Second chance

Chapter7

Chapter 7: Library at 4 PM

Sofia stood outside the library and couldn't make her feet move.

Rain clung to her eyelashes. Her backpack felt too heavy. 3:58 PM glowed on her phone screen, and under it, Liam's message burned:

_3rd floor. Back corner. Come alone._

She wanted to turn around. She wanted to run to Aria's dorm, crawl into her bed, and let Aria braid her hair while they watched something stupid and pretend none of this was real.

But her phone buzzed again. Not Liam. Him.

Unknown: Don't be late.

Sofia's fingers went numb. She pushed the door open.

The third floor smelled like old paper and dust. Her shoes squeaked on the wood. Liam was already there, hidden behind the tallest stacks, his camera sitting on the table in front of him like he didn't know what to do with his hands without it.

He looked up. God, he looked terrible. His eyes were red. His hair was a mess, like he'd been pulling at it.

"You came," he said quietly.

Sofia dropped into the chair across from him. "Did I have a choice?"

"No." He gave a hollow laugh. "We never do."

He slid a folded print across the table. Sofia opened it with shaking hands.

It was Aria. Yesterday in the student center, mid-laugh, a can of beans in her hand, light in her eyes. It was so alive it hurt to look at.

"Why do you have this?" Sofia whispered.

"Because I'm an i***t," Liam said. His voice cracked. "I printed it last night and I just... I kept staring at it. She asked me about Hana, Sofia. She remembered my sister's name. She said, 'That must be hard, being far from her.' Like she actually cared."

Sofia's throat tightened. "She does care. That's the problem. She cares about everyone."

"I know." Liam pressed his palms into his eyes. "Victor told me she would be cold. Spoiled. Easy to fool. She's not. She's... she's warm. She's so f*****g warm it burns."

"Don't," Sofia said sharply. "Don't fall for her."

Liam laughed, wet and broken. "You think I want this? You think I want to be the guy who—" He stopped, breathing hard. "Victor has Hana in that private school. If I mess up, he pulls her out. He'll put her somewhere... I don't even want to think about it."

Sofia felt tears spill before she could stop them. "My mom calls me every Sunday. She says, 'My brilliant girl.' She doesn't know I sold myself to keep her alive."

They looked at each other, two liars, two kids drowning.

"Victor wants the house," Liam whispered. "Layouts. Schedules. When Leonardo is vulnerable."

Sofia shook her head violently. "No. I can't. I won't."

"You already gave him pieces," Liam said, not unkindly. "The Sunday dinners. The balcony. He pieces it together."

Sofia covered her mouth. "Oh god."

"Hey." Liam reached across, then stopped himself. "We can slow it down. Give him scraps. Nothing that can hurt them. We buy time."

"Time for what?" Sofia cried, her voice too loud in the quiet library. She lowered it. "He'll never let us go."

"Then we find a way to make him," Liam said fiercely. "I can't do this, Sofia. I can't be the reason she stops smiling like that."

He tapped the photo.

Sofia stared at Aria's laughing face and felt something rip inside her.

"She talked about you for an hour last night," Sofia whispered. "She's never like this. She said you see her. The real her, not Castellano."

Liam closed his eyes like he was in pain. "Please stop."

"She deserves real," Sofia said, tears falling faster now. "Not us. Not this fake—"

"I know!" Liam stood so fast his chair screeched. He paced between the shelves, hands in his hair. "Don't you think I know that? That's why I wanted to see you. Promise me... if Victor tells me to hurt her, you'll stop me. Even if you have to... even if it ruins you."

Sofia stood too. "Liam—"

"Promise me!"

"Okay!" she gasped. "I promise. I promise."

He sank back into his chair, shaking.

Her phone lit up. Aria's name. Sofia's heart lurched.

Aria: SOS!!! EMERGENCY!!!

Sofia fumbled: What?? Are you okay??

Aria: Liam texted!!! He wants to do a solo shoot TOMORROW!! Just me!! At the park at 5!! Is this a date?? THIS FEELS LIKE A DATE!!!

Sofia showed Liam. He went white.

"It's starting," he whispered. "Victor told me to ask her today."

Sofia grabbed her bag. "I have to go. She needs me."

"Sofia—" Liam's voice was desperate. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too," she whispered, and ran.

---

Aria's room looked like a clothing bomb exploded.

"Sofi! Finally!" Aria was in her bra and shorts, holding up two sweaters, her face flushed. "Okay, be honest. Blue makes my eyes pop but green is more artsy, right? For a photo shoot? Oh my god, why did I say yes? I don't know how to pose!"

Sofia closed the door and leaned against it, trying to breathe.

Aria stopped, really looked at her. "Hey. Hey, what's wrong? You look like you're going to cry."

Sofia crossed the room and sat on the bed. "Come here."

Aria sat beside her, suddenly quiet. "Did something happen?"

Sofia took her hands. They were ice cold.

"You are my favorite person in the entire world," Sofia said, her voice shaking. "Do you know that?"

Aria's eyes softened. "Sofi..."

"No, listen." Sofia squeezed harder. "You're not just nice. You're... you're brave with your heart. You love so easily. And I'm terrified someone's going to... not be careful with it."

Aria stared at her for a long moment. Then she threw her arms around Sofia's neck and hugged her so tight Sofia couldn't breathe.

"Is this about Liam?" Aria whispered into her hair. "Are you scared he's going to hurt me?"

Sofia nodded against her shoulder, unable to speak.

Aria pulled back, her eyes shining. "Thank you for loving me like that. But Sofi... can I tell you something?"

"Anything."

"When he looked at me yesterday," Aria said slowly, "I didn't feel like Aria Castellano. You know how guys at parties look at me? Like I'm a trophy or a connection? He didn't. He looked at me like... like I was interesting. He asked about Mom's charity work. He listened. Really listened."

Her voice dropped. "I've never had a boy listen to me like that. Except... you listen. You always listen."

Sofia's tears fell onto their joined hands.

"Aria, please," she whispered. "Just... don't go too fast. Keep some of yourself back, okay? For me?"

Aria wiped Sofia's cheek with her thumb. "Why are you crying, silly?"

"Because you're happy," Sofia lied. "And I'm scared happy doesn't last."

Aria smiled, that bright, fearless smile that made Sofia want to shield her from the world.

"Happy lasts when you have someone to hold it with," Aria said. "That's you. You're my holder."

She flopped back on the bed, pulling Sofia with her. They stared at the ceiling, surrounded by discarded clothes.

"He said to wear something that feels like me," Aria murmured, dreamy. "What feels like me?"

"You," Sofia said. "Just you."

Aria turned her head, her eyes sparkling. "Will you come with me tomorrow? Not to the shoot, but... wait nearby? In case I get awkward?"

Sofia's chest ached. "Of course. I'll always be nearby."

"Promise?"

"Star sisters promise," Sofia whispered, holding up her bracelet.

Aria clinked hers against it. "Star sisters."

Aria fell asleep ten minutes later, still in her clothes, her head on Sofia's lap, mumbling about camera angles.

Sofia sat there in the mess of sweaters and hope, stroking Aria's hair, listening to her breathe.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She finally looked.

Unknown: Report tomorrow's location. Good girl.

Sofia stared at the words until they blurred.

She looked down at Aria, peaceful and trusting, and pressed her forehead to hers.

"I'm sorry," she breathed into the quiet. "I'm so, so sorry."

Aria smiled in her sleep and whispered, "Love you, Sofi."

Sofia didn't sleep at all that night.