SOPHIA

"You need to go home and rest." An unfamiliar voice instructed.

"I'm not leaving her." A very familiar voice replied firmly.

I suddenly felt pressure on my hand and realized that someone was holding it.

I heard someone sigh and exit the room, and I took that as my cue to open my eyes.

"It burns." I groaned as bright white light attacked my eyes.

"Sweetheart!" Damon exclaimed, squeezing my hand.

"Damon." I replied, smiling softly as I looked over at him.

"Thank God." He breathed, relief washing over his face.

I tried to sit up to pull him into a hug but my body ached in protest.

Damon gently pushed me back into a laying position, "Take it easy."

That was when everything came crashing back to me.

Everything that happened with David was real. It wasn't a nightmare this time, the fact that I was in a hospital bed told me that much.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"Dave and I used to go there all the time when we were younger." Damon explained quietly.

I looked up at him and saw the sadness on his face as he looked at our intertwined hands.

Even though his cousin was an awful person, he was still family. It had to hurt so much to lose someone you were close to, the way Damon lost David.

"I'm so sorry." I felt the need to apologize. If I had never met David he might still be sane and alive.

"For what? None of this is your fault." Damon snapped, but his gaze softened when he saw me flinch at his harsh tone.

"I'm sorry that this happened to you. You don't deserve any of this." He whispered, caressing my cheek sweetly.

"How did you know it was him?" I suddenly asked as the question struck me. How did Damon know my ex was his cousin?

"After everything at school happened, I figured out how Garrett's secret got out and decided to tell you. So I went to your house but you weren't there. I was in your room when a letter caught my eye and I read it. Dave's name was on it and when I read what he sent you I knew he was the one that hurt you." He explained.

"Thank God you're nosey." I joked weakly.

He chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"So how did Garrett's secret get out?" I asked after a moment of silence.

Damon's hand that wasn't holding mine clenched into a fist as he replied "Candy overheard when you told me, and decided to spread it around."

I felt a pang, or more like a sucker punch, of guilt in my stomach. Of course Candy would be the one responsible for such a horrible thing.

"I'm so sorry for blaming you. I had no right and I was cruel and I sh-" My apology rant was cut off by Damon pressing his lips to mine. It was just a peck but it certainly shut me up.

"You are forgiven." He said, and smiled down at me.

- - - - - -

I'd been in the hospital for a week now and I was getting stir-crazy. 

Just because I had a concussion, a few broken ribs, and bruises covering a good chunk of my body, doesn't mean they should keep me from going home. I wasn't dying. They could use my room for someone who needed it more.

The only thing keeping me sane was Damon's company. He visited as much as the hospital would allow. 

We quickly worked out the problems we'd been having in our relationship before everything with David happened. All those things seemed small when compared to the fear of losing each other. 

It seemed like everything was starting to work out now that David wasn't a problem anymore. 

The day I woke up in the hospital my aunt told me Tori had gone into remission, which was a complete miracle, and that she would be able to come home soon. She could finally start being a kid again. 

The only thing that could make everything even better was if I could just go home. Then everything would be perfect.  

"What's with the creepy grin?" Damon asked as he entered the room.

I didn't even notice I was smiling.

"I'm just happy. Is that such a crime?" I asked dramatically.

He raised his hands in surrender, "No, no. That's fine."

I nodded and gave him a look that said 'that's what I thought' which caused him to shake his head and chuckle.

"Oh before I forget, there's a special visitor waiting for you outside." He informed me, pointing his thumb over his shoulder towards the door.

"Well send them in." I commanded jokingly.

"Your wish is my command." He said, bowing dramatically.

I rolled my eyes and giggled at his playfulness.

"I'll be down in the cafeteria." Damon told me as he opened the door.

I nodded and watched the doorway in anticipation. Who would come to visit me?

The person I least expected to see walked in.

"Garrett!" I exclaimed, wanting nothing more than to get up and hug him, but I knew it would hurt too much.

"Hey." He greeted as he sat down in the chair beside my bed.

"How have you been? I'm so sorry about everything that happened, it's all my fault!" I apologized, taking his hand in mine.

He squeezed my hand comfortingly, "It's not your fault, and it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. The school accepts me, sure there are some rude people but there always will be. But that's not the point, how are you?"

"I'm great. Tori is doing better, Damon and I are good, and now I have my best friend back." I told him, smiling so wide I thought my face might split in two.

"I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it." Garrett said sincerely.

After that we just chatted and gossiped until eventually he had to leave.

With the promise of visiting me tomorrow, Garrett bid his goodbye just as Damon reentered the room.

Once Damon and I were alone he sat down on the bed beside me and placed my hand on his lap.

"How did that go?" He asked as he played with my fingers.

"Everything is good between us again." I told him happily.

He smiled.  

I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder. Everything is finally good. I can finally be happy.

"Everything's perfect now." I whispered.

Damon hummed in agreement, but didn't say anything.

For a while we sat like that, lost in our own thoughts.

"I love you." He suddenly blurted.

My eyes widened in surprise and I raised my head from his shoulder to look at him.

His eyes were just as wide as mine.

"And you know I love you." I replied, and pecked him on the cheek.

As I backed away I saw that his eyes weren't so wide but his cheeks were light pink.

"Oh my God you're blushing!" I exclaimed. I was never going to let him live this down.

"Shut up, I am not." He said quickly, turning his head so I couldn't see his face, but even his ears were red.

"You're so cute!" I squealed.

"Am not."

"Are too!"

"Shut up."

I forced him to look at me again and smiled at the still present blush on his cheeks.

As I looked at him look at me, butterflies started fluttering in my stomach. I really did love this boy.

How did this happen? At the beginning of the year I absolutely loathed him.

How was it possible to go from hating someone to loving them in such a short period of time?

I guess the saying 'there's a fine line between love and hate' really was true.

And to think, if Mr. Willis never put us in his environmental awareness class together, we wouldn't be together, and I'd probably be dead.

Remind me to send Mr. Devil a thank you card, because he was the reason I was siting here, looking at the boy I loved.