Eight Weeks (Unfrozen Four Book 2)

“it was only perfect in the past / ‘cause a first love never lasts”—First Love Never Lasts Up by Kira Kosarin

“Just stop right there,” Sofia says, pointing toward a red painted house.

“You know, it doesn’t make a difference if I stop in front of your aunt’s house, or her neighbor’s.”

Sofia glares at me like I just said her dog died. She unbuckles her seatbelt and gets out of the car the second the car stands still. “I have to get the keys from Mrs. Reyes’s house. My aunt and her are great friends and she’s got a spare one.”

Mrs. Reyes?

As Sofia starts to walk around the car to get to the trunk, I jump out as well, feeling as though I need to give her at least one helping hand. I mean, this woman has three suitcases with her. Surely, she could use some help.

“So, do you know Mrs. Reyes?” I ask carefully. Sofia nods instantly, then shakes her head a second later. “Which one is it, Sofia? Yes or no?”

“Yes and no. I used to be really close to her daughter before my fami—” Sofia doesn’t get to finish her sentence because someone comes walking out of “Mrs. Reyes’” house. Or rather two someone’s. My twin sister and my very best friend.

“You shouldn’t have been born, Lily!” my, who would have guessed it, mother yells right before the door slams shut.

Lily and I may be twins, have the very same parents… but we grew up in two entirely different households. Whereas I was lucky enough to stay with my father after our parents split, Lily desperately wanted to have both of our parents in her life. She ended up staying with our mother and only being allowed to see me and dad every Sunday.

Now to the more heartbreaking part… our mother hates Lily. Loathes her to death.

I haven’t talked to my mother since I was five years old, and even I know they’re not on good terms.

But what’s even worse, my sister is suicidal, and this woman has the audacity to tell her own daughter to die. Disgusting.

As I watch Colin wrap his arms around Lily while she sobs, my brain suddenly starts to do its job, working.

Sofia. She knows “Mrs. Reyes”. She was friends with her daughter “before…”

“Sofia.”

Remember when I said there are memories connected to someone named Sofia? Yeah, let me introduce you to Sofia Michelle Carlsen. The very one that’s standing right in front of me, with her hands held on her waist, her long brunette hair with the top part of it stuck back to get the strands out of her face. And, not to forget, the Sofia trademark; The ribbon that’s tied into a cute bow just where her hair is supposed to hold in place.

I can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots earlier. Who even walks around with a bow at the back of their head? Also, why the hell did she stick to it?

Sofia had always worn bows in her hair, ever since I can remember. I didn’t think she’d still wear them. But then again, I didn’t exactly follow up with her on social media, for my own sanity.

Sofia moved away when we were eight years old. Her father had to move for his job, got stationed in Germany.

I’ve always liked Sofia, sometimes maybe a little too much. But to be fair, we were children, so that doesn’t count. Little boys are stupid. Older ones too, but on a different level.

She turns to look at me, evidently having been able to connect the dots as well. “Is that…”

As she attempts to make a step toward the house, probably to get to her long-lost best friend, I reach for her wrist, holding it in my hand and pull her out of sight from my best friend and sister.

“Oh my god, Aaron. Let me go say hello to Lily!” she whisper-yells. “I haven’t talked to her since—”

“Shut up, would you.” If there is one thing Lily doesn’t need at the moment, it’s finding out her childhood best friend is back in town. Not while my best friend is trying to save her life.

“What do you mean shu—” I press my hand to her mouth to keep her from speaking.

“Just shut up for a minute, would you, Icicle?” As I hold her close, I can’t stop my eyes from traveling down her neck, trying to find that one piece of jewelry I gave her just before she left for Germany.

It’s silly, I know. I haven’t been wearing the other half of said jewelry for years. There is no way she’s wearing it still.

And she doesn’t. At least I don’t see a silver chain around her neck at all.

Only half-heartedly, I manage to not look around the corner to see what’s happening between my best friend and sister. No matter what they are, fake-dating or not, it’s none of my business. Well, it will be when that douchebag of best friend of mine breaks her heart. But as of now, he didn’t.

Once I hear a car door close, followed by another, I remove my hand from Sofia’s mouth. An engine starts and soon after a car drives away. That’s when I finally get up from the floor, ignoring Sofia. Or I try to.

“Aaron, what was that all about? Why can’t I say hello to my best friend?” she demands. Sofia pouts at me, her eyebrows dipping, finding together in the same frown she used to have when we we’re young.

How did I not recognize her?

Sliding a hand down my face, I let out a long breath. “She’s not your best friend anymore, Icicle.”

“Oh, wow. I see,” she says, chuckling disbelievingly. “You still haven’t found your humanity.” She goes to unload her suitcases from my trunk, scowling like whatever I’ve said was the ultimate insult to her ever.

“Need I remind you of what I’ve done for you today?”

She shakes her head then tilts her face up to the sky as she inhales a deep breath before her eyes meet mine again. “Thank you, Aaron. I mean it.” I know she does. Sofia Carlsen is incapable of being mean. She’s always been like that. Though, she might have changed. It’s been thirteen years since I’ve talked to her after all.

“You’re very welcome. I’m always there to help out an old friend of mine.”