someone to stay, ⁹¹¹

𝟎𝟏𝟗.

Sophia Cobain's life had turned upside down since the tsunami. Her parents had died and her best friend was the shell of the girl she used to be.

She was grieving the death of her parents whilst grieving JJ, who was very much still alive. Her blonde friend had been acting fine. She still went on dates with Ashton (even though his name made Sophia cringe) and she still had a smile on her face whenever they saw each other.

But Sophia knew JJ, she knew there was more to it.

That wasn't what was on her mind at the moment. What was on her mind was the fact that Athena was standing at her front door with a social worker.

She had come back to her house to collect some more clothes before heading back to the Diaz house. She had known this would happen sooner or later, she just would've preferred for it to have not been today.

"Thena?"

Sophia stood by the front door, a duffle bag full of clothes and essentials at her feet. "Hi, Sophia, were you going somewhere?" The social worker, whose name tag read 'Monica' asked.

"Yeah, I've been staying somewhere else."

Sophia hadn't wanted to live in the house after her parents died. Hell, she was barely there when they were alive. So when Eddie had offered for her to stay with them, she jumped at the opportunity.

This house was full of trauma and years of neglect and emotional abuse. The Diaz house was full of love and warmth. It was full of everything Sophia longed for.

"We can meet you there if you'd prefer to do this there?" Athena said, keeping her tone light. "Yes, please." Sophia nearly begged, she hated being in that house longer than she had to.

"Okay, I'll call Eddie and tell him we're coming." Sophia nodded gracefully, locking the door behind her as she headed to her car, Athena and Monica doing the same.

She let out a heavy sigh as she got into her car. Dread filled her stomach as her face got hot and red. She was nervous.

She knew what this conversation entailed. She knew what was coming. She'd be sent to foster care or to live with her snobby aunt and cousins in Chicago. Well, that's if her Aunt wanted her. So probably not.

But that also meant she'd be sent away from her family. If she was being sent to the system, there's a chance she'd have to leave everyone. Leave JJ.

She couldn't handle leaving them. Leaving her best friend would kill her. And she knew she couldn't ask Buck or Hen to take her, they both had so much going on right now and she refused to burden them. Even though they'd tell her she wasn't.

She was pulling up outside the Diaz house before she knew it. Eddie was waiting on the porch steps for her when she got out of her car. He rushed to her side, speaking softly.

"Are you okay? Athena called me." She nodded, her hands shaking slightly. "Yeah, it's just scary." He frowned, leaving a kiss on her forehead before taking her bag from her.

"I'm not going to let anyone take you." He told her, before rushing into the house, where Athena and Monica were waiting in the dining room. Chris was with his friends, so they could have this conversation uninterrupted.

"Let's get this over with." Sophia sat in front of Monica, placing her shaking hands over her knees.

"Before we get into why I'm here, your parent's lawyer gave me a copy of their wills to go over with you." Sophia gulped.

The Cobain's had a lot of money. Most of it was inherited, but her Dad worked with a good company, so they weren't broke. But she didn't doubt their money would go to their drinking buddies or her Aunt.