Family Can Come As If By Magic

Chapter 21

As more time flew by both Sofia and Athena became 13 years old and for Athena at least she started to notices the other boys in Hexley Hall and is always saying how cute they were.

But for Sofia she didn't understand what the big deal was and just simply went along with it even though she rolls her eyes at how silly her friend acted at times and asked her Papa why she was acting like that.

"Papa, why does Athena get all red and stutters when she sees a boy come around and talk to us?"

Cedric was a little shock by the question, but he notices that Sofia was confused and decided to answer as best as he could.

"Well, it because she likes them and wants to date them."

"What's dating?" Sofia asked having heard that word be throw around at school.

"Dating is where one person asked the other person to go out with them to place, have dinner, walk or talk about each other to see if they want to be together as long term partners."

Sofia did not know why, but thought of dating made her cringe internally, so she just said nothing and went back to the topic at hand.

"Did you and Mama date?"

Cedric got a little sad for a moment, before he answered.

"Yes we did and when we found that we simply did not share the same interests or views anymore, we decided to end it."

"Oh...dating sounds confusing, Papa."

Cedric smiles at the innocent reply of his daughter.

"It can be at times, but sometimes it can be fun and enjoyable."

"Do you have to hold hands or k-kiss?" Sofia stuttered a bit embarrassed.

Cedric moves from where he was reading and sits beside his daughter and hold her close to comfort her.

"You don't have to if you don't want and if the other person pushes to do so, then they aren't the right person for you. Respect and Communication are important in any relationship and if you don't have that, then it will not work and end making you both miserable in a long run."

Sofia looks up in her Papa's eyes and asked the question that been bothering her for awhile.

"Would you be mad if I said that I don't want to date or get married?"

"Never. I would rather you be happy with what you want, not what others want, I am not going to be one of those fathers that try to make their daughter marry someone that might hurt them because it way things are done or keep them locked up in a gilded cage because they want to keep them pure and unprepared until their wedding night. I will not care if you never have children or have a partner, I will simply encourage what you want to do. Okay my little sorceress."

Sofia smiles brightly and says...

"Thank you, Papa."

Cedric lets Sofia go back to doing her homework and happy to see that she was not so troubled anymore and went back to his reading, knowing that the King wanted him to be ready for some big event or another.

'Ah the joys of being royal sorcerer, you can love and hate it in the same breath.' Cedric thought sarcastically as he resumes reading up few spell that he might need and was comforted by the sounds of a quill scratching paper beside him as he peeked and saw that Sofia had her tongue sticking out as she worked hard, it reminded him so much of Miranda when she did that he almost thought that it was really her and not their daughter sitting right there.

'Come hell or high water, I will make sure that Sofia is loved and cared for...always.'

With that last thought he got back to work with his daughter by his side working her homework for school.

When Sofia went back to school the next day, Athena runs over and starts to speak a mile a minute, much to Sofia's amusement.

"Athena, I don't speak lighting speed, slow down and explain to me again."

"Do you remember that boy I have a crush on, Benjamin Lightingheart."

Sofia was internally rolling her eyes at she was reminded of the arrogate black hair, baby faced boy that she had Runes class with and she couldn't understand what her friend saw in him.

"Yes, what about him."

"He asked to go the Magical Hearts dance on Friday, can you believe it! Me, going with the most handsome and popular boy in Hexley Hall!"

Sofia smiles at her friend's excitement as she was happy for her.

"Do you have a date to the dance, Sofia?" Athena asked.

"I am not going." Sofia said bluntly as she turns back to her the book she had been trying to read, before Athena.

"What? Why?! It the most important dance of year and we wouldn't be doing this until we are in our final year."

"I am simply not interested in going and that is final and no I don't want you to try to set up like you did last year with Xavier, got it."

Athena blushed sheepishly as she remember that and said...

"Again, I said I was sorry, how was I suppose to know that he had a girlfriend and was claustrophobic."

"Huh...everyone, except you knew that and when he tried to tell you, you ignored him and shoved us both in broom closet and locked us inside, he started to have a panic attack right then and there!"

"I let you out didn't I?!" Athena shouted.

"Yes, you did after the Headmaster heard us and what happen and gave you detention for 2 months and I didn't speak to you for the whole time you were have detention."

Athena just started to cry and Sofia sighs as the old anger that she had felt melted away and she gave her friends a tight hug and said...

"I know that you mean will, but you have to listen to others when they tell you something, it might end up keeping you out of trouble, okay? You are still my best friend and I hope that you have a good time with your date at the dance and you can tell me all about it later okay."

Athena sniffles, but smiles back Sofia.

As the school day dragged for Sofia, she couldn't wait to get back home and away from the all the the girls in her year all giggling and whispering about boys and it drove her crazy and nearly bolted out of the classroom when the final bell rang and walked straight to her where father's carriage sat waiting, only to be blocked by none other then...Benjamin Lightingheart.

"Sofia! What a pleasure it is bumping into you." Benjamin said in what was suppose to be a sexy voice, but all it did was make Sofia want to vomit.

"Excuse me, Benjamin." Sofia said as she tried to walk around him, only for him to grab her arm and give her a kiss, which make Sofia stiffen in shock, but then she regained her senses and quickly punches him, knocking him straight to the floor, before taking off towards the carriage, quickly urge the driver to go ignoring the shouts of anger coming from the boy as the carriage took off.

When the shock wore off, Sofia quickly opens the window to the carriage and vomits, making the driver look over at her concerned.

"Everything alright back there?" The man asked as the girl quickly pulls her head back in and said "I am alright just got a little dizzy."

Once the driver was sure she was fine, Sofia just sat back inside and started to cry silent tears as she tried to wipe off the feeling of the other boys lips off of hers.

By the time she got home, Sofia was a wreck and when her father saw the state that she was in, he quickly embraces her in his arms, worried that Sofia was being bullied again, so when he asked her, she shook her head and just cried for a bit more until she couldn't anymore.

"Feel better?" Cedric asked as he conjuror's handkerchief and gently wipes her eyes and lets her blow her nose, before she nods.

"What happened to have you in such a state, my dear?" Cedric asked but before Sofia could answer a knock came to the door, which Sofia quickly answers and smiles when she who it was. Her cousin Madeline, who is the youngest of the King's three children and also the only one to have dark red hair and bright blue eyes in her family, apparently an early ancestor of Roland's had red hair and blue eyes, but it stopped appearing after the 7th generation and now it appeared again with Madeline.

"Maddie! How are you, I haven't seen you in ages! Wait what's the matter?" Sofia asked when she finally saw the look of anxiety and sadness on the younger girl's face.

"I need to talk with you, alone." Madeline said as she all but dragged Sofia out the tower and down the stairs.

"Mads, tell me what is going on?" Sofia asked worried and concern for her youngest adopted cousin and friend.

"What do you if someone pushes you to the floor or in walls?" Madeline asked bluntly and quickly.

"I would just get up and brush it off, but if kept happening and I got hurt I would report it, why?" Sofia asked and was shocked when the younger girl burst into tears, which had Sofia quickly embracing her as she sobbed her heart out.

"A-a bunch of k-kids a-a-at m-my school are picking on me, said that they would hurt my family if I told anyone, I was so scared, but I don't know what to do?!" Madeline wailed as she release all of her inner pain.

Sofia just rocked her and comfort her, as she thought to herself with determination 'Don't worry, Madeline, I will make those kids pay.'