Home Sweet Home

laying her head on the bar Sophia wrapped her arms around her head and sighed, fed up with the happy attitudes and how everything was being portrayed as being sunshine and roses in a world that's gone to shit the young girl closed her eyes and thought about Toby, and her father. The only two people she felt 'normal' around, the only two that condoned the way she would go about things throughout her life. Sighing again she closed her eyes and tried her best to ignore the world around her. But it would seem Ysabel was having non of it.

Pestering her until she couldn't ignore her anymore Sophia reluctantly turned an ear to what Ysabel was saying, tuning in to her words Sophia began putting together what she was saying, she was doing just as Haley had done before, giving her the high and mighty "You're here for great things" speech. Biting her tongue for the most part as Ysabel went on it reached a point she couldn't ignore and the flood gates were opened. The words normal leaving Ysabel's mouth Sophia took a breath and slowly raised from her hunched position, her eyes on the floor she clenched a fist and closed her eyes. Hearing as Ysabel began saying she needed to not grow up too fast and that she needed to enjoy her youth she began to laugh, quietly at first but soon growing louder. Shaking her head she pushed her fist into the bar. Shooting a sideways glance towards Ysabel she stopped laughing and stared at her for a second.

"What the fuck is normal?!" She questioned. "It's not sitting here singing show tunes and eating pie, that's for sure." She started. "You wanna know what 'normal' for me was lady?" she asked getting to her feet. "Normal for me was getting up at two in the morning to help my father steal a car so we could eat the next day. Normal was playing the innocent child so we could get into groups after people started eating each other. NORMAL is being marked a traitor for disagreeing on murdering innocent people and then being mutilated so people don't as much as talk to you. THAT... was normal for me."

Sitting back at the bar Sophia clenched her fist again and buried her head back in her arms, turning her now tear stricken face to Ysabel she tried her best to hold back the emotions she bottled up for so long. "So tell me... W-What is normal for a fuck up like me? Bars and cuffs? Because that's what it would have been before the world went to shit."

hiding her face in her arms again after saying what she wanted to say she prepared herself for the yelling that was surely coming in response to her outburst. Surprisingly though, it never did, in fact, the opposite began to occur. Caught off guard by what Ysabel had to say Sophia faltered at her attempts to hold back a sob, and as it escaped her lips she sucked in air hard to try and stop it. Holding her breath for a few seconds before releasing.  Wiping her face on her sleeve she tilted her head to face Ysabel again just in time to see her get on to the rest of the people around for staring at them, which got the young redhead to chuckle if only lightly.

"Be better than normal?" Sophia questioned confused as she watched the crowd around her disperse. Staying quiet while Ysabel went on to say that if she didn't feel like she belonged that she could leave, that it was her choice in the end before going on to say that the world was fucked but that there was still some good in it that they needed to hold on to. "My normal is everyone else's bad. I see a pretty piece of jewelry or something I want my first instinct is to take it. I have no good qualities, I don't make... I don't make friends easily and everything.." Her voice catching in her throat Sophia cleared it and hid her face again for a moment before wiping more tears on her sleeve. "and everything I know revolves around crime.. There's nothing for me with groups except trouble." She said.

Looking around to make sure that Ysabel was the only one around Sophia got up from her seat and came to sit next to the woman, leaning her back on the table she looked up at her. "That's why I fight you guys... I don't belong anywhere but on my own. There's nothing but pain, and yelling, and anger, and... Death..."

Sighing heavily Sophia let her eyes fall to the ground. As she laid there she heard Ysabel begin to speak again, to her surprise yet again she didn't answer with anger, but rather understanding, she began talking about her past, about her daughters father and how he was a good guy until he wasn't, how he was verbally and physically abusive and how he ended up hurting her daughter and sending her to the hospital. It made Sophia begin to realize that while her father was bad, he wasn't that bad in the end, at least, not fully anyway. Looking back up to Ysabel as she finished her story she then heard her say that the past was the past and that she could leave and go back to the harsh world alone, or stay here, where she could put her past behind her and not be judged for what she did, or the scar on her face. It got her thinking, if nothing else.

The next thing Ysabel said though found Sophia caught off guard yet again, why would the kid think of her as a big sister? She'd been nothing but distant with her up til now, she had no connection with her or Ysabel for that matter other than being traveling companions, or, that's what she thought anyway. Could Ysabel be the parent figure she'd been longing for for so long?

Before she could say another word Ysabel finished saying what she wanted to say and took off for the arcade machines. A few minutes later Sophia sighed again but got to her feet. Closing the distance with Ysabel she stood before her.

"H-Hey... Um... What you said... Earlier... About trying to have a better life.. Would you... Uh.." She stuttered trying to figure out how to word it, never having felt like this before she felt confused and uncertain on what to say, or how to ask. "If I was going to... Change... And... Try to have a 'normal' life." She said, her fingers forming air quotes as her eyes found the ground. "Would you..." She stopped. "Fuck I can't believe I'm about to say this...." Taking a breath she looked up to Ysabel. "Would you take me in... And... Teach me what 'normal' is...?" She asked. "God that sounds stupid.. But uh... Yea, whatever that means.. I guess..."

Having chosen to stay behind with her brother and sister in law while Ysabel accompanied the kids to the arcade Haley had spent the better part of three hours catching up with them, to her surprise they'd taken a similar path on their way and even had a run in with the same people that she and the others barely avoided, and the more she heard Justin speak about it, the more she was glad they had.

Spending time discussing one subject or another she soon heard her name being called, turning to the voice she was greeted by the familiar face of Ysabel making her way towards her. "Yo!" She greeted with a small salute as she approached, her hand falling she heard Ysabel ask if they could talk and without having to say anything Justin she heard him bid his farewell before disappearing around the corner with his beloved. Turning herself around to face Ysabel fully after Justin and Alex left them to discuss whatever was on Ysabel's mind Haley put her elbows on her knee's and rested her chin in her hand. "What's up?" She asked as she followed her friends form closer and closer. "You know, this place is pretty great. Did you know they have fish they catch daily?" She mentioned jumping to her feet. "Walk with me?"

Waiting for Ysabel's answer Haley turned on her heels and began walking towards the dock, what she wanted to talk about still yet to be seen, or, heard, I guess you could say Haley took long strides until the two got to the water front, taking a seat on the dock she hung her legs down towards the water and took in the sea air. 'This is great...' she thought to herself. Letting the breath flow out in one long stream of air she looked back to Ysabel. "So, what's on your mind?"

Getting situated on the dock Haley took off her shoes and socks and let her feet dip in to the water, the cool feeling hitting her skin she closed her eyes and let the feeling overtake her for a moment before opening them again and looking towards her friend. "I know right? I mean, I've never been one for fish but it beats the hell out of the trouble we had to go through out there don't you think?" Looking back out to the water Haley closed her eyes again and tried to imagine herself eating a large, juicy fish with all the toppings, her mouth watering at the thought she opened them again, there were so many good things here, they'd have fresh food, good company, and best of all.. A shower.. Oh how she'd missed those things.

Catching herself getting sidetracked Haley shook her head and looked back to Ysabel. "But that can wait. Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" She greeted.

Going quiet as she listened to what Ysabel had to say, as she got in to the meat of what she wanted to discuss it quickly became clear to Haley that the subject revolved around red and something that happened with her at the arcade with the other girls, sighing Haley shook her head. "Did she cause you a lot of trouble?" She asked. "I'm sorry for that, I'll have a talk with her." She finished. There was something that caught her off guard though, Ysabel was referring to her by name and not red, Knowing how stingy the girl was with people knowing that detail of her only meant one thing, Sophia had put a fair amount of trust in Ysabel, far more than Haley had thought. Tilting her head as she listened to her friend continue on with what she wanted to say. Her feet kicking back and forth in the water as she listened further the reason Ysabel wanted to talk to her about it soon became apparent, It would seem that something had clicked in Sophia's brain, and that Ysabel could help her achieve a 'normal' life as she apparently put it. Honestly it didn't matter that much to Haley, if it helped her curb the attitude she was all for it, although she knew it was far more complex than that.

Letting Ysabel finish Haley looked to the sky and blew air through her nose. "You know how I met her?" Haley started. "I was in Colorado, We had stopped for supplies and the next thing I knew she had a gun drawn on me. Didn't even know she was there." she continued. "I was in the Navy for years, Trained to keep my senses sharp, and she was able to hide well enough that I didn't see her until it was too late, That's a talent that gets you places in this new world." She explained. Looking to Ysabel she let their eyes meet before she nodded. "If you think you can get through to her and put her on the right path, Go for it. God know's I've tried."

Taking a seat at one of the arcade towers spanning the length of the back wall of the bar Sophia had taken to staring at the walls after Ysabel took her leave, not particularly interested in anything specific she let her eyes shift from one picture to the next, Noticing the hand painted images hung in a row she studied them for a time before moving on, looking next to the row of skateboard decks as well as the other decor that could only be described as classic Skater Punk she sighed.

Kicking her head back she stared at the ceiling and leaned against the arcade game while her feet kicked out in front of her. "What am I even doing? They're gonna kick me out eventually.." She sighed.  "Asking someone to look after me like that... God I sounded so... So... Childish.." Looking away from the ceiling Sophia set her head on the control deck of the game and crossed her arms underneath her. "What if this time isn't any different? What will you do if you fuck this one up too?" She asked herself. Behind her on the other side of the room she could hear the bartender talking to one customer and the next, it was strange, even eerie is some odd way. The worlds gone to shit, the dead roam the earth and people try to kill you at every turn.. Yet, Somehow, here People came in, ordered a drink, talked among themselves, laughed, and cried. It was almost... Normal. The feeling unsettled Sophia slightly.

Closing her eyes Sophia drifted off to sleep for a time, Her nerves over what kind of people inhabited Bar Harbor keeping her up at night over the last week she hadn't slept much and the arcade cabinet was as comfortable as her mothers king sized bed right about now. Her world going dark the next thing she knew she had a hand on her back, the sensation instantly waking her she shot upright and spun to face whoever or whatever it was. Reaching for her blade she caught herself when she recognized the voice that spoke to her, it belonged to Ysabel. Relaxing Sophia took a breath. "Don't... Sneak up on me like that.. I could have stabbed you by accident.." She said leaning back against the cabinet again. "What.... Uh.. What news? They're not kicking me out are they?" She asked unsure and on edge.

Eyeing Ysabel for a moment Sophia looked passed the woman and too the door, instinctively looking for the quickest way out if she needed to run in case her fears proved true. Finding the door with her eyes she looked back to Ysabel. "What... What news?" She repeated. Going quiet for a time she heard as Ysabel answered, it appeared Haley had agreed and that what she had asked Ysabel to do was being set in motion, it was then Sophia felt something she hadn't felt in a long time. The urge to hug someone. Cracking a small smile Sophia got to her feet and without warning wrapped her arms around Ysabels waist. "You're the best..." She said, genuine meaning in her tone for the first time since she met any of them.

Pulling away from Ysabel after embracing her in the first Genuine hug had placed on someone since before the end of days Sophia stepped back a couple of strides and judged how Ysabel would respond, Looking up to her face Sophia was greeted by the same soft smile her mother used to have on her face when she'd hug her, she was giving off the same, warm aura as her and it was causing a strange feeling in Sophia's stomach, a warm, fuzzy feeling she wasn't accustomed to in the slightest. Looking away from Ysabel and towards the door Sophia checked her exits again, not that she felt the need to at the moment, but it was second nature at this point. Confirming to herself that her exits were still open and that no one armed or otherwise moving towards them all she returned her gaze to Ysabel above her. "Progress.." She repeated.

Staring up at Ysabel for a time struck with a confusing feeling that only served to grow with time Sophia soon caught sight of a small figure moving towards them, shifting away from Ysabel as the figure approached she soon relaxed again after identifying who the figure belonged to, coming to stand next to her mother was Ysabel's young daughter Rosa and as she did she began asking if everything was okay, choosing to stay quiet Sophia looked to the ground, embarrassed of the feelings she was having at the current moment. Having always been raised to stay hard, cold, stone faced and unapproachable her feelings were in a tizzy. Looking to the ground she waited for the two to talk among themselves she then heard Ysabel suggest they find where they'd be staying. Looking up she tried to hide the smile that appeared on her face. 'where's that come from? I don't smile.' she thought to herself.

"O-Okay.." She said quietly looking back to the ground. Following Ysabels feet as she saw her start to walk off Sophia followed close behind, crossing through the threshold of the arcade she heard Callie call out a goodbye, the next moment they were outside, the cool breeze coming off the water it threw a lock of hair into her face making her sneeze. Brushing it away again she looked up to Ysabel. "A-Are you sure about this...? I mean... What if I fuck up and.. Get myself kicked out or something stupid like that? I mean... Wouldn't you be the one getting in trouble if that happened?"