Today We Start Alex and Sophia ( Love Story)

The small town of Willowbrook was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone. Nestled between rolling hills and a sparkling river, it was a postcard-perfect town where life moved slowly, and the air always smelled faintly of wildflowers. Alex had lived here all his life, and so had Sophia. They’d grown up together, attended the same schools, and now, they were starting their first year at Willowbrook College.

Alex stood at the edge of the campus, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he watched the students bustling around him. The college was small, much like the town, but it had a charm that made it feel like home. He adjusted the strap of his backpack and took a deep breath, his heart pounding in chest. Today was the day. He was going to tell Sophia how he felt.

Sophia was everything to him. She was kind, intelligent, and had a laugh that could light up the darkest room. They’d been friends for as long as he could remember, but over the years, his feelings for her had grown into something deeper. He’d spent countless nights lying awake, wondering if she felt the same way. Now, standing here on the first day of college, he knew he couldn’t keep it to himself any longer.

“Alex!” a voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Sophia walking toward him, her long brown hair catching the sunlight. She was wearing a simple blue dress and a smile that made his stomach flip.

“Hey, Sophia,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Ready for our first day?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, falling into step beside him as they walked toward the main building. “I can’t believe we’re finally here. It feels like just yesterday we were kids, dreaming about this.”

Alex nodded, his throat suddenly dry. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to summon the courage to say what he’d been rehearsing in his head for weeks. But before he could speak, another voice interrupted them.

“Sophia! Alex! Wait up!” Annie, Sophia’s younger sister, came running toward them, her cheeks flushed and her backpack bouncing on her shoulders. She was a year younger than them but had managed to get into the same college thanks to her excellent grades.

“Annie, what are you doing here?” Sophia asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you weren’t starting until next week.”

“I couldn’t wait,” Annie said, grinning. “I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.” She glanced at Alex, her eyes lingering on him for a moment before she looked away. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

Alex forced a smile, trying to hide his disappointment. He’d been hoping to have some alone time with Sophia, but Annie’s presence made that impossible. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Annie had always been friendly toward him, and he knew she had a crush on him. He’d never encouraged her, but he also hadn’t done anything to discourage her. Now, as he watched her laugh and joke with Sophia, he realized how complicated things were about to become.

The day passed In a blur of orientation sessions and campus tours. By the time the sun began to set, Alex was exhausted but determined. He’d decided to wait until the end of the day to talk to Sophia, when they could have a moment alone. As the three of them walked back to the parking lot, he cleared his throat.

“Sophia, can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Sophia looked surprised but nodded. “Sure. Annie, do you mind waiting here for a bit?”

Annie’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. “Of course not. Take your time.” She sat down on a nearby bench, pulling out her phone and pretending to scroll through it. But Alex could feel her eyes on them as he and Sophia walked a few steps away.

“What’s up?” Sophia asked, tilting her head as she looked at him.

Alex took a deep breath, his heart racing. “Sophia, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time. I don’t know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it. I… I love you. I’ve loved you for years, and I can’t keep it to myself anymore.”

Sophia’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she didn’t say anything. Alex felt like the world had stopped spinning, and he braced himself for rejection. But then, to his surprise, she smiled.

“Alex,” she said softly, reaching out to take his hand. “I had no idea you felt that way. But… I think I love you too.”

Alex’s heart soared, and he felt like he was floating. He’d been so afraid of ruining their friendship, but now, it felt like everything had fallen into place. They stood there for a moment, holding hands and smiling at each other, oblivious to the world around them.

But they weren’t as alone as they thought. Annie, still sitting on the bench, had been watching them the entire time. Her heart sank as she realized what was happening. She’d always hoped that Alex would notice her, but now, it was clear that his heart belonged to Sophia. A wave of jealousy and sadness washed over her, and she quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in her phone.

As Alex and Sophia walked back to the parking lot, hand in hand, Annie forced a smile and joined them. But inside, she was already plotting. She couldn’t let Alex and Sophia be together. Not if it meant she would lose him forever.

Chapter Summary

This is the first chapter, setting the stage for the drama and romance to come.

Chapter 2: The Jealousy Begins

The weeks following Alex and Sophia’s confession flew by in a whirlwind of stolen glances, secret smiles, and late-night conversations. They were careful to keep their relationship hidden, especially from Annie and Sophia’s father, Martin. But love has a way of shining through, no matter how hard you try to hide it.

Annie noticed. Of course she noticed.

She saw the way Alex’s eyes lingered on Sophia during class, the way he always seemed to find an excuse to sit next to her, and the way they whispered to each other when they thought no one was looking. It made her stomach twist with jealousy. She had always been the outgoing one, the one who could make anyone laugh. But when it came to Alex, she felt invisible.

One afternoon, as the three of them sat in the campus café, Annie decided she couldn’t take it anymore. Sophia had gone to the counter to order drinks, leaving Annie and Alex alone at the table. Annie leaned forward, her elbows on the table, and gave Alex her most charming smile.

“So, Alex,” she began, her voice light and teasing. “Any cute girls caught your eye yet?”

Alex looked up from his notebook, startled by the question. He glanced toward the counter, where Sophia was standing in line, and quickly looked away. “Uh, not really,” he said, his voice casual but his cheeks turning pink. “I’ve been pretty focused on classes.”

Annie raised an eyebrow, her smile faltering for a moment. “Really? No one at all? Not even… my sister?”

Alex froze, his pen slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the table. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Sophia returned with their drinks.

“What are you two talking about?” she asked, setting the cups down and sliding into the seat next to Alex.

“Nothing,” Alex said quickly, avoiding Annie’s gaze. “Just… classes.”

Sophia smiled, oblivious to the tension. “Well, I hope you’re not stressing too much. We’ve only been here a few weeks.”

Annie forced a laugh, but inside, she was seething. She had seen the way Alex looked at Sophia, the way his face lit up when she was near. It was clear that he was in love with her, and Annie couldn’t stand it. She had always been the one who got what she wanted, and she wasn’t about to let Sophia take this from her.

That evening, Annie sat in her room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn’t confront Sophia directly—that would only make her look petty. No, she needed to be smarter than that. She needed to find a way to drive a wedge between Alex and Sophia without them realizing it was her.

An idea began to form in her mind, and a sly smile spread across her face. She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she found her father’s number. Martin was a strict man, protective of his daughters and wary of anyone who might distract them from their studies. If Annie could convince him that Sophia was being led astray, he would put a stop to her relationship with Alex in a heartbeat.

She hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the call button. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to betray her sister like this? But then she thought of Alex, of the way he looked at Sophia, and her resolve hardened. She pressed the button and held the phone to her ear.

“Dad?” she said when he answered. “I need to talk to you about something important.”

The next day, Sophia was sitting in the library, her nose buried in a textbook, when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw a text from her father: *Come home. Now.*

Her heart sank. Martin rarely texted her, and when he did, it was never good news. She quickly packed up her things and hurried out of the library, her mind racing. What could he possibly want?

When she arrived home, she found Martin sitting in the living room, his arms crossed and a stern expression on his face. Annie was sitting on the couch, her eyes downcast.

“Sophia,” Martin said, his voice cold. “Sit down.”

Sophia obeyed, her stomach churning with anxiety. “What’s going on, Dad?”

Martin leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Annie tells me you’ve been spending a lot of time with that boy, Alex. Is that true?”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Annie, who refused to meet her gaze. “We’re just friends, Dad. We’ve been friends for years.”

“Friends?” Martin repeated, his voice rising. “Annie says you’ve been distracted, that your grades are slipping. Is that what friends do? Distract you from your future?”

Sophia’s hands clenched into fists. “My grades are fine, Dad. And Alex would never distract me. He’s one of the most focused people I know.”

Martin stood up, his face red with anger. “I don’t want to hear it, Sophia. You’re too young to be getting involved with boys. From now on, you’re not to see Alex outside of class. Do you understand me?”

Sophia felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “Dad, that’s not fair. You can’t control who I spend time with.”

“I can, and I will,” Martin snapped. “You’re my daughter, and I won’t let some boy ruin your future. Now, go to your room and think about what’s important.”

Sophia stood up, her legs trembling, and ran up the stairs to her room. She slammed the door behind her and collapsed onto her bed, her mind spinning. How could Annie do this to her? How could she betray her like this?

Downstairs, Annie sat quietly, a small smile playing on her lips. She had gotten what she wanted. Now, all she had to do was wait.

Chapter Summary

This chapter sets the stage for the growing tension and conflict between the characters. Annie’s jealousy drives her to manipulate the situation, and Sophia is left heartbroken and trapped.

To Be continuous!