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Usnavi hated being ignored, especially by Sophia.

The fact that Sophia didn't pick up any of his calls, nor answer any of his texts last night, it gave him flashbacks from when they were younger. Usnavi remembered taking Sophia and Sonny to an amusement park one summer, and Sophia would do the complete opposite of what Usnavi told her to. He told her to stay with him and Sonny, and not go wandering off. 

Of course, Sophia being herself, she dragged Sonny into ditching Usnavi for fun. It ended up with Usnavi losing both of them for an entire hour. Even though it was a full hour of complete distress for Usnavi, it was an hour of riding the most fun rides at the park for Sophia and Sonny. After that hour, he eventually found them standing in the line of the most intense rollercoaster at the park!

Instead of riding the coolest ride that night, it ended early because of how pissed Usnavi was. He was beginning to have that exact same feeling as he opened the Bodega this morning. There have been many nights where Sonny wouldn't show up until the next morning, and that was back when Sophia was part of the block.

The day she returns, she didn't hesitate to do it again. It really irked Usnavi. He usually opened the Bodega with Sonny, but that clearly wasn't the case this morning. Usnavi didn't even have any notifications on his phone this morning, which raised his suspicions. As Usnavi was adjusting items on the shelves, he heard the front door open.

He looked over his shoulder, expecting it to be Abuela Claudia, but was greeted by his little cousin. He smiled at him, but it twisted into a frown as he saw Sophia enter after him. Usnavi dropped what he was doing and approached the two friends.

"You two better have a damn good reason why you disappeared on me like that last night," Usnavi chastised, focusing mainly on Sophia. "Especially you niña."

"We're alive aren't we?" Sophia responded, breezing right past Usnavi. "So, I believe you shouldn't worry about it."

Usnavi huffed in annoyance as Sophia acted like she couldn't care less. He returned his attention to Sonny who was smirking.

"We went on a hike Usnavi," Sonny lied enthusiastically, surprisingly sounding more persuasive than Sophia thought he would. "I admit, I fell off a rock and got this bruise," Sonny confessed, proudly showing Usnavi a bruise on his elbow. "But I'm fine. It was a fun adventure. I sure learned a lot from Sophia last night."

Sophia subtly winked at her best friend as he finished that sentence. He was sticking to the story that they made up last night as they were travelling home from escaping. The true story behind Sonny's bruise was because they had to jump a fence at the very end. Sophia got over it no doubt, but Sonny wasn't as successful. 

Sonny still thought that last night was the most wild night he has ever had. It's definitely been the most fun he's had in a long time. Usnavi was observing the bruise on Sonny's arm to notice that little action between the two. Usnavi released a long breath. 

"I mean, I still don't like how you two are doin' dangerous things like that at night," Usnavi badgered, glancing over at Sophia again. "But if you say you're fine, I believe you man," Usnavi trusted, patting Sonny on the back. "Anyways, I was planning on goin' swimming, you want to join?"

"Dude hell yeah! Sophia and I would love to join!" Sonny exclaimed, making Usnavi roll his eyes. Usnavi didn't invited Sophia, but since Sonny wanted her to come, he couldn't deny it. "My swimsuit is at our place, so I'll be right back."

Sonny raced out of the store, leaving Usnavi and Sophia alone. Usnavi looked over at Sophia who was looking at the objects on the shelves behind her.

"Aight Sophia," Usnavi called out, catching her attention. She turned around and looked at Usnavi who approached her with narrowed eyes. "What really happened last night?"

"My man spoke the truth," Sophia responded, agreeing with Sonny's lie. Usnavi shrugged, finally giving in. Sophia looked at Usnavi up and down. "You really goin' out lookin' like that to the pool?"

"Says the girl in blue jeans," Usnavi retorted, making fun of her attire. "Where's your swimsuit?"

"Yeah right," Sophia replied dryly, shaking her head. "I don't swim."

"Because you can't?"

"No, because I can."

Usnavi snorted at Sophia's sarcasm, but immediately stopped as he caught himself actually laughing at something Sophia said. She looked just as weirded out as he did. He cleared his throat and looked at the door as he heard it open. He saw Benny and his bud Pete enter, waving at Sophia. The two men sprinted up to Sophia, picking her up into a hug as they saw her. Usnavi stayed back, not knowing what this feeling was as he saw her smiling and laughing with the two guys.

After a bit, Sonny finally showed up in his swimsuit and flipflops. Usnavi, Benny and Pete left, demanding that Sonny put the signs up. Sophia stayed back with her buddy, discussing how impressed she was with him and his lying skills.

"You definitely have gotten better at lying Sonny."

"Well, I learned from the best."

Sophia smiled, soon being distracted by the phone ringing beside her. She looked up at Sonny who picked it up. She sat in silence, but watched as his facial expressions went through a rollercoaster of emotions. Once the phone call was over, she was about to ask what the phone call was about, but Sonny grabbed her wrist.

He forced her to follow him as he bolted out of the store. She moved to be hand in hand with Sonny as he sprinted up to Usnavi and the rest of the guys. Once the two best friends caught up with the group, Sonny started babbling about a lottery. Sophia started to tune out, but as soon as he said what the money was, that was when she pitched in.

"Ninety-six thousand?!" Sophia shouted, her heart skipping a beat. "Sonny, with that money we could-" Sophia stopped herself before giving herself away, but Sonny knew exactly what it could go toward if she were to win it. "But that's the thing Sonny, I don't have a lotto ticket."

"Wait, look over there!"

Sonny poked Sophia to look to the side. She narrowed her eyes, only to see a little small piece of paper stuck in the window of the store that was beside them. She raised an eyebrow and walked up to the piece of paper. She took it out and looked at it. Sonny followed her and gasped as he saw that it was an unsigned lottery ticket.

"Here, come on, I have a pen back at the Bodega," Sonny insisted, motioning for Sophia to follow him. "Once you sign that lotto ticket, you're in the game!"

Sophia nodded, following behind Sonny as they ran to the store. Usnavi found that odd that there'd be a random unsigned lottery ticket, but if it meant Sophia was going to get into the game, it was a fair shot. Sophia just hoped that even though the lottery ticket showed up out of nowhere, that it was the universe giving her a sign that she was going to win it.

She needed that money, and she needed it sooner than later.