Chapter 16
935 Words
SOPHIE
Jake's house is already packed when we arrive.
Music pulses through the walls, and I can see bodies moving through the windows—dancing, laughing, living their normal teenage lives.
River parks down the street and turns to me. "You ready?"
I'm not. But I nod anyway.
"Remember," he says, squeezing my hand. "You belong here just as much as anyone else."
I want to believe him. I really do.
We walk up to the house together, and the moment we step inside, I'm hit with the smell of cheap beer and too much cologne. The living room is crowded with people I recognize from school—popular kids, athletes, the kind of people who've never noticed me before.
Or worse, the kind who have.
"Want a drink?" River asks, leaning close so I can hear him over the music.
"Sure," I say, even though my stomach is already twisting.
He disappears into the kitchen, and I'm left standing alone in the middle of Jake's living room, trying not to look as out of place as I feel.
I spot Chloe across the room, laughing with a group of her friends. She's wearing a crop top and high-waisted jeans, looking effortlessly perfect like she always does. She doesn't see me. Or maybe she does and just doesn't care.
I'm about to follow River into the kitchen when I hear it.
"Holy s**t, is that Sophie?"
My blood goes cold.
I turn slowly and see Tyler standing near the stairs with Marcus and two other guys from the football team. They're all staring at me.
And then I see Nathan.
He's leaning against the wall behind them, red cup in hand, watching me with an expression I can't read.
"Damn, Sophie," Marcus says, walking toward me. "Look at you. New clothes and everything."
"Trying to impress someone?" Tyler adds, grinning. "Because I gotta say, it's working."
My face burns. "I'm just—"
"Just what?" Marcus interrupts. "Finally decided to stop hiding? About time."
"Yeah," one of the other guys says. "I mean, you actually look decent now. Like, if you lost maybe fifty pounds, you'd actually be hot."
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach.
I can't breathe.
I look at Nathan, waiting for him to say something. Anything.
But he just stands there. Silent. Watching.
Not joining in. But not stopping it either.
And somehow, that's worse.
"Come on, Sophie," Tyler says, stepping closer. "Don't be shy. You came to a party. That's new for you, right? First time?"
"Leave me alone," I hear myself say, but my voice is too quiet. Too weak.
"What was that?" Marcus leans in, cupping his ear. "Couldn't hear you."
"I said leave me alone."
But they're not listening. They're laughing now, and more people are starting to notice. Starting to watch.
I feel the walls closing in. The music is too loud. The room is too hot. Everyone is staring.
And Nathan is still just standing there.
Silent.
I can't do this.
I turn and push through the crowd, ignoring River calling my name from the kitchen. I just need to get out. I need air. I need to disappear.
I burst through the front door and stumble down the porch steps, gasping for breath.
Stupid. This was so stupid.
I should have stayed home. I should have known better than to think I could just show up and be normal. That I could exist in their world without being torn apart.
"Sophie!"
I freeze.
That's not River's voice.
I turn and see Chloe standing in the doorway, her face flushed with anger.
"Chloe, I'm fine—"
"No, you're not," she snaps. "And those guys are assholes."
I blink at her, confused. "What?"
She walks down the steps toward me, and for the first time in years, she actually looks at me. Really looks at me.
"I saw what they did," she says. "I heard what they said."
"It's fine," I say quickly, wiping at my eyes. "I'm used to it."
"Well, you shouldn't be." Her voice is sharp, angrier than I've ever heard it. "And I shouldn't have let it happen for this long."
I stare at her, not sure what to say.
Chloe glances back at the house, then looks at me again. "I'm sorry, Sophie. I should have said something a long time ago."
"You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do." She crosses her arms. "You're my sister. And I've been a shitty one."
Before I can respond, the front door opens again, and Nathan steps out.
He stops when he sees us, his expression unreadable.
Chloe turns on him immediately. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Nathan blinks. "What?"
"You just stood there," Chloe says, her voice rising. "You didn't say a word while your friends tore her apart."
"I didn't—"
"You didn't do anything," Chloe interrupts. "Which is just as bad."
Nathan's jaw tightens. He looks at me, and for a moment, I think he's going to apologize.
But he doesn't.
He just stands there. Again.
"Unbelievable," Chloe mutters. She turns back to me. "Come on. I'll drive you home."
"You don't have to—"
"Sophie." Her voice softens. "Let me do this. Please."
I nod, too exhausted to argue.
As we walk toward her car, I glance back at Nathan one last time.
He's still standing on the porch, watching us leave.
And I realize something that hurts more than anything his friends said tonight:
He knows what he did was wrong.
He just doesn't care enough to fix it.
- Writer
