Second chance

Chapter2

Chapter 2: College Is Better With You

The lecture hall smelled like old coffee and dry-erase markers.

Aria Castellano slid into her seat in the front row, 19 and bright-eyed at 8 AM like a psychopath. Sofia Marchetti dropped into the seat next to her, half-asleep, hoodie up, notebook already open.

"You look dead," Aria whispered.

"I am dead," Sofia muttered. "I worked till 2 AM."

Aria frowned. She hated that Sofia still insisted on shifts at the diner. "You don't have to—"

"I want to," Sofia cut in, too fast. Pride was the only thing she had that Aria couldn't buy for her.

Professor Han started talking about market structures. Within ten minutes, Sofia was awake, pen flying. This was her territory. Numbers made sense. Numbers didn't smile at you and get everything for free.

Aria leaned over, stuck on problem three. Sofia glanced, solved it in her head, whispered the steps. Aria's face lit up.

That smile again. Genuine. Grateful. Not embarrassed to not know.

Sofia felt that familiar twist in her stomach. Most rich kids would have cheated or paid someone. Aria just asked her best friend for help and said thank you like Sofia had given her gold.

After class, they walked across the quad. October air, leaves crunching. Aria was talking about joining the charity club.

"They do weekend food drives. You'd be amazing at organizing it. Please come with me?"

Sofia was about to say no. She had a shift. She was tired.

Then Maya Chen from their dorm waved. "Aria! Oh my god, are you doing the food drive? I'll sign up if you are!"

Within minutes, a small crowd formed. Aria laughed, pulling Sofia forward. "This is my best friend Sofia, she's a genius, she'll run the whole thing better than me."

Everyone turned to Sofia. Smiling. Impressed.

Sofia felt her face heat. This was Aria's magic. She didn't mean to share the spotlight. She just did, naturally, like breathing. She made people look at Sofia and see someone worthy.

And Sofia hated how much she needed it.

Lunch was in the crowded cafeteria. Aria insisted on paying, as always. Sofia insisted on the cheap salad, as always. Aria rolled her eyes and added chicken and avocado anyway.

"You're going to waste away," Aria said.

"You're going to spoil me," Sofia said.

"Too late."

They sat by the window. Aria talked about her parents. How her dad was teaching her to read shipping contracts. How her mom wanted them both to come home for Sunday dinner.

Sofia listened, picking at her food. Her inner voice was loud today.

She gets Sunday dinners. I get a phone call from my mom asking if I sent money yet. She gets a dad who teaches her contracts. I get memories of my dad leaving when I was eight because we were too much to carry.

Aria suddenly went quiet. "Sofi. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just tired."

Aria didn't believe her. She never did. She reached across the table and squeezed Sofia's hand. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Sofia looked at their hands. Aria's nails were clean, simple. No fake. No pretense.

I could tell you I resent you, Sofia thought. I could tell you that every time you're kind to me, it reminds me I'll never be you. That your pure heart makes me feel dirty for even thinking these things.

Instead she smiled. "I know."

That afternoon, in economics seminar, Professor Han put a brutal case study on the board. Silence. Then Sofia's hand shot up. She walked through it perfectly, calm and sharp.

The class clapped a little. Professor Han nodded. "Excellent, Ms. Marchetti."

Aria beamed like she'd done it herself. She grabbed Sofia's arm after and practically shouted, "That's my sister! Did you see her? She's going to be a CEO!"

People laughed. A guy turned and asked Sofia for her notes. A girl asked if she tutored.

For one hour, Sofia wasn't the scholarship charity case. She was brilliant. Seen.

And it was because Aria had yelled it to the world without a second thought.

Walking back to the dorm, Sofia was quiet.

"Are you mad I embarrassed you?" Aria asked, worried.

"No," Sofia said honestly. "Thank you."

Aria bumped her shoulder. "Always."

Sofia looked at her best friend, laughing in the autumn sun, completely unaware of the storm in Sofia's chest.

You don't even know what you do, Sofia thought. You lift me up and you don't even realize I'm drowning next to you. Your smile is real. Your heart is real. And it makes me hate how fake I feel inside.

That night, Sofia lay awake in Aria's dorm room. Aria had insisted she stay over because it was raining. Aria was asleep in the other bed, breathing soft.

Sofia stared at the ceiling.

One day, she thought, I won't have to be grateful. One day, people will clap for me because I'm me, not because Aria told them to.

Her phone lit up under her pillow. Unknown number.

Soon.

Sofia turned the phone face down and closed her eyes.