I Never Imagined ✔️

Chapter 32: New and Old

(Raymond)

I exhale loudly. Sophia puts down her phone and looks at me disappointedly. "Any luck, belle?" I ask. Sophia shakes her head.

"Nothing at all. They've gotten a few leads and some tips, but the leads haven't been promising. They're trying so hard to see who did this to you, Ray. But it's not going anywhere," Sophia says, while guilt fills her eyes. I sigh.

"Belle, don't focus too much on it. At all. It happened quite a while ago," I say. Sophia raises an eyebrow at me, and the, "are you serious right now?" look is forming on her face. "Ray, I can't just forget it because of time. I nearly lost you because of that incident. I can't just forget it," she says.

"I get that, but don't dwell on it that much. I'm here and I'm healthy," I say. Sophia sighs. "Ok, Ray. But we will still try to dig as deep as we can. Because my dad has seen accidents. Your case is anything but that. A car doesn't ram into you twice. That's called attempted murder," Sophia says.

"Hopefully, your dad can crack the case soon," I say, with all the hope I can possibly acquire reflecting in my voice. Sophia nods her head. "I have faith in my dad. He'll do it," she says, and opens her lunch bag. Right as  she does, Sonia and Pete come half running and half walking from their class. "Sorry I'm late. Mr. Jackson released us late," Sonia says, and she sits down by Sophia.

"Yep. Some kids were goofing off in class, and he got pissed," Pete says, while wiping the nonexistent sweat from his forehead. Sophia smiles. "Doesn't matter. Let's eat. I am so hungry," Sophia says, starting to eat her lunch. Pete gasps like someone in a bad TV drama.

"Sonia, you are not Russian at all!" Pete exclaims, like his wife was cheating on him. Sonia raises an eyebrow at him. "How am I not Russian, Pete?" Sonia asks. Pete points at her lunch.

"There is no vodka in there! You imposter!" Pete says, and Sophia snickers. Sonia lightly hits Sophia's arm. "Pete, I don't think you're actually Mexican," Sonia says coolly. Pete raises an eyebrow.

"Why do you think that?" Pete says. Sonia points to his lunch. "There are no tacos in there! You imposter!" Sonia exclaims, and she holds her heart dramatically. Pete shoots Sonia an annoyed look, while I sound like a tortured donkey because of laughing.

"Ok, I'm half Mexican," Pete says defensively. Knowing him, he just hates to admit that Sonia had made a great clapback. "It still counts, dude. That's what you get for inflicting stereotypes on me, Peter Aksel," Sonia says.

I'm actually starting to wheeze because I'm laughing so hard. "Oh shut up Ray," Pete hisses, and I just shake my head. You gotta love Sonia's feistiness. With a smile plastered across my face, we continue to eat our lunch, and ignore the many glances from jealous people.

    Sophia and I went public with our relationship last week. It was something that I was waiting to do for so long, and we finally got to do it. Of course, it didn't stop the taunting that Sophia got, but at least girls would stop flirting with me in the hallways.

Well, I don't know about that. But it's a start. Sonia was squealing because she was waiting for so long for us to become official. Pete said that he barfed a little because the romance was too much for him. Somehow, I know that he's happy for us inside. He just hates to show it.

    Our day goes on pretty quickly, to say the least. We survive another period of hell in math, and then we go to our lockers. While Sophia is getting her books, I ask her a question that has been nagging me deep down for a while.

"Sophia?" I ask as she is getting her books. "Yes, Ray?" she asks. I take a deep breath, and let the question fly out of my mouth. "Did you always imagine us getting together?" I ask. Sophia shuts her locker. "Why do you ask just now, Ray?" she asks. I shrug.