WOW! I feel so loved! All the reviews. Thanks, well, I may not get to update 'til monday, but I'll try to.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything familiar

Chapter 3: Cookies

"Welcome to Mesa de Lambert." As Lok opened up the front door for Sophie, she glanced at him sidelong.

"You do know mesa means table, right?" Sheepishly, Lok shook his head. Sophie almost giggled again. What was wrong with her? No one had ever made her come close to laughing, not even smiling. Whenever she was around Lok she felt...happy. Oh my goodness, she felt happy!

She hadn't felt happy in years. Never once had a little bubble of joy zing around her chest since her mother died. More like murdered.

"Lok, is that you?" A tall, blonde lady stepped out of the kitchen. She was very pale, but had a kind look about her. The lady wiped her hands on a bright pink apron. " I see you brought a friend!"

"Mom, this is Sophie. Sophie this is my mom." Sophie shook Mrs. Lambert's outstretched hand.

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Lambert."

"Oh, what nice manners. It is nice to meet you too, dear. Lok has told me so much about you." This took the strawberry blonde by surprise. Lok had only just met her, and he was already telling his mother about her. This sort of thing never happened to the Casterwill.

"I think it is just horrible how those girls treat you! Your parents should call the school!" Sophie bit her lip and looked to the floor at the mention of her parent.

"Actually, ma'am. My mother and father are...gone." This shocked both Sandra and Lok. Sophie never talked about her parents, and she always skirted around that area.

"Well, then I'll do it myself!" Sandra was met with protests.

"No, Mrs. Lambert. My guardian has tried, but the school won't listen. They think Scarlet and her gang are little angels." Lok rolled his eyes.

"Really, mom, they're bitches." Sandra glared at Lok, who gulped. Then she offered a snack to the two ravenous teens. Lok had cookies; Sophie had veggies. Then, Sandra left them to their own devices. They sat in silence for less than a second, then,

"Why are you eating veggies?" Sophie didn't look up.

"I like them." She replied.

"Have you ever had a cookie?" The girl shook her head. Lok gasped.

"You've never had a cookie! Try one." Lok passed one to her. She pushed it back. Slightly irked, he pushed it back. Again, it ended up in his possession. He threw it. The cookie pegged Sophie in the head.

"You did not just do that!" Lok smirked. Sophie threw it at him, hard. It hurt when it contacted his arm.

"It's on!" Soon, cookies and veggies were flying through the air. Then Lok started chasing Sophie around the kitchen with a whisk. They ran circles and assaulted each other. At one point Cathy walked in saying,

"Lok, have you-" But turned away when she saw the war zone. Sophie was having so much fun, but she didn't see Lok. Arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her onto the table. Lok tried to stuff a cookie in her face.

"Eat it! Eat it!" He chanted. Sophie started to smile, then giggle, then she laughed.

"No, no, no!" Lok smiled and let her up.

"Fine, fine. You have a pretty laugh." Sophie blushed, then Sandra walked in. She laughed when she saw the mess.

"Oh, Ethon and I would do things like this all the time." Lok and Sophie apologized for the mes, then offered to clean up, but Sandra said she would clean.

"So, Sophie, let me give you the grand tour." Lok's house was actually pretty big. It had several rooms and was quite spacious. But Lok's room was a disaster.

"Did a bomb go off in here?"

"Nooo!" Lok insisted, "Maybe." Sophie laughed again. It was clear and sweet, like spring water. Lok couldn't get enough. They started on homework. With Sophie's help, Lok felt as if he had a chance at a good grade. When the sun was low in the sky, Sophie decided to go home. Lok volunteered to go with her. On the way, he asked,

"Should I tryout for football?" This made Sophie go cold. Oh no, it was happening. He was going to leave her, and become friends with Scarlet. Then he would torment and tease her. She didn't think she could lose a friend. A real friend. What would happen if-

"Sophie?" She had stopped walking.

"You're going to leave me." Her whisper carried away on the wind. "You're going to become a pop, then pick on me. How was I so blind?" Her voice started to rise and shake.

"Sophie-" She kept on ranting.

"Why did I let you in? I should have seen it before. Of course, the first person I let in since my mom was killed-" She froze, realizing her mistake.

"What? I thought you said your parents were gone." Lok asked. Uh oh. Now she had to lie.

"Yeah, she was killed in a hit and run. They never found the killer. Dad ditched me." The lie came easy. It was always her lie. Better to stick to the story. Lok took her smaller hands in his.

"Sophie, I won't leave you. I promise." Sophie nodded. Lok wrapped her in a huge hug. He smelled like sunshine and grass, Sophie decided. Lok thought she smelt like cinnamon and vanilla. It was mesmerizing.

"So, should I tryout?" They started to walk again, only this time hand in hand. Sophie wanted to know one thing first.

"First off, where did you get the idea?" Lok told her about Dante and P.E. Sophie nodded. She liked Dante. Well, not really liked as a friend, but he was a truthful person she thought.

"Then yes, you should do it." Lok brightened. For some reason, he wanted her approval on this. But the reason was beyond him.

"Will you come to games?" The girl hesitated, then nodded. "Practice?" Lok questioned.

"Now, you're pushing it." She replied. Lok begged,

"Please! Please, please please. It'll give you a chance to laugh at Scarlet's fat ass in a cheer outfit." Sophie sighed.

"Fine! But only if you take me out for ice cream after games." Lok smile spread from California to New York.

"Deal!" Sophie smiled and shook her head.

STARSTARSTARSTARSTARSTARTSRA TSRATSTARSTARSTARSTARSTARSTA R

Once they got to her house, Lok bade her farewell.

"Thanks for having me over." She said.

" No problem. Thanks for homework help. I needed it." Sophie didn't argue there.

"See you on Monday!" Lok yelled as he walked away. Sophie waved and whispered,

"See ya." She then started to trudge toward the mansion two blocks over. The place was sad and falling apart. Colors had washed away over the years, and everything was gray. As Sophie bracingly walked through the door a voice made her veins fill with ice.

"Where have you been?"

Oooh Cliffy! What was Sophie lying about? Who is at her house? And what is going to happen at tryouts? These questions can only be answered in time. So if you want answers, review!