Because Of Him

Chapter 1

"Grandma. Please don't leave, things won't be the same." Sophia's granddaughter sobbed. Looking at her grandmother on her deathbed was heart wrenching. "Angela, don't cry. I will always be here." Sophia pointed to Angela's heart and smiled. "Abuela, can you tell me one more story?" Angela asked. "What kind of story do you want to hear?" Sophia questioned. "Can you tell me about your senior year in highschool? I barely started and I already want it to end but at the same time I sorta don't." Angela looked down and smiled, Sophia rolled her eyes. "Why's that? Because of a boy?" Sophia smirked. She knew the feeling all too well. "Yes, but he's not just any boy- I mean he's smart, caring, empathetic, how do you know you're in love?" Angela asked randomly. Sophia snorted, "Believe me you'll know." Angela played with her fingers  "What was senior year like for you?" Angela asked, she was always so curious and Sophia liked that. 

"Well it had it's ups and downs. Some memories I will cherish forever, and some things I wish to forget. I met my first love that year." Sophia smiled wide and happily remembering him always made her heart flutter. "Grandpa must've been pretty cool back then." Angela nodded. "It wasn't your grandfather, no, it was someone even more special." Sophia looked at her granddaughter with so much love in her eyes, Angela could tell she was being honest. "So you loved that guy more than grandpa?" Angela asked. "He wasn't some guy, he was my everything. Your grandfather will always have a special place in my heart but Theo, he owns it." Angela's eyes widened. "So are you going to tell me about it?!" Angela squealed. 

"It was the first day of school and I walked into my first period classroom with my friend Daisy. I always hated English but when I saw him I thought maybe this class won’t be so bad." 

FLASHBACK

"Jesus Sophia at least try to look good on your first day." My mother sighed, the annoyance was clear in her tone. "What do you want me to wear? I think this outfit is cute." My mother scoffed in response. "Laura! Come down for breakfast!" My mother yelled. "I'm coming, I'm coming." My sister said as she ran down the stairs. "Wow Sophia you look nice. That crewneck and collar look cute. I keep seeing that outfit all over my insta." I look towards my mother with a smirk plastered on my face. "You see mom, this is in style." 

"Laura what the hell are you wearing?" My mom looked at my sister with disgust evident on her face. "Oh come on mom, this outfit is cute. You just don't understand fashion." My sister plopped herself on a chair and began playing with her food. "You know what I do understand, women who dress like that attract the wrong kind of attention. Men will-" Before my mom could finish her sentence I interrupted her. "Maybe men should learn to keep it in their pants." I laughed, earning a smile from my sister. "You girls are going to kill me. Why can't you be more like Lena." My smile faded quickly. Lena was our older sister, she was just like my mother if not crazier. Growing up we were always compared to her. I stopped talking and began to eat.

I heard a car horn outside and I stopped eating my french toast. "Bye guys, that's my ride." I got up and stopped when I heard my sister whine. "Why can't you take me with you guys?" She asked. "Because we are in highschool and you're an eighth grader." I grabbed my backpack and began walking out. "I hate you!" She screamed. My mom slapped her hand and told her to eat. I laughed and left. 

"Lookin' good!" Daisy whistled. "Thank you, you look amazing." I kissed her cheek. "What about us?" I turned around and looked at my two other best friends. Maple was dressed in a pink pastel dress with a cream cardigan. It matched her pale skin. Her long, straight black hair looked lustrous. "You look cute Maple." She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "What the f**k? What about me?" Maddy crossed her arms. She always looked good. "You look like shit." I answered. "Oh f**k off." She laughed. 

When we arrived we were immediately greeted by Wesley, he's been crushing on Maple for a few months now. "Hey!" He smiled showing off his perfectly straight white teeth. "Good morning." Maple smiled. Wesley seemed to be too entranced to notice his friends sneaking up behind him. "Morning Wes!" A boy yelled before he jumped on Wesley's back. Wesley fell to the ground along with his friend. We all laughed at them. Wesley got up and his face was red. He was clearly embarrassed. Wesley said goodbye and walked off with his friends "f**k you guys." He said as he ruffled his hair. "Maple, it's obvious the guy likes you." Daisy mentioned as we walked into the school. "Wesley? No way, he's a friend." Maple responded. "Don't miss your chance Maple! That boy is tall, hot, and sweet." Maddy said as she ate a protein bar. "No eating in the hallways Miss Hernandez." A teacher said as we walked past his classroom. Maddy rolled her eyes. "I'm almost done with it." She explained. "Kids here have allergies, you're putting them at risk." He said sternly. "Fine." Maddy threw her snack in the trash and we continued to walk. "You guys are so lucky you don't have to put up with that creep." Maddy complained. "You wouldn't be in his class if you actually tried in biology last year." Maple laughed. "First of all I got a B in the class last year. They're making me retake it because I missed too many days and lost the credit." Maddy snapped. Maple has a habit of putting other people down when it comes to academics. "Try harder then." Maple rolled her eyes. "I have to go you guys, I'll see you all at lunch." Maple turned left and headed to the math hall. "God sometimes she really gets on my nerves, I mean honestly I'm not a f*****g idiot." Maddy sighed. "Hey that's just how she is, sometimes in order for her to feel better about herself she has put someone down." Daisy explained. Sometimes I questioned why Daisy always defended Maple. I mean Maple was almost always in the wrong. "Yeah but why does it always have to be me? One day I'm gonna punch her in the face and then we'll see who's laughing." Maddy grabbed another granola bar out of her backpack and chewed on it aggressively. 

"Did you guys hear about the new guy?" Rachel smirked. Rachel was an old friend from middle school who ditched us when highschool came around. But every now then she talks to us. "What new guy? Is he hot ?" Maddy asked. "He is, I just saw him walk into a classroom. You best believe I'm gonna get him to ask me out by the end of the day." Rachel was always very confident. "Yeah and I'll tell him it's probably a good idea to cancel unless he wants to catch an STD." Maddy laughed. "f**k you, that's just a rumor." Rachel said before she walked away. "Damn Maddy! Did you have to say that?" I asked. "I said what I said, I meant what I said, and I said what I meant." Maddy shrugged. Daisy and I both shook our heads. "I have to go to Bio, I'll see you guys later." Maddy said before she turned around. 

"Do you think he's that cute?" I asked Daisy. "If Rachel says he is, then I believe her." Rachel does have very high standards. As we walked into Mrs. Hayes English class there was a circle of people surrounding someone. "Hey guys!" Amanda walked up to us. Amanda was a pretty cool person. "What's going on over there?" Daisy asked. "Some new kid apparently. Did you guys hear about the talent show though?" 

I kept looking at the group of kids. I wonder what he looks like. I felt a sharp pain on my side. Daisy elbowed me. "Huh?" I said. "The talent show, it's in a few months. Winner gets 1000 dollars." Amanda was definitely going to sign up. She has the voice of an angel. "Well that's cool. I don't think I'm gonna participate though. I don't really have a talent." I laughed. "Well you have a few months to figure it out." Amanda smiled before she walked back to her desk. A talent show? When I say I'm not talented I mean it. I can play the piano, but terribly. I can paint, but I'm not that good. I'm basically mediocre at everything I do. What am I good at? 

Before I could think anything else the teacher walked in. She was very beautiful. "Good morning. Welcome to English" She smiled wide. "I'm Mrs. Hayes, I made a slide show of some things about me. Just so you guys can get to know me a little better." She went through her slides happily. She seemed to live a pretty normal life. She travels, is married, and has a little boy. "I want to get to know you guys a little better as well. So if you could introduce yourselves and say a few things about yourself that would be great. Let's start with you since you're in the first chair." f**k my life. She pointed at me. Daisy laughed behind me. 

"Hi my name is Sophia, I'm 17, most of you guys already know me so." I sat back down and waited for the teacher to call on someone else, only she never did. "I don't know you very well." She smiled. I don't want to be characterized as "that one student who never listens" so I'll do what she says. "My name is Sophia Perez, I am 17 years old, I like rollerblading at Macaw Park, I also enjoy spending time with my dog Billy, I usually hang out with friends after school, and my favorite movie is Happy Feet." I smiled at Mrs. Hayes and sat down. "Nice job." Daisy snorted. "Shut up." I laughed as I shook my head. We went down the rows of desks and then a boy started talking. I didn't recognize his voice so I turned to look at him and I swear my jaw dropped. He was wow. "Hi everyone my name is Theo. I just moved here from Florida. Um yeah I like to skate, I play baseball, and my favorite movie is Super Bad." Daisy tapped my shoulder. "Please tell me he's real." She whispered. "Oh yeah, he's real." I answered. His hair was curly and dirty blonde. He had golden skin and the greenest eyes I've ever seen. I felt someone smack me upside the head. "You're drooling." Daisy whispered. "I am not." I scoffed. I definitely am, but so is everyone else. When class ended and he stood up, a ton of people crowded around him. "Now that is unfair." Daisy shook her head. "What is?" I asked. "He just got here and already has a s**t ton of clout, meanwhile I've been here three years and-"

"Maybe it's cause you're just not that likeable." I said jokingly. "Oh shut the f**k up." Daisy and I walked out laughing at each other like idiots. "Sophia, I saw the way you were looking at Theo earlier." Daisy smiled smugly. "I wasn't looking at him in any way, and besides if I was interested in him, he'd never go for a girl like me." I looked at my shoes as we walked to the common area to meet up with Maddy and Maple. What was I doing fantasizing about him? I have no chance. As we stood there waiting for our friends Theo and his new gang walked by, and I swear we locked eyes. It was as if everything was in slow motion. His perfect pink lips stretched into a smile. I felt my heart skip a beat. Did he smile at me? And just like that the moment ended. "That's the new guy? Now I know why Rachel wants to get her boney fingers on him." Maddy snickered. "Now he is definitely my type." Maple giggled. "Don't wet yourself Maple, Sophia already called dibs." Maddy remarked as she waved her granola bar in Maple's face. "Shut up Maddy. Did you though Sophia?" Maple questioned, her voice sounded kind of disappointed. "Um no-" before I could finish my sentence I was interrupted by Daisy. "Theo was looking at Sophia the entire time in English, so before you anything stupid I suggest you keep that in mind Maple." 

The bell was about to ring and we all went our separate ways. I couldn't stop thinking about what Daisy said earlier. Was he really looking at me? 

Lunch finally came around. "What are you gonna get?" Maddy asked me. "The chicken burrito. You?" 

"I'll get the same thing." She shrugged. 

As we were walking in line I went to grab my milk. All of a sudden I felt someone run into me and then I felt myself falling. As I hit the floor I groaned in pain. "Sophia!" Maddy yelled as she ran to me. "Why don't you watch where you're going asshole." Maddy sneered. "I-I'm so sorry let me buy you a new lunch." I recognized the voice and my eyes went wide. s**t. It was Theo. Maddy and him helped me up. I felt a tingle run up my arm as he helped me. "It's fine." I picked up my tray and the food that fell and threw it away. 

"No it's not let me buy something to eat." I was about to say no but Maddy kicked me. "She would like that very much." Maddy answered for me. I looked at her with a panicked expression. 'it's okay.' she mouthed.

"Thank you." I smiled as we were walking to find our seats. "No problem. I'm really sorry for running into you." He apologized again. "It's fine really." I laughed. He pressed his lips together and waved goodbye. 

"Of course he's popular." Maple said as she played with her salad. "I mean look at him. It wouldn't make sense if he weren't." Maddy responded. I nodded my head in agreement. "Where's Daisy?" I asked,

"Probably playing hooky with her boyfriend." Maddy answered before she took a bite out of her burrito. 

"That's still going on? I thought she broke up with him." 

"Well she says she loves him." Maple shrugged. Why would Daisy still want to be with someone like him. He is mean and cold. "That is not love Maple, god don't be such a f*****g i***t. She's obviously infatuated."

Maple looked at Maddy angrily. Maple, if you can't take the heat, stay out of the f*****g kitchen.

"It's true though I mean why be with someone who hurts you." I said as I scanned the room. I didn't know what I was looking for. Or maybe I did.. "Because love makes you do stupid things." Maple suggested.

"Sometimes you can be really smart Maple but other times you really are a f*****g clown. What they have isn't love you dumb f**k, she's in an emotionally abusive relationship and she can't even see it because she's blinded by his kindness after he f***s up. I mean he could literally run her over and then make her feel like it was her fault. That's not a relationship. He owns her." Maddy looked sad as she said that last sentence. "Please, not everyone is like your dad Maddy." Maddy looked at Maple with horror in her eyes. 

"You're f****d up for that." Maddy threw her granola bar at Maple and stormed off. "I can't believe you said that." I looked at maple and made sure she could see the disgust written on my face. "I'm so sorry." Maple's eyes began to water. "Why the f**k are you crying? Don't apologize to me. Say that to Maddy. Seriously there's something wrong with you." I walked off and tried to find Maddy. We don't ever talk about Maddy's father and that's because it's traumatizing for Maddy. Even hearing his name makes her want to vomit. She's f****d up, how could she say that? I was so in my head I didn't even watch where I was going and then I ran into someone. "Sorry." I gave the person a small smile. "Are we always going to meet like this?" I looked up and saw Theo. Jesus. He's even more beautiful up close. I laughed in response. "Sorry." I said again before I walked away. My heart was pounding. 

I went into the girls bathroom and heard sniffling. "Maddy?" I asked. No answer. "Maddy." I said a little louder. A stall door opened and I walked into it. "Hey, it's okay. It's going to be alright." I said as I sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug. "No, how could she say that?" She cried. "Sometimes people let words out without even thinking if they're going to hurt the person they are talking to. But I'm not excusing Maple's behavior, she's been acting rude all day." I said as I patted Maddy's head. I hope Maddy forgets all this one day. She's such a kind soul. She deserves all the good things in life.

School ended pretty slowly that day. Maple avoided us like the plague. As she should. I guarantee that if she came within 5 feet of us Maddy would've socked her in the face. 

As we walked to the car we explained what happened to Daisy. "She said that?!" She said as threw her backpack in the trunk. "God, what is wrong with her. Maddy I'm so sorry you had to put up with that." 

"I'm better now." Maddy gave her a small smile. Daisy nodded and engulfed Maddy into a hug. "First days always suck." Daisy chuckled. "Yeah." Maddy scoffed. "Oh! I almost forgot Andrew is throwing a party tonight. You guys in?" Daisy asked. I looked at Maddy and she nodded at me. "We're in." I smiled.

The first day of school is finally over. I can't wait until summer vacation.