Layla was meticulously packing her books in her bag, as lunchtime had arrived. Sofia was gazing at her lazily. "Let's proceed, Layla!!" Sofia exclaimed, tired of waiting for her.
"Sofia, don't irritate me!" Layla yelled in the same tone.
"Just leave it as it is." Sofia scoffed, sometimes finding Layla's perfectionism annoying.
"You're delaying me." Layla spoke, continuing to pack her bag and place it properly on her chair. Meanwhile, Sofia's bag was lying on the floor with open zippers, half of her belongings inside, and the rest on the table. Layla and Sofia walked out of the classroom.
"We're extremely late; all the good food must have been sold out by now." Layla complained in the corridor. Sofia simply tutted and continued walking in silence, holding her lunch box, which she had prepared herself. Layla went to purchase lunch, while Sofia sat on a bench. Students were scattered around, some eating, others walking, and some playing games. Sofia kept glancing at them, waiting for Layla to return. After a good five minutes, Sofia saw Layla walking towards her.
"This school is dreadful! There's nothing decent to eat here." Layla announced, opening her packet of chips, which she had just bought.
"Prepare your own lunch box, then." Sofia suggested, opening her lunch box to reveal the potato patties she had made the previous day.
"Are you serious?" Layla snarled.
"Why?" Sofia asked, taking a bite and looking at her.
"Cooking is not possible for me; I'm incapable of it." Layla replied, eating her own food.
"Hahahaha. Come on, I was joking." Sofia replied, embarrassed.
"Then learn to make one first." Layla scoffed, gazing at nothing in particular. Sofia continued eating in silence until she heard Layla clear her throat.
"Sofia." She spoke.
"Hmm?" Sofia replied quickly.
"You know, yesterday I spoke with Evelyn. She called me, actually." Layla spoke with a small smirk on her lips.
"Wow, how is she? What is she doing? How is everything?" Sofia was overexcited to hear about her long-lost friend, who had changed schools at the start of the year.
"Well, she's happy and enjoying herself.
" Layla replied.
"Actually, she asked me something." Layla spoke before Sofia could ask more questions.
"What did she ask you?" Sofia was impatient.
"She asked me to remove you from our friends' group." Layla replied.
"What?" All the excitement Sofia had vanished, replaced by shock.
"Yeah." Layla replied, almost done with her lunch.
"But why?" Sofia was hurt.
"Because you know she never liked Lily, and you're being friendly with her for no reason at all." Layla replied, turning her face away, showing Sofia how annoying this matter was for her.
"But I just helped her. She was struggling with something, and I assisted her. What's the big deal here?" Sofia tried to explain.
"By ignoring me? By ignoring Evelyn?" Layla asked.
"I never ignored you guys!" Sofia replied firmly.
"But both of us felt that way." Layla replied with a straight face.
"I...I am sorry if you guys felt that way. Lily was working on her art project and just needed a little help. I helped her; that's all." Sofia tried to explain.
"I see." Layla replied and stood up to discard the empty wrappers. Sofia kept sitting there, looking at her half-finished lunch and closing the lid of the box. Her appetite was ruined. Layla looked at Sofia and spoke.
"Are you attending the remaining classes here?" "Ah?" Sofia asked absent-mindedly.
"I asked, are you attending the remaining classes here?" Layla repeated her question.
"If not, then let's go upstairs." With that, she turned around and started walking towards the stairs.
"No, no, I am coming." Sofia replied hurriedly and almost ran to catch up with Layla.
"Gosh, I detest stairs." Layla was again complaining. The remaining day was average for Layla, but for Sofia, it was suffocating. She just wanted to reach home sooner and clear everything between her and Evelyn.
"Sofia...Sofia!" Lily shouted.
"Ah! What?" Sofia asked, again zoning out. It was the last lecture, and she was daydreaming.
"What are you thinking?"
"Ah ... I wasn't thinking about anything," Sofia Reyes replied with flushed cheeks, embarrassed at being caught daydreaming by a classmate for the second time that week. "Oh, your cheeks are crimson! Do you have a new infatuation or something?" Lily asked, teasingly raising her eyebrows. "No, absolutely not!" Sofia placed her palms on her cheeks, which were warm to the touch. "Anyway, I wanted to express my gratitude for your assistance." She replied with a warm smile. "Uh ... the pleasure was mine." Sofia replied hastily. Before Lily could speak further, the teacher entered the classroom. Sofia glanced at Layla. "Ah!!" You startled me. Layla was glaring at Sofia with all her agitation. "What?" Sofia asked slowly. "Sofia!!! Remain silent," the teacher admonished her. But Sofia was too distraught to care. She continued calling out to Layla. "Sofia, leave the classroom!" the teacher yelled. Sofia looked at Layla, who seemed completely oblivious to her surroundings. Sofia stood up silently and walked out. The teacher slammed the door shut behind her. Sofia was deeply hurt. After half an hour, the lecture ended, and everyone began heading home. "Layla! Layla!" Sofia called out. "My dad is here to pick me up; let's make this worthwhile." Layla said, waiting for her father to arrive. "I am extremely sorry if you and Evelyn felt that way." Sofia spoke, panting heavily. She had run all the way down to talk to Layla before she left. "We can discuss this tomorrow. Farewell." With that, Layla walked towards the exit, leaving Sofia standing in the scorching sunlight. "Sofia." Someone called out from behind. She turned to see Lily standing a few steps away. "Lily. What's up?" Sofia looked at her fresh face. "Umm ... if you hadn't helped me that day, I would have been so pathetic. You're always there whenever I need something." Lily spoke with pure gratitude. Sofia nodded slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment. "You're welcome, Lily. I just did what anyone would have." Sofia spoke, attempting to conceal her embarrassment. "Come on, butter cup, no one helped me. Many saw me struggling, but they just left me there alone. I am genuinely thankful to you; there's nothing to be embarrassed about." Lily chuckled. Her laughter was beautiful, but Sofia couldn't appreciate it, as she felt responsible for her recent troubles with her friends.
"Woah you really zone out a lot don't you." She wasn't making fun of Sofia or mocking her. Lily was simply asked a question she was curious about.
Sofia just shrugged her shoulders and appeared un bothered even tho there was havoc going on inside her.
"Anyway let's leave this. You have to come with me!" Lily was excited about something all of the sudden.
"Why?" Sofia asked shocked.
"Come on butter cup."Lily said and without listening to any excuses she pulled Sofia by her arm and started to walk.
"Lily listen to me." Sofia tried to make an excuse and run away.
"No ... I am not listening to you right now." She spoke stubbornly and kept dragging Sofia.

As for Sofia she was already emotionally drained she did have the energy to argue with a person who was the burst of energy.

Lily took Sofia to a small school near her house. Sofia was getting too awkward.

"This is my favorite cafe I love it so much. So darlin what do you wanna order." Lily asked about going through the menu.

"Lily I just want to go home. My house is near this place just 5 minutes away. Can I please go?" Sofia was pleading at this rate now.
"It's a no from me. You can simply walk out if you wanna break my heart if you don't wanna do so stay. Will you? Please?" Lily spoke. Something shinned in her eyes. It was something that Sofia couldn't refuse. She kept sitting and ordered a pineapple shake.
"I think you are something different Sofia. You really stayed." Lily spoke with a cheerful voice.
"You don't like me staying?" Sofia wasn't being sarcastic she didn't know why she asked that question but she did anyway.
"Of course not. Let's leave this topic. You said you live nearby. Where do you live." Lily asked with a warm smile on her face.
"It's a 5 minute walk from here maybe less." Sofia spoke.
"Mine too I guess we live nearby." Lily replied and that's when their orders arrived.
"You ordered red velvet cupcakes?" Sofia asked stunned.
"Why don't you like it. I am sorry I didn't have any idea regarding it."
"No I don't dislike them." Sofia replied hurriedly.
Lily just smiled and sipped her cold coffee.
Sofia ate a few little cupcakes.
They keep sitting there for a few more minutes after they are done. Lily went to pay and Sofia stared out of the cafe. That's when she saw two familiar figures outside.
"Evelyn? Layla?" Sofia mumbled and rushed out of the cafe.
"Evelyn!!!" Sofia yelled and ran to begin them.
"Sofia?!" Evelyn was taken back.
"Evelyn? You here?" Sofia asked with a smile.
"Ah yes I wanted some stuff so I asked Layla to help me with it." Evelyn replied.
"I see." Sofia replied.
"Can we talk to Evelyn?" Sofia asked slowly.
"I think you are in a hurry." Evelyn spoke heartlessly.
"I won't take long." Sofia replied hurriedly.
"Make it quick." Evelyn spoke with an un bothered tone.
"I am sorry if you felt that I ignored you. You are so precious to me." Sofia spoke.
Evelyn only nodded and spoke.
"I see that's good. I am late. See you later."
They both walked away leaving a little satisfied Sofia standing alone in the middle of the road.
Lily was standing behind her the whole time but the two were in such a hurry that they didn't recognize her and walked away.
"Butter cup?" Lily spoke slowly.
"Huh?" Sofia looked behind her to see Lily holding 2 bags with a small paper bag.
"I am sorry I left you like this." Sofia apologized while Lily said nothing.
"Thanks for carrying my bag and sorry for putting you in that trouble. Thanks for today." Sofia spoke like a machine.
"It's okay don't thank me much. And yeah here is a little gift for you." Sofia forwarded the paper bag.
"I am sorry but I can't take it." Sofia backed off.
"Sofia watch out!!!" Lily shouted a bike was coming in her direction at very fast speed.
Lily ran but before she could reach.
"Sofiaaaa!!!" Lily shouted with wide eyes