Chapter Text
“I’m coming,” Owen said as he made his way the door. He didn’t know who was knocking, but he was so bored, he was ready and eager to talk to whoever was on the other side of that door.
Only three more days until he was medically cleared to resume his job.
“Well, hello there, Captain,” Owen said when he opened the door. Standing there was Tommy Vega and her husband.
“Captain,” Tommy greeted him. “You’re looking better. How are you feeling?”
“Great.” Owen nodded. “Very ready to get back to work. Leisure time will be the death of me.” He held his door open. “Won’t you come in?”
“Thank you,” Charles smiled, holding the door for Tommy. As they stepped inside, Sophie bounded down the stairs.
“Hi, Vegas,” she said breathlessly. “It’s good to see you. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“It’s good to see you too, Sophie,” Tommy said warmly. “And we just got here now.”
“Oh, good,” Sophie nodded, ignoring her father’s bemused expression. “Should we go to the living room?”
“That sounds great,” Tommy agreed. “Sophie, where’s your mom?”
“Oh, she’s upstairs,” Sophie said. “We don’t have to bother her.”
“We could,” Owen offered, as he followed every one to the living room, confused as ever. “Would she know what this is?”
“Probably not.” Sophie shook her head. “But I called this meeting. I figured if I didn’t let you guys know upfront, you’d be really difficult about it.”
“Uh… huh.” Owen sidestepped that entirely and said, “Sophie, go get your mother.”
“Fine.” Sophie turned and went back up the stairs as the Vegas sat down across from Owen.
“So how is the 126 doing?” Owen asked. “How’s Captain Judd?”
“He has the captain part down,” Tommy nodded. “Now he just needs the confidence. Oh, did you hear about Billy Tyson?”
“I did.” Owen nodded. “I was sad to hear that. Service is the day after tomorrow, right?”
“That’s right.” Tommy confirmed. “Both the service and the wake are going to be at his church.”
Owen was about to reply when Gwyn and Sophie came back in the room, followed by Buttercup. Sophie wasn’t still completely sold on the dog, but he was sold on her.
“Good morning Tommy, Charles,” Gwyn greeted them. “Good to see you both. How are the girls doing?”
“Good to see you too,” Tommy smiled. “They’re doing well. That’s actually part of why we’re here today.” She looked over at Sophie.
“That’s right,” Sophie picked up. “Now,” she said, addressing her own parents, “this is the last week I have to do those stupid iron infusions, and you know how I’ve been trying to get a new job and you guys are being real wads about it?”
Owen pinched the bridge of his nose as Gwyn sharply replied, “No. I do know that I made the very reasonable request for you not to take anything when you couldn’t get there.”
“Which leaves options a little limited since we are in a freaking residential area,” Sophie snapped. “It is not my fault that Austin’s public transportation sucks, or that you’re being unreasonable—”
“Guys,” Owen said, which was ignored as Gwyn exclaimed, “Suddenly I’m unreasonable?” and Sophie shot back, “No you’ve actually been unreasonable for a very long time!”
Owen put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. “Soph, I think you’re giving the Vegas too much to look forward to when they daughters grow up,” he said. “Mind telling us what we’re doing here?”
“I can…help with that,” Charles chimed in. “Since a few of the Covid restrictions have been lifted, outdoor dining is back. And… that means I’m able to reopen my restaurant.”
“Congratulations, Charles,” Owen said, shaking his hand. “That’s great.”
“Thank you.” Charles nodded. “It is. But it’s taking a lot of the time where I used to be with the girls; just after school right now, but especially when summer vacation starts. And we’ve been talking to Sophie about her babysitting the girls during those times.”
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
“You do know she can’t drive?” Gwyn broke the silence.
“Mom.” Sophie sighed. “Anything else you want to share? I haven’t told them I’m super dyslexic or that once I was almost choked to death by an animatronic bear!”
“It’s an honest question, Sophie,” Gwyn retorted.
“And we are aware of that,” Tommy interjected. “We’ve talked it over. Charles can pick Sophie up from the house and then get the girls at school and drop them off at our house.”
“That sounds good,” Owen nodded. He looked at the mother of his children.
“I think so too,” she nodded. “Sophie’s very good with kids.”
Sophie swallowed back the retort that came to her; that her mom complimenting her was like Halley’s Comet; it only happened once every seventy-five years.
If that.
As her parents started talking with the Vegas about the old captain of her dad’s firehouse who passed away, Sophie got up and went to the kitchen. The dog got up and followed her.
“You know, you don’t have to do that,” Sophie told the dog as he sat down and wagged his tail. “They like you better in the other room.” The dog just blinked his big eyes at her. Behind him, Carlos came into the kitchen. He was in the middle of a call.
“That sounds great, thank you,” he said. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be there soon. Bye.” He hung up. “Hi, Sophie. How are you?”
“Not bad,” Sophie said. “What goes on, Carlos?”
“Nothing,” Carlos said quickly. He seemed more jittery than usual. “Not… yet anyway. Don’t tell your brother I said anything. I’ll be back in an hour.” He headed out of the kitchen with purpose, the dog loafing after him.
“You didn’t say anything,” Sophie called after him. When TK came into the kitchen a minute later, she informed him, “Your boyfriend’s up to something.”
“Soph, did you eat my pizza Lunchable?” TK said, looking in the fridge. “I asked you not to….” His head popped up over the door. “And what about Carlos?”
“He just went somewhere, and he was being all weird and jumpy before he left,” Sophie informed him. “I think he’s plotting something.”
TK snorted. “Soph, Carlos isn’t plotting anything. He doesn’t have it in him to be sneaky. He once told me, ‘Love means never throwing your boyfriend a surprise party’. Oh, I meant to tell you,” he added, “Nancy asked about you. She hadn’t heard from you in a while and asked if you were okay.”
“I’m fine.” Sophie shrugged. “I just didn’t want to keep bugging her. She’s a grown-up. Has her own life.”
“It’s not bugging her if you’re friends, you dumbass.” Her brother rolled his eyes. “Not to mention, ghosting her is just shitty.”
“Are you just saying that because you think I can’t find decent people to hang out with on my own?” Sophie asked. “Like Mom thinking I can’t get a good job on my own.”
“Okay, one, not what I said,” TK told her. “Two, Mom literally just wants you to have a job where you can stay healthy. Which is not the Hooters in Round Rock.”
“Do you have any idea how much money I would have made?” Sophie exclaimed. “She’s the eater of dreams. If Dolly Parton’s daughter told her she got a job at Hooters, she would be proud!” She turned on her heel and headed for the stairs.
“Dolly Parton doesn’t have kids, stupid!” TK called after her.
“And still, she would be more supportive of the kids she doesn’t have!” Sophie called back. That made no sense, she realized as she flopped onto her bed. Didn’t matter.
Because TK didn’t know the half of it.
He most likely didn’t know that Sophie had canceled plans with Nancy twice.
Which she did feel terrible about.
But those horrible feelings of liking Nancy weren’t going away.
And Nancy thought of her as just a kid…
And now Sophie didn’t know how to be around her.
She had never had this problem before.
It felt like she should have.
Sophie pulled out her phone and pulled up Nancy’s Instagram. She posted a lot of pictures of her cat.
There was one of Nancy at a football game.
She was wearing a really tight shirt and looked really cute.
“Stupid fucking feelings,” Sophie muttered.
“You know, you guys didn’t have to pick me up,” Sophie said. It was two days later, and she had just finished her last iron infusion appointment. “I could have Ubered home.”
“Mom didn’t want you to,” TK reported from the back seat. Carlos had asked Sophie if she wanted to sit in front, since she had the longer legs. TK only bitched about it briefly. “She didn’t want you going out afterwards and passing out somewhere,” TK reported.
“You take one three-hour nap after a stupid iron appointment, you’re marked for life,” Sophie muttered.
“I think it’s you pass out on the side of the road once, you’re marked for life,” TK teased.
“Don’t make me come back there, shortstack,” Sophie said loftily over her shoulder.
“You see?” TK said to Carlos. “You see what happens, you let her sit up front?”
“Look, I’m really fine,” Sophie said when Carlos just chuckled at TK’s comment. “Carlos,” she said sweetly, addressing her brother’s boyfriend behind the wheel, “you don’t have to go all the way back to the house if you don’t want to. If it’s easier to drop me off somewhere else, feel free to do so”.
“It’s no trouble,” Carlos insisted, shaking his head.
“If we let you out and then got the call that you were passed out on the road somewhere, however…” TK helpfully offered from the backseat.
“Pipe down there, Backseat Charlie,” his sister called without turning around. TK responded by kicking the back of her seat.
“TK, please don’t kick the seat,” Carlos said, throwing a concerned glance over his shoulder.
“Sorry, babe,” TK said, scooching up and kissing Carlos on the shoulder. “And I’m only back here,” he added, “because my boyfriend is the most considerate person on the planet. And you’re built like a basketball player”.
“Yeah, and you’re built like one of those little windup toys,” Sophie shot back. TK in turn snatched her phone from her lap before she could react. “TK! Give it back!”
“Guys,” Carlos said, reaching a hand between TK and his sister. “Please. We don’t want to get into an accident. And it’s no trouble,” he told Sophie. “TK and I have some downtime. There is something, but it’s not until later this afternoon.”
“Oooh, that’s right,” TK preened. “The mysterious surprise. Carlos got me a present,” he proudly told his sister.
“A present?” Sophie looked at Carlos. “What is it?”
“Do neither of you know what a surprise is?” he asked.
“Fine.” Sophie rolled her eyes. “Keep your secrets. It makes sense though.”
“What does?” Carlos asked with a frown.
“That you’d get him something,” Sophie elaborated. “After all, the two of you have been together, such a long, long time, and now you’re ready to lay it all on the line.”
“Soph…” TK giggled.
“What?” she asked innocently. “A gift needs giving. It sounds like he’s got just the one. Something to show ya that you’re second to none. After all, he’s not gonna get you a diamond ring…”
“That sort of gift don’t mean anything,” TK sang, to Carlos’s great confusion.
“Not gonna get you a shiny car…”
“Boy you gotta know you’re my shining star,” TK finished the line.
“Want to get you something from the heart,” Sophie sang with a laugh. “So take off the top. Take a look inside…”
“It’s my dick in a box!” TK finished triumphantly.
“What?” Carlos turned around in shock before remembering they were in traffic, barely stopping in time at a red light.
TK sat straight up. “Babe, are you okay?”
“Me?” Carlos said, bewildered. “What… what are you guys talking about?”
“It’s from Saturday Night Live,” TK explained. “It was a sketch with Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake from like ten years ago”.
“More than that,” Sophie shook her head. “Carlos, the light is green.”
“Oh.” Carlos looked up as the car behind them started to honk.
“I’m sorry, babe,” TK said. “We weren’t trying to distract you.”
Carlos chuckled. “I mean, I figured you guys were quoting a show or something, I just… didn’t expect that end. Were they really allowed to say dick on television?”
“Well, it aired at eleven-thirty at night,” Sophie told him.
“And they bleeped the actual word,” TK told him. “Like they said it’s my bleep in a box like eighteen times.”
“They won an Emmy for it,” Sophie added.
“Oh look, the house,” Carlos said as he turned onto the street. “We were closer than I thought. TK, you want to take Buttercup for a walk when we get in?”
“Sure, babe,” TK said with a grin. “That sounds good. Soph, want to come?”
“I’m good,” Sophie said as she got out of the car. “I’m just going to go upstairs. Not because I’m super tired or anything,” she added.
“Sure,” her brother laughed, leaning on the doorway of the house. “I know the real reason. Buttercup would insist you came with us if he saw you.”
“Uh huh, that’s it,” Sophie called over her shoulder. She went upstairs and lay down on her bed. She didn’t get her phone out immediately. And it wasn’t because the stupid iron things made her tired. Sophie wasn’t even convinced that they did anything. She was glad not to have to do them anymore….
Sophie blinked her eyes slowly. She didn’t think she’d actually fall asleep. She sat up and looked around for her phone, the house sounded quiet and she wondered…
How was it three and a half hours later?
Sophie stumbled out of bed and went to the bathroom. The clock on the counter said the same thing. She checked the clock in her parents room too (her father, being the most anal man alive, had a clock in almost every room of the house so he didn’t have to ever go more than ten seconds without knowing the exact time.)
All the clocks said the same thing; it had been almost four hours since TK and Carlos were driving her home.
That just didn’t seem right.
Sophie headed downstairs, expecting to find her brother and his boyfriend.
After all, they’d have to be done taking the dog out by now; unless they walked to the Alamo and back.
What she didn’t expect was to hear a familiar voice say, “Behold, she’s awake,” coming from the living room.
“Hi,” Sophie said, completely thrown off guard.
Because the woman she had been trying not to think was on the goddamn couch.
“I thought you didn’t like dogs,” Sophie said, leaning on the railing as she watched Nancy scratch Buttercup’s ears.
“Well, I do find cats superior,” Nancy chuckled. “But dogs are alright. This one’s not so bad.” She turned looked at Sophie. “You gonna come any closer? I won’t bite.”
Sophie gave a short chuckle at that. “Right.” She took a couples steps and sat in the chair closest to the couch.
“So,” Sophie said. “Um. Is my brother here?”
“Nope, he left,” Nancy shook his head. “Carlos had something to show him. He was really excited about it. And you were still asleep, so your brother called me and asked if I could hang out. Since your parents are at the memorial for Billy Tyson.”
“Oh.” Sophie nodded. “Gotcha.” It was quiet between them for a minute. “You know,” Sophie cleared her throat. “I’m up now. I don’t want to keep you. If you wanted to leave, you can.”
Nancy’s eyebrows went up. “I can?”
“Yeah,” Sophie nodded. “Like, I appreciate you coming. And I know it’s because TK asked you to. I’m glad he has good friends. But I’m sure you’ve got things you’d rather be doing. This is your day off, right?” Sophie got off the couch and walked to the kitchen. She had no idea what she was doing.
Besides being an ass; she was well aware she was doing that.
What was wrong with her?
Why couldn’t she just act like a person?
Apparently this what something that Nancy wondered as well, for she followed Sophie to the kitchen.
“I didn’t just come because TK asked me to,” she said, sounding confused. “I was worried. A couple times we had plans, and then they… didn’t happen.”
“Oh yeah.” Sophie nodded. “I’m sorry about that. About canceling on you.”
“Thank you,” Nancy nodded. She stood with her hip jutted out and one hand on the counter top. “I appreciate that. Why did you? Did something come up?”
“It was a shitty thing to do,” Sophie said. “And I was shitty for doing it.”
“I agree with that.” Nancy nodded. “But I’d… still kind of like to know why.”
“Why?” The word came out of Sophie’s mouth before she could stop it. “This was just a favor you were doing for TK anyway. You’re obviously a very smart person. Why would you want to spend any of your time worrying about some dumb kid like me?” Sophie could feel tears in her eyes. She never cried anymore.
Very rude of her body to betray her at a time like this.
The tear ducts and the brain or the heart or whatever part of the body it was that fucking produced feelings.
Sophie did the only thing she could think of. She tore from the room, ran upstairs into the bathroom, slammed the door shut and locked it.
She sat on the edge of the toilet, her head in her hands. She had never hated herself more… and there was a lot of other moments to compare it to.
“Sophie?” There was a knock at the door.
“Go away, please,” Sophie said in a strangled voice. “I’m… I’m sorry. I’m a freak. Which isn’t news but… look, I made it weird. You don’t have to stay.”
“I’m not leaving, Sophie.” Nancy’s voice was soft and gentle. “And I’m not here as a favor to TK. Yes, he asked, but I wanted to see you. I miss hanging out with you. And I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”
“Why do you even care?” Sophie groaned. “You’re a whole grown-ass adult person. You’ve got better things to do than talk to some kid anyway.”
“I don’t feel very smart or adult at the moment,” Nancy said from the other side of the door. “I just feel confused. And that’s the second time you’ve mentioned being a kid. Is that referencing something?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Sophie whined into her hand.
“It does to me,” Nancy said. “And I know people with access to the fire battering ram. So do you. And they’d be very confused why it was needed to force the way into the bathroom of this house—”
“Okay, I get it.” Sophie cut her off. “The game night. Last month. For the 126 that was hosted here. I said I was sorry for just bitching nonstop when we hung out before then, and you said I just a kid.” Sophie didn’t hear anything. She paused and wasn’t even sure if she could hear Nancy breathing.
It made her wonder if Nancy had come to her senses and left.
Might as well go for broke.
“And I know you didn’t mean it as an insult,” Sophie said. “And it’s not even that you’re wrong. But I’m stupid and I like you and I already felt like I didn’t know how to be around someone when I liked them like that, and not like you would like me like that, but the kid comment just made it seem like I shouldn’t be bugging you anymore.” Sophie blinked her eyes rapidly as a few stray tears leaked out of her eyes. “Please tell me you already left and didn’t hear all of that.”
“Sorry,” she heard Nancy’s voice from the other side of the door. “But I heard it. And…Sophie, can you please open the door? I really want to say this to your face.” Sophie didn’t feel like this was leading to anything good, but if Nancy was going to tell her off, she did deserve it. Sophie hauled herself to her feet and got up and unlocked the bathroom door.
There was Nancy. She really came over here looking amazing.
No one with their hair in two French braids, wearing a blue tie-dyed sweatshirt and stonewashed should ever look that good.
“I’m sorry,” Sophie said, feeling smaller than she possibly ever had. “I… I really didn’t mean to waste your time.”
“You didn’t.” Nancy said, taking a step closer to her. “I love being around you, Sophie. And I don’t want to assume what got lost in translation through the door, but did you say you liked me?”
“Maybe.” Sophie crossed her arms and looked down. “It’s… possible.”
“Okay, lawyer’s child.” Nancy said exasperatedly. “No one would ever doubt you and TK Strand are related. But I want an actual answer from you.” She looked Sophie in the eye. “Did you say you liked me?”
“Yes, okay?” Sophie sighed. “Yes. I like you. I like you a lot. And, not that being embarrassed is a new experience for me, but it’s embarrassing to admit that I haven’t really had these feelings for anyone that I can remember. And I didn’t know how to handle it. But I am sincerely sorry I suck at everything.”
Nancy’s whole expression changed. She was looking at Sophie with an expression of… Sophie wouldn’t even know how to describe it. “Can we sit down?” she asked. Sophie nodded. She didn’t want to sit on her bed and have this discussion; she sat on the top of the steps.
Nancy sat beside her.
For a moment, neither of them said a word.
They just sat there with their knees touching.
“I’m sorry.” Sophie broke the silence. “I know you didn’t mean any by the kid comment. This is all my fault. I should—”
“Sophie Strand, can you shut up for two seconds?” Nancy interrupted. “Just enough time for me to say, hey guess what; I like you too?”
“What?” Sophie blinked. She studied Nancy’s face; those beautiful dark eyes looking back at her, that gentle smile… “Are… you sure?”
Nancy’s smile only deepened. “I’m very sure. You remember the night we watched that freaky Wizard of Oz sequel together?” Sophie nodded. “After that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” Nancy told her. “That’s why it sucked so much when you canceled on me those times. And don’t say you’re sorry again,” she added before Sophie could say anything.
“Well, I am,” Sophie said. She could barely process this conversation was actually happening. “Because I handled everything wrong.” Sohie elaborated. “After the… the game night thing, I felt like you’d never like me. And then I felt like I couldn’t be around you. It just…” she shrugged. “Wasn’t something I’d ever had to worry about before.”
“Hanging out with someone where you didn’t know if they liked you like that?” Nancy clarified, a look of befuddlement on her face. “But… haven’t you dated…”
“A lot?” Sophie finished. Nancy hesitated, then nodded. “I have,” Sophie confirmed with a nod. “But dating someone was never about… liking them for me. And it’s the same with sex. You know, I haven’t felt anything during sex besides bored and checked out since like the tenth grade?”
Sidestepping that landmine of a comment entirely, Nancy prompted, “So you wouldn’t have canceled on me… if you didn’t like me?”
“No,” Sophie shook her head. “Because.. there wasn’t any way you could. Like me. You’re beautiful, and smart, and…” she stopped talking as Nancy gripped her face in her hands.
“Sophie, I need you to listen to me,” Nancy said. “I really want to kiss you right now. And I would just do it, but… I worry that a lot of people who have kissed you didn’t ask first. I don’t want to be one of the many. Can I kiss you?” Sophie just nodded. Nancy gently cupped Sophie’s face in her hands, leaned over and kissed her.
She was kissing her.
Nancy was kissing her.
Not in her mind.But in person, for real, on the steps.As Sophie kissed her back and her eyes closed, every thought she had just seemed to melt away.
Kissing Nancy wasn’t like kissing anyone else.
Kissing used to be a “let’s get it over with” experience; not unlike something else.
But this kiss….
The sound of a key in the door jerked her back to reality.
“What was that?” Sophie said.
“What?” Nancy asked, her eyes slowly fluttering open.
“Downstairs,” Sophie shook her head. “I think… someone’s here.” She gripped the railing to stand up. Suddenly, it felt like her legs were made of jelly.
She went downstairs with Nancy right behind her. Sophie spotted the dog first.
He was sitting very attentively next to someone on the couch.
“TK?” Sophie recognized her brother. “Did you just get back now? Where is…” She stopped talking when she realized her brother was hunched over and crying. “What happened?” She sat down next to him. Nancy sat down on the other side. “Are you okay?”
Her brother looked up, fresh tears on his face. “I’ve been better.” He croaked. “Carlos and I just broke up.”