Dear Diary

Chapter 98

Sophia was seated on the leather comfort of her living-room suite as she stared at the paper in her hands. It was a small golden sheet with a sophisticated, but not over-done, cursive font. It was an invitation to the annual military dance.

Sophia glanced up at the two adults seated in front of her. It was a Saturday night and, per the norm, Susan and her daughters had come over for dinner. It's been a week since the announcement of her father's engagement and Sophia still found it hard to believe at times. Although Susan has been nothing but nice to her, Sophia didn't like the fact that her dad was getting married to her ... in two months no less.

She looked back at the invitation in her hand. The annual military dance was one of the highlights of the year for many. Sophia was never overly keen on the event though. It was black tie, meaning she had to wear a dress, but the worst part of it is that she has to pretend to be the perfect daughter of the General in front of everyone (including the president); a complete waste of time in her eyes.

Susan and Rachel clearly had a different view to herself on the event planned for the next weekend as they chatted away excitedly. The invitation stated that you could bring a partner. Susan had obviously never been invited to this function before, as it was for the higher-ups of the military (she still didn't know Susan's ranking) so she was going as her father's partner, and because they were engaged Rachel and Ashley were automatically invited, too.

Sophia's eyes moved towards the window and the dark world beyond its pane. It's not the first time she's been to this event. When she was thirteen and her father was promoted to General, she's attended them ever since. She figured before that ranking he still received the invites, but it became compulsory to attend if you were a General.

The evening isn't horrible, but it isn't Sophia's cup of tea either. There was ballroom dancing, three-course dining, speeches etc. The highlight of the evening for Sophia though was being able to see General Smith. He always managed to brighten up any room, but he hadn't been able to attend the last couple of events. She wondered if he would be there this time.

Sophia looked back to see Rachel and her mother still chatting away happily over the dance, while Ashley played a game on her mother's phone. Her shoulders slumped. If she had to spend the whole evening with them and pretend to be happy she'll go mad. Sophia's eyes widened as an idea came to her. Her eyes flickered to her father to see him sending a message on his phone.

"Can ... I bring a partner with me to the dance?" Sophia asked him and the room grew silent as the other girls looked at Sophia curiously. 

Her father stopped typing for a moment and glanced at her before looking back at his phone. Sophia bit her cheek, hoping he would a allow it. She really can't be with them for a whole evening and not even be in the comfort of her own home and clothes.

"If you want to," her father's reply shocked her for a moment, but he didn't look up from his phone. "RSVP their name to the person organising it."

"Thank you," Sophia replied, still slightly stunned that he allowed it, and everyone else clearly was too. 

Her father didn't look up from his phone though, despite the obvious change in the atmosphere. Sophia wasn't sure whether to feel upset or not over the fact that he didn't even ask who she wanted to take. But it didn't matter; she just hoped Luke knew how to dance.

-

Sophia frowned as her eyes fluttered open to the sound of the doorbell ringing. She looked at her bedside clock. 7:30. Sophia groaned and threw her covers aside, shivering as the cool air hit her legs. Grumbling, she pulled on her robe and raked a hand through her hair as she made her way down the stairs and to the front-door.