A/N: Wow, its been a little while, huh? I am SO sorry, you guys! Between school, work and my personal life, I just haven't been very inspired to write but last night, I forced myself to plan out the next couple of chapters so all I have to do is write them and they should be posted soon. Again, I am so sorry! I hope I haven't lost anyone! More flashbacks here, yay! Keep reviewing, please?
4 years ago, University of Southern California
Sophia was walking on campus towards her next class when she saw a large group of boys getting off a bus. She figured it had to be Notre Dame, considering her school's football team was playing them that afternoon. Her roommate and friends had asked her to watch the game with them but she refused, she knew who was on that team.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw Ryan getting off the bus. He looked good, better than he had looked two months ago but that was only because he had been injured and heart broken.
She took a deep breath and started walking over to him, knowing that if she didn't face him now, she probably never would.
"Hey stranger," she said, tapping him on the shoulder. The last time she had seen him was during the summer before she had left for USC. They had hung out a few times, as friends, but Ryan was always strangely optimistic about their friendship turning into more. Sophia refused to believe that though, she was still mourning the loss of her relationship with Jared.
He turned around and immediately smiled when he saw her, it felt like forever since he last saw her.
"Hey yourself," he nodded, staring at her. He pulled her into a hug and she hugged back. "It's been a little while, huh?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "Guess it takes our schools playing against each other for you to visit me." She shrugged. He laughed.
"Hey, the train works both ways!" He informed her. She laughed. "It's good to see you, Sophia."
"It's good to see you too, Ryan," she nodded. "And I know you have a few hours of practicing ahead of you before my team kicks your butt," she joked. He laughed. "But I was thinking that maybe after, if you're not too devastated by the loss, we can get coffee or something?"
He looked at her, surprised. Sure, they had hung out this summer but she had never initiated it like she was now. He knew there was something between them and he had been waiting for Sophia to realize it too for some time. He hoped that maybe she was realizing it now.
"Uh, yeah, sure," he nodded and looked at her. "I'd love to."
"Good luck tonight." She smiled and then walked off.
"Yeah," he nodded, suddenly not caring whether he won or lost this game.
Andria woke up the next morning, so happy that it was finally Saturday. Veronica had given her the day off publicist duties, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with Ava. She turned and giggled when she saw that Ava was in the bed next to her.
"What are you doing in here, sweetie?" Andria laughed.
"Uncle Aidan is over and he took over my Wii!" Ava complained. "He won't stop playing Guitar Hero and he sucks at it."
Andria laughed as she got out of bed. She grabbed a robe and threw it on as she and Ava headed into her room. She walked in on her older brother playing on his daughter's gaming system. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway.
"What's going on in here?" She asked. He glanced back at her for a moment before returning his focus to the game he was currently playing.
"Oh, you know," he said. "Just stopping by to visit my favorite niece," he said, reaching his hand out and messing up Ava's hair. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him before going to her mirror to fix it. Andria laughed, like mother like daughter.
"And play yourself in that soccer game," Andria pointed out. He paused the game and turned around to look at her. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm doing a photo shoot and interview for Vogue so I thought I'd stop by," he shrugged. Andria gave him a look. "And Mom said to check on you since you refuse to answer her calls."
"Ah," Andria nodded understandingly. "Well, you can tell Mother that Ava and I are perfectly fine and maybe if she wasn't such an overbearing mother, I would answer her calls."
"She's just worried about you," Aidan shrugged, as he and his sister headed into the kitchen.
"I'm fine," Andria said. "I've just been really stressed with this new job and everything, but I'm fine," she promised. He nodded. "So, when are you going to move back to New York so I can represent you?"
He laughed. "You know I'd love that but my life is in L.A."
"Speaking of your life," she said. "I heard you were dating that blond girl on 90210?" She asked.
"Well, you know," he shrugged. She laughed. "Nah, I'm still single."
"Oh yes, still mending the broken heart Jen Reed gave you." She nodded.
"Hey, I wouldn't talk," he said. She looked at him. "Are you going to Nick's wedding?"
"Touché," she said, rolling her eyes. He laughed.
Later that day in Minnesota, Sophia walked into her parents' house. She headed into the kitchen and stopped when she saw her older, half-sister, Gabrielle. Things hadn't been great between them since she and Ryan started dating and Sophia had tried everything to mend their broken relationship but Gabby wouldn't budge.
"Hey," Sophia finally spoke. Gabrielle turned around. "Where's Dad?"
"He and your mom went grocery shopping, they should be back soon," she said. Sophia nodded. "I, um, I heard about the injury…" Sophia looked at her. "How's he doing?"
"He's dealing," she shrugged.
4 years ago, Mendoza house
It was finally Christmas break and Sophia had pulled Gabrielle into her old room to finally tell her that she and Ryan had been seeing each other. Things started off extremely slow but Sophia was falling hard and she knew she needed to tell her sister before she found out from anyone else.
"I can't say I'm surprised," Gabby shook her head after finding out the news.
"Look, Gabby, I know you two have a past but I just… we've really fallen for each other," she explained. Gabby looked at her. "I wouldn't risk my relationship with you if it wasn't serious, you know that," she said.. Gabby nodded. "I just don't want you to be mad at me…"
"Sophia, I'm not mad at you," Gabby said. "Well, not for the reasons you think anyway," she said. Sophia looked at her curiously. "I just… what about Jared?"
"We broke up," Sophia shrugged. "He doesn't want to be with me anymore."
"Come on, that's not true and you know it."
"He said so himself," Sophia said. "You were there for the aftermath, remember?" Gabby nodded. "Anyway, I'm just trying to move on with my life and I would really appreciate some support from my sister."
"Soph, I love you and I will always support you but I really don't think you're making the right decision here," Sophia looked at her. "I mean, think of your past with guys… you dated Jared then you dated Andy, then you got back together with Jared, then you kissed Andy but you still went back to Jared," she said. "You always went back to Jared; don't you think that means something?"
"That I was clearly very confused on who I wanted to be with during my high school years?" Sophia offered. Gabby gave her a look. "Or that maybe Jared and I just aren't meant to be with each other and that we should both be moving on?"
"No," Gabby shook her head. "That maybe you should think about if this is what you really want," she said. "You know Jared will be really hurt when he finds out you're dating Ryan, so hurt that he may not be there for you to go back to this time."
"And I'm okay with that," Sophia nodded.
"Are you sure?" Her sister asked. "Because I seem to remember you breaking down every time you and Jared weren't together."
"He was a huge part of my life, I'm allowed to be sad over losing him," Sophia said, defensively. She crossed her arms over her chest. "And since when did you become so interested in my personal life?"
"I'm your sister, Sophia, I'm just trying to look out for you." Gabby said.
"Really?" She asked. Gabby nodded. "And it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm dating your ex-boyfriend?"
"No, not at all," Gabby laughed. "I'm happily married, if you've forgotten," she aid. "Ryan and I dated almost four years ago, so yes, I'm sure." She said, angrily. "I can't believe you would think otherwise." She said, getting up and heading of the door. She stopped for a moment and turned around. "Good luck with Ryan." She said, and left.
"Well, that's good," Gabrielle nodded. "Anyways, I should probably go, I have to pick up Cam and Jake from school." She said, as she stood up.
"OK, kiss them for me," Sophia said and Gabby left. She sighed and sat down at the kitchen table.
"Well, that was awkward." She looked up and saw Andy walking into the kitchen. She smiled and ran over to him.
"Andrew Portman!" She said, excitedly as she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Why does it feel like I haven't seen you in ages?"
"Ah, it hasn't been that long," he shrugged. "How've you been?"
"Good," she nodded. "How about you?"
"Great," he said. "Just finished up law school."
"Ah, congratulations!" She smiled. "Will you be working in Minnesota?"
"Undecided," he shrugged.
"Aw come on, you have to stay!" She pleaded. "Or else I really won't ever see you!" He laughed.
"We'll see," he shrugged. ""So, what did I just overhear?"
"Just the usual conversation between my sister and I," she rolled her eyes. "She still hasn't forgiven me for being with Ryan."
"I'm sure she has," he nodded. "But you know Gabby, she'd never admit it."
"Right," she nodded, laughing. "So, what are you doing here anyways?"
"Oh, its family night," he said. She raised an eyebrow. "Gabby organized it so your parents can se the kids at least once a week, I haven't been in a while so I decided to stop by tonight." He explained. She nodded, awkwardly. "I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you weren't invited?"
"Nope," she shook her head. "Still think she's forgiven me?"
Later that night, Andria and Aidan were sitting on her balcony drinking wine.
"I'm sorry I'm not around a lot," Aidan said. She looked at him. "I know how hard it must be for you to raise Ava alone," he shook his head. "I wish I could help more."
"Aidan, don't be silly," she shook her head. "First of all, we're not alone, we, unfortunately, have Mom and Dad," she pointed out. He nodded. "And secondly, I would never ask you to help; you're living your dream! I'm not gonna take you away from that just because I screwed up when I was eighteen."
"Yeah but I'm her uncle, and your brother," he said. "I should be around more," he said. She shrugged. "Does it get hard? I mean, without a guy around?"
"Sometimes," she shrugged. "But it's not hard on me, it's hard on Ava," she explained. "She constantly wants to know why she doesn't have a daddy like all her other friends."
He sighed. "Do you ever think about contacting him?" He asked. She looked at him. "I mean, you can do that stuff now, I'm sure if you talked to the right person, you could find him…"
"No, absolutely not," Andria shook her head. "He left when things got hard, how can I expect him to take care of my daughter?"
"People change, Andria, he was a kid too, remember?" He said. She sighed.
"Whatever, I don't want to talk about him," she said, taking a huge sip of her wine.
"Well, what about Nick?" He asked. She looked at him. "I mean, he's getting married?"
"Yeah, that's what people in love do." She said. He gave her a look. "What do you want me to do? Stop the wedding and profess my love for him?" She asked. "It's not going to happen."
"I just want to see you happy, Andria," he said. "And the last time I saw you happy was when Nick was around three years ago."
"I don't want to talk about this," Andria groaned, closing her eyes.
"I know, but sometimes you have to talk about these things." He said. She looked at him.
"OK, fine, so have you talked to Jen lately?" She asked. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Fine, we won't talk about it." He said.
"You're so easy," she shook her head and they both laughed.