Ch.4
It was late afternoon by the time they reached the Ford residence in Boston, Massachusetts. The home was a two story, brick house, with bay windows and a French ornate door. It was rather breathtaking. Jimmy Ford closed the back end of his green 2007 Ford Explorer and picked up the two remaining bags and took them into the home. That was when Nate approached him.
"Dad, can she please just sleep in your room or something?" Nate asked for the sixth time since boarding the plane in Paris. He would never ask his father in front of Sophie or his mother. He always waited until he could get his father alone to badger him about it.
Jimmy sighed and sat the bags down next to the front door before closing it, then headed off towards the kitchen. "Nathan, you and I have been over this. You wanted to help her, and I'm glad that you did, but you need to understand that some sacrifices need to be made when you make sudden decisions. Sophie needs somewhere to sleep and I will not have her sleeping on the couch. Until I can get her a room, she'll have to sleep in yours. I'm sorry." Jimmy stated once again receiving a huff from Nate.
"Why can't she sleep with mom?" Nate asked.
"Do you honestly think Sophie would feel comfortable with sleeping with your mother? I sure as hell do not. She barely knows your mother." Jimmy replied, leaning against the marble counter.
"Dad, she hardly knows any of us that well. But she still decided to come and stay with us to get away from her dad. I'm pretty sure she'd be happy to sleep anywhere as long as her dad isn't there." Nate countered honestly.
Jimmy sighed once more and glared at his son. He really was stubborn as a mule, just like his father. Jimmy knew that Nate just didn't like the idea of giving up his room. But it was what Jimmy had to do. "Nathan, please just work with me here. Okay? It's only temporary; maybe five nights. Just do it for me." Jimmy concluded, walking into the living room, with Nate following right behind him. He noticed Sophie standing out in the living room and hit himself in the head. "Oh, I'm sorry honey. I didn't even bother to show you around, did I?"
Sophie gave him a polite smile and shrugged her shoulders. "It's alright. I was just admiring all of your paintings." Sophie admitted, her eyes going over the walls once again. "It's quite a collection." She added as she stared at a painting that she could bet was an original Monet.
"Ah, thank you. It took me quite a while to acquire them all. Most of them cost me quite a bit to obtain them." Jimmy smiled. "Anyhow, Nate here will show you to the room you'll be staying in." Jimmy said, turning around to face his son with a bright smile on his face.
Nate sent a glare at his father before locking eyes with Sophie. He gave her a small smile before ushering her up the stairs. He led her to a bedroom at the end of the hallway. Once he opened the door, he wished he hadn't. His room was a complete disaster area. He blushed, highly embarrassed and started picking up various items of clothing. "I'm really sorry about the mess. We were, uh, in a rush to get to Prague and stuff."
Sophie laughed and shook her head as she took a seat at his cherry wood desk. "It's okay, really Nate. No worse than I thought it'd be." She joked. "Are you sure that it is okay though that I sleep in your bedroom? I'd hate to intrude on your space." Sophie asked, not yet receiving an answer. Nate was much too busy picking up his things. She decided to just watch him as he picked up his things and flung them into different drawers. He threw his boxers and socks into a small wooden drawer, his shirts in a long, faded black drawer, and his jeans were flung into the closet to be hung up later. Her eyes connected with his a couple of times, but as soon as they did, he'd look away. She had to admit, there was something about Nathan Ford that attracted her to him. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but she knew it was there. She just felt a pull towards him and couldn't explain what it was.
After about five minutes, Nate put the last of his thing up and sat at the foot of the bed, letting out an exhausted breath. "Sorry again. It was a huge mess." He apologized, pushing his messy hair back.
"It really is okay Nate." Sophie replied as she fidgeted with her fingers. "Nate, are you sure it is okay that I sleep in your room?" She asked again, her brown eyes wide.
Nate just stared at her for a moment, lost in her eyes. He couldn't tell her that he hated the idea of not sleeping in his own room. So, he lied. "No… I mean yes. Yeah it's okay that you sleep in here. Totally fine."
Sophie saw straight through the lie though. She gave him a meek smile and moved to sit on the bed beside him. "Nate, I'm sure that I could ask to sleep elsewhere. I don't want to impose on you and take your room from you." She said, locking eyes with him again.
Nate swallowed thickly at the contact. His throat suddenly became dry as he felt a need for some air. It was insane the effect that Sophie had on him just by looking at him with those brown eyes of hers. Especially since they had only met the other day. He secretly wondered if this is what people meant when they used the expression 'love at first sight.' Nate shook his head at that thought and licked his dry lips. "No, it's okay. Really. I mean, I'd much rather you sleep in here than downstairs." He replied. And that was true. You couldn't get anywhere near his room from the outside. There aren't any trees near his window, and there are no ledges either. Downstairs though, if someone wanted to get in, they could. Sure, they had a security system, but if Sophie's father figured out where she was at and found her asleep in the living room, her could get in, get her, then get out. Or, he could just sent a bullet through the window and-. Nate didn't let himself complete that thought. He shook his head once more and looking back at Sophie and saw a curious look on her face. "What?"
"You okay Nate?" Sophie asked, truly concerned for him.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm cool. Why?" Nate asked confused.
"You just had a sort of scared look on your face is all." Sophie replied. If she was honest, the look on his face was of pure terror. But now his face displayed no signs of that terror. He was calm now. "You are okay though?" She asked again receiving a nod from him. "Okay. So are you going to go with your mother and me to the mall? She said she'd buy me some clothes and stuff since I don't have any."
"Yeah and I bet she decided all the clothes could go in my closet." Nate thought to himself. He was pretty territorial since he never had to share a room with anyone before. "I might just stay here with my dad." Nate replied, looking down at the floor. Maybe if he stayed home, he could convince his father to let him keep his room.
Sophie frowned and looked down at the floor. "Oh." Was all she said back, sadness evident in her voice.
Nate noticed this and looked at her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just thought that you would come with us. I'm not very well acquainted with your mother." Sophie stated.
"What is it with the Brits and their fancy words?" Nate thought to his self. "Well, I mean, you and I don't know one another that well either, Soph." Nate reminded her.
"Yeah I know, but I know you more than I know you mother. Plus, I'd feel more comfortable if you came along." Sophie replied. Her brown eyes sought out his blue ones and once they connected, he didn't look away like she was sure he would.
Nate a swallowed thickly and nodded his head. "Yeah." He said, his voice coming out a bit higher than normal. He cleared his throat and started again. "Yeah, I'll go with you. You're right; it'd be totally weird for you by yourself with my mom. You know, she's weird. I mean, not weird, she just um… annoying at times. Yeah I'm gonna go remind my mom that we're going to the mall so she don't forget. She's kinda old ya know?" Nate said, rushing out of the room, thankful for some air.
As he left, Sophie let out a light laugh. He was a complete nervous wreck around her. She didn't know how, but she seemed to have that effect on people. She was just really grateful that he decided to come along with her and his mother. She would have been rather nervous to spend the entire day with the woman by herself. But now, since Nate would be there, she knew it'd be better. She was also very grateful that his parents were not only letting her stay, but they were taking care of her as well. That was more than she had expected. Taking in a deep breath, Sophie stood up from the bed and walked down the hallway towards the other room, which she supposed, was Jimmy's & Jenny's room. Hearing voices inside the room, Sophie slowed her pace and listened at the door.
"Dad, come on! Why do I have to do this?" Sophie instantly recognized that voice belonged to Nate. He sounded rather upset. Moving closer to the door, she peered her head around the door and saw Nate standing at a long, cherry oak dresser, his arms crossed in front of his chest, a scowl apparent on his face.
"What on earth do you expect me to do, Nathan? Put her up by herself in a hotel room? I will not do that to her! Now drop it!" Jimmy replied angrily. He stood up from his bed and walked towards the door. He opened it the rest of the way and both men saw Sophie stand there with tears in her eyes.
Nate immediately felt guilty. He knew that he was the cause of those tears. He started to move towards her but she rushed down the stairs. "Sophie! Please wait, I'm sorry!" Nate yelled after her, pushing past his father and running down the stairs. Nate noticed that the front door was open and that his mother had emerged from the kitchen, asking what was going on. He just ignored her and ran out the door. Looking down the street, he spotted her halfway down the street, running towards the nearby park. Letting out a deep breath, Nate took off after her. "Sophie!" He called out, but she just kept on running. "Soph, agh, LARA!" He yelled again. This time she stopped. As soon as he caught up with her, he tried to take her hand but she pulled away from him.
"Leave me alone Nate." She choked, tears running down her face.
Nate sighed and rubbed his forehead. He sure felt like a huge asshole for making her cry. He was supposed to be helping her, not making her cry and feel unwanted. "Sophie, I really am sorry." He apologized.
"Don't worry about it. I'll just find someplace else to stay." She said, wiping her eyes. But it was no use, the tears kept coming. She was hurt by what she heard Nate say. If he wanted his room, he should've just told her. She would've gladly slept in another room, even if it meant sharing a room with his mother or taking the bloody couch. She just didn't want him hating her for something she had no control over.
"No. Sophie please don't do that. I don't want you staying someplace else. Please. Stay with me… with my parents." Nate urged, not wanting her to leave.
"Why the hell should I?! It's completely obvious that you do not want me there, Nate!" Sophie yelled, her emotions taking over her.
"Soph, I do… I just… It's hard for me, okay?"
"It's hard for me too, Nate! I hardly know any of you, yet I decided to stay because your parents were allowing me to. They were helping to save me from something horrible! I decided to stay because you saved my life! Because I know no one else would ever do that for me! Yet you did! You risked your life for me! And now your family is taking me in too, and they hardly know me! But they're doing it because… hell I don't even know why but I thank them for it! And I thank God for it! But you need to understand you're not the only one going through a hard time!" Sophie yelled, wiping her tears. "And damn it, Nate, I told you I'd sleep somewhere else if you really wanted to sleep in your room! I wouldn't care where I had to sleep as long as I was with you and your family! But you didn't tell me! Instead you go and yell at your father about it! Why is that?" Sophie asked, her tears still falling from her brown eyes.
Nate sighed heavily and shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't because… God, Sophie I don't know why. But I do know that it was a … selfish, dick move. And I'm sorry. I want you to stay. Please." Nate pleaded. He really hated his self right now. He never wanted to hurt her, yet he did. "Sophie, I really am sorry. Please just stay. You can sleep in my room; I don't know why I was being such an ass about it. My dad's right. It's only temporary." Nate let out a deep breath and reached out for Sophie's hand again. This time she didn't pull away. Facing her now, Nate reached up to wipe away the remainder of her tears. "I really, truly am sorry Sophie. I was being a jerk and I shouldn't have been." Nate apologized sincerely.
Sophie let out a deep breath and licked her dry lips, feeling rain start to slowly fall from the sky. "It's okay Nate. But… if your room means so much to you, why not ask your parents about us sharing it?" She suggested, and Nate gave her a funny look. "I mean, maybe we could see about getting a chaise or something and I could sleep on it in your room?"
"Ha… Yeah… I do not think my dad would go for that. Let alone my mother." Nate replied with a shake of his head.
"Why not? I mean, we wouldn't be sharing the same bed or anything." Sophie laughed, making Nate slightly uncomfortable with that thought. "I'd be sleeping on the chaise and you'd have your bed. So I honestly do not see why they wouldn't be okay with that." She added, not really understanding the problem.
"Yeah but, we'd be sharing a room." Nate replied. Sophie just blinked her eyes at him, still not seeing the issue.
"Okay but, don't brothers and sisters normally share rooms?" She asked, scratching her head.
"Eh, some do but that's just the thing there Soph, you and I aren't brother and sister. We're friends, ya know?" Sophie apparently still didn't understand the problem. "Soph, they'd be thinking that you and I would do something together." Nate finally said, slightly embarrassed.
"Ugh, why would we though? I mean, we don't even like one another like that." Sophie said with a dismissive wave. She wasn't going to say that she did sort of like him like that.
"Okay, yeah, but still. They'd be… freaking out or something and staying up all night and checking up on us every fifteen minutes just to make for sure." Nate said, rubbing his temples. Gosh, talking this conversation was really making him uncomfortable and giving him a headache. She really could be stubborn at times.
Sophie pursed her lips, feeling very determined to get her way. She grabbed Nate's hand and pulled him back towards the house. She ignored Nate's protests as they walked through the front door. She thought she heard him say something about "not gonna work" but she just rolled her eyes. What Sophie wanted, she normally got. Pulling Nate into the kitchen to find his parents, Sophie smiled widely and Jimmy returned the smile.
"Good good. Everything find between you both then?" Jimmy asked taking a sip of what Sophie assumed was whiskey.
"Yes we're fine. I just have a quick suggestion, well question really. Why don't Nate and I share his room and I can sleep on a chaise or something? That way, we both sleep in the room and neither of us has to take the couch." Sophie said with a bright smile.
Nate stood behind Sophie and saw the look his parents exchanged and he knew the answer would be a definite no.
Jimmy gave Sophie a small smile before taking another long sip of his Irish whiskey and looked back at his wife. She shrugged her shoulders and gave him a nod. Looking back at Sophie, he responded "I think that is a great idea, Sophie."
Sophie grinned even wider and looked back at Nate who had a dumbfounded look on his face. "Thank you Mr. Jimmy. Nate and I just thought it'd be a better idea to share the room.
"Of course. I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. Huh. Great thinking though kids." Jimmy smiled.
Sophie smiled back at him. "See? What Sophie wants, Sophie gets." Sophie thought to herself as she looked back at Nate.
Nate could see the sly look on her face and he shook his head. How in the hell did she do that?
About an hour and a half later Nate, Sophie and Jenny were all at the mall. While Jenny was busy looking at purses, Nate & Sophie browsed through the clothes.
"How in the hell did you do that?" Nate asked, voicing his thoughts. He was for certain that his parents would've politely declined her suggestion, but they accepted it! Even said it was a great idea and they didn't know why they didn't think of it.
Sophie smiled as she looked through the ring of tops. She came across a real pretty white one with little ruffles going down the front of it. It was actually rather cute. She picked it up and looked back at Nate who was still waiting for a response. "I have a knack for convincing people to see things the way I do. Whenever I really want something, I just ask nicely and it normally works. If not, I find a different approach and try again." Sophie replied with a sly smile, finding a cute pair of black leggings that would match her teal top she found earlier.
Nate raised his eyebrows quizzically as he looked at her. "Huh. So next time I want something, just have you ask for me." Nate joked, making Sophie laugh lightly.
"It really doesn't matter who does the asking, Nate. It's all about presentation and how you're asking." She replied, turning her full attention to him. "If you ask a question expecting to be let down, you will be. Just be confident but not cocky. Be cool and calm, not rude and overbearing."
Nate couldn't help but to stare at her; being under the full attention of her, he found it rather hard to breathe. Finally, once she had turned her attention back towards the rack of clothes, he found his voice. "How do you know all of that?"
"Well, my older sister Elizabeth taught me a few things." Sophie admitted sadly, shocking Nate. This was the first Sophie had mentioned having a sister.
"You have a sister?" Nate managed to choke out.
Sophie nodded her head and looked at him. "Two actually, and an older brother. All of them are older than I am. Liz is 17; she left home a long time ago though. Kristen is 21 and lives in New Zealand with her five year old son, my nephew, Elijah. And then there's Demetri. He's 24 years old and he works with my dad." Sophie revealed, staring at the ground as she remembered her siblings. Of all of them, Elizabeth was the nicest towards her. That was probably because while Kristen and Demetri shared the same mother, both Sophie & Elizabeth had different mothers. Sophie's biological mother had died after giving birth to her. She had lost too much blood and the doctors were unable to revive her. Elizabeth's mother, however, was still alive and healthy, but she was rather young when she gave birth to Elizabeth. She left Elizabeth on her father's front door step two days after giving birth to her and hasn't been seen since. "Anyhow, Liz taught me a lot of things; how to talk to people; get them to do what you want most of the time, oh and how to tell a real from a fake." Sophie said with a nod.
Nate raised his eyebrow at her. "Real what?" He asked, confused.
"Well people… amongst other things." Sophie concluded with a smile.
Before Nate could ask her what she meant by that last bit, his mother came back over and pulled her into another conversation about Gucci or something. Nate wasn't sure. But he would be looking forward to continuing the conversation later.
A/N: Read and review please! Hope you enjoyed chapter 4! Can I get 5 more reviews before posting chapter 5? Please and thanks! =D