The Competition

Yelena

My eyes snap open the moment I hear a knock on my door. The knocking woke me from this nightmare. Dazed and still shaken from the dark images running through my mind, I drag myself out of bed and open the door, surprised to see Natalia standing there. I mean, I was expecting her, but at the front door. I was supposed to take a nap and when she arrived I open the door.

"Hey," she says softly, her expression a mixture of concern and sympathy. "Can I come in?"
"Of course," I reply, stepping aside to let her in. Her presence is a welcome distraction from the swirling thoughts in my head. Natalia sits down on my bed and I join her, trying to shake off the last remnants of my restless sleep. "I just wanted to check on you," she says, her voice soft. "You seemed pretty upset earlier." I nod, grateful for her kindness. "We can do something fun to take your mind off things," she suggests. "How about we play some games or watch a movie?" This girl is so sweet, I don't know what to do with her. How could Carson act so stupid with that sweet soul of hers?

-❦-❦-❦-

We spend the afternoon in my room, playing video games and getting lost in the fictional worlds on the screen. For a while, it's easy to forget about the kiss, about Viktor, about everything that's been bothering me. Laughter fills the room and the heavy weight on my heart begins to lift. As the sun sets and darkness begins to creep in, Natalia suggests we watch another movie. We curl up on my bed with a pile of blankets and snacks, the glow of the screen casting soft shadows on the walls. The movie is a welcome distraction, but I can't help but notice Natalia stealing glances at me, as if she's holding back something important. As the credits roll, the room falls into a comfortable silence. Natalia turns to me, her expression serious. "Yen, there's something you should know about Viktor and Sofia." I tense up, bracing myself for whatever she's about to reveal. "What is it?" Her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resolution, Natalia takes a deep breath. "Viktor and Sofia have a complicated past. They dated for a while and it ended badly. Viktor tried to move on and he did, but Sofia... she makes it difficult." Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. I knew Viktor had a past, but hearing it laid out like this made it all seem more real, more painful. "Why didn't he tell me?" I whisper, my voice barely audible. "He didn't want to burden you with it," Natalia explains. "He cares about you, Yelena. He's just having a hard time letting go of that past. Please give him a little more time to open up to you about his past with her. I only told you part of it." I nod, tears in my eyes. "I don't know what to do, Nat. Seeing them together... it hurts so much." Natalia puts an arm around my shoulders, giving me a comforting squeeze. "You have to talk to him, Yelena. Clear the air. He deserves to know how you feel and you deserve to know the truth."
"I'm sorry Natalia...I'm so sorry," I tell her, fresh tears spilling out again. "Yelena, what's wrong? What happened?"
"About what happened to you mother.."
"It wasn't your fault..it was Nikolai-"