A Disaster in Paradise

Chapter 8

Sophia

Four days. Fours days until competition day. The last few days have been a rollercoaster. One minute I'm happy, one minute I'm crying. I've been staying in my room with Olivia, with Jay being with me until I fell asleep.

"Sophia? Soph." I'm brought back to reality, facing Jay.

"What?" I moan, letting my body fall back into the craving of sleep, turning over and putting my pillow over my head.

He grabs my pillow, leaving me to shield my eyes from the deadly sun. "We need to get out. You haven't left the hotel room since you got discharged from the hospital."

"Last time I checked, you weren't the one held hostage for, what, three days?" I seethe, digging my head under the covers, not wanting to be seen.

Jays lets out a sigh. He rips my comforter off the bed, leaving me there, on the bed, freezing. "Soph.." He trails off, his dark blue eyes, filled with determination. "Listen, babe." Did he just call me that? He moves a piece of my dirty blonde hair behind my ear. "You haven't showered in almost a week. You've barely ate. You have barely left your bed." The bed escalates down, as he sits next to me, putting one arm around my shoulder, squeezing it with reassurance.

I groan. "Will you be here with me all day? And never leave my side?" I ask, looking down at the bruises on my hands, trying not to cry. At least, not in front of him.

"Where else would I be? I always want to be with you Soph. You're my best friend." He stands up, and pulls me up with him, leading me into the bathroom. I sit on the cold, marble counter, shivering. I watch every inch of him as he strides over to the shower, turning the water on. He leaves the room, but comes back, carrying clothes and setting them on the counter next to me.

"I brought you in some clothes. Tank top and active shorts. Take a shower, keep the door unlocked. I'll be on the bed waiting." Jay, checks the water, nodding in approval, and leaves, shutting the door behind him.

#

I finish blow drying my hair, and throw it up into a pony tail. That shower was the best I've ever had. I look myself in the mirror, wiping away the steam so I could see my reflection. Who was I anymore? I feel weak. Distraught. Worthless. I should've tried harder to get away. When I look back up at my reflection, and put my hand up on the mirror, tears swelling in my eyes.

"Sophia?" I hear Jay knock against the door. I don't answer. "Sophia, I'm coming in." He opens the door, but stops in his tracks. "What's wrong Soph?"

He comes over to me, and lowers his head to look me in the eye. I burst into tears, throwing my self into him, not wanting him to see me like this. He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. He carries me back into the other room, and sits me down on the bed. "Soph?" He speaks again.

"I should've fought harder. I don't know who I am anymore. I'm scared. I want everything to go back to normal." Jay crawls up next to me, and I inch towards him, laying my head in the crook of his chest.

"Sophia." Jay looks at me, tears falling onto his hand. "You fought as hard as you could."

There was a moment of silence, not a word was said between us. "Who am I anymore?" I break the ice, wiping my tears away.

"Soph. You are the most beautiful, adventurous, smart, brave, and loving girl I've ever met. Don't doubt yourself. We will do whatever it takes to get over this, and I'll be there. Every. Step. Of. The. Way."

I look up into his dark blue slated eyes, filled with worry and determination both. I pull myself even closer to him, never wanting to leave his embrace, feeling safe knowing nothing would ever happen to me with Jay by my side. "I'm actually hungry. Do you think we could go get some food and, I don't know, go shopping?"