Sophia woke up, picked up her phone to check the time, saw it was seven, and decided to roll back over and snuggle up underneath her warm blankets. Then suddenly she thought of her possible plans for the day and quickly changed her mind. Tossing her covers off Sophia slid out of bed with a big grin painted on her face as she thought of going to Nottingham State Park today with Tim. He hadn't actually given her a definitive answer, but Sophia decided to remain optimistic and believed that we would go. Even if he decided not to she would still go see the state park herself.

Sorting through her closet, Sophia picked out an outfit that would be good for traversing the park. The park included a forest and mountains and it had many trails that wound through the forests, over hills, and up the mountains. It was also bound to be chilly today, especially further up the mountain. With that in mind Sophia pulled out a comfortable pair of blue jeans, a long-sleeved shirt that was dark gray in color with a picture of the Tri-Force on it, and a pair of sturdy tennis shoes. After dressing she brushed her hair and put it up in a ponytail to keep it off her neck. That done she went and made herself a quick breakfast and also prepared a lunch for two consisting of sandwiches thick with meat, cheese, and vegetables, trail mix, fruit salad, protein bars, beef jerky, and a few bottles of water. The lunch items she fit neatly into her hiking backpack before adding in everything else she had collected: A flashlight with new batteries, her digital camera also with new batteries, spare batteries, matches, a lighter, a whistle, first-aid supplies, rope, a Swiss army knife, and a blanket--all sealed up tightly in waterproof bags.

When it came to hiking through the state park Sophia liked to be cautious. Although the trails were easily marked there was still a chance of something going wrong and winding up stranded in the woods. It had happened to campers and hikers before. Sophia doubted that such a thing would happen to her and (possibly) Tim today, but if it did she would be prepared for it. Everything was now ready and Sophia pulled on a think black jacket lined with soft fleece, swung her backpack on, grabbed her keys and wallet, and headed out the door.

Sophia parked at the Rose Cafe and quickly dipped inside to see if Tim was there yet. He wasn't. She checked her watch. Only 9 o'clock. Sometimes Tim came in at different times so he might not have come yet, but to make sure Sophia decided to ask her mom who was working the register at the moment. "Morning, mom," Sophia said with a smile.

Looking up to see her only child, Renee smiled brightly. Mother and daughter were nearly identical, and each often thought it was like looking at a younger or older version of themselves. Sophia and her mother shared the same slim figure, the same dark brown hair--though where Sophia's hair only reached past her shoulder blades, Renee's reached to her waist though at the moment it was tied in a braid--the same almond colored eyes, and the same bright, infectious smile.

"Good morning, sweetie," Renee greeted as she finished out a customer's transaction. "Aren't you off today?"

Sophia nodded. "I am," she reported. "I'm actually going out with a friend today. Have you seen Tim today? From next door?"

"Tim, hm?" Renee mused. Having recalled that she hadn't she said, "No, I haven't seen him yet. Since when have you two started talking?" There was no scorn or disapproval in Renee's voice as she asked this, merely a motherly interest.

"Yesterday," Sophia told her mother with a smile. "We've gone to school together for pretty much forever, and he's only a year older than me, but we never talked before so I decided to talk to him yesterday." Sophia considered telling her mother how she had accidentally scared Tim and his awkwardly adorable quick exit, but she decided to keep that to herself. Besides, her mother already knew Tim was a recluse and that he appeared to be bad at directly interacting with people for more than just a couple of minutes "Anyway, I invited him to go to the park with me today since I never really see him anywhere but here and school. Thought he might like to get out a bit--even if he doesn't know it. I just wanted to check and see if he had already come through."

"No, not yet," Renee said. "But I'm sure he will soon. You can wait for him here if you want."

"Nah, that's alright," Sophia replied as she waved off her mother's offer. "I don't want to take up any space. I'll just get a hot tea and two shots of espresso with milk to go, please." Sophia paid for the two drinks and would have made them herself but her mother insisted that it was her day off so she should relax.

Handing her daughter the two drinks Renee beamed and said, "I made yours sweet, just how you like it."

"Thanks, mom," Sophia said gratefully, leaning across the counter to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Tell dad I said hi."

"Will do, sweetie. Have fun."

Sophia nodded and made her way out the cafe. She stepped into the bakery next door and bought a few crescent rolls before returning to the front of the cafe where she leaned against the building, sipping on her hot tea as she waited for Tim to show. Although she had no way of knowing for sure that Tim would even agree to go to the park with her, she at least wanted to talk to him a bit and had even gotten him his coffee and some crescents to split. Still, Sophia held onto her optimism and she hummed happily to herself as she waited in hopes that Tim would soon appear from his apartment.