~UNLIKELY COMPANIONS~

~Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?~

- 2 Corinthians 6:14

Song - Perfect by Ed Sheeran

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Sophie woke up to an empty room, the silence a stark contrast to the chaos that had ensued the day before. She stretched, yawned, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The morning sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the mess that Aubrey had left behind. Sophie's eyes narrowed as she took in the scattered clothes, the open suitcase, and the general disarray.

"Where is he?" she muttered to herself.

She shook her head, deciding to focus on her morning routine instead of dwelling on Aubrey's sloppiness. Sophie stood up, stretched her arms over her head, and arched her back. She let out a contented sigh as she felt the kinks in her muscles begin to work themselves out.

Feeling more awake, Sophie headed to the bathroom to start her Sunday.

Sophie stepped into the bathroom and her eyes widened in dismay at the state of disarray. The sink was cluttered with toiletries, the toilet paper roll was empty, and the shower was clogged with hair. The air was thick with the scent of stagnation.

"Seriously?" Sophie muttered to herself, clenching her fist.

Just then, the room door swung open, and Aubrey walked in, carrying a bag of groceries. Sophie's eyes averted to him, her gaze locking with his.

"Aubrey, what's going on here?" she asked firmly. "This bathroom is a disaster zone."

Aubrey shrugged, a hint of defiance in his eyes. He tossed his key on his desk and put the groceries on his scattered bed. "I'm not the only one who uses this bathroom. Don't blame me for the mess."

Sophie threw her head back in a humourless laugh as her eyes flashed with annoyance. "Are you joking? Because I'm gonna pretend it's a joke."

Aubrey ignored her and started offloading the groceries.

"This is not your house, it's a shared living space. We need to respect each other's boundaries and clean up after ourselves. I haven't even used the bathroom yet, which means you created this mess."

Aubrey snorted, not willing to repent. "You're not my mom. Don't try to lecture me."

"I'm not trying to lecture you, dude. I'm trying to have a reasonable conversation with you about our living arrangements. But if you're not willing to listen, then maybe we need to reevaluate our living situation."

Aubrey's expression faltered for a moment, but then he shrugged. "Suit yourself. But I'm not cleaning up this mess."

Sophie furrowed her brows and clenched her jaw, reluctantly giving in. "Fine. Don't clean it up. But don't expect me to clean up after you either."

The tension between them was tangible, and the air was thick with unspoken words. Aubrey carried on with his grocery stuff while whistling, annoying Sophie even more.

Though, she couldn't deny the fact that she was starving, and she needed to take her medication.

Sophie's gaze was fixed on Aubrey's whistling form. She felt a surge of irritation, but she knew she needed to prioritize her own needs. She turned to head back to her side of the room, as her stomach growled with hunger.

"Aubrey," she started, clearing her throat. "

Aubrey groaned, refusing to look at her. "No, I won't clean up the bathroom, period."

"No, no. That's not it. I just wanted to know, if you... um, plan on cooking anything for breakfast?"

Aubrey looked up, creasing his brows. "Just pancakes."

"Oh," she muttered, clearing her throat again.

Aubrey studied her expression, a small smirk appearing on his lips. "Want some?"

Sophie's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected Aubrey to offer her food, especially after their argument. But her stomach was growling, and the prospect of pancakes was too enticing to resist.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks," she said, trying to sound casual.

Aubrey walked over to his desk with two coffee mugs, before turning to Sophie. "Coffee?"

Sophie raised an eyebrow, surprised by Aubrey's sudden display of hospitality. But she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She nodded, taking a seat on her bed as Aubrey began to cook in the kitchenette.

As the smell of pancakes and coffee wafted through the air, Sophie's stomach growled in anticipation. She pulled out her medication and took it with a swig of water, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

Aubrey walked over to Sophie's bed, a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee in his hands. "Here you go."

Sophie took the plate and cup, her eyes meeting Aubrey's. For a moment, they just stared at each other.

"Can we just stop fighting?" Aubrey asked, not breaking his gaze from Sophie's.

Sophie opened her mouth a little, surprised by Aubrey's offer. As she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause and she felt her guard drop, just a little.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," he said, taking a seat next to Sophie on her bed. "Now, let's eat and forget about our differences, at least for now."

Sophie nodded to that, taking a sip from her coffee. They both sat there silently, avoiding eye contact. Aubrey took few bites from his pancake, while staring at the wall blankly.

Speak! His subconsciousness urged him to say something, but what exactly was he supposed to say?

Finally, he mustered courage to actually speak. "Got any plans for today?"

Sophie stopped chewing, directing her focus on Aubrey. She shrugged before answering. "Not really. But I do plan to go to church, then visit a special place afterwards. Interested?"

Aubrey's eyes widened in surprise, and he hesitated for a moment before responding. "Uh, church? I don't think so," he said, his tone neutral.

Sophie's expression was unreadable, but Aubrey detected a hint of curiosity in her voice. "You're not a believer?"

Aubrey shook his head, taking another bite from his pancake. "I don't really do the whole church thing."

She nodded thoughtfully, her eyes averting to her meal. "I see. Well, it's not for everyone, I suppose."

The conversation hung in the air, and Aubrey felt a twinge of discomfort. He didn't want to get into a debate about religion, especially not on a Sunday morning.

But to his surprise, Sophie didn't push the issue. Instead, she said, "Well, if you change your mind, I'd love to have you tag along. Otherwise, I'll just see you later, okay?"

Aubrey nodded. "Yeah, sounds good. Have a good time at church."

"Yeah, thanks."

Sophie finished up with her meal and dashed into the bathroom to freshen up. When she was done, she tied a towel above her chest and stepped out. She felt conscious and uncomfortable, but to her surprise, Aubrey wasn't even looking. He had his back directed to her, while talking on the phone.

Just then, Sophie realized her perception of Aubrey might be wrong. He didn't seem all that bad. Sophie chuckled slightly to herself, opening the wardrobe. She felt pleased seeing that Aubrey's clothes were well arranged.

She took out a long sleeve dress and a pair of black boots, and began to get dressed. As she slipped on the dress, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiled. She looked nice.

Aubrey was still on the phone, oblivious to Sophie's presence. She watched him for a moment, noticing the way he gestured with his hands as he talked. He seemed animated, and Sophie found herself wondering who he was talking to.

As she finished getting dressed, Sophie cleared her throat to announce her presence. Aubrey turned around, still talking on the phone, and caught sight of Sophie. For a moment, he stared at her, his eyes widening in surprise.

Sophie felt a flush rise to her cheeks as Aubrey's gaze lingered on her. She looked away, feeling awkward.

Aubrey quickly recovered, turning back to his conversation. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Talk to you later Ma," he said, wrapping up his call.

As he hung up the phone, Aubrey turned to Sophie and smiled. "You look nice," he said.

Sophie felt a flutter in her chest as she met Aubrey's gaze. She smiled back at him, feeling a sense of warmth spread through her. "Thanks."

As Sophie headed out the door, Aubrey watched her go, feeling a sense of curiosity about his roommate. She was a Christian, and he was. . . well, not. But despite their differences, they seemed to be getting along okay.

He sighed, wondering what he was going to do all day. Normally, he stays home with Emily on Sundays, but now Emily wasn't here.

Sophie on the other hand, strolled down the aisle avoiding eye contact with other students present at the campus. It's not like she felt shy, she just wasn't interested in creating familiarity with anyone.

She suddenly felt someone's presence beside her. Turning her neck, her eyes met Aubrey's. "What... you?" she sputtered, pausing in her tracks.

Aubrey had his hands in his leather jacket and he flashed Sophie a small smile. "Hey, I know I said I wasn't interested in church, but I figured, why not?"

"What made you change your mind? I didn't think you'd be interested in attending church services," she said, her voice measured.

Aubrey shrugged, his hands still tucked into his leather jacket. "I wasn't, initially. But I figured, why not? First time I get to see you in your element."

"You're not here to mock me, are you?"

Aubrey's expression turned serious, his eyes locking onto Sophie's. "No, I'm not here to mock you. I'm genuinely curious about your faith, and I respect your right to practice it."

Sophie's expression softened slightly and she exhaled. "Okay. But please, be respectful."

Aubrey nodded, his eyes never leaving Sophie's face. "I will."

Sophie hesitated for a moment, but then she took Aubrey's arm, feeling a sense of surprise at how natural it felt. Aubrey blinked in surprise at Sophie's gesture, but Sophie refused to look him in the eye.

As they walked together, Sophie couldn't help but wonder what had possessed Aubrey to change his mind.

They arrived at church and took their seats in the crowded hall. Sophie glanced over at Aubrey, noticing the way he was observing the surroundings with a curious expression.

The soft glow of the stained glass windows illuminated the pews of the Catholic church, casting a warm, ethereal light on the congregation. Sophie sat with her eyes closed, her hands clasped together, as the priest led the congregation in a solemn prayer.

Aubrey sat beside her, his eyes scanning the church, unsure of what to do. He hadn't been to church in his entire life, and the familiar rituals and prayers felt foreign to him. As the people around him bowed their heads and closed their eyes, Aubrey felt a pang of confusion. What was he supposed to do?

But as he looked around at the peaceful faces of the congregation, something shifted inside of him. He felt a sense of calm wash over him, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"God?" he called out in a form of question and uncertainty. "I don't know if you're even listening, but. . . I don't know, just watch over us, okay?"

As Aubrey spoke, Sophie's eyes flickered open, and she glanced over at him. She saw him sitting with his eyes closed, a look of quiet contemplation on his face. A small smile played on her lips as she felt a sense of comfort wash over her.

Her eyes closed again, and she continued to pray, feeling peaceful. Aubrey, who was sitting beside her, quietly seeked solace in his own way.

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