SOFIA

Somewhere in Cole Valley, San Francisco:

I was sitting on my bed with the maths book in my hands and trying to comprehend the formulas I had to learn. I didn't remember how many times I was reading the maths formula without really understanding it; maths was so boring! After all, it was Friday afternoon and I had really enough of learning for this week ... I was waiting for a message from my bestie Sally; she was supposed to let me know if we were going out tonight. I couldn't wait to meet finally Frank, Sally's "new" boyfriend! She met him four weeks ago at a party, while I was spending the weekend with my parents in Louisiana. My mum was from Louisiana, we were visiting my grandparents there.

Sally and I were best friends since Middle School, we were just inseparable. We had a lot of things in common, but when it came to boys, she was not taking things too serious. While after three months I was still struggling with the breakup from my ex boyfriend Adam, Sally changed two boyfriends in the meantime! But this time it was different: she didn't stop raving about Frank and I was pretty sure she was falling hard for him. I was really curious to meet the boy who was conquering the heart of my bestie!

I sighed and closed the maths book, then I laid down on my stomach, staring at the photo in the frame on my desk; Adam's photo! I didn't even know why I was still keeping his photo. It was not that I was very sad about our breakup, since I was never really into him! We were together for six months, but Adam was busy with football training most of the time. At least, when we were seeing us sometimes during the week and on Sundays, we had always a good time; Adam was sincerely in love with me! In the end it wasn't enough for me: I was sick of being the second choice after football and I asked him to dedicate more time to me ...

At first Adam was really mortified, but then he proposed me seriously to wait for him, since for now he wanted to focus on his football career! That asshole! I gave the frame an angry push and Adam's photo fell over. Then I turned on my back, crossing the hands behind my neck and staring at the ceiling. Would I ever find a boyfriend to share real love with, the kind of love that makes your heart beat like crazy and takes your breath away?! I was hopelessly romantic and I still believed that someday I would meet my soulmate ...

The beep tone of my phone was interrupting my thoughts; it was Sally! She texted me that Frank and his friends were going to the "Dragon's Den" tonight, a club in the city, and that we would meet them there. "Don't tell me we are going to the Dragon's Den; they're selling drugs in that club!" I was a bit nervous, while I was writing Sally. "Just chill, Sofie! We are not going there for buying drugs, but for having fun. Are you coming with us or not?" Sally answered me. The last thing I wanted was staying at home on Friday night! "Okay, I'm coming with you. At what time?" Sally replied that she was going to pick me up at 9 p.m.

Once we finished with texting, I was feeling unsure: probably I shouldn't go to the Dragon's Den; the club had a bad reputation! But honestly I was way too curious about meeting Frank and his friends; after all, I wanted to have some fun tonight ... I heard the front door shut and then the voices of my mum and my little brother down in the hall; my mum had just picked up my brother Sven from basketball training. At the thought of Sven's happy face after training, I smiled and decided to go downstairs.

My mum and my brother were discussing something. As soon as I arrived in the hall, Sven turned around. "Hey Sofie! The training was great today; I scored four times!" he told me with enthusiasm and his hazel eyes were glowing. I laughed softly as he was standing in front of me, wearing his basketball jersey, his curly blond hair uncombed. "Wow Sven, you're getting better and better! I'm so proud of you, little bro." I winked at him and he smiled happily. "Thank you, Sofie! I guess it's time for me to shower; I'm stinking ..." I giggled; my little brother was cute, I loved him so much!

Sven was now looking at Mum. "Bye Mum, see you later!" he said and wanted to leave, but Mum was holding him back. "Listen to your sister and don't bother her, while I'm away! Bye Sven." Her words had a strict undertone and Sven rolled his eyes. "Okay okay!" he said annoyed, before going upstairs. I was looking thoughtfully at Mum; she was a beautiful woman in her forties! People said that I was very similar to her; we had the same tan skin and the same golden brown eyes. "Where are you going, Mum?" I asked her. Mum was breathing deeply. "I'm going to our office right now! Dad needs me to assist him with the surgery of a dog." Mum and Dad were both vets; they had a vet's office in the city.

"OH! Honestly I've planned to go out tonight, with Sally and some friends ..." I said unsure. "When will you be back, Mum?" Mum was smiling. "Don't worry, sweetie! I'll be back for dinner, around 8 p.m." she assured me. "I've prepared the potato casserole for dinner; you just have to cook it in the oven." I breathed a sigh of relief; I definitely didn't want to stay at home tonight for babysitting my little brother! Mum was looking at me with a serious expression in her eyes and I was getting nervous. "Where are you going tonight, Sofia?" she wanted to know. "To a club in the city! I don't remember the name ..." I decided not to tell her that I was going to the Dragon's Den; the club had a bad reputation and I was not sure if Mum would allow me to go there! To my great relief Mum didn't ask any further, but cleared her throat. "A club in the city ... Whatever; I must really go now! Bye!"

After Mum left, I was standing there for a while, lost in my thoughts. My parents were working together and after all these years, they were still in love! They met in Germany more than twenty years ago, while they were studying vet medicine at Berlin University. My dad was German and my mum was a Southern girl, from Louisiana; one day she decided to go to Berlin and to study there; she never expected to meet the love of their life! My dad was so in love with my mum that he decided, after graduation, to move with her to the USA. They settled down in San Francisco, where they opened their vet's office and started a family!

I took a deep breath; hopefully one day I would meet the love of my life, like it happened to Mum and Dad. All of a sudden, I remembered that Sven was still in the shower. I walked upstairs in a rush to check if he hadn't flooded the bathroom in the meantime!

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Finally, after dinner it was time to get ready for a cheerful Friday night with my bestie Sally and ... new friends?! I chose to wear my black skinny jeans and the matching Fishnet top, with underneath my black bralette. I was not used to putting makeup on my face, since I had natural tan skin, but I accentuated my brown eyes with black mascara and put pink lip gloss on my lips. After brushing my long black hair, I took a scrutinizing look in the mirror: I was pretty satisfied with my looks! My phone vibrated and I saw on the screen that Sally was texting me: "I'm waiting outside, Sofia! Please hurry up." I smiled, while I was responding to her, then I walked quickly down the stairs.

I was lost in thoughts, as usual, and I didn't notice my dad standing near to the front door with his arms crossed, obviously waiting for me! I almost bumped into him and stepped back in surprise. "Dad! You, you scared me; what are you doing here?" I exclaimed with a shrill voice and looked up to Dad. He took a deep breath and continued looking at me, with a weird expression in his hazel eyes. Dad was very tall and handsome, he was of the same age as my mum. He cleared his throat, before asking me: "Are you going out dressed like this, Sofia?" Oh my God; sometimes Dad was really annoying! "Yes Dad! We are going to a club; where's the problem?" I shrugged; hopefully he wouldn't ask me to which club we were going ...

"It's just ... you look so different, Sofie; very sexy!" Dad answered with a sad smile on his face. "You're now a beautiful young woman, not longer my little girl." He took a deep breath. "You're so similar to Mum when I first met her, sweetie!" I noticed his deep voice was trembling a bit; he was very emotional in this moment and it touched my heart! But I had to leave; Sally was waiting for me ... " Can I go now, Dad? Sally is waiting outside for me!" I asked softly, trying to hide my impatience. Dad nodded. "Okay, Sofia, but be careful! There are so many bad people out there." he said worried and I rolled my eyes. "You know the rules: no alcohol, no drugs! Don't trust any guy before knowing him better!" I was losing my patience! "Gosh Dad, I'm eighteen! As you said before; I'm not longer a little girl. Bye!" I walked pass him and opened resolutely the front door; I heard Dad sighing behind me, before I left the house.

Sally was leaning against her car, a blue Opel Corsa; the car was old, but it was hers! I envied her for it, since I had the driving license, too, but no car ... "Hey Sally!" I greeted, while I was walking towards her and a smile lighted up her pretty face. "Finally Sofie!" We hugged each other, then Sally gave me an appreciative look. "Wow Sofie, you look sexy as hell! Good luck then; the Dragon's Den is full of hot guys ..." I shook my head, then I could not help, but laugh and Sally laughed with me. "Come on, Sally, you're gorgeous!" I assured her and I was absolutely right! Sally was afro-american; she was very beautiful with her silky skin and the big darkbrown eyes. She was wearing red jeggins, which suited her long legs perfectly, and an orange crop top.

We entered the car and Sally started the motor. "In half an hour you will finally meet Frank, sweetie!" she said, while we were driving towards the city. " He seems to be so cool, but his kisses ... are fucking hot!" Sally couldn't stop smiling and I looked at her thoughtfully; there was no doubt that Sally was falling for Frank ...

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