Page 92 of Shadows Within

We walk through the foyer and into the kitchen. I throw my bag on one of the high bar stools around the extravagant marble kitchen island. Sophia goes to the fridge and grabs lettuce and meat with some condiments to make us sandwiches. We talk about school and how her classes are going—she loves to tell me all the drama. Sometimes her in-class debates get intense, and she says that there’s a lot of competition to get the Professor’s attention.

I’ve never had trouble getting a professor’s attention. My good grades and love for the subjects always get me recognized. Personally, I hate it, but I guess that’s something I won’t have to worry about as much with Elliot gone. Once there’s a new permanent professor, it won’t be long before the year is over.

“Okay, now that we have some food, let’s make a drink.” Sophia says as she glances at the bar.

Drinking usually forces me to spill my guts, and I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.

We leave our plates on the island, and I follow her to the bar. It takes about two minutes for her to convince me when she starts to make margaritas. We make our way back to the kitchen with our drinks and sit down with our plates, just like we’ve been doing since middle school—but now, with alcohol.

“Thanks for lunch and having me over. I really needed this.”

She takes a bite of her sandwich. “I know you did, I did too.”

Her eyes meet mine, her look suggesting that she knows more than she’s saying.

“Scar, you know that you can tell me anything,” she says.

I don’t know how much I can tell her—how much I’m ready to tell her.

“I know, it’s just that so much has happened. So much has changed.” I grab my drink and take a sip.

“How are things with Callum through all of this?”

“I don’t know. Things are great but there’s… There are some things that will never change. I guess... I just need to figure out if the good outweighs the bad.”

She looks to me and smiles. “You love him.” It’s not a question.

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“Scarlett, that’s huge!” She grabs my arm.

My face doesn’t match her excitement.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s so much, Soph.”

I close my eyes to try and stop the tears, but I’m too late.

“Scarlett—” She moves her chair closer to mine. “I know.”

A weight lifts off my shoulders, and I can finally breathe. A cry escapes me, followed by a laugh.

“Of course, you know. If Harrison knows something that means Stirling does, and you do too.”

I’m not upset with her, but I am with Harrison and Stirling for telling her, making her also incriminated.

“Scarlett, you can talk to me about it.”

“No, Soph, I can’t! I can’t talk about the fact that I was almost raped twice by my professor. I can’t talk about the fact that Callum killed him, for me! I can’t talk about it because if I think about it, everything becomes real. And it can’t be real, Soph. Not yet.”

“Okay, Scar. We don’t have to talk about it, but I want you to know that when you are ready, I’m here.”

I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such amazing people in my life. I don’t know how to tell her how grateful I am for her, so instead, I have another sip of my drink, enjoying this moment before facing reality.

Time moves quickly after we eat and have a couple more drinks. It’s just after 7 p.m.I should check my phone to see if Callum texted me.

Instead, we throw on our bathing suits, getting ready for the hot tub. We’re met by the frigid air as we step out, onto the patio. With our drinks in hand, we head over and hop in. The warm water mixed with the cool air feels like another kind of therapy.