Chapter 7

Sophia was all sharp edges with a gooey center - the kind of friend who'd insult you while bandaging your wounds. And Anna, ever the reciprocator of kindness, somehow always surrendered first to Sophia's tough love. That strained breath Sophia had been holding? Released the second Anna's voice hit her ears. She coughed awkwardly, then asked in an oddly stiff tone, "Anna, are you... okay now?" Wait a sec—was Sophia actually trying to comfort her? Anna blinked a few times before declaring, dead serious, "I'm fine—just starving. Hey Sophia, I'm dying for one of those bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwiches from the deli near campus. And an iced caramel latte, extra sweet…" That sandwich was legendary—crispy bacon, gooey cheese, all stuffed into a buttery croissant. Just thinking about it made her stomach growl loud enough to echo. Twelve hours without food? She was halfway to hallucinating. "Seriously? Is it ever not carbs and caffeine with you?" Sophia rolled her eyes. "Keep this up and you'll need a forklift to get to class. Anna pinched the soft curve of her waist and groaned. "Sophia, I just got dumped. This is, like, emotional rock bottom. Can't you spare some pity for a heartbroken soul?" "What the—Ethan freaking cheated on you for real?! I knew that scumbag was sketchy, booking rooms at my family's hotel like he's some low-budget player. Guy's got just enough cash to get cocky, huh? Thinks he can mess with my girl Anna? Screw him!" Sophia's voice came in loud and clear with that dead-serious, TV-news-anchor tone—every syllable sharp enough to stab. Ethan Blake, the cheating ex, had always rubbed her the wrong way. So hearing that he actually crossed the line? Yeah, of course Sophia was ready to blow. Anna moved the phone slightly away from her ear, trying to block out the sonic boom that was Sophia in rage-mode. She figured she'd wait it out until Sophia vented it all. But suddenly things quieted down on the other end. Then came a chillingly calm voice: "I just saw that jerk..." "What?!" A raging Sophia coming face to face with Ethan? That was a certified disaster waiting to happen. Anna panicked, glued the phone back to her ear, and shouted, "Don't go nuts, okay?! I'm almost at school!" "Anna, don't worry," Sophia said with a smile that didn't match her eyes. "Good thing I brought my knife. I'm gonna slice off that creep's favorite toy and toss it to my dog." Her dog wasn't just some fluffy mutt. He was a Rottweiler the size of a kitchen table, with jaws like a bear trap. When Sophia took him out for a walk, even the mailman crossed the street."Soph—" "Beep... beep..." As Anna opened her mouth, the call cut off. Dead silence, just the flat dial tone echoing through the room. She tried calling back, but nothing went through. Sophia wasn't one to talk big and do nothing—if she said it, she'd follow through. Anna had zero love left for Ethan. If he got his junk cut off, she wouldn't shed a tear. Heck, it'd save a bunch of girls from future messes. But the one about to swing the knife was Sophia. If things really went down, she could end up in jail! Anna's grip on the phone tightened, sweat breaking out across her forehead. She turned to the driver and spat out six urgent words: "Step on it! Someone's in danger!" Dude didn't ask a single question—just floored the gas like he was in Fast & Furious, giving her a reassuring smile as he did. That little cab basically turned into a bullet on wheels, cutting the thirty-minute drive down to fifteen flat. When the tires screeched to a stop, Anna felt like her soul had left her body. She shoved some cash at the driver with a quick thank you, ignored her woozy stomach, shook off the dizziness, and flung the door open, racing straight into the school.