"Are you suggesting that what you two did was for my own good?" spoke Sophia in a voice that sounded half offended, half amused.
Seated across from her was Amelia in a red shirt with a leather jacket over it, complimented by black jeans. Next to Amelia was Estelle, who was wearing a black baby doll shirt with a cartoon kitten on the front. The kitten, while drawn with a cute grin, had freakishly large and bloody fangs. Naturally, her waist was sporting a black and white checkered skirt. Sophia herself could find no room to judge, for she had simply worn what Amelia suggested, which was a black tiered dress with a belt. Clearly everyone's perception on what proper attire was for a *somewhere nice* to eat was very different.
"As a matter of fact, yes I am," retorted Amelia in a voice that slightly mocked Sophia's, "that boy-toy was broken and it was time to throw him out!"
"He wasn't a toy!" said Sophia in her loudest quiet restaurant voice, "I loved him. Yes, he made a mistake, but I forgave him. That's what you do for love."
"No, that's what FOOLS do for love. Sophie," Amelia's voice changed from stern to sympathetic, "don't you get it? You don't mean to him what he does to you."
"How can you say that? You barely even know him!"
"Where is he then?"
"What?"
"If he loves you so much that he can forgive your mistakes, where is he now?"
Sophia stared at Amelia with the cold eyes of defeat. She knew that she had no argument against her point, though she was determined not to give in. Her eyes stared down at the forest green tablecloth, then wandered into the aisle beside them. It was a secluded area, a fact that was accentuated by the dim lighting. If it weren't for the two girls sitting across from her, the atmosphere might induce a strong feeling of isolation. She searched the empty seats across the hall for an answer. She even silently begged the soft classical music that drifted through the air for something convincing to say. Finally, after searching in vain for a valid argument, she decided to take the vague route.
"Well he was pretty hurt. Sometimes forgiveness takes time."
"You want to know what he's doing right now? He's fucking that-"
"Stop!" Sophia could take no more, and she knew that no more could be said to defend her ex-boyfriend, "Ok, you win. You're right, I was a fool." She fought with all of her inner strength to keep the tears from surfacing again. "I just...I don't know..."
"Hey," Amelia's voice was now soft and comforting, "I'm not trying to judge you, I'm trying to help you. You've been one of my closest friends for a long time now, right?" Sophia could only nod silently. "Ok, so trust me. I only want to see the best happen to you. You deserve so much better than him."
"Thank you," Sophia managed to squeak out while batting her eye lashes to keep the tears from falling down her face. "I have to go to the restroom. Order for me?"
"Sure, sweetheart."
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"Hey gimme that back!" Sophia yelped in surprise.
The three girls fought over the dessert menu that had sat upright between the salt and pepper shakers only a moment ago. Estelle was taunting Sophia by waving it around and reading from it at the same time, all the while grinning mischievously. Suddenly Amelia's hand snatched it away, causing Estelle to stop dead in mid-taunt. Amelia offered only a smug grin before sticking her tongue out in victory.
"Oh bring that tongue back here! Don't you tease me like that!" exclaimed Estelle before planting her lips on Amelia's. She giggled like a giddy schoolgirl in-between kisses. At one point, her eyes widened as Amelia's arm shifted, and Sophia could only imagine what had just happened below the table.