write this?"
I asked, my words barely audible over the pounding rain. Sophie took a shaky breath before answering.
Her fingers brushed against mine on the paper, leaving behind damp marks from her rain-soaked sleeves.
She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated for a moment.
"I wrote it because I needed you to know how much you mean to me."
I set the worn list down on my carpet, my hands still shaking from the weight of Sophie's words.
The rain continued to drum against the window, creating a relentless rhythm that echoed through every cell in my body.
As I turned to face her fully, our knees touched on the soft bedroom floor.
Sophie's hair was still damp from the storm outside, and a lone drop of water trailed slowly down her cheek.
Without thinking, I reached out and brushed it away with my thumb, sending a shiver down her spine.
Sophie's breath caught at my touch, her eyes locking with mine in a moment of pure vulnerability.
For what felt like an eternity, we sat there - our bodies inches apart, our hearts pounding in unison with the storm outside.
I stared at Sophie's rain-soaked face, the urge to escape this suffocating tension overwhelming me.
Without thinking, I stood up and tugged on her hand, leading her away from the scattered papers on my floor.
Sophie stumbled to her feet, confusion etched across her features.
The sound of rain against my window grew louder, almost calling to us.
My grip tightened around Sophie's fingers as an idea formed in my mind.
The warmth of her palm against mine gave me the courage to take a step forward.
"Let's run into the rain," I said, already moving toward my bedroom door.
Sophie hesitated, glancing back at the list before meeting my eyes with a mix of fear and excitement.
"Are you sure?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Sometimes you have to let the storm wash everything away."
Sophie's gaze lingered on mine for a moment before she nodded, her fingers tightening around mine.
Together, we tugged each other down the stairs, our footsteps echoing through the empty house as Mom worked in her home office.
At the front door, we paused - my hand reaching out to grasp the doorknob.
Sophie's fingers intertwined with mine, warm and slightly damp from her earlier soaking.
The porch light above us cast a golden glow against the darkened sky, illuminating Sophie's nervous expression.
Thunder boomed overhead once more, causing her to flinch slightly.
I squeezed her hand reassuringly before turning to face the door.
With a deep breath, I slowly opened it, allowing the cool mist of rain to envelop us.
The storm's chill enveloped us as soon as we stepped out onto the porch.
I pushed open the front door and pulled Sophie out with me, the rain immediately soaking through our thin t-shirts.
Sophie gasped at the sudden cold, but she didn't let go of my hand.
Instead, she gripped it tighter as we moved down the steps together.
The porch light above us caught the rain in golden streaks around us, making it look like we were standing in a halo of light.
Sophie slipped slightly on the wet concrete, but I caught her with both hands on her waist.
She looked up at me, and suddenly we were both grinning.
Without another word, we made a break for the open yard, our feet splashing through puddles forming in the grass.
As we reached the middle of the yard, Sophie laughed breathlessly, her voice barely audible over the rain.
"Why did you really want to come out here?" she asked, her eyes searching mine.
I hesitated for a moment before answering, "Because I wanted to feel alive again, with you."
Sophie's gaze softened, and she nodded.
I pulled her into a slow spin, watching as the raindrops cascaded down her face.
Our clothes were already soaked through, clinging to our skin as we moved.
The rain pounded against us, but we didn't care.
We spun and twirled in my front yard, laughing and stumbling together.
When Sophie stumbled against me again, her hands gripped my shoulders for balance.
But instead of letting go, she started swaying with me, pulling me into an impromptu dance.
The porch light illuminated her smile as we twirled through puddles of water, our feet splashing in sync.
Thunder boomed overhead once more, but we didn't stop dancing.
My hands stayed steady on her waist while she rested her head on my shoulder, laughing into my ear with every spin.
Finally, I pulled her down with me onto the wet grass, both of us dizzy from spinning in the rain.
She landed half on top of me, her soaked hair dripping onto my face as we caught our breath between giggles.
Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating Sophie's features above me - her wide smile, flushed cheeks, and sparkling eyes.
The grass beneath us was cold and muddy, but I didn't care.
Sophie rolled to lie beside me, our shoulders touching as we stared up at the dark clouds.
Our hands found each other once more in the wet grass, fingers intertwining naturally.
The rain continued to fall around us, soaking through my shirt and into the skin beneath.
Sophie's hand felt warm against mine, even as the mud squished up between our palms.
I turned my head to look at her, watching as she closed her eyes and tilted her face up toward the storm.
"Making a wish?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding rain.
Sophie nodded, her lips parting slightly as she concentrated on making her wish come true.
Lightning flashed overhead again, illuminating Sophie's profile against the dark sky.
Her closed eyes and parted lips looked almost reverent in that moment, like she was praying for something to happen.
The air was charged with electricity - not just from the storm, but from the tension buzzing between us.
I could feel it in every nerve ending, every place where our bodies touched.
Sophie squeezed my hand three times in a row, then released it.
It was an old signal from our childhood - three squeezes meant you'd made a wish and wanted it to come true. I squeezed her hand back three times, knowing exactly what I wished for as thunder boomed overhead once more.
Sophie opened her eyes, rolling onto her side to face me in the dim porch light.
The rain trickled down her cheeks as she watched my face, her hand still holding mine in the muddy grass.
The question hung between us like a challenge, the only sound the pounding of the rain overhead.
Thunder rumbled once more in the distance as Sophie rolled closer, our noses almost touching.
Her eyes flickered closed as she drew a shaky breath, her grip tightening around my muddy hand.
Then she opened her eyes, watching me carefully as she started to speak.
"Yes," she whispered, barely audible over the patter of the rain.
"But-"
Sophie's words were cut off by a loud clap of thunder, the sound vibrating through the air as it rolled overhead.
The storm was moving closer, but I didn't care.
I was too busy staring at Sophie, her face inches from mine in the dim porch light.
My heart pounded in my chest, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I watched her eyes.
She swallowed hard, her grip on my hand tightening once more.
Then she started to speak again - just as another flash of lightning illuminated the sky above us.
"I'm afraid," she whispered, her voice trembling as thunder rumbled overhead once more.
Her eyes locked on mine, filled with uncertainty.
I could feel her trembling against me - not just from the cold rain soaking through our clothes, but from the weight of what we were doing. Then she started to smile, her lips curving upward as the storm raged on around us.
But before she could say anything else, a car door slammed shut somewhere nearby, making Sophie jump in surprise.
She didn't release my hand, though - instead, she held on tighter as we both looked up toward the house.
Headlights swept across us, illuminating the rain-soaked grass and the muddy mess we'd made.
I squeezed Sophie's hand again, holding on tight as the car pulled into the driveway.
Neither of us moved to get up, though - not even when the car door slammed shut once more, or when footsteps started crunching through the wet grass toward us.
The only sound was the pounding of the rain overhead, and Sophie's fingers trembling against mine.
Then the porch light flickered on above us, casting a warm glow over our faces.
Sophie's eyes darted toward the house, her expression worried.
I shifted closer to her in the mud, my body shielding hers from the worst of the rain.
When she started to pull away, I held her hand firmly in mine.
"Don't," I whispered, my voice low and urgent.
"Don't go."
Sophie swallowed hard, her eyes locked on mine.
Then she nodded, her hand squeezing mine once more as footsteps crunched closer through the wet grass.
I shielded her with my body, my arms wrapping around her as the rain pounded down around us.
I could feel her shivering against me - not just from the cold, but from fear.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, the wet grass crunching beneath someone's feet.
Sophie's hand tightened around mine, her body pressing closer to mine.
She buried her face in my shoulder, hiding from whoever was approaching.
The porch light cast long shadows across the yard, illuminating the muddy mess we'd made in the wet grass.
Sophie's hair tickled my neck as she whispered against my collarbone. "Don't let go," she breathed, her voice trembling with fear.
I wondered who she was afraid of - or if it was something else entirely that scared her so much.
Whatever it was, I didn't want to let her go either.
My heart pounded in my chest as I held her close, the sound of footsteps growing closer with every passing moment.
I could feel Sophie's heart racing against my own, our chests touching as we huddled together in the mud.
I wanted to protect her from whatever scared her so much - not just from the storm raging overhead, but from everything else too.
I wanted to protect her from anything that might hurt her, and keep her safe forever.
But for now, all I could do was hold on tight and pray that whoever was approaching wouldn't tear us apart. The porch light flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow over the wet grass and our muddy faces.
Sophie's breath came in ragged gasps against my collarbone as she hid from whoever was coming toward us.
The sound of footsteps slowed as they approached the porch steps, then paused for a moment at the top.
Sophie's hand tightened around mine once more, her body trembling with fear against mine.
I could feel her heart pounding in time with mine - fast and frantic as we waited to see what would happen next.
Then a figure appeared at the top of the porch steps, their shadow stretching out behind them like a dark wing.
Sophie's grip on my hand loosened slightly as they started to make their way down the steps toward us.
I kept my arms wrapped protectively around her, though, shielding her from the figure as they descended into the muddy grass.
The porch light cast their shadow across the yard, making it impossible to see their face clearly.
Even when a flash of lightning illuminated the sky above us, I couldn't make out any features - just the dark shape of their head and shoulders as they came closer through the rain.
Sophie's fingers dug into my shoulder when the next flash of lightning struck, illuminating the figure once more.
I forced myself to sound confident when I called out into the darkness.
"Who's there?"
The figure paused on the bottom step, their shadow stretching out across the muddy grass.
"It's me," a familiar voice called back, cutting through the rain.
Sophie's breath hitched, and she whispered, "Dad?"
Her father stepped into the light, his face a mix of worry and relief.
I stayed frozen in the mud, my arms still wrapped protectively around Sophie.
Her father's business suit was getting soaked through in the rain, but he didn't seem to care as he hurried toward us across the wet grass.
When he reached us, he knelt down in the mud beside us, his hand reaching out to touch Sophie's face.
Sophie's fingers trembled against mine, and I wondered if she was going to let him pull her away from me.
But instead of taking her from me, Sophie's father wrapped his arms around both of us, sheltering us from the rain.
His cologne mixed with the scent of wet earth and rain as he held us close.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a gentle voice, his head ducking between ours to look at each of our faces.
"I'm sorry," Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible over the rain.
Her father shook his head, his expression softening.
"There's nothing to be sorry for, sweetheart," he said, pulling us both closer.
I stayed still in the mud, Sophie's hand still clutched in mine.
Her father's business suit was getting ruined in the rain, but he didn't seem to care as he wrapped his arms around us.
When he stood up, Sophie's grip on my hand loosened slightly, but it didn't break.
Her father helped us both up from the muddy ground, and I could feel the weight of his acceptance washing over us like the storm itself.
Sophie stumbled against me when we stood, and I steadied her with my free hand.
Her father noticed our joined hands, but he didn't say anything - just gestured toward the porch with a gentle smile.
We walked through the wet grass together, puddles splashing beneath our feet.
Sophie squeezed my fingers three times as we walked - our wish signal.
We had weathered the storm together, and now we were finally heading inside.
I led the way up the steps and through the front door, my muddy shoes squeaking on the tile.
Sophie followed behind me, her hand still clutched in mine.
Her father came last, water dripping from his suit onto the welcome mat.
Mom's voice called down from upstairs, "Is that you, Margo? What's going on?"
But none of us answered her.
We stayed frozen in the entryway, our joined hands a secret between us.
Sophie's wet clothes pressed against mine as we stood close together.
Neither of us wanted to be the one to break our handhold first.
Sophie's father cleared his throat to get our attention.
"I'm going to grab some towels," he said.
Sophie tightened her grip on my fingers and whispered, "Wait."
I stood still, my eyes locked on hers.
The rain pounded against the door behind us, but we didn't move.
Sophie's father watched us for a moment before turning to head upstairs.
His suit was soaked through, and his shoes squelched with each step.
I heard Jake's voice from the top of the stairs, "Dad? What's going on?"
Sophie's father didn't answer him, just kept climbing.
Jake appeared at the top of the stairs a moment later, a towel in each hand.
He leaned against the railing, looking down at us with a knowing smirk.
Sophie tensed beside me, her grip on my hand tightening.
Her father watched Jake from the top step, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Jake tossed one of the towels down to us, then the other.
They landed on the tile floor with soft thuds.
When he came down the stairs, his smirk was still plastered across his face.
He walked slowly, his eyes fixed on our joined fingers.
Sophie's father stepped out of his way as he descended, his expression wary.
Jake stopped on the bottom step, his towels clutched to his chest.
When he looked up at us, I tried to step between him and Sophie - to shield her from my brother's teasing gaze. But Jake had already seen our hands clasped together.
He grinned at me over Sophie's head, then winked at her father before turning back to me.
"So you two finally figured it out?" he asked in a teasing lilt.
I stood in the entryway, gripping Sophie's hand tightly.
The words hung in the air, and I knew Jake was waiting for my answer.
Water dripped from our clothes onto the tile floor, creating small puddles around our feet.
Sophie's father shifted his weight on the top step, his wet suit making squelching sounds as he moved.
Everyone waited for my response - Jake, Sophie's father, even Mom watching from the top of the stairs.
Sophie's fingers trembled in mine, but I held on tight.
I looked directly at Jake first, then at Sophie's father.
I took a deep breath and squeezed Sophie's hand three times before answering.
"Yes," I said firmly, wrapping my arm around her waist.
Sophie melted against my side, her head resting on my shoulder.
Jake's smirk fell from his face as he realized what he was seeing - that this wasn't some silly crush, but something real.
Sophie's father cleared his throat from the top of the stairs, drawing everyone's attention.
His suit was soaked through, and water dripped from his shoes onto the tile.
His gaze met mine for a moment before he looked at Jake.
"Can you grab some more towels?" he asked.
Jake nodded, turning to go back up the stairs.
But as he passed us, I squeezed Sophie's hand one more time before releasing it.