Welcome: Sofía and OPEN
Sofía knew there was a chance that she would run into Hugo tonight and she was trying not to focus on that or feel bitter about the end of their friendship. She was almost, but not quite, dismayed that it was actually incredibly easy to let all that negativity wash over her like water from a duck’s back. The torch she’d carried for so long had been well and truly extinguished after seeing a side of Hugo she’d never known existed. When she did let herself think back on those feelings, they were dull and insubstantial to everything she now felt for Bash. Since the first moment she’d met Sebastian Pucey there had been a connection unlike anything she had ever experienced before and Sofía couldn’t regret any of the choices she’d made.
Having attended last year’s gala with her parents, she was looking forward to this one even more. Since there was a theme, shopping had been a little more difficult and Sofía had felt entirely washed out after trying several empire-line gowns in varying pastel shades. Sofía wondered whether she should even bother with something regency-inspired and if she should pick another historical era right up until she had come across a a yellow dress with pink flowers embroidered across the fabric. When she had first seen the dress, she hadn’t expected to like it at all. Yet instead of making her look jaundiced, the vivid colour enhanced her hispanic features and she’d found herself beaming at her reflection.
Sofía had enlisted her mother’s help in getting ready, Tracey first straightening Sofía’s natural curls and then helping her set the dark locks into an up-do that complemented the dress, finished with carefully-placed and charmed ringlets. There were times in her life when Sofía had felt jealousy over her mother’s traditionally beautiful features, even though logically she knew she shouldn’t compare herself to those beauty standards. There was none of that tonight, Sofía experiencing something almost like synesthesia: somehow, the sight of her reflection felt the same as when Bash held her close and told her he loved her, vibrant and warm and powerful all at once.
While Bash went to explore the bar, Sofía took a moment to enjoy the atmosphere. She had just finished the last of her work study programmes which meant there were just a few more months of her apprenticeship left. This weekend might well be the last chance she had to properly relax and let her hair down until she was qualified.