12

"Nate!" Sofia smiled and bit her lip. "Nate. Stop! I've gotta go!"

"But you don't really wanna go," Nate said softly in her ear. "Wouldn't you rather be here? Like this." He kissed her neck as she tugged at his Ralph Lauren polo. Their fingers intertwined and the butterflies in Sofia's stomach made her quiver. Nate's skin was so soft and in his arms, she knew that she was safe. Gently, he pushed her up against a wall in the small store room that was primarily used by the English department, and ran his warm fingertips down her arms.

"I have..." Sofia was completely breathless. "A hair appointment..." She couldn't bring herself to resist him.

"Change your slot," He gave her a seductive smile. "For me?"

"Uh huh." The butterflies continued to flutter. Just like the first time he showed her that he was interested.

August 2012

Sofia was becoming impatient. Clarissa had left to try and find Sofia cab, but she had been gone for over 10 minutes now.

"You looked a little lonely so I bought you something to drink!" Someone said from behind her. Sofia jumped.

"Um, I'm just waiting for a friend to call me a cab." Sofia tried to act cool. Nathanial Winters was like the ultimate hottie. "Thanks for the drink."

Nathanial handed the cup to her. "It's cool! And don't worry I didn't spike it or anything." He joked and Sofia giggled.

"I didn't say you did." She looked down at the extremely neat lawn next to Clarissa's house. Don't blush she told herself.

Nate showed off his pearly whites. "So you're in tenth grade now right? I remember you used to hang with my sister."

"Yeah I am. And you have a good memory. Aren't you in eleventh?" Sofia started getting that butterfly feeling in her stomach. She had had a thing for Nate since...forever. Was he really interested in her?

"Yup!" He stuck his hands in his pockets. "Hey, how about I give you a ride home?"

Sofia was ready to jump for joy but she remained calm. Abi had taught her that. "If you want to."

"Yeah sure. The party's great and all, but I can't leave you standing here on your own now can I?" Once the valet found Nate's car, he drove Sofia all the way home and they couldn't stop talking throughout the whole journey. When they arrived at her house, Sofia really didn't want to get out of his car. She was thrilled when he decided to walk her to her door.

"Well thank you sooo much!" Sofia decided that a peck on the cheek wouldn't be too much.

"My pleasure." He said goodnight and started walking back to his car. "Oh and Sofia? Check the bottom of the cup!"

She followed his instructions, only to find a number scribbled there with a black marker pen. "Yesss!" She said to herself.

Present day

Sofia and Nate continued kissing passionately before she pulled back and looked him the eyes. "Will you love me? Like no matter what?"

"Of course. You know I would baby!" Nate stroked her hair. "Why would you even have to ask me that?"

"It's nothing! I just wanted to know what would happen if...say someone else fell for you or something for example, and they tried to tear us apart, what would happen?" Sofia sighed trying to cover up the fact that she was talking about 'A'.

"Well even if that did happen, I wouldn't let anything come between us. You know how much I love you don't you?"He reassured her.

"I know. And you know I love you Nathanial Winters!" She put her forehead on his.

"Anyway, because I love you so much, I'm gonna let you ditch me for your hair. But just this once." He winked and kissed her once more. Sofia took his hand then opened the door of the store room.

Clarissa was waiting outside. "It's about time!"

"See ya later babe." Nate let go of Sofia's hand and walked down the hall.

"What is wrong with you? I wanna see if the hot guy at Starbucks works on Tuesdays!" Clarissa shook her head at Sofia. As they neared the school exit to the parking lot, Anna appeared before them. "No way! Anna like has her own posse now!" Clarissa said as she and Sofia watched Anna stroll towards them with Bella Vale and Tori Brooks. Sofia and Clarissa saw Bella and Tori as a less popular version of them, and they most certainly weren't as pretty either. In other words, they hated Bella and Tori.

Sofia tried to avoid Anna. "Can we help you?" Sofia looked bored.

"Sofia," Anna said sweetly. "Remember what were talked about at the party?"

"Oh I'm quaking in my boots!" Sofia pretended to shake a little.

"People like us actually have a life so if you will..." Clarissa faked a yawn. Bella and Tori looked extremely offended. Anna didn't reply but instead, she brushed past Sofia and muttered something under her breath.

"Once a loser, always a loser!" Sofia looked at her shoulder as if Anna had given her some sort of infection.

When they got to the school car park, Sofia spotted Tiana. "Gimme a minute!" She said to Clarissa before jogging, as fast as she could in 4 inch heels, over to Tiana.

"What now?" Clarissa groaned. "I'll just wait in the car!"

Tiana saw Sofia coming and walked to meet her half way. "I've been looking for you all day Sofia!"

"Why? Is it about Heidi?" Sofia knew Laura and Tiana had been to Heidi's house yesterday but she didn't get the chance go because she had already made plans with Clarissa.

"Yeah. We were right. A has something on her too. She was in bits but she wouldn't tell us what A is targeting her with." Tiana screwed her face up. "There were dead rats on her kitchen floor!"

"Wow. That's totally gross." Sofia was stunned. "Who would do something like that?" Clarissa beeped her horn. Sofia ignored her.

"A is that kind of person I guess. Anyway, I swapped numbers with Laura and Heidi. I think we should too." Tiana ripped a piece of paper out of a note pad in her bag. She gave a piece to Sofia and began writing a set of digits on her own bit. "Here." She handed the paper to Sofia.

"Thanks. And here's mine." Sofia gave her number to Tiana in return. "Now I've got to go!" When Sofia started walking over to Clarissa's car, her cell bleeped. She hesitated but knew that she would end up reading the new text anyway.

Just so you know, I wouldn't doubt me if I were in your shoes! Remember what I have! I can destroy your relationship and I can destroy you! ––A