You Belong to Me Book 1
المؤلف
Cristina C.
القراءات
19.7K
الفصول
38
The story follows Sofia Santos, a quiet, insecure girl who mostly keeps to herself at school. She’s the kind of person people overlook—never the center of attention, never the girl everyone notices. Life at school isn’t exactly easy either. Between feeling invisible and dealing with the typical drama of teenage life, Sofia just tries to get through each day without drawing too much attention. But everything changes when someone finally does notice her. What begins as a quiet high-school crush quickly turns into something deeper, messier, and far more complicated than Sofia ever expected. And the biggest question becomes: Is this the start of something real… or the beginning of a situation she might not be able to control? ✔️ The story is completed and has a sequel called “You Will Be Mine,” which continues the characters’ lives when they are adults.
Chapter 1: The Girl in the Background
SOFIA
I glance out my bedroom window and let out a huge sigh. Tomorrow is a massive test from Miss Gretchen. Sometimes I think she actually dislikes me. She always smiles at Sydney, the popular girl, encouraging her to ask questions, and whenever I raise my hand, she looks away, as if I don’t exist. Relief washes over me knowing she won’t teach us next year.
I have to pull myself together for another few months, and then I’ll be ready for college. I dream of Columbia University. My future job? Something where I can actually help people. Becoming a therapist, maybe.
But first, I have to figure out who I am. Small, skinny, basically invisible—it is hard to feel like anyone notices me, let alone that I will ever catch the interest of a boy. Even Miss Gretchen overlooks me.
I hope my body will grow into something more…feminine. Right now, I am Sofia Santos, a total nobody.
I know I am smart, though not the smartest. That title belongs to my best friend, Miley. Languages come naturally to her, while I am more of the nerdy type—math and history are more my thing. My phone buzzes with a text from her.
Miley
OMG, I have the best news. Tom Carity invited me over. Big party at his parents’ place this Saturday. And Michael Davis will be there!!!
I roll my eyes. Miley has a massive crush on the most popular guy in school. Who didn’t? Michael Davis is tall, well-built, with perfect teeth, light blue eyes, and black curly hair always falling over his forehead. He’s the type of guy who just jumps out of bed and doesn’t have to put in any effort at all to look hot.
Yeah, he is gorgeous. But I am realistic. Plain girls like me will never have a chance with a boy like him. But do I even want a boy like him? Popular guys are bullies and not to be trusted. I am more into the nerdy types. Guys who actually want to talk to a girl and don’t think about having sex all the time.
Yesterday, Sydney sat on Davis’s lap like a puppy. I shiver just thinking about it.
I collapse onto my mattress, deep in thought.
School doesn’t feel like a place where I belong. Everyone else seems to know where they fit, who they belong with, how to move through the crowded hallways without constantly wondering whether they’re being watched.
I feel as though I’m standing just outside of everything, close enough to see it but never close enough to truly be part of it.
I rely on Miley because she is the one person who makes me feel safe. I don’t have to pretend around her. Trust doesn’t come to me easily anymore.
But deep down, I know I cannot keep hiding behind one person forever. If I want to heal, if I want to become someone who can truly let people into her life again, I have to learn to open up—even when every instinct tells me to close myself off.
I pick up my phone.
Sofia
Great for you, Miles!
Short. Polite. Enough to acknowledge her but not get sucked into excitement, because I definitely am not feeling it.
Miley
You’re coming with me, Sofia! I asked Tom, and he said you can come too! Isn’t that awesome!!!!
Ugh. I don’t want to go. I love to dance, but not with those rich kids who look down on everyone else. They’ll laugh at my cheap clothes.
Sofia
Sorry, can’t. I have to look after Cody…
I send it quickly. Miley isn’t going to let it go—she is obsessed with Tom and Michael, stalking them on every social media platform. Sad, really, since they probably won’t even notice her.
Miley
You’re not bailing on me, Sofia! I know you are just trying to outrun this. I know you! So stop making excuses and just come with me! It will be so much fun!
I rub my eyes. Yeah, hopeless. Miley will not stop whining until she has reached her goal. It’s just how she is and how she gets what she wants.
Sofia
Fine. I’ll go—just this once.
Instant regret fills me. But my therapist keeps saying it will be good to hang out more with classmates. “I need the push,” were her exact words.
Mom and Dad think therapy will help me with my lack of confidence and communication. I have to work hard just to fit in.
Miley is the only one I have opened up to. She knows the real me. I grow quiet in crowds, but alone, I can be fun and loud. She pushes me when I need it, and she understands me better than anyone. Miley is so smart, beautiful, and just an amazing friend.
My phone buzzes again.
Miley
Oh god, I love you. Thanks, Sofia! See ya in the morning!
I send back a few emojis—our secret code from when we were thirteen. We still use it sometimes, though not as often.
I glance at my textbook and then out the window. Darkness has fallen. I slide under the sheets, exhausted. I take one last look at my notes before tossing the book aside.
Miss Gretchen had better be nice and ask questions I actually have studied.
***
The next morning, I make breakfast for Cody and me. Mom and Dad are already at work. I am used to it. When I was younger, I couldn’t understand why other kids had their parents making breakfast and sitting at the table with them. Now, I get it. Mom and Dad work so hard to make sure we’ll have a better future.
Mom has packed our lunchboxes already. My only job? Make sure Cody catches the bus—the hardest part, after all.
“Cody!” I yell. “The bus leaves in fifteen minutes!”
“You don’t need to shout every morning,” he grumbles, plopping down.
“If you’d listened the first time, I wouldn’t have to yell again,” I snap.
He eats a huge bite of his sandwich while texting furiously.
“Something wrong?” I ask.
“No,” he mutters, short and annoyed.
I brush it off and head to the bathroom. Teeth cleaned. Breakfast eaten. Coat on. Cody rushes out with his backpack.
“See you later, sis.”
I mutter, “Strange boy,” and grab my bike. Pedaling toward school, my thoughts spin around the test. I need to pass—or I will feel like a total failure again.
The school looms ahead, lockers slamming, sneakers scraping, and chatter bouncing off the walls. I slip past groups of students, trying not to be noticed. My stomach flutters with nerves.
Miley spots me immediately, grinning.
“Sofia! Ready for today? I’m so excited!”
I force a smile. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I murmur, clutching my textbook.
She grabs my arm and squeezes it. “Don’t worry! You’ll ace it. I just know it.”
I nod, trying to believe her. Miss Gretchen’s reputation is enough to make anyone nervous.
The bell rings, echoing through the hall. Students scurry toward classrooms. I follow, heart pounding.
Inside the classroom, desks line neat rows. Miss Gretchen stands at the front, papers clutched in her hands. Her gaze sweeps the room. My stomach tightens instantly when I see the firm look on her face.
I sit by the window, hoping the view will calm me. My pencil taps nervously as I review my notes one last time. I have to pass this test!
Today is the written part of the exam, which isn’t supposed to be as hard as the oral exam tomorrow. Still, my hands are shaking slightly as I take my test from Miss Gretchen.
The test begins. Pencils scratch, papers rustle, and I force myself to breathe, blocking out distractions. Each question pulls me in, and I dive into it, letting memory and logic take over.
Minutes blur together. I scribble, cross out, and rewrite, heart racing. A small voice whispers that I can do this every once in a while.
Finally, the bell rings. Miss Gretchen collects all the papers, her face unreadable. I exhale, relief and dread mixing. I have done my best, and that is hopefully more than enough.
I ride home on my bike, the wind messing up my hair. Saturday will be different for sure. I am still hoping I’ll get sick or something like that, just enough so I don’t have to go.
As I get home, Cody sits on the couch with his phone in his left hand.
“Hey, Sofia,” he calls, barely looking up.
I greet him softly. “Hey, Cody. How was school?”
“Same as usual.” He shrugs, eyes glued to the screen.
I smile faintly. Saturday, I will step into a new world—the party, the people, everything I usually avoid. And maybe…just maybe…I can survive it just by being invisible.
