Title: comme il faut
Fandom: Cory in the House
Genre: post-series, AU
Rating: T/PG-13
Summary: Sophie Martinez wasn't 'America's Angel' anymore. Not that anyone still called her that, except for
the occasional drunken frat boy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Cory in the House.
Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long - real life and a crappy computer charger got in the way. But the charger is fixed (and hopefully will stay that way) and real life has settled down for a bit (yay weekends), so I can get some more work done. So please enjoy this and I'll do my best to get another chapter or two out soon.
--
terra incognita
Chapter Six
Sophie was in the library doing homework when her little sister, Kanisha, came over. "Hey, Sophie."
"Hi, Kanisha, what's up?"
"Jess sent me over, you have a message from Jordan about a devil spawn," Kanisha said, looking confused.
"Oh! Thanks," Sophie said, turning on her phone. She quickly checked the area around her and dialed Jordan's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Sophie said softly, waving to Kanisha as she left.
"Sophie, why are you whispering?"
"Shut up, I'm in the library."
"Oh, the evil librarian's on duty today, I take it," Jordan rolled her eyes, Sophie was sure. "I need you to pick up Mattie from her music lessons."
"What? No, I can't do that!" Sophie said, slightly panicked.
"Please, Sophie, the asshat bailed again."
Sophie sighed, "God, fine. When?"
"Four-thirty and you can just drop her off here. Thanks," Jordan said.
"You owe me."
"Oh please," Jordan sighed, "I don't get why you're avoiding Newt. He remembered you."
"Really?" Sophie couldn't help but ask.
Jordan laughed, "Yup. Oh, I gotta go. Remember four-thirty."
"Four-thirty. Bye."
"Miss Martinez."
"Dammit," she muttered sighing.
"You know there is no cell phone use in the study lounges."
"I know," Sophie said, collecting her stuff, "I'm just leaving."
"This is your first warning of the semester. Let's try for a better record than last."
Sophie packed away all her books and papers, turned to the evil librarian and told him, "It's a shame you're cute, such gifts shouldn't be wasted on the evil incarnate. See you tomorrow!" and left.
As she entered the room, Jess looked up, "You're back early. Get kicked out of the library again?"
"Yeah," Sophie sighed, pulling out her textbooks, "I don't see why no one believes me that he's the devil reborn."
"Well, you do have a way of over exaggerating certain people's level of evil," Jess explained, "Personally, I think you want him."
"Oh, please," Sophie rolled her eyes, "You're sick."
"Uh-huh," Jess said knowingly, then switched gears, "Did you see Kanisha?"
"Yeah, she gave me your message. I have to say, you're pretty lazy sending other people to do your errands."
"Just the littles."
Sophie shook her head, "Yeah, uh-huh." She powered up her laptop and pulled out her notes. She checked the clock - two-seventeen. Flipping open her phone, Sophie said, "Just don't pick on my little."
"Of course not," Jess stood up, grabbing Charlotte's Web, "I wouldn't dream of messing with your dear little."
"Bite me, Duffy," Sophie said as she set a reminder on her phone for four, "Don't make me have to retaliate on your little."
"My little's tough - she could take your little," Jess plopped down on her bed, "Now quiet, I have work to do."
--
"Your phone scared the crap out of me," Jess accused when Sophie entered the room.
"Uh, sorry?" she said, picking up said phone. It was four-oh-eight.
"Why do you have to have it on vibrate? Put it on some ringtone like a normal person."
"I'll do what I like," Sophie said, putting on a hoodie, "Now I have to get pick up the devil spawn."
"Lucky you," Jess said, hiding behind her book.
"Bite me," Sophie said as she left the room. She pulled up the collar on her hoodie as she went outside. She walked towards Pearl Street, letting the sounds of the city wash over her.
Sophie entered Carolyn's Musical Emporium and saw no one at the desk. She followed the signs that said "music lessons" down a hall way and peeked into one of the rooms where the sound of piano was coming from. There sat Mattie practicing.
"Devil spawn's pretty good," Sophie whispered to herself as another door opened and she heard voices talking, but she ignored that to listen to Mattie.
Though a moment later, "Sophie?"
Sophie turned around and squeaked out, "Newt?"
"Yeah, hey," Newt grinned and walked over, "You don't have a kid here do you?" he asked jokingly with an eyebrow raised.
Sophie laughed weakly, "No, of course not. My friend's daughter, Matilda Steves, goes here."
"Yeah, she's friends with my niece Sama," Newt explained.
"I thought you were an only child."
"Sama's mom is my half sister - from my dad's first marriage."
"Oh, I didn't know."
"Yeah, dad tries to keep that under wraps usually."
Sophie nodded awkwardly.
"Soo, how have you been? It's been what, ten years?" Newt asked.
"Yeah, last time I saw you was right before," Sophie hesitated, "before you left D.C. for good."
"Yeah," Newt said awkwardly and cleared his throat, "So I hear you go to Drexel - you like it?"
"Yeah, it's amazing." Sophie grinned, "My classes are interesting, professors are mostly great, and I have awesome housemates."
"That's great. I had a crappy roommate at first."
"So did I freshmen year, though I lucked out - I rushed with a friend of mine my sophomore year and got to move into the house."
"You're in a sorority?" Newt asked surprised, "I'd never pictured you in one."
"Yeah," Sophie smiled sheepishly, "My friend talked me into it."
"Which one are you in?"
"Phi Mu, we're a few blocks down from here on Powelton."
"Really? All this time you've been two, three blocks away and I've never seen you," Newt laughed.
"Well, Philly's not exactly small," Sophie grinned.
"True. So what are you majoring in?"
"Biomedical Engineering," Sophie said proudly.
"Awesome, you were always really good at science."
Sophie grinned shyly at the praise; most people just asked her why she picked that.
"Sophie?"
She turned around and saw Mattie coming out of the classroom.
"Hey, Mattie, all done?" Sophie smiled.
"Yeah." Mattie looked up at her and asked with an air of suspicion, "Why are you so happy?"
"Quiet you. Let's get going," Sophie turned back to Newt, "Time's up."
"Looks like," Newt said, walking with them to the sign in/out desk.
Newt stood by as Sophie signed Mattie out, "You look good, Sophie. I'll see you around?" Newt smiled.
Sophie blushed a little, "Definitely."
"Good," he turned to Mattie, "I'll see you around too, Miss Mattie."
"Don't forget to ask about the sleepover!" Mattie demanded.
"I won't," Newt promised, "Alright, I'll see you girls later."
"Bye," Sophie said while Mattie waved as they left the building.
They took two steps out before Mattie said, "You like him, don't you?"
"Shut up, devil spawn."
--
Word Count: 1064
Date Written: 12.6, 8-9, 17.2007; 3.1.2008