The angel he lost

Who is she?

Third POV 

"Sophia? Wait for me" - Ana Maria rushed after her friend, trying to catch up to her

"Oh... here you are" - she forced a smile, but continued walking at the same speed, not allowing Ana to catch a break. 

"Please... can we stop... just one minute" - she leaned her head towards a sidewall to support herself, taking deep short breaths, while her face paled. 

"Oh, come on... you look like you have been running a marathon...you use to be much more in shape" - Sophia rolled her eyes. 

"I am just tired... one moment, please" - Ana gestured to her friend to wait, as her breath begun to normalize 

"What happened to your face? Oh... don't tell me! Your father is a jerk" - Sophia rolled her eyes, feeling fed up by Ana Maria's situation, which was ongoing for so many years now.

"This time is different... he is forcing me to marry an old man ..." - Ana Maria felt the urgent need to confide to her friend for what was happening to her, but it look like she wasn't even paying attention to her words, Sophia was completely distracted and was ignoring her. "Are you even listening to me?" 

"Huh?" - she replied looking around, as she was waiting for someone else. 

"Sophia? Did I do or said something wrong? Because I feel like you have been avoiding me for a long time now, and I can't stand the thought of losing my best friend" 

"Don't be ridiculous Ana." - Sophia replied underneath her breath "Why would I avoid you? You are the one who is busy all the time, with your job and the church. That's all" 

"I feel so much distance lately... If I have done something to hurt you, I am sorry! You know I would never hurt you in purpose, you are like a sister to me, I love you so much" - her sweet voice trembled, as she looked at her friend profile with teary eyes, longing for a reaction, to let her know that nothing had changed between them. 

"People change Ana... Maybe is for the better, don't you think? We are supposed to change, is part of growing up" - Sophia couldn't look at Ana Maria in the eyes, but she felt a sharp pain in her heart, saying those words 

"What do you mean? What did I do?" - Ana Maria said shocked, feeling her heart sunk, as tears started falling from her beautiful green eyes, making Sophia feel guilty. 

"Nothing! You haven't done anything wrong, Ana. It's not about you"- Sophia sighed feeling frustrated 

"Then what is it about? I think I deserve to know, after so many years of our friendship... Is it because of the new group of girls you have been staying with lately? They are not your friends, Sophia" 

"This is not about them, Ana! This is about me! For once in my life, this is about me! I don't want to hear about your problems anymore, okay? I don't want to hear about your abusive family, because regardless of what I say, you continue to tolerate and enable their awful behavior. I don't want to hear about your stupid job, and I am so fed up with your preachings about God and morals... " - Sophia raised her voice, spilling out her hurtful words with anger and impatience, leaving Ana Maria stunt. 

"Sophia..." - she said underneath her breath, feeling her heart breaking into a thousand pieces 

"I am sorry, Ana... I just can't do this anymore... I don't want to wake up one day, being an old lady and still hanging out with you. I don't want to live miserably or be humbled, or to have such an impossible boring life, as you will. I know that there is more, much more in life than this. There is passion, beauty, adrenaline, talent, joy... not just duties, tasks, and church services.

"I have never pushed my views into you, I am the one who has encouraged your dreams, I always believed in your talent. Am I really such a burden to you?" 

"You are Ana, you are" - Sophia replied trying to hold back her tears while avoiding looking into her eyes "You were my comfort blanket for the longest time, but now... I want more than just your pity. I want true friends, I want to fall in love, travel, experience life, and follow my dreams. And I will not have that if I don't choose the people I surround myself with. I don't need someone who always tries to look so perfect and overshadow everyone else" - Sophia said, in a hard voice.

The silence and the shock between them were overwhelming,  something pure was broken at that moment. Not being able to bear it, Sophia run, leaving her friend behind. 

................................

Third POV 

"I can't believe you made come to this stupid town! I will forever hold a grudge, for this" - James said looking from the car window, as the bad memories were coming all back 

"This time it will be different. And if everything goes according to our plan, you'll be back to the capital in no time" - Liam replied looking around with a slight curiosity

"Nothing has changed though. Same buildings, same people" - James replied with a sad tone, even though he tried to brush it off

Suddenly the car braked at once, shaking violently both Liam and James, that was seated in the backseat. 

"What the f**k happened? " - Liam barked angrily at the driver

"Sir, a young woman came out in front of the car, out of nowhere" - the driver said panicked 

"Don't tell me you hit her, you imbecile" - Liam immediately got out of the car, rushing to the young woman that was lying down in the road, her hands and her knees were bleeding, and she was breathing hard feeling terrified, keeping her head down. 

"Are you okay, miss? Are you hurt? " - Liam asked, feeling compassion seeing her small elegant frame shaking, in front of him. He kneeled down, to get in her level to see if she was fine

"Miss? I think we must go to the hospital..." 

"No, no... I am fine... I am fine " - Ana Maria replied trying to catch her breath 

"Are you sure? You don't look good..." - Liam insisted, but as she raised her head to meet his eyes, suddenly he felt lost for words 

"Thank you, sir, but it's not necessary. I am fine" - Ana Maria said with a shaking voice, that even at that state sounded so sweet. Liam was lost in her dove green eyes, which reflected so a delicate rare beauty. Her long blonde hair fell softly over her shoulders, like a waterfall of light. Everything in her portrait was perfect, soft skin, full lips, and a delicate face, with the sweetness of a child.

The sudden silence and the overwhelming look of the man frightened Ana Maria, who didn't know how to react. She tried to get up, Liam instinctively gave her a helping hand, which she felt forced to accept. 

"I am sorry for what happened, sir! Thank you for your concern" - Ana Maria said, breaking the awkward silence, but he didn't let her hand go, holding it tight into his big palms, still staring at her like she was a miracle of nature.

"Sir... please let me go! You are scaring me!" - Ana Maria tried to pull her hand, feeling terrified by the reaction of the unknown man. He was way taller than her, and his massive muscular body made him look very intimidating. 

"Sir... please" - she repeated in panic, with tears in her eyes, looking around the deserted road, desperate to see a familiar face. 

"Calm down! I was just checking on you" - Liam suddenly came to his reasoning, after her reaction "Are you sure you are okay? You are bleeding" - he said pointing out her knees

"Yes, yes I am fine. Sorry, it was my fault! I didn't saw the car. I am sorry" - she repeated and turned her back rushing her steps, giving Liam a chance to admire her beautiful curves, from behind too. 

"Wait" - the deep commanding voice of Liam made her stop, feeling alerted 

"Yes?" - she turned her head around slowly, getting ready to run if it was necessary 

"What's your name?" - he asked 

"I... Ana Maria" - she replied, regretting immediately for telling a stranger her real name, cursing herself for not being able to even form a simple lie. 

"Do you live in this town?" - he asked again

"Yes... I mean no..." - she shook her head "I am sorry I have to go now" - Ana Maria rushed her steps, even though she was breathing hard. She was terrified of the idea that the man could have followed her but was too terrified to even look back and see.

"Who was that woman? " - James asked with a smirk, as Liam got back in the car 

"The most beautiful creature that I have ever seen" - he replied, still feeling overwhelmed by the effect Ana Maria had on him "I have to have her" - he added with determination

............................. 

Third POV 

"He likes you" - Adele said raising her brow, after noticing the way Sophia was looking at Alan 

"Who does?" - Sophia asked, immediately raising an act of defense to deny the obvious 

"Alan Baker likes you, Sophia. Just as much you like him" - Adele replied forcing a fake cheeky smile 

"He does?" - Christina asked shocked, looking at Adele with wide eyes 

"No, he does not! Alan has a major crush on Ana Maria, everybody knows that! You know that! Everybody in this town has a crush on her" - Sophia replied pretending to act careless, to hide the frustration and the jealousy she felt. 

"Alan told me himself" - Adele insisted "But if you think that there is no other girl that deserves attention in this town, but your precious saint Maria then you do you" 

"He really told you that?" - Sophia asked nervously, a ray of hope and excitement filled her heart 

"Yes! He did. I think that he was trying to get close to Ana Maria so that he could ask you out for a date! You know how boys are" - Adele forced another smile, sipping her cup of tea. 

"What? It can't be" - Sophia felt confused "If he had shown interest, Ana would have told me something. She knows how I feel..." - suddenly she stop, feeling like she had shared too much

"Well, he did come to me asking about you! And he told me that he tried before too, through your dear friend" 

"We are not friends anymore" - Sophia replied annoyed and angry "What else did he say? Tell me!" 

"Well, we couldn't talk much because Ana Maria interrupted our conversation yesterday, but he told me if I could help to set you both up for a date, and that he would like to get to know you more, because he thinks you are the smartest girl in this country, with the strongest personality too...So you and Ana Maria are no longer friends... Interesting" - Adele smiled genuinely this time, sipping from her cup, while her eyes were fixed in the changing facial expression of Sophia

"Why in the would Ana keep this hidden from me?" - Sophia asked underneath her breath, more like she was talking to herself. 

"Maybe Maria isn't the perfect saint that she pretends to be" - Adele replied 

"What do you mean?" - Christina asked feeling confused and lost by this conversation 

"Look at her" - Adele pointed out the window, as just at that moment Ana Maria was passing by at the on the large pedestrian walkway in the center of town, where all the main historic buildings were. Both girls turned their heads also, looking at Ana Maria walking holding a bag in her hand. She looked as beautiful as ever, full of grace, radiating sweet soft femininity. 

"What about her?" - Christina asked clueless "We all know she is gorgeous. She looks like an angel. I wish I could look like her" 

Adele rolled her eyes annoyed "Look at the way all the men are staring at her, damn it. Look at the men in the barbershop, they have stopped everything just to look at her walking by" - suddenly both of the girls became aware of what was happening around them

"If you ask me, she knows how much men lust after her and she loves it" 

"What do you mean? - Christina gasped 

"She is a w***e, just like her stepmother" - Adele replied "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"