Someday forever

I was sitting on my bed, staring at my math book, trying to memorize the algebra formulas I needed to learn. I don’t know how many times I was looking at those formulas without really understanding them. Math is so boring! Finally, it was Friday afternoon, and I really had enough of studying for the week. I was waiting for my best friend, Sally, to text me. She wanted to tell me if we were going out tonight. I couldn’t wait to finally meet Frank, her new boyfriend. She met him four weeks ago at a party... without me! I was spending that weekend in Louisiana with my parents and my little brother at my grandparents’, my mom’s parents.

Sally and I have been best friends since middle school; we’re simply inseparable. We’ve so much in common, but when it comes to boys, she’s pretty light-hearted, the opposite of me. While I was still sulking three months after the breakup with my ex-boyfriend Adam, Sally in the meanwhile met two guys; the last one is Frank. This time it seemed to be very serious, because she wouldn’t stop raving about Frank, and I was pretty sure she had a huge crush on him. I was so excited to finally meet the boy who captured my bestie’s heart!

I sighed and angrily tossed my math book onto my desk, then turned onto my stomach, staring at the framed photo: Adam’s picture. I didn’t even know why the photo was still on my desk. In the end, I wasn’t very sad about our breakup, since I wasn’t so deep into Adam as I first thought! We were together for six months, but we didn’t see each other very often, as Adam invested a lot of time and energy in his football training. When we met sometimes during the week and always on Sundays, we had a great time, because he was truly in love with me.

But in the end, I’ve had enough. I didn’t want to always come second to sports and asked him to spend more time with me. At first, Adam was shocked when he realized that I was very serious... But then it was him who asked me to wait for him, while he would be focused exclusively on his football career. I couldn’t believe my ears and told him to definitely fuck off! The photo frame got an angry shove and tipped backward.

Then I switched onto my back, clasping my hands behind my neck and staring at the ceiling. Would I ever find a boyfriend with whom I could experience true love, the kind of love that makes your heart race and takes your breath away? I’m a hopeless romantic and still believe that one day I will meet my soulmate.

My phone vibrating snapped me out of my thoughts. Finally, it’s Sally! She texted me that Frank and his friends were going to the “Dragon’s Den” tonight, a dive bar downtown, and that we were going to meet them there.

“Don’t tell me we’re going to the Dragon’s Den. They’re dealing every kind of drugs there!” I texted back.

“Come on, Sofie! We’re not going there to buy drugs, we’re going to have fun. Are you coming or not?” she demanded.

The last thing I want is to be stuck at home on a Friday night!

“Okay, I’m coming. What time are you picking me up?”

She answered that she’d pick me up at 9 p.m.

After reading her last message, I put my phone down. Honestly, I felt a little uneasy. I probably shouldn’t go to the Dragon’s Den, since that place has a bad reputation. But I was way too curious and couldn’t wait to meet Frank and his friends. After all, I just want to have some fun tonight.

I heard the front door slamming downstairs, followed immediately by my mother’s and little brother’s voices in the hallway. She’d just taken Sven home after basketball practice. Imaging his satisfied face after returning from practice, I couldn’t help but smile. I jumped out of bed and left my room to go downstairs. My mom and brother were arguing about something or other again. As soon as I approached them in the hall, Sven turned to me.

“Hi Sofie! Practice was great today, I made four baskets.” he exclaimed, his hazel eyes sparkling.

I chuckled softly as he was standing there in front of me, wearing his yellow and blue jersey, his blond hair messy and sticking out in all directions.

“Wow, you’re getting better and better! I’m so proud of you, little bro.”

I winked at him, and he gave me a huge smile.

“Thanks, Sofie! I should probably take a shower now, because I’m all stinky.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. My little brother is just adorable, I love him so much.

“Bye Mom, see you later!” he said to our mother and wanted to leave, but she stopped him.

“Listen to your sister and don’t tease her while I’m gone,” she said in a strict voice, and Sven rolled his eyes.

“Okay, okay,” he replied, annoyed, before heading upstairs to the bathroom.

I gave my mom a thoughtful look. She’s a beautiful woman in her mid-forties and people say I look a lot like her, since we both have a tanned skin and golden-brown eyes.

“Where are you going, Mom?” I asked, and she took a deep breath.

“I’m on my way to the practice. Dad needs my help with a dog’s surgery.”

My parents are both veterinarians, they have a veterinary practice in town.

“Oh! I was actually planning to go out tonight with Sally and some friends,” I said hesitantly. “When will you be back?”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart! I’ll be back for dinner, around eight o’clock,” she assured me, giving me a gentle smile.

“I’ve prepared potato casserole for dinner. All you have to do is put it in the oven later.”

I was very relieved, since I definitely didn’t want to stay home and look after my brother. She gave me a serious look, and I felt a little nervous.

“Where are you going tonight?” she asked me.

“To some place downtown. I can’t remember the name.”

I decided not to tell her we were going to the Dragon’s Den. After all, the place has a bad reputation, and I wasn’t sure she’d let me go! To my great relief, she didn’t ask any more questions but frowned at me.

“I see, some place downtown. Anyway, I really have to leave now. See you later!”

With those words, she turned around and headed for the front door. After she left the house, I was standing there for a while, lost in thought.

My parents are working together, and after all these years, they’re still in love. They met in Germany more than twenty years ago when they both were studying veterinary medicine at the University of Berlin. My dad is German, and my mom is a Southern girl from Louisiana. Back then, she wanted to spend a few years in Europe, so she transferred to Berlin for studies. She never would have expected to meet the love of her life there! My dad was so in love with her, that after graduation he decided to move to the USA with her. They moved to San Francisco, opening their veterinary practice and starting a family.

Hopefully, one day I will also meet the love of my life and live a love story as beautiful as my parents’. Suddenly, I remembered that Sven was still in the shower. I ran upstairs to check if he hadn’t flooded the bathroom yet.

After dinner, it was finally time to get ready for a fun Friday night with my bestie Sally and some new friends! I decided to wear black jeans and a mesh top, with a black bralette underneath. Since I’m naturally tanned, I don’t usually wear makeup, but I emphasized my brown eyes with black mascara and applied pink lip gloss to my full lips. Then I brushed my long, dark brown hair until it fell in soft curls over my shoulders. Before heading out, I checked myself in the mirror and was pretty pleased with my look.

My phone vibrated, and I read the message from Sally on the screen:

“I’m waiting outside, Sofia! Please hurry up.”

With a smile I replied to her before running downstairs. Lost in thought, as I often am, I didn’t notice my father standing by the front door with his arms crossed, obviously waiting for me. I almost bumped into him and jumped back in surprise.

“Jesus, you scared me, Dad! What are you doing here?” I exclaimed in a shrill voice, lifting my head to look at him.

He took a deep breath and gave me a profound look, a strange expression in his hazel eyes. My dad is very tall and handsome, the same age as Mum. He cleared his throat, then he asked:

“Are you going out dressed like this, Sofia?”

He could be really annoying sometimes!

“Of course! We’re going to some pub, what’s the problem?” I said with a shrug.

Hopefully he wouldn’t ask where we were going!

“It’s just... you look so different, really sexy,” he replied and let out a deep sigh.

“You’re a beautiful young woman now, not my little girl anymore. You know, you’re so much like your mom when I first met her, sweetheart!”

I noticed his voice trembling slightly. He was getting all emotional, and it touched my heart. But I had to leave, since my friend was waiting for me.

“Can I go now, Dad? Sally’s waiting for me outside,” I said in a soft voice, trying to hide my impatience.

“Okay, but be careful! You already know, there are so many bad guys out there,” he said concerned, and I rolled my eyes.

“You know the rules: no alcohol, no drugs! And don’t trust any guy you’ve just met.”

I was slowly losing my patience.

“Dad, I’m eighteen. And as you said earlier, I’m not a little girl anymore. Bye!”

I walked past him and vigorously opened the front door. I heard him sighing behind me, while I was leaving the house.

Sally was leaning against her car, a blue Opel Corsa. The car is old, but it’s hers! Honestly I’m envying her, because I also have a driver’s license, but no car yet.

“Hi Sally!” I called out, walking toward her, and a smile lit up her pretty face.

“Finally, Sofie,” she replied with a huge smile.

We embraced each other, then she gave me an admiring look.

“Wow, you look super sexy! Good luck tonight... The Dragon’s Den is full of hot guys.”

I shook my head at her, then we both burst out laughing.

“Come on, you look gorgeous as always,” I assured her.

Sally is African American and she’s very beautiful with silky skin and big, dark brown eyes. Tonight she was wearing tight jeans and an orange top. We got into her car and she started it.

“In about half an hour you’ll finally meet Frank, sweetie!” she exclaimed, while we were driving to the city.

“He seems so cool, but his kisses are fucking hot.”

She was smiling all over, and I gave her a thoughtful look. There’s no doubt that Sally is head over heels in love with Frank!