When the ice melts

Chapter 19

Dušica’ P.O.V.

I gave girls some bikinis and told them to go out to the pool after they get ready. I need to go for Mia though. I knocked at her door and walked in. She was already done with dressing up when I saw her.

“What’s up?” she asked while trying to tie her upper part.

“Let me help you,” I said and walked towards her. I tied it tightly and smiled at my best friend. “I know it has been years, but you are still my partner in crime, right?” I asked with a devilish smile.

“You know I am always up for a good prank” Mia answered excitedly.

“Come on then” I pulled her outside of the room and we went out, at the pool.

“What do you have on your mind?”

“Did you really forgot our pool parties?” I asked with hurtful expression.

Us two always used to make some pool parties back in London. Usually, before people start coming we would take balloons and put water or colors in them. When people finally start arriving, the first thing that they would get is balloons at their faces.

“Of course not! How someone can forget that!? But we don’t have any time for fulling balloons now” she said with a pout.

“We don’t have to. I did it with Natasha and others while you guys were sleeping” I informed and led her near pool, but behind some flowers so girls wouldn’t see us.

“Bloody hell! How many are there!?” Mia asked when she saw a balloon on the floor.

“Fifty. They all are full of different colors, no water.”

“This is going to be so much-”

“Shh,” I said and put my hand over her mouth “they are coming.”

And just then they all walked outside while chatting with each other.

“Where are Mia and Dušica?” someone asked, I think it is Anna.

“I don’t know,” Emili said and shrugged.

I looked at Mia and she grinned widely.

“Let’s do it,” I said and she nodded before taking few balloons and throwing it on girls.

I did the same thing and they started screaming and hiding behind each other while Mia and I literally laughed our asses off!

“What the!?” Elena screamed and hid behind someone.

They all were covered with red, blue, green and yellow colors. They looked so cute! I looked at Sam and she was pissed. Oh uh, that’s bad. But she was so, so beautiful in this black bikini. I bit my lower lip, I didn’t realize that she is so tanned because she never really show much skin. You could see her flat stomach and long legs I really couldn’t help but stare. I am glad I gave her this bikini.

I took a blue balloon and throw it on her. She looked down at her stomach and groaned. “Oh come on!”

At that moment I felt something flew at my face.

“What the-” I couldn’t have a chance to finish when another balloon flew at me.

“Miaaa!” she laughed like crazy and I started running away.

But Mia being Mia kept running after me throwing balloons everywhere. Girls started laughing and I just glared at them.

“Now you are at their side? You’ll see for this” I said with a smile.

Soon enough other girls took balloons and started throwing it at Mia and me. It was our turn to scream. I couldn’t take it anymore and I jumped in the pool. They stopped throwing balloons because, I assume, there is no more left.

“What!? No more balloons?” I asked once I was out of water.

“Unfortunately,” Mia said with a pout.

“Why the hell would you do that?” Emili asked and tried to clean colors from her stomach.

“Because it’s funny” Mia answered in a duh tone.

“Anyway, Mia please give me hand” I extend my hand to her to help me got out of the pool.

Once, she gave me her hand I pulled her down which made her scream. She was already in the water and we all laughed.

“Payback!” I said and kissed her cheek before going out of the pool.

“Anyway girls, don’t worry, the color will be cleaned once you jump in water like you see” I was soaking wet but I didn’t really care.

“But water won’t be clean anymore” Anna pointed out the obvious thing.

“There are little machines in pool for clearing water so it will be normal again in 5 minutes max” I informed her with a warm smile “Anyway, I’m just gonna change, be right back.”

Before going inside, I took the last glance at Sam and I almost bumped at the mirror wall. I cursed silently and run into the house. Before going to my room to dress up, I went into the music room and made songs from an MP3 player playing on speakers at the pool part of the house. I run into my room. I quickly changed and slightly dried my hair so water wouldn’t be all over the house. I took Charlie who was running around my legs. “Let’s go, buddy,” I said and kissed his head before walking out and heading downstairs.

Sam’s P.O.V.

I wasn’t really pissed when they started throwing balloons at us, it was funny honestly. Seeing them all screaming, jumping and running around was priceless.

Dušica went to change and not much after that music started playing. We all jumped a little because no one expected it. We laughed at our own reaction and not long after that, Dušica come outside with Charlie in her arms.

Damn! That’s all I can say. Her hair was still wet, but not too much. She looked gorgeous in that white one part swimming suit.

She put Charlie down and jumped in the pool with us and smiled sheepishly.

“Do you want anything to drink?” she asked and swam towards the bar that was in the middle of the pool.

“Yeah, why not” Elena answered and went towards her.

We all take some alcohol beside her of course. She took a can of sprite. I mean it is a little weird you know because people our age usually drink, but maybe she just doesn’t love it.

Soon enough she walked out of the pool and lay down on sunbed that was next to the pool. We were still in the water, drinking and having fun.

After half an hour I was sure Dušica was asleep. I don’t know why but that actually was pretty funny. Mia got out and slowly straddle our sleepy beauty. We were watching them, all of us holding back our laughter. Mia then slowly sat like that on Dušica abdomen and she immediately woke up.

“Bloody hell, Mia!” she yelled with a perfect British accent.

We all laughed but Mia’s laughter was the loudest. Dušica rubbed her eyes and I found that really cute. A small smile was immediately placed on my face.

“Mia, get up, you are wet!”

“How did you know” Mia gasped and place hand over her chest.

We burst out laughing and Dušica rolled her eyes.

“Damn, you are making me wet. Move please” her eyes immediately widened and she face palmed herself when she realized what she had just said. Once again we all laughed and she blushed so hard.

“You are so cute,” Mia said and leaned forward to hug her.

Indeed she was I thought.

They stayed like that for a few moments.

“I really missed you” Mia whispered but we all heard her clearly.

“I missed you too babe. Now, get up” they get up and Dušica smiled at us “I want to show you something,” she said and walked in the house.

We exchanged confused looks and of course, we all looked at Mia who just shrugged. ″I don’t know everything” she said and rolled her eyes.

Soon enough Dušica came back from the house with few little white things in her arms. She almost fell and everything that was in her arms fell on the floor. I really love her clumsiness.

“s**t,” she said and pick everything up.

She walked towards us and give every one of us one of these things. When I got mine, I saw it was that thing you put in your mouth when you want to be underwater and you can’t hold your breath that long. (you might call them snorkels, but these are really small, you can barely see them when someone put it in their mouth)

“You all know how to use this?” she asked while looking at us.

“Not really” we replied honestly.

“It’s very easy actually. All you have to do is put it in your mouth and click this button here” she said and show us button on the left side “with this, you can be underwater for 10 minutes.”

“Why would we need this?” Emili asked while looking at it.

“I am actually amazed that you didn’t notice,” she said and went into pool “but here is one passage at this side of the pool” she pointed at the left side of a pool that was facing the mirror wall.

We followed her in the water and indeed there was something like passage the shape of cycle. It was like 2 meters wide. How the hell we didn’t notice that? There also was something where you could put password. She clicked something which caused it to open.

“Come on,” she said and dive inside water.

We all were confused but soon enough I went after her. I was amazed inside this, well tunnel I guess. It was with light in different colors coming from every side. From the left side, from right, from down and up. Red, yellow, blue, green and more others. It was a magical experience. At once the tunnel was going on left and I kept swimming. Now with lights, there also was imagination of little fishes.

Unfortunately, we came to an end and I went out of the water just to find Dušica smiling at me. I looked around and couldn’t believe where we were. I mean, I always lived in luxury but I never have chance to live alone and I wish I can, but my parents don’t allow me, yet. I was impressed by this all and also shocked because she had all this for herself.

“This was amazing” I finally said.

She smiled sweetly at me and nodded.

“I really loved this idea. I didn’t know my grandpa is so creative” she said with a chuckle.

I had no time to answer because other girls come from tunnel one behind others.

“Holy s**t, this was beautiful,” Anna said.

“Indeed it was” Elena commented.

“Wow” was all Emili said when she looked around.

“Where are we anyway?” I asked.

“In the room, I didn’t want to show you. This is the room against the pool like you can see” she said and pointed at a whole glass wall.

“So from this side it’s glass and from outside it’s a mirror?” Anna asked.

“Yeah, it’s like that kind which caps use and it’s bulletproof as well. Glasses like this are also in every room” Well, that explains everything though.

Oh did I told you we were in the indoor pool which kinda looked like a small oasis with some trees around us and something which really looked like a waterfall? Sun was setting down and just look of it was very beautiful. I couldn’t help but stare.

We were in a pool for about two hours now, just dancing with music and swimming. We had such a blast here.

“Girls, are you hungry?” Dušica suddenly asked.

All this time, I didn’t even think about food but now when she mentioned it I am hungry. It looks like everyone else felt the same because they agreed that it’s time for going out and eat something.

“Let’s go get dry and then I’m going to make -” she said something but I didn’t catch it because Mia screamed. “Really!?” I guess it’s food Mia didn’t eat whole this time or something like that.

“Yeah. I promised after all” Dušica said with a smile.

“Great, I can’t wait to try it as well.” Elena said and we all looked weirdly at her “What? She talked about it every day!” she added which made Dušica laugh. “What can I say”

“You are a pig!” Mia and El said at the same time and then laughed.

“And you are mean,” Dušica said with a pout.

Aww so sweet.

We all went to our rooms to change. I dried myself and took a black Calvin Klein shirt and sweatpants, showing off my stomach.

Just when I walked outside Dušica walked out of her room as well. When I saw her, I couldn’t help but laugh. She looked at me and back at herself and started laughing as well.

“I love your style,” she said.

“Yeah, I love yours as well” I commented between laugh.

She was wearing almost the same as me, just her shirt was white and her sweatpants were grey. We looked like some couple trying to match their clothes. I mentally slapped myself for thinking about something that never going to happen.

I looked down at her abs and bit my lips. She smiled at me and walked towards me. We started walking together down the hall and soon enough other girls started coming out. They all looked at us weirdly.

Dušica raised her arms in defense “We didn’t agree to dress up the same”

“But I love her style” I added immediately and girls laughed while shaking their heads.

We walked into the kitchen and there were two chefs there and two maids. The kitchen was modern like everything else in this house. Big counter was in middle with 10 chairs around it. Four from both sides and for one on both ends. Five of us took a seat at the counter.

“Hello guys,” Dušica said cheerfully and they turned towards us.

“Evening,” they all said in unison.

“What do you want for dinner?” one of the chefs asked.

“I’m cooking tonight,” Dušica said and walked around the counter.

One of the maids almost spit out the water she was drinking and others laughed.

“You?” other chief asked.

“Yeah, me! Come on, I know how to cook” she protested.

“Right,” one of the maids said and turned toward us “We don’t want them to end up in a hospital” she added and laughed.

“Why are you so mean!?” Dušica pouted and playfully punched one of the chiefs in the arm.

“We are not. Fire extinguisher is right there” he said and pointed at behind him. Dušica glared at him and he raised his hands in surrender. “Just saying”

She sighed deeply “I know where it is, but I won’t need it”

“I don’t think so” other maid added.

“Come on, tell us what you want and we will make it”

“Oh no no, this is something you don’t know how to make.”

“But you know how to... Right” chief said and they laughed.

I have to admit this was funny, we started laughing with them and she turned to us with her mouth wide open.

“Even you, Brutus!?” she asked which made us laugh even more. “Anyway” she started and turned around to face others who were trying so hard not to laugh. “I didn’t know you love your job so much!? Come on go home to your families” she added and started pushing four of them out.

Before they were out one of them yelled: “We will call 991 and firefighters do not worry girls!” We burst out laughing and she kept struggling to send them out.

Once she was done she closed the door after them and leaned on it.

“They are crazy.” she said and sighed “I won’t poison you, I promise!”

“I hope so,” Anna said and giggled.

“Anyway, Mia I’ll need your help,” Dušica said and took Mia by her wrist and pulled her up from the chair.

Mia sighed and pouted but Dušica just shook her head. They started preparing ingredients. We just asked them question after question which pissed Mia off. Dušica was standing little behind her silently laughing her ass off while holding her tummy.

“What are the ingredients for this?” Elena asked while biting her lip.

Mia sighed and slammed the knife she was holding at the counter.

“A spoon full of rat poison, a bottle of cyanide, dog’s food, five teaspoons full of sugar, one cup of hydrochloric acid and five cups of salt” she glared at us and Dušica was holding cabinet behind her still laughing. We all were shocked but Mia spoke again “This will be the ingredients if you don’t stop asking me questions like right NOW!” she warned.

“I am really looking forward to try this!” Elena said and we laughed.

Mia groaned and kept peeling potatoes. Dušica put them in pot. They were chatting with us a little until they needed flour.

Before that, Dušica put white cheese and some other things in a pot as well. She leaned down to get 2 bags of flour from one of the cabinets and gave it to Mia to open it while she took some other things. Mia put flour on the cabinet and kept looking at it. Us four exchanged weird looks and then Dušica came behind Mia and looked at flour and her best friend back and forth.

“Have you not opened bag of flour before!?” She asked with an exaggerated surprise.

“Of course I did,” Mia said and rolled her eyes.

Dušica hummed in response and put her elbow on the counter and her head on her hand. Mia opened one bag of flour like chips. There was a tug and her whole face and hair were covered with flour. We burst out laughing while Dušica tried to contain herself but failed when she started laughing hysterically and she even fell on her butt while holding her stomach.

“Oh. My. God!” Mia screamed not opening her eyes.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her pale face and even more paler hair!

“This is so bloody good!” Dušica said still lying on the floor “I am going to pee my pants” she said between laughter and pressed her legs against each other.

We laughed even more right now because Mia finally opened her eyes and she looked like a ghost.

“Stop it you all, it’s already way too embarrassing!” she said and glared at us.

We all finally calmed down and Dušica hardly stopped herself and stood up while holding for counter.

Unfortunately, just another glance towards a smaller girl made her laugh again. And soon enough I laughed as well. I can’t remember when was the last time I laughed like this, that hard that I got a stomachache.

“This means war!” Mia yelled and grabbed the flour bag and throw some of it directly at Dušica’s face.

“Heeeey!” she quickly reached for another bag of flour and opened it normally, already trying to take her revenge! “You, yourself said it, babe, this is WAR!” she said once again and threw flour at Mia.

Four of us laughed our asses off, and they stopped. They looked at us and then at each other. They slowly nodded and turned towards us with smirks.

“Oh no, no, no!” I said and tried to run away when I heard Dušica said: “I got her!”

Soon enough I was pinned on the floor. She turned me around and I was now laying on my back. She straddled me and smiled victoriously. “You are mine” she whispered and I immediately blushed.

When she took flour from bag, ready to throw it on my face I put hands to cover it and started shaking my head. I heard her laughing and I couldn’t help but smile.

“What the hell are you doing!?” she asked while still laughing.

“Hiding my face so you can’t throw flour on me,” I said in a duh tone.

“Right,” she said, and I literally could feel that smirk on her face, even if I couldn’t see it.

Suddenly I felt a pair of hands on both sides of my stomach. I felt a shiver running down my body when she put her warm hands (which still was covered with flour inside my shirt, on my bare stomach.

“What the hell!?” I asked shocked by her action, but still not taking my hands away from my face.

And then it became clear. She started tickling me! f**k! I am like the most ticklish person alive.

I started laughing hysterically while catching my breath. I tried to push her away but she was much stronger.

“Ple-Please... Stop!” I finally managed to say.

“Gladly,” she said and before I knew it flour was thrown on my face.

She laughed again and kissed my, now white, cheek. She pulled away and stared at my eyes. Both of our faces covered in white, only shade that was visible were our eyes. Her ocean-blue eyes stared into my ice blue one. I slowly brought my hand to her cheek and gently caressed it. She closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. I wanted so badly to kiss her right here and now but like always, someone needed to interrupt us.

“What a nice pose” Elena said while looking at us with other girls standing next to her.

I was thankful that my face was covered with white because if it wasn’t, they all would see me blushing and being red as a tomato. Dušica was still straddling me, and like she realized in which position we were, she literally jumped from me and smiled at others.

“Good job, Mia,” she said before turning towards me and extending her hand for me to take it. I took it and she helped me get up.

“Now we need to change again,” Anna said and groaned.

“You go, take a shower and change. Food is almost finished and it’s better to be eaten cold” she informed and walked towards the stove to actually put flour in it.

We all walked down the hall towards our rooms. I decided to take a shower and try to clean myself. The whole time in the shower I thought about that I had two f*****g chances to kiss her today and I didn’t do it. I sighed deeply and kept showering.

After about half an hour, I finally was done. I walked out of the bathroom and took simply a white shirt and grey sweatpants.

I walked out of the room and went to the kitchen. I found Dušica on her knees while cleaning the mess that we have made. She was singing some song on Serbian, I guess because I didn’t understand a thing.

“Need help?” I asked which made her jump a little.

“No need, I finished it already” she answered with a smile and stood up. “But you can help me set the table if you want”

She was wearing a grey shirt with a print, but I still didn’t have a chance to read it.

“Of course” I walked towards her and took plates she gave me.

“Should we place it here, on counter or table at the dining room?” she asked while taking spoons and forks.

“It’s better here” I answered and placed plates there. “By the way, what does the lyric you were singing said?”

“You are my problem, my solution, maybe that’s why we are together” she answered with smiled while placing pot on the counter.

Wow, how ironic huh? But we are not together so...

She finally turned towards me and completely faced me. She had a shy smile on her face. Her shirt says She’s the short one <--?

“She’s the short one?” I asked with a frown on my face.

Before she could answer Mia came into the room dressed the same.

“Mm this smells delicious!” she said and walked towards Dušica.

“Oh, I get it now,” I said while looking at them.

“Get what?” Mia asked confused.

“Our T-shirts” Dušica answered and kissed Mia’s temple. She was not that taller than Mia, maybe inch or two. But they were really cute together. “Mia made me get this for us, although I find it kinda... ” Mia glared at her and she shook her head “Never mind”

“Where are others already!? I wanna eat” Mia groaned and sat down.

“They’ll come soon babe, be patient”

After a few moments, other girls come inside.

“This smells nice,” they said when they finally down.

We started eating and I swear this was amazing! No wonder Mia was so excited to eat it again.

“Oh my god!” Elena was first to react. “This is amazing! Exactly like you told me”

“Yeah, this is good. I didn’t expect this” Anna agreed and nodded.

“Agreed,” Emili said with a mouth full of food and kept eating.

“Thank you girls,” Dušica said with a smile “Bon appetite”

We were really enjoying our meal until we were full. Swimming and riding horses exhausted us and we all were very very hungry.

When we finished it already was 8:30 pm. We decide to just go to home cinema and look there what to watch. We went to room with beds. It has been ten minutes since we started discussing which movie to watch and we couldn’t agree.

“Uh I know,” Dušica said while looking up from Charlie who was already asleep in her lap. We all looked at her waiting for her to keep talking. “Let’s have a Disney movies marathon,” she said cheerfully.

“That sounds good” we all agreed.

Every one of us lay down at one of the beds, except Mia and Dušica who cuddled up together with Charlie sleeping peacefully on Dušica’s chest. There were snacks and drinks for us but no one had any place for anything after we ate like pigs not so long ago.

It’s already 3 in the morning and we all get bored with watching movies so we agreed on playing truth or dare.

“Let’s go to my room,” Dušica said and slowly picked Charlie up, carefully not to wake him up.

We followed her down the hall and she opened the door for us. Her room isn’t like any other guest rooms. It’s twice as big as ours and design is different. It’s black and white with whole wall glass (window). There is also a king-sized bed and night table next to it. Big TV and fireplace under it. There also was some painting and family pictures. Two doors on both sides of the TV, just like in other rooms.

We all sat down in a circle between bed and fireplace. Anna was the first one who spined the bottle and it stopped on Elena.

“Truth,” she said even before Anna could ask.

“So... You say for yourself that you are bisexual. But do you prefer guys or girls?”

I wanted to know this as well, I started being curious about this topic.

“Hmm... I don’t really know. I mean it’s very nice when you are with a guy and you feel safe in his arms. But with girl it’s kinda different, there is a lot of stuff you two can talk about and you just have to love their gentleness, and their soft lips, you just understand each other. Plus you can share clothes. So I guess my answer is girls” she finished with a shy smile.

She spun the bottle and the game went on. We spun bottle a few more times and I didn’t bother to even listen until one question that was dedicated to Mia took my attention.

“Who was your best kiss?” Emili was the one who asked.

“Believe it or not, my best kiss was with a girl,” she said and we all gasped. Only Dušica laughed.

“Who was that lucky lady?” Anna was the one who asked now.

Mia didn’t say anything, she just pointed with her finger at Dušica who was still laughing. We all were shocked.

“What!?” I was the first one who came to my mind.

“What what? We were forced a lot of time to kiss. It happened a few times when some older guys came hitting on us when we are out and were like Sorry we are gay but they wouldn’t leave us until we kiss so...” Mia explained with roll-eye.

“Yeah, that was frustrating” Dušica added.

“Okay, I need time to take all this in.” Emili said and massaged her temples “Let’s just stop playing this, and play Deepest, darkest secrets”

“What?” Dušica asked confused.

“You just have to tell us your secret” Anna informed, “Because this is your first time playing it, you are going to say it last okay?”

Dušica just nodded and I remembered to mention the only rule we made for this game. “By the way, when someone says their secrets, there is no asking questions”

“Right, I forgot to mention that,” Anna said.

And so we started, first Anna then Elena, Emili and Mia.

“I cheated on my ex-boyfriend,” Mia said while fidgeting.

Uh, I didn’t see that coming. Things other girls said I already knew but this is something I didn’t know. I mean Mia doesn’t look like some cheater type of person but you could never be so sure.

It was my turn now and I took a deep breath when they all looked at my direction.

“I used to cut myself,” I said shyly. Their mouths were wide opened and just when Elena was ready to ask me something I glared at her. “No questions,” I said simply.

Somehow, I couldn’t contain myself to look at Dušica. I could feel her stare sending my skin into fire but still, I didn’t look up.

Anna cleared her throat and turned her attention towards Dušica. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“I’m going to show you this. Not say” Dušica informed us and got up.

She went into her closet and we all exchanged confused looks. Suddenly I saw Mia’s face went pale.

“Mia, are you okay?” I asked her truly worried, but she didn’t answer me.

Dušica come back with make-up remover and sat down.

“You are not going to do what I think you are going to do, right?” Mia asked.

“I will” Dušica answered simply on which Mia said something on Serbian, but that only made Dušica glare at her.

“Come on help me,” Dušica said and took off her shirt leaving her only in her bra. What the actual f**k!?

“Don’t tell me your abs are fake?” Anna pleased which made other girl giggle. ″God no!”

Mia slowly got up and walked towards her.

“Turn around,” she said and sighed.

Dušica did as she had been told and Mia took makeup remover and started wiping Dušica’s back. I saw Dušica moving her hands as well so I was sure she was cleaning her stomach.

“You know, people think only because you are rich, you have a perfect life but that is far from true,” she said almost in a whisper.

“When did you get this tattoo?” Mia asked while stroking Dušica’s lower back.

“When everything happened” Dušica replied still wiping her tummy.

Mia suddenly walked away on her previous place and we all gasped. Dušica’s whole back was covered with cuts!

“What is this!?” I asked slowly.

“Did you... Did you do this to yourself?” Anna asked which made Dušica chuckle.

“Of course not silly” she answered still not facing us.

I looked at Elena and I saw tears slowly falling down her face. I looked at Mia who was hugging her legs at other side, and her face was wet of tears as well.

“Just don’t freak out when I turn around okay?” Dušica asked. We looked at each other, still pretty confused but we agreed anyway.

First, she slowly got up and sighed then she turned around to face us and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Emili, Anna and I were too shocked to say anything. We just stared at her stomach without a word.

She had one big cut going from her right shoulder then at place in the middle of her breast, down her stomach and ending at the left side of her upper body. She was just standing there in her bra and all these scars on her body.

“Let’s just say this happened the last time I was drunk”

I saw Anna gulping hard. So that explains why she doesn’t drink anymore. I really can’t believe how so many bad things could happen to her.

“I-I’m sorry for what I said at party the other night. I was drunk” Anna said and looked down. I know she was ashamed of herself right now.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain it to me. If anyone here knows how is it to be drunk than that’s me” she said and sat back down “There was period in my life, two years ago when there were not two days in a row that I was sober.” she added with a weak smile.

So that probably was when her sister died. I looked at her eyes and they were dark. Darker than any eyes I have ever seen. They were lifeless, with no other emotion besides anger and pain. She started shaking and clenching her wrist.

“s**t! Where are your medications!?” Mia asked and went towards her.

Elena did the same before talking to us “Go find a maid and ask for her medications because she is going to have a panic attack! NOW!”

“I’m fine” Dušica groaned and got up “I just need some air” she walked towards the glass door and pulled them aside.

“You are not f*****g fine!” Mia said but before she could go after her door burst open, revealing two maids who rushed into the room with medications and water. We looked at them weirdly because no one called them, yet. They saw our expression so they simply said “Cameras”.

Mia nodded and took glass of water and pills from girls.

“Thank you,” she said with a small smile and they nodded.

“Maybe it would be best if you girls go to sleep. It’s already 4 in the morning” Mia added and we all understood what she meant.

Anna, Emili, and Elena slowly got out of the room but before Mia could walk on the balcony I reached for her arm.

“Mia, please let me do it” I pleaded.

“What!?”

“Just let me, okay?”

“But-” she was ready to protest but I cut her off immediately.

“Just, trust me with this. If anything goes wrong, I’ll come for you”

She looked down like she was debating should she let me or not. I just silently prayed she will give up.

“Fine” she finally said and gave me tablets and glass of water “But come to my room after this anyway”

I nodded and smiled at her.

“Thank you” I whispered and made my way towards the balcony after Mia left the room.

“Hey,” I said when I walked out.

She was just standing there, staring blankly in front of her. Her grip on the fence of the balcony was too strong, her knuckles became white.

“I thought you would be disgusted,” she said.

I placed glass on little table that was there and gave her puzzled expression. But of course, she couldn’t see me.

“What do you mean?” I asked softly.

“Well... You know, I am not that ”perfect ” like people thought I am” she said with a dry laugh.

“Maybe, you are not perfect,” I said and walked behind her.

I moved her hair over her shoulder and gently caressed every single scar that was on her back. Her whole body tensed a bit and I saw that she got goosebumps from my touch which made me smile a little. I looked down at her lower back where her tattoo was.

Be the hero

You are

I smiled. She is the hero indeed.

“But these scars make you you.” I said “These scars show how strong of a person you are” I saw her grip on the fence slowly relaxing.

“You are not perfect,” I said and slowly turned her around so she was facing me now. I cupped her face and smiled. “Because you are more than perfect”

She pulled me towards her and hugged me tightly. I never was hugged like this. Every time I am in her arms like this, it feels like home. I feel safe and protected. It was a little distraction that she was still wearing only her bra! But anyway, I tried my best to concentrate on the warmth of her body only. We pulled away and she looked directly in my eyes. “Thank you” she whispered.

I nodded like telling her that I will always be there.

“Would you please drink the medications now?” I asked softly.

“I don’t need them anymore” she answered with a smile.

“What do you mean?”

“You calmed me enough”

I silently thanked god that there is no much light here and she probably can’t see me blushing. “Anyway do it for me. Please! I’ll feel better if you drink it” I said shyly.

“Okay then” she took tablet and glass from the table.

When she was finished we walked into her room and she closed the door of the balcony.

“You should sleep now. It’s already past 4 am.” I said to her.

“Yeah. You should be sleeping as well” she said with a sheepish smile. I nodded and turned around ready to leave but she called my name which made me turn around to her. “Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?” she asked while scratching her neck, she seemed nervous.

“You already did,” I said with a smirk remembering that this was her answer when I asked her the same things last night.

She rolled her eyes but still smiled “Seriously, can I?”

“Anything” I replied while watching her expression going from amused to serious in one second. ″Why?”

Well, I didn’t see that coming. What does she mean? Seeing my puzzled expression she sighed and looked down.

“I mean... Why did you do that to yourself? Cut yourself” she added.

“That’s a story for another time. Let’s just not talk about it now” I saw in her eyes she wanted to know but didn’t want to push me.

“It’s okay,” she said with a small smile.

I smiled back and started walking towards the door once again.

“Uh and Sam?”

I chuckled and shook my head in disbelief before turning around. “Yeah?”

“Thank you, for everything,” she said with a genuine smile. “And good night”

“Anytime. Sleep well” I said and walked outside.

I decide to go to Mia’s room before going to sleep. I knocked once before entering. Mia was pacing around when I came in, obviously not hearing me knock. When she saw me, she literally ran towards me. “What happened?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

“Everything is fine now, don’t worry. She took her medications, she went to sleep”

“Oh thank god!” she said and sighed in relief.

“Anyway, I’m gonna sleep now. Good night” I informed before walking out.

“Night!” she called after me.

I walked into my room and jumped on the bed. I wanted to sleep so badly but I just couldn’t. I was thinking too much, it didn’t let me even close my eyes. It was already 10 minutes before five. I sighed deeply and decide to just walk a little. I got up and exited my room.

I don’t know why, but it was like my feet carried me towards Dušica’s room. And when I was only a few feet away I heard screams coming from it.

“No! Please, don’t!” it was her voice and without thinking twice about it, I rushed into her room.

She was sleeping on her bed shaking a little. She kept pleading someone to stop and Charlie started barking.

“Dušica! Wake up!” I said while shaking her shoulders.

She finally woke up. She was breathing heavily and sweat was covering her whole body. I notice she was only wearing an oversized white T-shirt and panties. No bra... Damn!

“Sam?” she asked when she saw me sitting on the edge of her bed.

“Shh,” I said and wrapped my arms around her, bringing her closer to me “It was just a nightmare, it’s over now”

I felt her shaking her head.

“No,” she said and pulled away. I looked at her confused and she kept talking with fear and anger in her voice “It was a flashback of that night”

I know I shouldn’t ask but I just needed to know.

“Night when your sister died?” I asked almost in a whisper and caressed her cheek.

She shook her head and sighed “The night I almost got killed for the second time, I don’t know how I survived anyway. Night when he made these scars when he left his mark so I will never forget him.” she stopped and I was shocked by her words. She gulped hard and looked away “The night when I was raped.”