Until Then : Book 1 - Until Then Series

by Victoria Ashlee

  “Stefan...he asked me to go on a date.”

  “He what?” She seemed as dumbfounded as I did when he asked me. “So, what’s wrong?”

  I walked over to her bed, and sat down. “I think he’s messing with me. I think it’s a joke.”

  “He wouldn’t do that.” She followed me. I could hear the pity in her voice.

  “Cam went to lunch with him today. He said they talked about Stefan and Jess. They’re back together or something. I don’t know.”

  “Well that is plausible. She is always trying to get back into his family.” She pulled her legs up on the bed, and crossed them.

  “I don’t want any of it. I don’t want him. I don’t want to be the punch line of another joke.”

  “Soph…” She took in a deep breath, “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. I don’t think you told her, knowing she would act like that towards me.”

  She formed a weak smile. I knew she felt bad about everything. “Have you tried talking to him?” She gestured toward the door.

  “Well no.”

  “I’d ask him if I were you.” She set her hand on my shoulder. “It could be nothing, ya know? Cam likes to talk; drama starter that one.”

  I leaned back on her bed, taking in what she said. It could be nothing. It could be real. It could be everything, or it could all go wrong.

  “What do you have to lose?” She gave me a sympathetic smile. I hate sympathetic smiles. She said it at the right moment, like she could hear my thoughts.

  “I guess nothing. Could it get worse than last Friday?” I awkwardly laughed.

  “Hopefully not. If he makes you cry, I’ll kick him in the balls.” She pulled me into a side hug.

  Back In my room I started putting my things from work away. I threw my bag on my bed, and grabbed the water bottle out of it. I sat down to take a sip, and noticed Stefan’s door was open. Do I confront him? What if I seem like a crazy person for even asking, but what if it is true? Then I cry, eat an entire tub of ice cream, change my name to Fran and buy ten cats. The End.

  Suddenly Stefan started walking down the stairs. I quickly looked away, and jumped up off of my bed. My water bottle slipped from my hands, pouring out onto the floor. This only made him rush down the stairs faster. I felt like a deer in headlights when he got to my doorway.

  “Are you ok?” He reached for a towel that was lying on my chair.

  “Yes. Fine.” I snapped, and picked up another towel. I really need to chill. Something about him gets under my skin. I bent down to help mop up the water.

  “Ok?” He looked at me with a confused expression. I wanted to yell at him, and tell him to leave me alone, but I can’t. My heart for some reason wouldn’t let me. I broke eye contact, and continued dabbing up the water.

  I let out a sigh, “Can we talk?” I finally asked.

  He stood up, and threw the towel in my hamper. “Sure.”

  “Can we go somewhere? Like coffee or the park? This house is suffocating. I feel like I’ve spent every waking moment here.” I tossed my towel into the hamper on top of the other.

  “You do live here.” He laughed. “I know a place though, meet me downstairs in ten?”

  “Ok, let me change.” I closed the door behind him, and grabbed a t-shirt, my high-waisted jean shorts, and slipped on my Keds. My hair went from my curls at the beginning of the day to loose waves. I tousled my hair once, and shrugged my shoulders. I was adulting as much as I could.

  Stefan was waiting at the bottom of the stairs talking to Sam. He looked up at me, and I smiled at both of them. Sam was eyeing me in the weirdest way. Ew.

  “You ready?” Stefan asked.

  I stepped down off of the last step. “Yep.”

  Sam looked back and forth between the two of us. “Where are you guys going?”

  “Coffee,” Stefan answered quickly, “She wanted to know the best place in town, and I told her I’d show her.”

  “It’s almost dark?” Sam laughed, and scratched his chin still looking at both of us.

  “Decaf?” I chimed in.

  “Is that what the kids are calling it these days? I thought you liked them feistier, Stef?”

  He shot Sam a look. “Not cool.”

  Sam raised his hands as if he were surrendering, “my bad.”

  I noticed the sun setting when we walked outside. I don’t miss home that much, but I do miss the building free sunsets. People were coming home from work late, walking their dogs, carrying groceries. The first few moments of our walk were silent. I don’t think either of us knew what to say to each other.

  “Sorry about Sam.” Stefan finally said.

  “You say sorry for your friends a lot.” I laughed, trying to defuse the unspoken tension.

  He smiled, looking over at me. “Yeah, they kind of suck sometimes.”

  We arrived at a coffee shop a few blocks over. It was a cute little place; Green on the outside, old New York style, checkered flooring, with little two-seater tables throughout. Nothing like the major chains with the “community tables” that no one ever talks to each other at. In reality you just sit there occasionally glancing over at your neighbor wondering what they’re working on.

  We walked up to the register, and the cashier already knew his order. “Small coffee: one sugar with a dash of almond milk, and a lemon scone.” The girl behind the counter said with a smile.

  “And whatever she would like?” Stefan told her.

  I look at him puzzled because lemon scones are my favorite and that is my exact coffee order. “Um...Same?”

  Stefan looked down at me. “Same?”

  “Yeah, the lemon ones are my favorite.” I gave him a please don’t think I'm creepy smile.

  “Copycat.” He smirked, and handed the cashier his card.

  I made my way over to a table by the window, while Stefan finished paying. It was funny to think, a short while ago I was this shy girl in Nebraska, who never traveled anywhere outside the state. Now I'm a girl in New York City at a coffee shop, with a guy from London. To be honest, I'm still that shy girl. Stefan just brings a different version of me out, and I can’t tell if I like this version of myself yet.

  He walked up carrying two coffees, holding one out for me, “So, why did you bring me here?”

  “Technically you brought me.” I took my cup from him, and popped open the top.

  “Your idea, though.” He gave me a cheeky smile. Damn that smile kills me. Do I actually like this guy?

  “You were weird earlier today.” I blurted out, without thinking. My hands froze in motion from stirring my coffee. Did I just say that?

  “Weird how?” He asked, not even fazed by my comment.

  “I don’t know, just weird.” I looked down at my cup. I didn’t know how to explain it.

  He leaned into the table, wrapping his hands around his cup. “So, it’s weird to ask a girl to dinner?”

  “When it’s me? Yes.” I looked up, my head still slightly down.

  He took a sip of his coffee, and studied me. “And why is that?”

  “Because I’m me, you’re you and things like that never happen.” I pushed my cup away from my nervousness. He leaned in closer, and touched the top of my fidgeting hands. I pulled away, resting my hands in my lap.

  He narrowed his eyes on me, and leaned back in his chair. “Sophia Brooks. Don’t count yourself short.”

  “I am a short girl.” I shrugged my shoulders.

  “Always got jokes don’t you? I think I’ll call you little one.” He had this half smile plastered on his face from the moment he sat down. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.”

  “I’m not nervous.” I laughed, and looked out the window. “Cam just said something today, that bothered me.”

  “Cam, talks a lot of talk”

  I looked back at him, “That’s what I keep hearing.”

  He leaned in again, placing his hand on top of mine. This time I didn’t pull away. “Tell me something interesting about you
rself.”

  “I don’t think I'm that interesting.”

  “There you go again, Sophia. Just tell me the first thing that comes to your mind.”

  “I’ve never been to the beach.” I scrunch my face in that unsure way, that way when you’re not sure if you got the question right, and the teacher is going to call you out on it.

  “Really? Never?”

  “Nope, until recently I had never been out of Nebraska.”

  “We will have to go one day.” He looked out the window, at a man walking his dog.

  The thought of going to the beach with Stefan made my heart flutter. I’ve always dreamt of the beach; waves crashing, fruity drink in hand, sand in my toes, and now shirtless Stefan to add to my dream. He seemed perfect. I’m not sure what game he’s playing, but deal me twice.

  “Your turn. Something interesting, go.” I leaned on the table with my elbows, and rest my chin on top of my balled up hands.

  “Well,” He tapped the straw a few more times before dropping it. “I’m the exact opposite of my family.”

  “How so?”

  “They follow all these life rules. I can’t live like that. Not really my style.”

  “And what is your style?”

  “Honestly?” He broke his concentration from staring outside, and looked back at me, “To be happy.”

  “The family rules, they aren’t happy?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  I watched as he stirred his coffee, staring into the cup. This side of Stefan, this side is different. Honest, almost vulnerable.

  “We should start heading back. The guys are supposed to be at the house at nine.” He stood up, crumpling the paper that his scone came in.

  The sky had the smallest hint of daylight left. The lights had come on, and the streets had come to a low hum; still busy, but a soft hum from the magic that is New York. We walked along the edge of the park; it was surprising how many people were still there.

  “What do you like to eat?” Stefan asked, as a late night jogger passed by. “For dinner Wednesday.”

  “I like everything.” My hands tightened around my purse strap that was draped across my chest.

  He laughed under his breath. “That’s a lot of help.”

  “Seeing as how I haven’t been on many dates; I don’t know how much help I will be.”

  We stopped in front of the house. “I think you’re pretty good at it.”

  “How would you know?”

  “Pretty sure we just had our first half date.” He said casually.

  “Oh…” That deer in headlights look came back. I looked down at the ground, breaking eye contact. I don’t know how to respond to that. Did we? Was that a date?

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?” I asked.

  He gently cupped my chin making me look up at him, releasing it almost immediately, “Don’t look down, people should be able to see you.”

  “I don’t think there’s too much to see.”

  “I’d argue that any day.” He gave me a warm smile, and opened the front door. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

  Stefan

  Sophia went upstairs once we were inside and I made my way to the kitchen. You could hear Keira’s laughter from the front door. When I walked around the corner, I instantly became defensive. Keira was sitting at the table with my bitch excuse of a brother.

  Chapter Eleven

  Stefan

  Keira went from the warm hearted person she was moments ago to a very worried unsure one when she saw me enter.

  “Your brother showed up.” She gestured to him like she was holding a tray.

  “I see that.”

  My brother smirked, “Little brother, nice to see you.” His side smile didn’t even faze me; this prick is always up to something.

  I walked over toward the refrigerator, and pulled out a beer. “Thomas, what are you doing here?” I popped the top, and leaned against the counter.

  “In the area, thought I'd stop by.” He looked down at his phone.

  I kept my eyes on him. “I’m sure you were.”

  “What, you don’t believe me?” He looked up, and put his phone back in his coat pocket.

  “In the area my ass. I’m sure they just have you checking up on me.”

  “If you mean they as in our parents, no. Or maybe they do? You’ll never really know.” He laughed under his breath, and stood from the chair.

  “Should I leave?” Keira put her hands on the table, and started to stand.

  “No no, you should probably stay.” Thomas waved at Keira without looking at her. “You know my brother. He’s got a temper. Tristen Van Doren will attest to that.”

  “One don’t fucking bring him up, and two If you weren’t such a complete imbecile I wouldn’t have a temper.” My fist tightened around my beer.

  Thomas smirked, and stepped closer to me, “You were always the funny one.”

  “Again, why are you here?” I snapped.

  He squinted his eyes, “Who’s your new lady friend that you walked in with?” I could hear the plotting in his voice.

  My jaw clenched, “Don’t worry about her. She doesn't concern you.”

  “You sure about that? I can take this one, just like I took the last one.” He leaned against the island, crossing his arms.

  I set my beer down behind me, and took him by the shoulder, “Alright you’re done. Get the hell out.” I pushed him toward the door.

  “Alright I’m leaving.” He laughed. He stopped by the front door, holding it half open. “What a warm welcome I get after not seeing you for 6 months. You haven't changed little bro.”

  “I said leave, Thomas.” My face had lost all emotion, he was trying my patience.

  “By the way, Dad is here. He’s staying at his usual place. You should stop by. I think we’ll be here for a while this time.”

  “Yeah, I'll pass.” I walked over, and shut the door behind him.

  I turned around to walk back to the kitchen. Keira was standing in the entryway with a pitiful expression on her face. I sighed, “I’m not mad at you, but you know how he is. I keep him out of my life for a reason.” I walked past her.

  “I’m sorry Stefan, I didn’t know how to tell him no. I said you weren’t here, and he insisted he would wait.”

  I picked up my beer off of the counter, and walked back toward her, “It’s ok. I get it. He’s just a spineless bastard.”

  A weird smile formed on her face, as she raised one eyebrow. “So...you and Sophia?” She was clearly trying to change the subject.

  I laughed, and walked past her into the living room, “Don’t you worry about that either. It’s nothing.”

  She crossed her arms, “Ok, but just so you know. I promised her that I would kick you in the balls if you’re a jerk at any point in time.”

  “There’s nothing going on. You have nothing to worry about.” I called out to her. “I’m going to make my exit and head downstairs now before you can interrogate me anymore.”

  “Alright playboy.” She laughed, and walked back into the kitchen.

  Downstairs the guys were well into the game. I took a giant swig of my drink as I entered the room. I pulled a chair out next to Cam. They were all staring at me like I did something comical. “What are you looking at?” I set my beer down.

  “You decided to grace us with your presence, Stef?” Leo smirked as he looked through his cards.

  Sam pointed his beer toward me. “Oh he was off hanging out with his new toy.”

  “Who’s the victim now?” Cam laughed, and placed a card down.

  “Sam, why are you like this?” I leaned on the table, folding my hands in front of me.

  “Come on, who is it?” Cam insisted.

  Sam laughed, “This is the kicker guys, it’s Sophia.” Sam used his hands for dramatic effect.

  “You just can’t keep your damn mouth shut can you?” I snapped. He’s always got to start something. I glanced to my right at Cam. His
face was white. What the hell is wrong with him?

  “You guys need to leave her alone.” Leo stood up, and walked over to the bar.

  “There’s nothing going on. Trust me, she’s just some girl.” I picked up the cards in front of me.

  “Really? So, why were you late?” Sam leaned in, challenging me.

  I clenched my jaw; staring him down. “Look, she’s nothing special. Drop the subject.”

  “Now he’s mad.” Sam laughed, and looked down at his cards.

  “Let’s just play this game, I'm ready to shut you guys up, and take your money.” Cam snapped. Something was clearly pissing him off, but I didn’t care enough to ask right now.

  Sophia

  I was woken up by my phone going off in my hand. I looked at the time and it was almost nine. Holy crap it’s nine?! I must have fallen asleep texting my mom last night. Thankfully I don’t have to work today, and I don’t have to be at Joe’s until six. I climbed out of bed, and took in my appearance in the mirror. I was a sight for sure.

  I walked downstairs to the kitchen, and pulled the eggs out of the refrigerator. I placed a cup under the coffee maker, and pressed start. The smell of the coffee was heavenly. The sound of the eggs frying in the pan made my stomach rumble even more.

  Sam walked in, and grabbed the juice that I had set on the counter, “Good morning, Sunshine.” He began pouring a glass.

  “Morning.” I slid my eggs out of the pan onto a plate.

  He sat down at the table, “What are your plans for the day?”

  “I have to work tonight.” I picked up my plate, and sat across from him. “How was poker last night?” I asked trying to ease the awkwardness.

  “Well, we all lost. Cam took all of our money per usual.” He laughed, and wiped the sleep out of his eye. “You were the topic of the night.”

  “I was?” My hand froze mid bite with my mouth half open.

  “Yeah, Stefan said it was nothing though.”

  “Said what was nothing?” I set my fork down.

  “You. Cam was pestering him for the reason why he was late to poker, and he said it was just some girl, nothing special.”