Like a Gerbil {OPEN}

[Sofia Davis]

Sofia almost stopped in shock at his question, but couldn't merely for the fact that the electronic track under her kept moving. Nobody had ever asked her that outright. It always seemed people would question and wonder, but then they would all amazingly understand after seeing how well the two meshed. "Why am I friends with her? A little annoyance and sometimes demanding fashion advice is no reason to knock down a good person from being my friend." She knew he would scoff at that comment, she could sense it in his nature and relationship with his sister. "I know a different Arianna than you, or many other people know. I know a girl who is terrified and feels horrible because she really doesn't have a family. I know a girl who is strong and protective. I know someone who is hilarious and wonderful and always there for me. I know a girl who kicked a junior's ass last year when he tore my heart apart. I know someone compassionate who will stop and save a starving puppy from the side of the road even though he is muddy and she is in all white." She paused and sighed sadly, almost glancing at the boy next to her but knowing that would be the wrong move. "I will only say this once. I will only say it now because, simply, what is between you and your sister is just that, and I have no place to push either of you. It is not my job to make sure Ari's dreams of bonding with you are founded. But what I will say is that your sister is a great person in rough packaging because her childhood was no easier than yours. You sister is a good person begging to be looked at and found. Finally, there will be a time when your sister needs you. Not me or some boy, but you. That decision is between the two of you when the time comes, but I would ask, only once, for you to give her a chance. She is not the outside package everyone thinks she is."

That said Sofia sighed and mentally shook it off. She would not bring Arianna up with Oliver again. It was not her place or job. She was here to be his law mentor and possibly his friend. "Yeah, I am fine with handing my notes down to you. You seem like a worthy man who loves the law as much as I do, and you don't find that very often. A lot of people come into this knowing there is a lot of money attached." Her body continued to move at a fast pace against the machine, "You could help me too. I am sure you would pick up things I would miss. It would help me in class and help you get ahead."

[Oliver Porter]

As predictable as it seemed, Ollie did scoff at her answer. Arianna was not a good person and far from it actually, she obviously didn't know the really Arianna Porter. He tried not to get angry and yell at her for what she was saying, she had it all wrong. So instead he picked up his water bottle and squeezed it sending a jet of water into his mouth as he was still standing on the treadmill. He couldn't really focus as he just wanted to him something over what she was saying. She had it all wrong everything she was saying was a lie. Ollie turned back to her as she started to talk about law again as he zoned out the rest of the conversation, he couldn't focus anymore and he just had to get out of there before he blew up.

"Ari chose not to have a family; she could have if she wanted to." He turned and walked off the machine as he said. "As for the puppy thing, she would never want to get her outfit dirty over a dog that is something I would do not her." His voice was level as he talked looking back at her as he stopped walking his eyes now hiding all the raw emotion that he was feeling as he chocked out the last bit… "At least she is there for someone…" He couldn't take it anymore as he just walked off towards the men's locker room with his water bottle in one hand and his shirt flopped over his shoulder looking down at the floor as he walked.

He didn't believe anything she had said about his sister. Arianna never needed him before and she would never need him in the future. She probably had tons of friends and boyfriends she could turn to for support so there would be no need for him to be in her life.

[Sofia Davis]

There was a helplessness that filled Sofia as she heard Oliver's words. He had a picture of what his sister was and was determined to not change that no matter what. It sucked, but she could do nothing to change his opinions. This wasn't a situation she could snap her fingers and fix it. "I am sorry for bringing it up." The words were a sigh spoken to the retreating back of a scarred and hurt boy.

Instead of following him and starting a possibly very awkward situation, Sofia increased the speed on her treadmill and started running at the same speed that the thoughts in her head were. She did not know if Oliver would come back or even speak to her again. Looking over at his empty machine she noticed the book just lying there open to the last page the boy was greedily devouring. She hoped they could be friends, even with the different views of the same girl.