zelly's pov
shawn frowns at my confused expression, but in a swift movement he takes my hand. pulling me into a gentle embrace so comforting that my body had realized how much it missed his warmth, and scent. i felt tears build up again while his arms protectively wrapped around my body, he was huge compared to me. it was like i meant so much to him, well he risked his life to be in this prison with you. pulling away before my waterworks began, he cracked a small smile.

"let's kill time before this place kills me,"

he jokes, i give him a death stare by how real that sentence was. giving in, i open my bedroom door to lead him out downstairs. maybe we should go swimming, i've wanted to try out the pool anyways...

"wanna go for a swim?"

he raises his eyebrows, pointing to his clothes.

"is that your subtle hint to seeing me shirtless? if you wanted me to take my clothes off, all you had to do is ask."

a strong rouge hit my cheeks as he chuckled at my suggestion. i punch his shoulder lightly, rolling my eyes, stop smiling zelly!

"no, that's not what i meant. get your head out of the gutter, i just wanted to try out the pool here. i haven't gotten around to it and the last few days..."

my heart crunches into depression, reliving the last few scarred memories. the thoughts sending shivers down my spine, shawn notices me distinct expression change. it was like my sadness had been radiating off me, into him. before the tension in the room got even more depressing, i quickly decide to tell him about swim trunks.

"i'm sure this mansion has swim trunks, i mean it mythically provides us food so there must be something."

he smiles at my effort, nodding. i quickly dash upstairs to look, shawn had followed me back up. to my luck, it was in one of my guest's bedroom drawers. but the room looked a little musky... not bothering to spend another minute dwelling on the scenery of my castle. i hand the trunks to him.

"thank you,"

"no problem."

"so swimming is a yes?"

he drops his smile, i drop mine feeling like i had been dipped into ice cold water. shit, did i do something?

"i'm just messing with you, of course it is."

he smiles again while i pout my lip, and scrunch my eyebrows. i nudge him in the shoulder huffing.

"not funny, i thought you were really mad."

"what would i even be mad about?"

he laughs, i sigh. everything.

"you know... just suddenly regretting to be here."

this time he is actually serious and places a hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"i would never leave you, zelly. you know that,"

i weakly nod as he pulls me into his warm embrace. i'll never get tired of his hugs.

"no matter what."

he kisses the top of my forehead, i felt my heart stop in how much i enjoyed his presence.

"i have to change, you romantic."

poking him in the chest, why does it still surprise me to feel his hard chest? a slight blush was on my cheeks, he let me go finally. as i scurried back to my bedroom to change into a bathing suit. i'm sure shawn is smart enough to change in the guest room.

                                        >>

staring in the mirror at the bright bikini on me, the coral color strikingly summer. i smooth the bottoms around my hips to keep everything together, it was a regular halter top that had a few rhinestones on the curve of each cup.

"i look good,"

i say out loud, my hair had been up in a loose bun.

"damn right."

hearing by my now open bathroom door, i jump in fright seeing swim trunk shawn staring at me. his eyes roamed my body, up to my self conscious orbs. he had licked his lips in satisfaction, gulping down slowly. i slightly frown, my body had completely healed by now, just a few scars here an there. since the biggest one was on my heart.

i took a seat on my toilet, closing my eyes.

crash!

"get the fuck down here!"

i cover my eyes, squeezing my eyes shut. where's mommy?

bang!

"get the hell away from me!"

"you get back here you whore!"

i hear mommy and daddy shouting downstairs, why are they mad? what's happening? i'm scared. i hear my door open, then my closet door.

"mommy!"

i squeal, hugging her, she groans in pain. pulling away, i see that daddy's hit her again.

"he hurt you again,"

my bottom lip quivered sadly, i don't want him to hurt her anymore! she frowned, holding me tightly.

"it's okay, baby. it'll be over soon, we will leave here soon."

i open my eyes, my body sweaty. i shake my head, seeing shawn stare at me intently. i was in my bed, still in my bikini.

"what the hell just happened?"

"you were standing fine, but you sat down on the toilet and fainted. i thought you were dying, but i checked everything."

"everything...?"

he widens his eyes in realization, i threw my covers up around me shaking slightly.

"no, god no. zelly, i checked if you were breathing or your pulse. you need to get your mind out of the gutter."

i crack a smile, why did i daydream that? maybe my memories are coming back.

"i think my memories are coming back,"

my voice is quiet, shawn takes a seat on my bed.

"that's great, zelly! what's the last thing you remember?"

"i was a child and my mom had been abused by my dad, they were shouting downstairs until she came up and saw me hiding in my closet. i was loaded,"

"abusive father, and rich family."

he murmurs sadly, i nod.

"well, do you still want to go swim? it's okay if you don't and just wanna rest-"

"no, let's do this."

standing up from my bed, i take two towels for me and shawn from my bathroom. jogging down my staircase, he follows chuckling at my sudden energy.

"always up for a challenge."