AUTHOR'S POV
"Okay, let me get this straight: You want to be a professional writer, a career choice no one in your family supports, your parents are borderline abusive, your sister is a trampy diva, and your brother, who is away at college and only calls once every blue moon to vent about how crappy his life is and make sure your parents haven't driven you to insanity is your best and only friend. Have I got everything?" Sophia asked, sounding absolutely livid on Katherine's behalf.
Katherine winced. Maybe she'd said just a bit too much about her family.
"Well... when you put it that way, it sounds kind of bad," Katherine said meekly.
"Oh, does it now?" Sophia said, rolling her eyes sarcastically, her bejeweled hand on her hip. "And don't think that I don't know you glazed over some stuff, because I do."
Sophia raised her eyebrow at Katherine, silently daring her to deny it, but she couldn't.
"Look, it's not quite as bad as it sounds. And I'm okay, really. My life could be way worse," Katherine said, trying very hard to sell the idea that she wasn't completely miserable at home and school.
But Sophia wasn't buying.
"Oh my word, that is it! I am officially adopting you," Sophia said, pointing a finger in Katherine's face to emphasize.
"Adopt?" Katherine asked tentatively, pushing Sophia's finger aside slowly with one of her own.
"Yes. You are now my sister and best friend, whether you like it or not," Sophia said with finality, leaving no room for argument.
Though the truth is told, Katherine had no desire to argue it. She was touched by the young woman's sympathy and concern, and her desire to befriend Katherine - not to mention, the idea of a real friend to tell Katherine's troubles to without fear or restraint appealed to Katherine greatly.
"I'd like that," Katherine said, smiling.
Sophia squealed in delight, wrapping her arms around Katherine in a vice-like hug.
"Oh, my word! This is going to be such fun! I've never had a girl best friend before - only Tyler," Sophia said, leaning back into her seat after releasing Katherine.
"With as much as he worries about his appearance, I'm pretty sure he counts as a girl anyway," Katherine said disdainfully.
Sophia gasped a little and then laughed.
"Well, you've got him figured out, haven't you?" Sophia muttered in amusement.
"He's not that big of a mystery," Katherine said derisively.
"Every other girl in school would disagree," Sophia said sagely.
Katherine rolled her eyes in aggravation. As if any of those girls really counted anyway, with their bleach-blonde hair and miniskirts.
"You've actually seen the other girls in school, right? I mean, they don't exactly scream, tasteful or intelligent."
Sophia rolled her eyes right back.
"Ugh. There's no winning this argument with you. Why are you so determined to hate him anyway?" Sophia asked in genuine curiosity.
Katherine was a little taken aback by that question. Why was she so determined to hate him - other than his being a stuck-up, vain snob, of course?
Katherine couldn't really think of any reason, except how conscious he made her of how plain she was, especially next to his well-groomed, handsome form.
Katherine would never admit that though, not if she lived a thousand years. It was just too humiliating and pathetic.
"Can we talk about something else?" Katherine asked uncomfortably.
Sophia looked at Katherine before her oddly for a moment before nodding, giving Katherine the floor again.
Katherine struggled to find something to say for a moment when college ran through her mind.
"I' m hoping to get a scholarship to Weston University. They've got a great writing program. I can't really afford to pay for it because I don't have a job but if I get a scholar-"
"Oh, my word!" Sophia burst out without warning.
Katherine shrunk into her chair as far as she could go, shocked at Sophia's sudden and terrifying outburst.
Sophia didn't seem to notice her obvious jubilation.
"You can work here" the young Asian woman nearly shouted.
"Giselle has been talking about getting some more help around here anyway, and you would be perfect!"
"She would most certainly not be perfect!" Both girls spun around to find Tyler standing in the doorway, looking seriously put out. Sophia jumped off her stool to face Tyler better. When she did, her hands were on her hips and she looked raring for a fight.
"And why is that, may I ask?"
Tyler looked at Katherine and then back at Sophia.
"You know exactly why, Sophia! Do I have to spell it out for you?" he said in a harsh, low voice.
Sophia looked every bit as peeved as Tyler did, and significantly more terrifying, especially considering her small stature.
"We don't have to tell her about that!" Sophia said equally harshly and lowly.
Katherine eyed both of them warily. What is it that they can't tell me? Are they growing marijuana in the hothouse or something? Katherine thought suspiciously.
"The guests will eat her alive, Sofe - literally" Tyler said with a meaning that only he and Sophia seemed to understand.
"Don't you 'Sofe' me. And now who's giving away secrets?"
"Guests? So, this is a hotel of sorts then?" Katherine inserted between the arguing duo.
"Yes, and you are not working here," Tyler said, rounding on Katherine, who hadn't dared move from her barstool. "It's a bad idea."
"Well, I think it's a good idea!" Sophia piped up. Tyler opened his mouth to retort, but someone beat him to it.
"I agree with Sophia, Tyler."