Sophia Sanchez took a moment to lean against the counter and
breathe; the Sea Castle, where she worked as a waitress was extremely busy
tonight. She glanced up at the clock and noted that she only had an hour left
of her shift. Pushing back off the counter she turned as another order came up.
Grabbing the plates she pasted a smile on and went to deliver the couple their
food.
As she came around the corner she spotted a well-known
customer smile and wave her over, smiling back she gestured that she’d be right
there. She dropped the food off then made her way over to the table,
“Mister and Missus Finch, how are you this evening?”
“Sophia, it’s so good to see you again dear,” Mrs. Finch
replied grasping her hand and standing to kiss her cheek. The couple had known
her since she was a child at the local community center they ran, and they were
still some of her favorite people.
The chatted for a few minutes then Mr. Finch glanced up in
surprise, “Dear isn’t that Julia Anddreasin and one of her brothers?”
That got Sophia’s attention making an excuse she quickly
excused herself to get back to work almost cursing when the two young people
were seated in her section. The Anddreasin’s were the best-known family in all
of Durston they were also a family that she tried to avoid, people like them
had been given everything and reminded her of how much she had to work for
anything. They were nice enough on the surface but they were also the kind of
people she did her best to avoid.
Slipping outside for a breath of air she gazed up at the
stars as her mother’s voice rang through her head.
‘Sophia, you are a
Sanchez we work for what we have but we never let anyone look down on us you
understand? Never, take pride in who you are child because it is who the Lord
created you to be.’
That had been after she’d come home crying because one of
the girls at the private school she was attending on scholarship had made fun
of her. Her mother had dried her tears given her the familiar lecture then left
for work. It was the last time Sophia had cried because of what someone else
said about her.
Shaking off the familiar feeling of dread at having to go in
and deal with the family she turned resolutely to walk back inside and ran
straight into a tall man who was hanging up his cell phone. The phone fell and
she gasped as strong arms captured her shoulders and straightened her quickly.
“I’m so sorry sir,” she apologized quickly.
“No it was my fault miss, are you all right?” It was the
voice that got her attention she looked up and found herself staring into the
light blue eyes of one of the Anddreasin twins. She felt herself pale and
stepped away quickly.
“It was my fault and I’m fine,” she bent down to retrieve
his phone just as he did and their heads collided. She straightened as he
picked up his phone, rubbing his head.
“Again I’m so sorry I should’ve been paying more attention.”
His apology stopped as he gazed at her for a long moment. She shifted
uncomfortably, preparing to make her excuses and move on. “Do I know you from
somewhere?” He asked before she had the chance to get away.
Memories from her year at the academy flashed through her
head, she’d been in the same grade as Will and Alex even shared a couple of
classes with them but had never talked to them. She shook her head and offered
an apologetic smile even as her heart raced and she prayed that he would
believe her lie.
“No I don’t think so, if you’ll excuse me I need to get back
to work.”
“Of course,” he held the door for her and she slipped inside
racing to the kitchen before anyone noticed that she’d been gone.
“Sophia are you all right?” Her friend and manager, Andrea,
asked as she took in the girl’s flushed expression and how she jumped at the
question.
“Yeah I’m fine,” she gave her a smile then grabbed some
plates and walked out of the kitchen. Andrea was still staring at her.
“Seriously I just ran into someone I used to know and it caught me off guard
that’s all.”
“Well your shift is almost done so stay with me for a little
while longer okay?” With that Sophia went to deliver the food. After she
dropped it off she took a deep breath and went to the Anddreasin’s table to
take their order.
“Hello again, how’s the head?” She had to smile at the
question, even as she felt the heat creep up her neck.
“Its fine are you all right?”
“Fine thanks,” he turned to his siblings. “This is the girl
that I ran into outside when I took that phone call.”
“Oh are you all right?” Anya asked immediately the concern
evident in her face.
“Yeah Alex has a hard head,” his brother put in.
Sophia just smiled, “I’m fine thanks for asking. I’m Sophia
and I’ll be your waitress so can I take your order?”
They gave her their order then she took their menus and
walked away. Alex turned back to his siblings, “Do either of you recognize her.
She looks so familiar but when I asked her if I knew her she said no.”
Both of them thought about it for a long moment, Anya shook
her head. “I’m not sure sorry Alex but I don’t know.”
“You’re right,” Will said. “I think I do know her. Sophia,”
he thought about it for a long moment trying to remember. “Sophia Sanchez we
went to the Academy with her I think our Freshman year.”
Alex glanced up in surprise, “You’re right we did didn’t we?
I wonder why she didn’t say anything when I asked her about it.”
“Maybe she didn’t remember you,” Anya offered with a smile.
“What not remember us?” Will cut in laughing at his sister,
“You’ve got to be kidding Jules, don’t you know we’re unforgettable”
She just smiled and took a sip of her drink without
bothering to reply. They fell into easy conversation talking and joking like
they always had. Conversation was easy but Alex couldn’t get his mind off the
conversation with Sophia. What was it about her?
