Chapter Five

"Give me his number.” She demanded.

“I don't have his, just the agent's number,” I murmured. 

“Damn it,” Becky hissed, pulling away from me as she raked her hands through her glossy brunette hair. “Save your tears, love. Fucking bastard should have left your things inside till you came. Maros told me everything went down last night. He and Helen had been helping to move your things inside their house. Where were you?” 

“At work” I said, avoiding her gaze “Working.”

“On a weekend? And at night?” She tilted her head. “Thought you didn't like weekend shifts.” 

“I was filling in for my colleague," I busied myself by picking up my things, avoiding her gaze. 

“Okayyy…. you're too nice, why fill in for someone and go against what you don't like to do?” She said, helping me to pick up my things. “Always sacrificing,” She hissed.

I cuckled at her hissing habit.  

“Don't laugh, I'm mad at you. Why didn't you tell me you were going through all this! I could have helped.” She said, standing up right as she carried my belongings in her arms.

“I didn't want to bother you with something I thought I could handle.”

“Well, you handled it, alright.” 

“You're a busy person, Becky, Sophia wouldn't want you stressing over her,” Helen chipped in gently. “Maros said you left your shoot to come here,” Helen said, smiling at Becky.

I glared at Becky and she looked away. 

“You left your shot?” That's more than two hours drive Becky. Two.” I said with concern. 

“it's just a Vogue shoot…I was directing the shoot, not modelling. Be grateful I came. Thank God you have a friend like me.” She teased, folding her arms against her chest right after dropping my things on Helen's porch.

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at her, trying not to cry. To me she wasn't just a friend. No, she was my sister in every way that mattered. We had met on the first day of orientation in university and ever since then we clicked. I wasn't someone of her caliber considering how rich she was and always surrounded by preppy, stuck-up friends. Friends that she eventually ditched just because they gossiped about me. Sometimes I envied her, it's like she knew when I became envious and made me feel included, treating me like I belonged in her rich world.

“Don't tell me you're crying again. I should be the one crying, you big cry baby.” She laughed pulling me into a hug. 

Helen smiled warmly. “Why don't you both come in for dinner?”

“I'm sorry Aunty Helen I can't. I have to go back, and I'm taking Sophia with me.” Becky said with a twinge of regret. “I know you would love her to stay with you, but I don't think she would want to burden you. Right?”  

I nodded in agreement.

“Thank you, Helen,” I said, hugging her tightly “Thank you, Maros,” I added, turning to hug him too. 

“Oooh, you'd come visiting right?” Helen asked, smiling.

“Yes of course I will, I promise.” Helen patted my arms and held them.

“Don't forget to send the date for your graduation. Don't even think about not celebrating or skipping the celebration.” She warned.

“Helen we'll meet before then, I'll come visit next week.” I said, smiling at her.

“You know how far Becky's house is from here,” Helen added. “Fuel is costlier now. Maros always complains.”

“I own electric cars Aunty Helen,” Becky said with a playful pout.  

“Show off,” I said sniffing as I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

“My bad, my bad. If you want to meet with Sophia just say the word and I'll make it happen. Fuel free and fabulous.” 

“But it's still tiring, driving for hours back and forth across cities,” Helen laughed.

“Who said I'm driving? You and Maros will be flying,” She said smugly.

“Beckyyy,” Helen warned.

“Fineee, I'll ask my dad. Happy now?” 

I laughed as they both bickered playfully. 

“Becky you are going to be late,” Helen said, glancing at her watch. “I'm sure you've forgotten.”

“Aunty Helenn…” She groaned looking at her wrist watch “You're…in fact right.”

“Bye now, girls. Be careful,” Helen said. “Learn to be brave Sophia, cry less.” she warned, chuckling.

“Helen, you're laughing at my weakness,” I pouted.

“No, honey. I'm not,” she said sheepishly then faced Becky “Don't drive passed the speed limit”

“But…I've changed and matured now!” She whined.

“Yes, yes you are. Off you go now, don't want you running late.” 

“Byeee, Aunty Helen!” Becky said, jogging towards her car.

“Wait…i need to take my things to your car Becky.”

“Not right now!” She snapped.

I stopped on my track. She turned to face me and covered her mouth with her hands.

“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I'll have someone come pick them up this evening. In fact, let me make the call right now.” 

She turned on her phone and walked towards her car as she made the phone call. I waved goodbye to Helen and Maros, before taking my hand bag and went towards Becky's car. They were like parents to me since I moved in here in my sophomore year. Their home had been my heaven, they always had advice about life to offer, and always supported me. I'd miss them terribly.

“Bye Aunty Helen, bye Uncle Maros. Tell me when you wish to fly over,” Becky said from the driver's seat.

 She pressed the gas pedal, making it roar on purpose, then looked at Helen. 

Helen pointed her walking stick at her smiling. “Naughty girl.” 

“Hahaaaa! byeee!” Becky said, winding up the window, then drove off.

Inside The Car.

“You're not dropping me at your place first?” I asked while she drove.

“No, I'm taking you to my work place. But first you need to shower and have a change of clothes.” 

I sniffed myself. “Eww, I smell.”

“I didn't say that!” She laughed.

“Are you still taking your colleagues shift tonight?” She asked.

“No.” I looked outside the window. “I got fired.” 

The car screeched to an abrupt halt.

“You're what?” She asked, turning to stare at me. “Why didn't you tell me before I left the city?”

I blinked, shocked by her reaction. “Why did you stop like that? We could have been injured.”

“But we are not.” 

“Yeah. I should have told you before getting behind the wheels. It was partly my fault, besides I'm leaving the city already. It would be absurd to go from San Diego to Los Angeles daily.” 

“Fair point,” She nodded. “Still, you should have told me earlier on. I'd have had a word or two with the manager.”

“No silly. We both know it wouldn't just be words,” I joked.

“Touché. You know me too well.”

A car behind us honked loudly as she accelerated the car to resume driving. 

“A lot's happened to you in just a single day,” She muttered. “That's it. I'll have someone else direct the shoot, you need to be taken care of. Let's go to the spa! then we will go shopping!” She said excitedly.

I burst out laughing. “But your father will know you didn't finish your job for the day.”

“I'll deal with him later,” She waved me off, looking at the road in front of her as she drove. “We don't have to work all the time, let's relax. First we go to the spa, then go shopping. Later during the day, we prep for school tomorrow. Yay!” 

“Okayy. To the spa!” 

Six months had passed since I last saw Brian. A part of me wanted to see him again, the other part didn't. Maybe he thought I was easy or worse may have simply forgotten about me. 

I shook the thoughts away from my head as I climbed out of my bed. The moment my feet hit the floor, I left light weighted, my head spun. Shaking my head, I tried to regain my balance. Suddenly my stomach lurched. I rushed to the bathroom and puked. I had been feeling this way since last week but today was worse. I looked at my reflection from my toilet mirror and placed my palm on my forehead.

“Sophia, I'm off now, good luck with the interview,” I heard Becky from the hallway. Then there was a pause when I didn't reply. “Sophia, did you hear me?”  She asked, opening my room door just as I staggered out of the bathroom. 

“You don't look good Sophia, what happened?” she asked, tossing her bag on my dressing table. She pressed her cool palm against my forehead. “I knew it, you're down with a fever.”

“I guess so,” I mumbled.

“I'm certain. You'll drive to the hospital or you'd at least stay back and relax?” She asked.

“But, I'll miss the interview,” I whined. “Why today of all days?” 

“Sorry about that, but your health matters more Sophia.” She said.

“No, I'm going,” I said firmly, sitting on my bed.

“Girl you can't even stand for a long time.” 

“Well they won't make me stand while being interviewed. This is my dream, Becky. I've always wanted to be a jewelry designer."

“Don't argue with me.”

“I'm not, I've stated what I want to do,” I said firmly. 

“Fine, fine, I won't push it.” She said, throwing her hands up in surrender. “Good luck with your interview. I'm off to work, byee,” She smiled, waving. 

“Byeee,” I replied as she shut the door behind her.

I looked at the clock on my wall, it read 7:12 a.m. The interview was not until 10 a.m.

I'll just close my eyes a bit. My head really hurts. I said to myself as I laid on the back placing my hand over my eyes. 

When I opened them again, Becky turned on the light. 

“Sophia,” Becky gasped.

I blinked rapidly trying to prevent the room light from entering my eyes. 

“I've been calling you,” She said.

I sat up stretching to get my phone from the phone stand. Seven missed calls. I gasped when my eyes caught the time on my phone screen. It was 11 p.m.

“No, no, no. I missed my interview,” I panicked.

“I'm so finished! I just wanted to sleep a little, just a little and now I missed the chance to work in one of the big jewellery companies,” I said, pulling my hair.

“Calm down. I'll just tell my dad to help you in.” She shrugged, like it wasn't a bid deal.

“No Becky, I don't want that.” 

“Here we go again. I'm not trying to say you're not responsible, nor un-capable.”

“I didn't say that.”

“Well you woul–”

I bolted past her to the toilet and threw up again.

“Damn. It's worse than I thought. Let's go to the hospital now, don't argue with me. I'll drive.”

“Okay, let me brush my feet.” I groaned. 

“Finally something we agree on.” 

****

At the hospital. 

“Number 122, you're up for consultation,” A nurse called out my hospital card number as she directed me to a room, while Becky stayed back in the reception. 

“You're pregnant.”