As the weather started to get warmer, Sophie and I spent a lot of our time hanging out after school. We always met up at the pizza shop and sat at our usual table closest to the window. I slid down one side of the booth while Sophie sat across from me, smiling as she usually does whenever we hung out.
“I am starving,” Sophie said, looking at the paper menu. “I had to miss lunch today because the strings had a special rehearsal for the showcase.”
“Oh,” I said, shocked. “Are you guys also performing for the dual major showcase?”
“Well,” Sophie began to say, sighing before she continued. “We’re opening for the showcase, so I’m literally running on an empty stomach.”
“You know I could’ve came and snuck you something to eat,” I suggested. Sophie laughed as she shook her head.
“I don’t think Mr. Harrison would’ve liked if I was just snacking on a bag of chips during rehearsal,” she replied. “How would I even eat them while holding a violin to my chin?”
“Easy! You just put the bag of chips in between the strings and move you head so that the chips fall directly in your mouth,” I teased, which made Sophie laugh even louder.
“Don’t reveal your invention out loud like that,” Sophie playfully said. “That’s a million dollar idea.” I smiled at Sophie as she laughed and looked up to the waiter that walked to our table. We had our usual after-school order: two cans of soda and two slices of plain cheese pizza. After handing off the menus to the waiter, Sophie looked directly at me. “How have you’ve been making out with your piece?” I let out a sigh, not wanting to get into it.
“Is it bad to say I haven’t really thought about what I’m doing yet?” I asked. Sophie’s eyes widened in shock; she just answered my question without really answering it.
“The showcase is in two weeks,” Sophie mentioned. “You don’ have much time to put something together.”
“I know,” I said, feeling a bit annoyed with this conversation. “I had a plan already for this showcase earlier in the year, but then Mollie and I stopped being friends and now I’m back to square one.”
“What were you originally planning to do?” Sophie asked.
“Not many people know this about Mollie, but she’s also a dancer. I wanted to play and sing a piece for the showcase as she danced to it.” I explained. Sophie nodded her head, listening to what I was saying. “She was so excited to be a part of a dual major event, and now she’s probably going to be there performing with Aaron Serrano.”
“Yeah,” Sophie said, seeming uncomfortable in her seat. “I’m sorry that your plans fell through.” I looked at Sophie and smiled. Sophie had a way to always make shitty situations seem less shitty. I know talking about Mollie was always a weird experience for her, especially with the history I have with Mollie. Sophie smiled back at me as a mutual understanding of reassurance.
“How about you help me?” I suggested. Sophie quickly shook her head, seeming anxious at the thought.
“I couldn’t,” Sophie answered quickly. “You deserve someone that isn’t a part of the ensemble that is opening the showcase itself because no one asked us to be apart of their project.” I scrunched my eyebrows, annoyed at the way Sophie saw herself and the strings section. I know most of the school saw the strings section in that way, but it bothered me that since Waverly saw them as the weakest area in the band program, she saw herself as being weak in her craft. Sophie smiled at me as she reached her hand out for mine. “It’s okay though. Thank you for asking me.” I looked at Sophie and didn’t say anything else, mainly because the waiter came out with our slices and drinks, and soon the silence of us eating would fill in the void.
…
“Mr. Harrison,” I ran into the band class before our class started. I looked in the classroom to find Sophie already there, taking her violin out of her case. Perfect.
“Milo,” Mr. Harrison said as he stopped what he was doing. “Is there something I can help you with?” I looked at Sophie as she looked at me. I smiled and turned my head back to Mr. Harrison.
“I wanted to ask if there was any chance I can have he strings section assist me in my dual major project,” I asked, turning my head toward Sophie. “Sophie said the strings section are opening for the showcase, right?”
“Milo,” Sophie said, jolting up from her seat and walked toward me.
“They are,” Mr. Harrison confirmed, looking at Sophie as she approached us.
“Considering that they are only opening the showcase and not actively assisting a dual major student, I would like for the strings to assist me.”
“Mr. Harrison,” Sophie interrupted me, trying to get our teacher’s attention. “The showcase is literally in two weeks, and I don’t think we are capable of learning a new piece and perfect it for the showcase within the short timespan–“
“Nonsense,” I said and looked at Sophie. “In my honest opinion, the strings are the only section in the ensemble that is capable of putting this production together. They are driven, quick learners, and it’s only right that all areas in Waverly have a chance to showcase their talent in an event like the dual major showcase.” Mr. Harrison looks as if he’s considering the possibility. I looked over at Sophie as she darted her eyes at me.
The doors of the band room swing open, and I couldn’t help but laugh at Sophie’s utter panic.
“Are you out of your mind, Milo?!” She shouted at me. I turned around to face her, not being able to hide my smile. “You think this is a joke or something?”
“Absolutely not,” I said as I shook my head. “I meant every word I said to Mr. Harrison.”
“Why would you put us through this situation? Why would you think that we would even want to do this dumb dual major showcase in such little time–” Before Sophie can spiral further, I grabbed onto her shoulders to calm her down.
“Scout, breathe,” I said as I looked at her. She immediately shrugged my hands off of her.
“No, Milo,” she spat back. “You’re about to showcase to the entire school just how weak the stings section are–“
“Stop,” I sternly said, interrupting Sophie as she spoke. “I’m sick and tired of you putting yourself down constantly when it comes to the strings section. Like, do you do it because you honestly believe you’re not good, or are you just asking for sympathy praise?”
“Sympathy praise?” Sophie repeated, getting louder. “How dare you assume that I would simply trash my own section for someone to tell me otherwise!”
“Then why don’t you take pride in your section?” I began to ask. “Why do you walk around these halls with your head down, allowing everyone’s opinion influence your mindset? You act like you aren’t deserving of your place and spot in Waverly when you got it the same way everyone else–including me– got in.” Sophie looked worried; I didn’t mean for her mood to change so drastically like this, but I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the dual major showcase with the strings section; with Sophie. It was going to be epic, and I needed Sophie to trust me.
“You can’t speak for me,” Sophie said in a defeated way. “You’re seen as one of the most talented people at Waverly because of your dual major status; there’s a whole showcase to celebrate those in it. I got into this school into the section of band that doesn’t have that accolade, therefore already making me a part of the weak link group in the school.”
“But you’re not a weak link, Scout.” I looked at Sophie, trying to make her understand where I’m coming from. I took her hand and placed it into mine, reassuring her I was telling her the truth. Sophie is talented, and she deserves some recognition for being as talented as she is. “Because you’re smart, driven, passionate, and super fucking talented. If I didn’t think you could do this, I wouldn’t have had this sick idea for the project to include you and the string section.” Sophie looked down, still shaking her head feeling defeated. I lifted her head up with my other hand, looking her dead in the eyes.
“Milo,” Sophie began to say.
“What are you afraid of?” I leaned in to ask her. Sophie gave me this looks that seemed like she was pondering more than the situation at hand. A part of me was asking why was she so afraid of doing this showcase with me. The other half was asking what are we so afraid of making whatever we had official. I gently kissed her on the lips; she surprisingly kissed me back. Before that day in the rehearsal room at my house, we barely even thought about kissing each other so freely like this; now, we seem to can’t keep our lips away from each other for too long.
The kiss ended, and Sophie opened her yes to look up at me again. I smiled at her; her skin was flushed, but glowing. She was so fucking beautiful to look at.
“Do you trust me?” I softly asked her. She nodded her head before she was able to verbally answer me.
“I trust you,” she answered back.
Letters From Liz. 