10 Years Later

Sofia sat in her room, quietly hating her science teacher. What on Earth was she thinking when she signed up for Chemistry Honors? She had literally an hour and a half of homework every night plus homework from her three other honors and advanced placement classes. Not to mention the other classes she took. One would think that art two gave no homework because it is art, right? But no. Even art gives a load of work. And she was in the spring musical, so she didn't get home until six-thirty every night. Add dinner and four and a half hours of homework, and you get, six hours of sleep! Yay!

Sofia sighed, and put down her pencil. She should have dropped down to regular Chemistry when she had the chance. This class was hard.

Sofia felt her back pocket buzz. For a second she thought there was a bug crawling around, but then she realized that her rear end would have smashed any bug, so it must be her phone. She clicked on the device. She had a text from Tracy.

Sofi!!!!!!!!!! I need you ASAP. Seriously this is an emergency

Sofia sighed. Every time Tracy had an emergency, it was usually about a boy or something like that. Nevertheless, Tracy was still her closest friend, and friends were supposed to help one and other.

I'm on my way.

She typed. Sofia got up, happy for a break from chemistry, and walked into the living room where her mother sat, quietly reading. Like always. Her mom seriously had a problem with reading. Sofia had recommended several times that she see a doctor.

"Mom," Sofia said, "Tracy has another emergency, so I'm gonna go over to her place for a little bit to comfort her."

"Sure." Her mother said, without breaking concentration from her book.

"I won't be back until four in the morning."

"Go ahead."

"There may or may not be boys involved. A whole load of them"

"Have fun, sweetie."

"Mom! Are you even paying attention?"

"Did you say something, Sofi?" Her mother asked, finally looking up from the page. Sofia sighed in exasperation.

"Nothing, Mom, just that I am going over to Tracy's house for a little while."

"Is all of your homework finished?"

"Almost," Sofia said, "But remember, I don't have school tomorrow. Teacher in-service day."

"Ah yes, well, have fun."

"I will, bye!" Sofia grabbed her sketchbook, put it in a bag, and opened the door into the garage. She hopped onto her bike, buckled her helmet, and turned on the lights both in the back and front (safety first!).

Tracy lived very close to Sofia, only about a five minute bike ride, so Sofia's mother didn't really mind Sofia riding in the dark to Tracy's. But anywhere farther than that, and Sofia's mom needed to drive Sofia there.

Sofia drove up to Tracy's driveway, leaning her bike up against the side fence. She knocked on the door, and Tracy's mother answered.

"Hello Sofia! Tracy is in her room."

"Thanks, Mrs. Michaels!"

Sofia walked down the hall to Tracy's room, and opened the door.

"Oh, thank my lucky stars, you are here! I have been slowly dying."

"You look fine to me, Trace, and it has only been five minutes since you texted me."

"I know!! five minutes is too long. You should have come sooner."

"Tracy. I am not a mythical being, I am not capable of coming here within the instant you text me."

"No. Really? I thought you were a faerie." Sofia smiled.

"What is the emergency?" She asked.

"Andrew is the emergency."

"That kid from our kindergarten class? The one who forgot to raise his hand?"

Tracy stared, open mouthed at Sofia

"How on Earth do you remember stuff like that? And yes, that is the Andrew I am speaking of."

"What about him?" Sofia asked, ready for the usual rant about how he was going out with some girl etc.

"He asked me out."

"What? Like on a date?'

"No, Sofia, he asked me jump off a cliff." Sofia glared at her.

"When did he ask you out?"

"Just now, like seven minutes ago. He texted me."

"Did you even like him?"

"Not particularly, but he is really cute, so I thought I'd say yes."

"Oh, Tracy. Do you want to see my latest drawing?" Sofia asked, remembering her sketchbook.

"Of course!! Show me the beauty."

Together they looked through Sofia's sketchbook, Tracy making comments on which ones she liked, Sofia making comments on which ones she thought were bad, and enjoyed themselves for the rest of the evening.

Spending time with your best friend was definitely better than doing chemistry homework.