The World (Sequel to International)

Big Time

Mapi's POV:

I sat and help Mariana in my arms. She finally stopped crying but hasn't said a word. 

"I'm here." I whispered to her. "I'm right here."

"I can't lose anyone else." She mumbled. "I can't."

"You're not going to."

"My grandfather, my brother, now my grandmother? I can't do this anymore."

"You're not going through it alone." I rubbed her back. "You're not."

I saw my phone light up.

Virginia

"I have to get this ok? I'll be right over there." She nodded and I got up, answering the call. "Hey."

"Did Mariana get back to you?"

I sighed. "I forgot to call. Shit." I rubbed my forehead. "Um yeah, I got her."

"Why does it sound like something happened?"

"Because something did happen." 

2 days ago

Mariana's POV:

"It's locked!" I yelled. I looked through the window. "Vo!" I banged on the door. "Dad! She's on the ground! Dad get help!"

"Mariana!" I heard my dad. 

I banged my shoulder into the door. "Come on! Open!" I rammed my shoulder into the door again. 

"Mari!" My dad got to me. "Together." He yelled. We tried again with the door. After 2 more tries, we got in. I ran to my grandmother who was on the floor.

"GET HELP!" My dad yelled. 

I kneeled down. "She's not breathing!" I said. I started CPR and my dad watched. My mom ran in on the floor. 

"Mari." My dad said. 

"No!" I continued CPR. "Come on! Come on Vo!" I listened and there was still no heartbeat. "I can't lose you! Not you!"

I felt hands on my back. "Mariana." My dad said softly.

I stopped and looked at my grandmother. "I can't." I couldn't catch my breath. "I can't lose her." 

We waited and paramedics came. They took her in the ambulance and I sat on the floor, staring at the spot.

"Mariana." My mom stood there. "We should go." 

"I can't leave." I shook my head.

"There was nothing you could've done." She put her hand on my shoulder. That when I felt the pain. "You have to get that checked."

"I'm fine." I stared at the floor. 

"Mariana." She kneeled in front of me. She put her hands on my face. "My sweet, Mariana. I'm sorry. I truly am. But there was nothing any of us could've done."

I felt tears roll down my cheeks. "Why do I keep losing people?" I whispered. "Why do I have to keep doing this?"

"I don't know, baby girl." She wrapped her arms around me. "I don't know."

Present day

Mariana's POV:

"Yeah. Ok. Thanks." Mapi said and hung up. "That was Virginia." She sat back next to me. "She's coming." I stared at the TV. "Bringing some of the girls. She's going to tell Tatiana and Natalia. We're all going to be right here with you."

"I couldn't save her." I whispered. "I tried."

"Babe." Mapi whispered. "They said she was gone before you guys got there."

"Why?" I looked at her. "Why her? Why now? I didn't understand when my grandfather died, I didn't understand losing my brother and I don't understand this! I keep losing all the people I love! And I can't keep doing it!" I shook my head. "I can't." 

"Come here." Mapi wrapped her arms around me once again and just held me. 

Mapi's POV:

The next day, Virginia arrived late in the afternoon. "What did you do? Run here?"

"I got the earliest flight I could." She hugged me. "Where is she?" 

"In bed." I sighed. "The day it happened they went to the hospital. Mariana hurt her shoulder trying to break the door down. After that, they went to her uncles then when I came I took her home. Her parents are planning everything, but Mariana wants no part." 

"Can I?"

"Yeah. Let me take you bag." I grabbed it. "She's in there." I pointed to Mariana's room. Virginia walked over and opened the door.

"Mariana." She whispered. She walked inside and I watched from the doorway. "Hey." Virginia sat on the edge of the bed. "I came as soon as I could. Come here." Virginia held her and Mariana began to cry once again. 

As days past, more friends showed up. Tatiana, Ana, Jessica, Inês, Nahikari, Jenni, Alexia, Patri, Lola, Carmen, Leila, Mariona. Even Kelley and Christen flew over. Natalia and Daan were the last to arrive.

Mariana was getting changed while we were in the living room. "How has it been?" Jenni asked.

"How do you think?" I sighed. "She was very close to both her grandparents. They believed in her when no one else did. Pushed her to be the best. Her brother too." I shook my head. "Now all 3 of them are gone."

The door opened and Mariana walked out. 

"Hi, my love." I opened my arms. She walked right in. "Everyone's here to see you."

She looked and smiled. "You're going to tell us that we didn't have to come, and this is the part where I tell you to shut up." Alexia stood up. "You're going through the worse thing possible right now. When you need us, we're here. All of us." She hugged Mariana. "I got you." I heard her whisper.

"Thank you." Mariana said. 

Everyone got up and hugged her. "Don't shut down this time." Leila said. "I know this is tough, but don't shut down. Everything you feel, let it out. Like you told me at the stadium when I was having a hard time."

"But if it WAS all about you. I might say something along the lines of exploding on all the people who care about you isn't a smart way to deal with whatever is going on. Bottling it up isn't good either. But it isn't all about you so."

"Right."

"Can it be about me? For a second?"

"Talk to me." I turned to her. "What's going on?"

"You just let me talk and tell you everything. How I was feeling, and not once did you tell me to stop or get annoyed. So whatever you feel, whenever you feel it, tell me."

"But pushing away your teammates, and exploding on them isn't how you get through this. What we're doing right now, THAT'S how you deal."

Mariana looked down. "I wasn't prepared to lose anyone else." 

"No one is." Lola said. 

Mariana just nodded and looked at me. "I told my parents I'd meet them at my grandma's. Just getting some stuff together."

"Want me to come?"

"No. We need to do this together. You guys can stay here. Tatiana lives close by if you need anything." She grabbed her keys and looked at me. "Gabriel's still at my uncle's. Can you,"

"I'll pick him up." I smiled. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." 

"Thank you." She sighed.

"You don't have to thank me." I kissed her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you." She said and left.

I turned around at everyone.

"Me and the universe are fighting if Mariana gets hurt one more damn time." Virginia stood up.

"Relax." Nahikari shook her head. 

"Fighting. Big time." Virginia repeated. 

I just want to sleep for 4 days and not be bothered by anyone!!!! BUT I CAN'T!