155"Things which you do not hope happen more frequently than things which you do hope."-Titus Maccius Plautus
Chapter 1
Sophie Miller sighed and glanced over at her best friend and roommate as they rode the bus, "Aren't you ever afraid of someone spilling something on your portfolio?"
Jimmy Daniel glanced around the crowded bus and moved his black leather portfolio filled with his many sketches closer to his chest, "What other options do I have? I'm a twenty one year old that doesn't have a car; a terrible job and you're a fifteen year old. What do you think we should do?"
She rolled her eyes elbowing him in the ribs with a smirk, "Fine. Whatever. See if I care when someone spills coffee on your pieces." He grunted and elbowed her back harder, catching her unawares making her hit her head on the bus' window. "Ow. Jerk." She elbowed him back and he grinned.
"Do you really want to start this now?" He asked knowing that if they started bickering and slapping each other, they'd never stop until one of them genuinely got mad.
"Whatever." She sighed and glanced ahead, her eyes settling the two men sitting in the seats in front of them. She studied the back of their heads, noting their stupid short hair and nudged Jimmy, nodding to the men questioningly.
He glanced at them and back at her, mouthing, "military."
"Ah." She quietly said, turning back to study them once more.
Jimmy rolled his eyes, "You're so weird." He muttered and glanced past her to the window to see where they were, "Want me to come pick you up later?"
She grinned and turned to him, "Do you mean, take the bus and meet me?" He smiled, "Nah, its okay."
Jimmy nodded and stood up; cradling his portfolio to his chest, "See you back at home then."
She waved and turned back to the window to stare as the city pulsed by her, "He's too old for you, you know." She heard a voice in front of her comment, breaking into her thoughts.
Sophie turned and found herself staring into lusciously dark forest green eyes that bordered on hazel. It was one of the army men sitting in front of her, she thought curiously. He had turned around in his seat to stare at her, his companion still staring ahead.
"Do I know you?" She asked rudely. She was a fifteen year old on a busy bus in the morning in the fourth biggest cities in the country. She was young but she wasn't stupid. And why did he think he could comment on her business?
He shook his head, staring intently at her, "No."
She forced herself not to fidget in her chair when he continued to stare at her, "Then don't talk to me like you know me."
If Jimmy were here, she'd feel protected and would try to be polite. He always told her she was too rough around the edges. But her life hadn't been pleasant so far and she figured, the less she could go around bull shitting, the better things would be.
He quirked a brow and snorted, his companion moving his head slightly towards her as though he was now suddenly interested in eavesdropping in their conversation, "I'm just saying. You're fifteen, right?"
She made a disgusted noise, "Didn't your mom ever tell you to never listen to other people's conversations?"
"Yeah but our dads also taught us to take care of the weak." He retorted, a grin firmly in place and despite her trying to ward him off because she hated talking to strangers, especially on bus, she couldn't help but feel slightly disarmed when she saw the dimple in his left cheek. "Didn't your mom ever tell you to be nice to strangers?"
Sophie made a noise and turned back to stare unblinkingly out the window, suddenly losing interest in their verbal sparring. Knowing her stop was coming up, she pulled the string and stood up, suddenly feeling like the wonderful morning had been ruined by his jab about her mother. She pushed away the guilt and went to the door, waving slightly to the bus driver as she stepped from the bus.
"I'm sorry!"
She stopped walking and turned on her heels, her heart beating furiously in her chest, seeing the stranger from the bus with his companion standing on the sidewalk three metres behind her.
She glanced at his companion and swallowed warily. The annoying dimpled stranger had rich dirty blond hair but his companion's hair was a chestnut so dark it almost looked black and sadly, both of their haircuts were cropped short to their heads. She didn't look him in the eyes because the way he was standing, feet apart and arms crossed, it took every ounce of her will not to run screaming from them. "Are you following me?" She asked angrily, almost shouting.
He shrugged and said something to his scowling friend who only scowled deeper in response, "Maybe."
"Leave me alone." She snapped and forced herself to walk away from them. She should have talked Jimmy into coming with her but after telling him since the day she moved in that she was capable of taking care of herself, she knew she couldn't.
She began walking towards the large glass building, her ears straining to see if they were following her. Hearing nothing, she glanced at her shoulder and saw them both quietly walking after her, Mr. Scary scowling and Mr. Dimples smiling.
Picking up her pace, she heard a shuffle and knew that it had been on purpose. She'd seen their sizes and the way they moved, they really were army men. "Where are you going?" Mr. Dimples called back.
"None of your business." She snapped over her shoulder. Sophie never noticed before just how far the glass building was from the bus stop.
"That's no way to talk to your escort!" He retorted.
Finally making it to the glass building, she pulled the door open and turned to them, making sure to scowl at Mr. Scary as well. Though it was difficult when she noticed that his eyes were sky blue tinged with grey, "Leave. Me. Alone. I don't want any trouble from you both. Just let me be. Please." She stepped into the safe haven and walked to the elevator, sighing when she stepped into it and found them still outside.
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"Well, Ms. Miller, as usual, you are doing a stellar job!" Mrs. Ackermann said, going through Sophie's many modules of schoolwork.
She forced a smile, "Well, that's all part of the deal. Mom said all I had to do was finish all of the modules as fast as I could so I can finish high school at home."
Mrs. Ackermann nodded, her face tinged with sympathy, "It's so nice of you to take care of your mom in her time of need. And still doing schoolwork at a cheetah pace too!" She smiled warmly at the young girl, "If you keep this up, you'll be finished high school before you're seventeen!"
Sophie nodded, pleased, "Good." She already spent an insane amount of hours every day bent over the modules just so she could finish high school and disappear from the state's register. She hated being under someone's thumb.
"Here are your marks from your grade ten finals and here's a date for your grade eleven exams and here are the final set of modules. I guess this is where I congratulate you and welcome you to grade twelve?" Mrs. Ackermann beamed.
Sophie grinned; her cheeks flush with pleasure from her hard work. "Thank you."
Mrs. Ackermann leaned forward in excitement, "What are your plans for your future? College?"
"Um…" Sophie began, her smile falling from her face. Future…what future did someone like her have? She glanced at her watch, "Sorry, Mrs. Ackermann, I have to catch the bus and meet my mom at the hospital." She said not even feeling an ounce of guilt for lying through her teeth.
"Of course, dear. See your next week for your exams!"
Sophie nodded and hoisted her insanely heavy fuchsia backpack upon her back and waved, leaving her distant learning teacher's office. She weaved through the cream coloured corridor until she came to the lobby and said goodbye to the secretary, "See you next week, Lisa."
"Take care, Sophie!" The younger woman beamed.
She opened the door and stepped into the hallway and walked past other businesses, making her way to the elevator. She stopped dead when she found Mr. Scary and Mr. Dimples lounging on the couches outside of the elevator.
"What's that?" Mr. Dimples asked standing up and quickly reaching over to rip the test results from her hand.
"Hey, give that back!" She snapped, trying to reach over and grab it from him. But he was much taller than her above average height that she jumped in the air to grab it but still came back with nothing.
He raised it high above her head and whistled, "Wow. Those are some results. Take a look." He passed it over her head to Mr. Scowling who took it from his companion and silently perused the sheet.
"Are you guys paid to follow me or something? Who sent you?" She asked, a spark of hope fluttering in her stomach at the idea of her mom actually hiring two goons to follow her and make sure she was okay.
"No one. We just want to make sure you're okay." Mr. Dimples said with a shrug.
Sophie swallowed the disappointment. She was so stupid if she honestly believed her mom still cared. Not now, not ever. "How'd you find me?" She asked reaching over and punching the elevator button.
"We watched what floor you got off, dummy." He retorted, laughing at her sudden glare.
"Here." A quiet voice said behind her and she turned around and saw Mr. Scowling, who looked less annoyed and more curious, hold out her test results.
"Thanks." She said grabbing them from him and stuffing the sheet into her hoodie pocket.
"What's your name? Or do you prefer dummy?"
She glared at Mr. Dimples, "What's yours?" She retaliated.
He grinned, "Dakota. This is Wolfe." He nodded to his companion.
She glanced at them both and stepped into the open elevator, "Dakota…that's a weird name."
"What's yours then?" He returned.
"Sophie." She saw no point in lying. Her name had been on her test results and they had seen it.
Wolfe nodded, "At least you didn't lie." He said quietly and stepped in beside her.
She shuffled into the corner, suddenly finding it very difficult to breathe as they not only towered over her but with their size and aura…it was almost too much.
"Where's Marcus?" Dakota asked, ignoring Sophie. She already looked ready to bolt and tried his best to sound bored as not to startle her.
She glanced at Wolfe as he moved to the other end of the elevator; "He'll meet us at the restaurant."
And in that moment, her stomach decided she hadn't embarrassed herself enough and let out a rumbling protest. She winced and covered her stomach, staring at her scuffed and torn sneakers, "Sorry." She muttered.
Dakota frowned and shared a glance with Wolfe. "It's not your fault." He gently said. The poor girl had a haunted look to her and he knew the moment when he'd saw her on the bus that he'd do whatever it took to rid her of it.
Even the usual, apathetic Wolfe had vehemently agreed with Dakota that they should follow her to make sure she was okay. What was a fifteen year old doing in the inner city by herself? She was a waif under her dirty shoulder length brown hair and baggy hoodie.
"When was the last time you ate?" Wolfe asked gently, a voice he only used when they met civilians on active duty.
Sophie frowned, not sure if she should be angry that they were being nice or happy because it had been so long anyone genuinely cared, aside from Jimmy. She decided if they were trying to be nice, she could at least be civil.
She stared at the ceiling of the elevator in concentration and shrugged, "I don't remember." She stepped from the elevator and turned around, "Thanks for…being nice, I guess. I'll see you around."
Sophie began walking but sighed when a large hand reached over her shoulder to open the glass door for her, "I'm not getting rid of you that easily, am I?" She asked Dakota.
"Nope." He grinned at the young girl. "Come on." He beckoned over his shoulder as he walked ahead of them, leaving her with a silent Wolfe.
She sighed, "It's my day off, and I was hoping to go and sit at the park." She muttered to Wolfe, "Where are we going?"
"For lunch. We're meeting a friend." He replied quietly.
Sophie stopped and turned to Wolfe, "No. I'm not going." She didn't want to tell him that she was so hungry her that she wanted to keel over and die from the pain, nor did she want to tell him that she had no money in her pockets, save for lint.
"What's wrong?" Dakota called over, waiting at the end of the street for them.
Wolfe stared down at the panicking girl and forced himself to push back his anger. Every time he looked at her, he wanted to hunt down the people that had hurt her but she was so skittish that she would probably think he was mad at her. "Consider it an apology for us following you around all day."
"I don't want your pity." She snapped.
"Then pay us back at another time, dummy!" Dakota called.
"Great." She muttered. Working under the counter since she was technically too young to work long hours meant that she was always walking around with dark circles under her eyes, hunger pains, and headaches from staying up even later to do homework. But sadly, it was the only way she could get away from her past and most importantly, pay her portion of rent.
Jimmy and her often argued about her working, he said he could work more but she refused. She didn't want anyone's help and Jimmy was struggling just as much as she was too. "Let's go or we're going to be late."
She sped up, "What's the name of the place?" She waited a few minutes but realised Wolfe was ignoring her, "Whatever." She sped up even further until she caught up to Dakota. At least he wouldn't ignore her, "What's the name of the place?" She asked again.
He glanced behind her and at Wolfe before turning back and ignoring her too. What the hell? She thought with a glare. They were practically forcing her to follow them and now they were ignoring her?
She brooded as she followed them, wishing she could afford sneakers that weren't duct taped and glued together so she could properly kick them both in the shins.
"We're here." Dakota said after five more minutes of them walking in silence.
They all stopped and Sophie glanced up at the sign, immediately shaking her head. Marcello's may not be expensive like some other places in the city but she couldn't afford to spend more than eight dollars on a huge lunch, which meant she either ate at local dives or nothing at all. Eating lunch at Marcello's would put her back twelve dollars and she was already cutting it close to not having enough for rent most months. "No. This is a bad idea, guys. Sorry, I need to leave—" She turned on her heels and came face to chest with someone.
The human wall made a slight noise and she glanced up, staring into rich chocolate eyes, which made her stomach growl even louder at the thought of chocolate and she stepped back, "Sorry." She made a move to step around him but he moved in front of her.
"Who's this?" The stranger asked.
"This is Sophie." Wolfe said.
"Sophie, this is Marcus. Make nice and don't frown." Dakota instructed.
She shook her head, "Hi. I was just leaving."
Marcus stared down at the girl and back at his two friends before shaking his head, "No, come one. We're all hungry and we're wasting daylight loitering around outside."
"But I—" She began.
"Sophie." Wolfe warned using his military voice.
She swallowed and nodded, following behind Dakota who stepped into the restaurant first.
"I want answers." Marcus said quietly.
"Later." Wolfe replied.
Sophie shrunk behind Dakota, ignoring Wolfe at her side and Marcus behind her. She was in way over her head and she was starting to quickly regret playing along with their games. She couldn't afford to eat…maybe she could just eat the free breadsticks and water? That should feel her up until tomorrow and if she was lucky, maybe she could stuff a few in her pocket too.
"Here you go. Your server will be right with you." The maître d' said smiling politely to the men before giving her a frigid look and stalking away.
She sighed, she was so used to those looks from everyone and didn't even bother to feel anything but silent sadness. Everyone was wearing slacks and proper shirts and here she was in torn faded jeans with her knees popping out, sneakers that were falling apart and a thin, torn hoodie.
"Well, he was pleasant." Dakota sarcastically bit out.
She glanced up at him and they shared a quiet smile of understanding before her eyes caught on their table. It was a corner booth which meant that someone was going to have to be sandwiched between them. Though they were strangers, very big and intimidating, she didn't feel the usual panic at being surrounded by testosterone, "Fine."
Sophie shrugged off her backpack, handed it to Marcus and slid into the corner spot, "The food better be good." She threatened when Dakota slid in next to her.
Wolfe waited until Marcus slid on Sophie's other side, holding Sophie's back pack in his hand and glanced at his other two friends. The backpack was probably heavier than she was, he thought with a new wave of anger. Someone wasn't taking care of her and by the end of the lunch, he'd get to the bottom of Sophie.
He slid in next to Marcus and placed her backpack under the table between his feet, "Order as much as you want." He said, more for Sophie's benefit.
Marcus and Dakota never had to be told to eat as much as they wanted, though in the military, when they were deployed, they ate whatever they could as fast as they could. But now that they were all home for a while, food came freely and often, so they ate more leisurely.
The waiter came by and politely smiled at them, his eyes passing from Dakota to Marcus without even glancing at Sophie, "May I take your drink order first?"
"Sophie?" Dakota asked quietly.
She swallowed and turned to the last page of the menu, trying not to react when she saw how expensive it was for a glass of soda. Ugh, who in their right mind would pay five dollars for a glass of soda? "Water for me, please."
The waiter raised a brow but jotted it down, glancing at the rest of the men, "And for you?"
"Four colas." Marcus said.
"And three waters." Dakota added rudely. He had seen the looks the waiter had given Sophie and he hadn't liked them one bit. Where people always this rude and he never noticed before or was it because of Sophie?
"I'll be right back with your drinks and for your order." He said gliding away.
She flipped through the menu, tears filling her eyes in self-pity as she glanced over at all of the prices in frustration. She searched through the menu for the cheapest thing and winced, she could afford a salad if it was barely dressed or a consommé. What the hell was a consommé anyway?
Silence fell over them and Marcus flipped loudly through the menu, his eyes still on Sophie's lowered head, "The spaghetti looks good. But so does the carbonara."
"Hmm, tell me about it. I'm thinking of getting two dishes since I can't make up my mind. What do you think Wolfe?" Dakota asked.
He sighed, "Well, since you both are getting two dishes, then I guess I have to even it out as well."
Sophie counted on her fingers how much money she'd earn from this upcoming payday on her hand in her lap and frowned, it wouldn't be enough. She would have to go without lunch for the next couple of days just for today's lunch.
"Sophie?" Wolfe asked quietly.
She glanced at him, blinking away the tears, "Yes?"
"Do you know what you're getting?" Marcus asked.
"I'm going to get the consommé." It was far cheaper than the salad and it would hopefully fill her up more. If they served it with crackers, she could take those home with her and she'd be set for dinner.
Dakota frowned. They'd all seen the blatant desperation in her eyes when she had counted on her hand, even if she tried her best to hide it. "So, what will you all be having?" The waiter came and lowered all of the drinks in the middle of the table and pulled out his notebook.
Sophie glanced at the waiter before staring at the notebook, "I'll have the consommé, please."
He nodded and took down what the others wanted, his and Sophie's eyes widening at the amount of food. He nodded and quickly left the table, probably salivating at the idea of a large tip, she thought caustically.
"Are you going to be able to eat all that?" She asked them.
Marcus shrugged and slid a cola and water in front of her, "Make sure to drink the water too." He said before sliding two drinks over to Wolfe.
"I didn't—" She said and began pushing the cola away.
Wolfe sighed, "Consider it a thank you from me for dealing with Dakota this morning."
She squinted at him before nodding, "Fine. Only because he was annoying though."
"Hey!" Dakota laughingly said.
"What happened this morning?" Marcus asked.
"He followed me all the way to my school." She quipped, grinning at Dakota's mock outrage.
"You followed her into her school?" Marcus asked Dakota in horror.
He didn't question Dakota or Wolfe's protective instinct when it came to Sophie. Hell, the minute she bumped into him, he knew he'd do everything in his power to take care of the emancipated girl with scraped knees and ruined sneakers.
"Of course I didn't." Dakota defended, seemingly insulted at the thought. "We waited outside."
Marcus grinned at Wolfe's huff and nodded in understanding. He'd have waited outside too though if they each had their own way, they'd have followed her inside as well. But she was a skittish one and he understood why him and Dakota had sat beside Sophie instead of Wolfe. His friend was bigger and more intimidating than either of them and she was like a doe about to hightail it at any moment. They'd have to take it slow with her in order for her to trust them.
"What school do you go to?" Marcus asked.
She shook her head and took a large gulp of soda, "I don't go to school. I do distance learning. It's easier with working—" She stopped short. Was she already getting comfortable around people she had just met? She took another gulp of cola and willed herself to be silent.
"Why distance learning? Isn't it easier to go to a high school?" Marcus asked.
Sophie shook her head, "I can work at my own pace."
Dakota nodded proudly, "She's already passed grade eleven."
She snorted, "You're such a dork." She said quietly but she was secretly pleased he thought so.
"Really?" Marcus asked.
Dakota nudged her with elbow, "Go ahead, show him."
"No, doofus. I don't want to." She retorted.
Marcus glanced at the two with a smile, "You don't want to show me?" He asked trying to sound hurt.
Sophie glanced at him and sighed, "Fine." She reached into her hoodie and pulled out the crinkled paper.
"Wow. That's impressive." Marcus winked at her and handed back the results.
"Not really." Dakota commented earning a glare and nudge from Sophie.
Wolfe rolled his eyes, "At fifteen, you were too busy trying to go on a date with Tracy Meyers than get As."
Dakota frowned at Wolfe, "Not true."
Marcus snorted and bent his head to Sophie's, "At fifteen, Dakota was too busy getting into trouble than to care about school work."
She glanced at Dakota and saw him frowning at his two friends, "So? What's wrong with that? I bet Dakota was cool when he was fifteen. Much cooler than either of you probably were." She defended.
Dakota laughed, "See? She's already on my side."
Marcus grinned, "You don't have to defend Dakota to us. We're just ribbing him."
"Oh. Well…" She reached over and found her soda empty. Marcus pushed the water towards her with a raised brow, "Wow. You're worse than Jimmy." She muttered taking a huge gulp.
"Jimmy?" He asked.
"Yeah, you never did tell us who Jimmy is." Dakota said.
She shrugged, "My roommate."
"Your roommate?" Marcus asked.
"What is a fifteen year old doing living with a twenty-one year old?" Wolfe asked remembering the two of them talking on the bus.
She frowned at him, "What business is it of yours?" She retorted.
"Sophie." Wolfe warned.
Marcus glanced between the two and exchanged a look with Dakota. He'd never heard Wolfe use that tone before and he'd never seen anyone glare at Wolfe before either. He was impressed and very intrigued with little Sophie.
"He's my best friend and roommate. Duh." She threw a glare at Wolfe. "That's all I'm saying."
"Is he your brother?" Marcus asked.
Sophie grinned, "No. He has red hair and I have black…how is that genetically possible?" She rolled her eyes, "I'm not talking about this." She settled more firmly into the booth and forcefully ignored them.
She didn't want to tell them that she'd met Jimmy one day in the park after he sat on her sleeping on a park bench. She didn't want to tell them how she'd followed him home and slowly learned to trust again, moving in with him only because a snow storm had blown into the city. Her life had been terrible without Jimmy and though they were both struggling to survive, fighting against the world, she was safe with him. He was all she had.
"And here is your food. I apologise for the wait." The waiter said as he and another waiter placed the many, many plates of food on the table.
Wolfe slid the consommé to Sophie and she nodded her thanks, staring down in disappointment when she realised what it was. She was paying eleven dollars for a bowl of freaking broth?
She glanced around the table and ignored the pains in her stomach when the smells of pasta, pizza, steak and seafood wafted over to her. Squaring her shoulders she waited until everyone had began to chatter and pick up their own eating utensils before tasting the consommé. It was thin and watery but it would have to do.
"How's your consommé?" Dakota asked as he began piling food onto a plate.
She forced a smile, "Good."
Marcus snorted and motioned for the plate Dakota had been adding food to, before he added more food to it as well. She ignored them and slowly sipped at the broth. The warmth eased away the cold in her bones and it took every ounce of her control not to tip the bowl over and chug the broth down.
Wolfe pushed a plate heaped precariously high with food in front of her and she glanced curiously at it before at him, "Shut up and eat it." He ordered.
They stared at each other, much to the amusement of both Marcus and Dakota before she frowned, hesitantly picked up a fork and began eating. "Damn straight." He nodded, pleased with himself.
She ate silently, ignoring everything around her but the food, "Sophie? Did you hear me?" Dakota asked.
Sophie wiped her mouth on her napkin and glanced curiously at him, "Yes?"
"Do you want more pasta?" He asked.
She shook her head, "No thank you." And began eating again.
He studied her, a slight frown marring his lightly tanned face. She ate as though she hadn't eaten in a few days and from her pale, scrawny face, he was probably right. "Marcus, do you want anymore?"
Marcus shook his head, his eyes still on Sophie's eating form. She was much too skinny. Hell, when growing up, other girls her age had been bigger…healthier. She looked twelve with the amount of fat on her but she carried herself as though she were eighty. He sighed and took a sip of water.
Sophie glanced at Marcus but continued to eat. Marcus had rich mahogany hair that probably wouldn't look half bad if it was longer but like his friends, he screamed military as well. Now that she thought about it, they were all lightly tanned as though they had just come from a sunny climate. But she had learned at an early age to never ask too many questions and quite frankly, she didn't want to anger them enough that they'd take the food away.
Dakota followed by Marcus and then Wolfe finally pushed away their plates but Sophie kept eating. She ate past the point of her stomach crying out in protest until she felt like another bite would make her throw up, "Okay. No more."
Marcus glanced at her plate and nodded, "Good."
She rolled her eyes, "Why are you all being so nice to me?"
They shared a look with each other which earned an annoyed sigh from Sophie, "And stop doing that. Its freaking me out. Like you can all read each other's minds or something."
Marcus smirked, "Does there have to be a reason?"
She nodded, "Yes because I've never heard of people doing nice things and wanting nothing in return."
And that was saying something about her life, Wolfe thought with a sad sigh. What had little Sophie gone through in her fifteen years that had made her so callous? "Can't we do something nice for you? Is it so hard to wrap your head around the thought of people doing things for you and wanting nothing in return?"
Dakota glanced at Wolfe, that was the longest he'd ever heard his friend speak and he'd known Wolfe since they were five. "Well, Sophie?"
She frowned and reached for her water but not taking a sip, she didn't think she could fit anymore in her stomach, "I don't believe it. I think you're either doing this because you pity me, want something from me or—" She glanced nervously at them, "Are you going to…exploit me?" She asked in a bare whisper.
"Jesus, Sophie!" Dakota said glancing around, "No. We just like you is all, dummy."
"Don't call me a dummy, stupid." She snapped elbowing him.
Marcus glanced at Wolfe, "They've been doing this all morning, bickering non-stop." He explained to a now smiling Marcus.
The waiter came by and sniffed at Dakota and Sophie before glancing at Wolfe, "Will that be all?"
He nodded and handed him his credit card, "Thank you."
She had stopped slapping Dakota's elbow away and he landed a jab to her ribs which made her gasp in pain. She turned and flicked him on the forehead in retaliation. He reached up and winced, "What was that for?" He asked.
"Don't elbow me so hard, jerk." She said before turning to Wolfe. She felt a jolt when she found him watching her, "I can't pay you back now—"
"Sophie—"
"No," She said interrupting Wolfe, "But I can pay you back at the end of this week when I get paid."
"Where do you work?" Marcus asked.
She glanced at him, "A local family restaurant in the East Glen district."
Dakota winced, that was the edge of the inner city, a place he preferred never to venture, "What's it called?"
She turned to him and frowned, "You better not go there, I don't want to get fired."
"Hey!" He said offended, "I wouldn't get you fired! I just wanted to see if I've ever eaten there before." But by Marcus' eye roll he knew his lie had been transparent.
"Whatever. I know if I don't tell you, you're going to keep nagging me." She lounged further back into the leather seat, "Simon's?"
"The Ethiopian restaurant?" Marcus asked.
"You know it?" She asked happily.
Marcus ignored his friends' questioning looks and nodded, "My brother loves that restaurant."
"Shane likes Ethiopian?" Dakota asked.
He nodded, "I've never been but have been meaning to try it."
Sophie rolled her eyes, "Please try it every Monday."
"Why?" He asked.
"Because those are my days off." She retorted.
"You only get one day off? Isn't that against Labour laws or something?" Dakota asked Wolfe.
Sophie's eyes widened and she reached for Dakota's arm, grasping onto it in desperation, "Please don't say anything! Please?" She almost smacked herself in the head. Just because she felt comfortable with them, that immediately meant she was going to tell them her life's story? Stupid Sophie, she thought angrily.
"Shh, it's okay Sophie. We won't tell anyone, okay?" Marcus gently said to her.
She nodded, "Thank you."
"We won't tell if you tell us why you work there." Wolfe added.
She frowned at him and sighed, "Fine. But you promise on your…lives that you won't say anything?"
Sophie made sure they all nodded before she began, "Okay. When I moved in with Jimmy, he was already struggling to pay rent and the other bills by himself. And having two people using water and electricity? It's so expensive. So I needed to help pay rent and the cost of taking courses and tuition. Simon's is the only place where I can work more than eight hours, full-time and double shifts that pays under the table."
Marcus leaned back into the leather seat and sighed, "You're fifteen and working full-time, on top of taking courses?"
She nodded. She didn't want to tell them the real reason why she needed the money and despite only meeting them today, she still felt bad for withholding the truth from them. "Its not too bad."
"Why live with Jimmy and not at home then?" Marcus asked seeing Dakota's motion for him to stop and feeling Wolfe's nudge to the leg too late.
"My home is with Jimmy." She explained forcing a smile.
"Mr. Brandt?" The waiter interrupted, "Your card and signature please."
Wolfe took his card from the black leather folder and signed the receipt before handing the folder back to the waiter and shoving his credit card back into his wallet. "Thanks."
"No, thank you. Hope to see you all soon, have a great day." He said before moseying to the table near them that had been trying to gain his attention.
"Okay. Where do you want me to drop the money I owe you off at?" Sophie asked them. Wolfe opened his mouth to argue but she glared, "I only agreed to having lunch because Dakota said I could pay you all back when I got paid."
Wolfe glanced at Dakota who raised his hands pacifyingly, "Don't look at me like that."
"Fine." He sighed, "I'll come pick it up on Friday at your work. What time are you working?"
She stared at him, "You promise you won't cause any trouble?" She asked.
He nodded solemnly and because it was Wolfe with his serious face, she told him, "All day, double shift. Come anytime that works for you."
"Okay. Thank you all for lunch." She said as they all slid from the booth. Wolfe held onto her fuchsia backpack and stalked from the restaurant. She glanced at Dakota who shrugged and Marcus who winked before stalking after him, "Damn it." She muttered to herself.
Leaving the restaurant, she found Wolfe a few metres away walking from the restaurant and jogged after him until finally she grabbed a hold of his arm and tugged, shocked to find he didn't even budge but was forced to stumble after him. "C'mon, Wolfe. Give it back."
"Where are we going?" Dakota shouted over to them.
She turned around and glanced back to see them both grinning at her and frowned, "You're both useless."
"Don't know. Where do you want to go?" Wolfe asked.
Sophie stopped, letting go of Wolfe's arm, "I want my bag and I'm leaving." She snapped.
Wolfe stopped and turned to her, "I thought you had the day off."
"Yeah? Okay, let's go to the batting cage." Marcus offered once he and Dakota joined them.
She sighed, "I need to get to work on my schoolwork and study."
Dakota glanced at his watch, "It's two o'clock. How about we go to the batting cage and you can go home at 4?"
Sophie sighed, "Fine. But I need to phone Jimmy to let him know first. Can I have my backpack, please?"
Wolfe shook his head and tossed it to Dakota, who grunted, "You carry this thing around? This is freaking heavy!"
She shrugged, "What are you going to do? Wear my pink backpack?"
He stared at her and shrugged it on, "I bet it looks damn good on me."
Sophie watched him stroll ahead of them and burst out laughing, clutching her stomach when it protested. She kept laughing until she couldn't breathe and found all three of them grinning at her, "Priceless. Fine." She said with a huge smile.
"You have a nice smile." Marcus offered.
She smiled at him, "Thanks. I guess you do too."
"What about me, Sophie?" Dakota asked.
She grinned, "You all do." When it looked like Dakota was about to argue with Marcus.
They walked for a few blocks, Sophie laughing with them and at their stupid little jokes before they finally stood before a batting cage. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to go phone Jimmy."
"Dakota?" Wolfe said.
He nodded, "I'm on it." He trailed after Sophie, glaring at anyone who glanced at her.
"So…Sophie." Marcus began.
Wolfe shrugged, tearing his eyes away from Sophie, "I couldn't…we couldn't help it. We saw this little waif and just knew she needed taking care of."
Marcus nodded, rubbing his neck, "You going to tell your dads and mom about finding a stray?"
Wolfe frowned at Marcus, "They'll probably be happy to have someone at home with them when I'm away. But I don't think Sophie's ready for that. She almost bolted when we asked about her mom."
Marcus nodded, "All I want to do is take her home and get mom and dads to watch over her."
Wolfe snorted, "We're a mess."
"Who's a mess?" Dakota asked with Sophie trailing beside him.
"Did you get Jimmy?" Marcus asked.
She shook her head, "Left a voicemail at the apartment just in case he comes home before I do."
Sophie spent the next two hours batting balls and laughing. She laughed more with them than she had in the past year, even with Jimmy. She hadn't felt so free in a long while, in fact, had she ever felt as free? She didn't bother thinking about the truth because she had a feeling she knew it was a resounding no.
Dakota and Marcus had ribbed each other, sometimes they teased Wolfe and they had involved her quite a few times in their bickering. Wolfe had taught her how to properly hold the bat, Marcus had instructed her not to flinch every time she hit the balls and Dakota had proceeded to call out names of famous people they all didn't like for her to hit the balls with enough force to send them sailing.
Her arms were weirdly sore, her stomach full from eating and sore from laughing and her face felt like it was going to split in half from all her grinning and smiling by the time they left the batting cage.
"We going to walk Sophie home?" Dakota asked already knowing the answer.
She shook her head, "No, its okay guys."
"Hell yes we are." Wolfe said over her refusal.
She sighed but knew arguing with them was futile, "Fine. Follow me."
They walked in silence and she somehow found herself walking along side Wolfe with Marcus and Dakota a few feet ahead of them once again bickering amongst themselves, "Don't you guys have work or something?" She asked.
"Or something." Wolfe said but saw her frown before sighing, "We're on leave for the next few months."
She nodded, "How long have you been in the military for?"
"I've been in since I was eighteen." He replied.
Sophie rolled her eyes with a small smile, "That was my way of asking if you guys are senior citizens or something."
He smiled, "Marcus and I are twenty-three, Dakota's a year younger. We've been in the military since we were eighteen."
Her eyes widened, "Whoa." She glanced at Marcus and Dakota's backs before squinting up at Wolfe, "What is a twenty-two and twenty-three year olds hanging around a fifteen year old for?"
"Because maybe you need someone to take care of you." Wolfe said.
She frowned, "I don't need anyone to take care of me. I can take care of myself. I'm the hero in my own story, Wolfe."
"You have your own story?" He asked smiled down at her.
She rolled her eyes, "My life is my story? Duh."
"Where to now?" Dakota called back to them.
"Down fiftieth and turn right before the lights." She replied loudly.
"Where exactly do you live?"
"The apartment complex on fifty-second." She said.
He frowned down at her, not too keen with the idea of her living in such a bad neighbourhood. "What does Jimmy do?" He asked.
She smiled fondly at his name, "He's an artist and when he's not busy being tortured by his craft, he's manager at a bookstore."
Wolfe nodded, "Turn right up ahead! Not left." He called to Dakota and Marcus.
Sophie laughed and followed them. It wasn't until they neared the unsavoury part of the neighbourhood did she realise that Dakota and Marcus had slowed down to join them, flanking her until she was almost surrounded by them. She smiled, even if she never saw them again, she'd fondly remember this memory for the rest of her life.
"Stop here. We're here. The Dale." She said.
Marcus winced at up at the decrepit brick building, "Okay, we're going to walk you up." He said.
Sophie shook her head, "No. Trust me. I walk home alone or sometimes take the bike all by myself. I got this, you guys."
"No." Wolfe said.
She shook her head and turned to face him, "I don't like the idea of you all walking home by yourselves but I'm not going to protest."
"Because we've had training." Wolfe retorted.
"You don't?" Dakota asked.
"Does that mean you like us?" Marcus added.
She rolled her eyes and glanced at them, "No I don't like the idea and yes, how can I not like you guys? Except when you're annoying or elbowing me…" She turned back to Wolfe, "How about you call me when you get home so we all know we're safe and sound." She offered staring up at him.
He stared down into her umber coloured eyes and her tangled and dirty black hair before sighing. He wanted to save her but he had a feeling she would fight against the handholding. No, the best way to save Sophie would have to be helping her when she needed it. "Fine."
"Wolfe?" Dakota asked.
"No, he's right." Marcus said.
They all turned to Sophie and she smiled brightly at them, "Will you all be coming on Friday?" She asked, hope radiating through her words.
Dakota grinned, "Of course. I'm in the mood for Ethiopian."
She looked up at Marcus and he winked, "I'll be there."
"Okay. See you on Friday?" She asked Wolfe before remembering and rattled off her phone number.
He nodded as Dakota helped her slide her backpack back on, "Okay…then I'll see you all on Friday." She said forcing herself to turn and walk away from them.
She unlocked the door of the apartment building and cast one last glimpse of her three saviours before closing the door and drudging up the dingy stairs to the third floor.
"Well, shit." Marcus said after Sophie had left them.
"Tell me about it. That girl—" Dakota shook his head.
Wolfe sighed, "Let all go home. I bet our mom and dads are wondering where we've been all day. And we need to phone Sophie."
"You going to tell your parents?" Dakota asked.
"Not yet. Let's keep her to ourselves for a little while longer." He said.
Marcus nodded, "If we tell them, they're going to jump the gun and want to meet her."
"And coddle her." Dakota added with dawning horror.
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"Hey, Jimmy!" Sophie shouted, stepping into their decrepit apartment and bolting it shut and chaining the door before calling out his name once more, "You'll never believe the day I had—"
She walked to his room and stuck her head in, noting the rumpled bed sheets and skewed blankets. She shook her head, he always refused to make his bed every morning, something to do with him going to sleep that night in the same bed anyway.
She snorted, "Still not home, then." She dumped her bag in her closet sized room and went to the kitchen staring at his dishes. "Bastard." She said pleasantly before filling the sink with hot water and soap, waiting silently for the phone to ring.
Normally, looking around the chipped walls, scuffed floors and overall battered apartment filled her with such despair that she struggled to wake up every morning. But after the great day she had with Wolfe, Dakota and Marcus, she was filled with such light and happiness that nothing could dampen the smile in her heart.
When the phone did ring, she leapt to answer it, dishwater and suds dripping everywhere. She tried not to sound too happy when she spoke to each of them as they all bade each other goodbye and goodnight. And when Sophie's head finally did hit the pillow, for the first time in a long while, she fell asleep smiling.