Written in the Stars (13 page)

The next morning, I woke up not being able to move. Every inch of my body ached, my head was throbbing, and it hurt to breathe. For the first time since my mom died, I found myself believing
in something, karma, which clearly had it out for me.

I got as far as rolling out of bed before my head started spinning, and I had to grab the bedpost to hold myself up.

“Tea, tea will help,” I mumbled as I waited for the room to stop moving. Erin walked through my door just as I was slowly making my way towards it.

“What are you doing up so early?” I asked between sneezes.

“You look like crap.”

“Thank you, that’s one of my all-time favorite compliments.” I pushed past her, holding my head since every step I took felt like a vice tightening around it.

“Sophie, what happened to you?”

“I got wet,” I replied.

“For the sake of cutting this short and getting you back into bed where you belong, I’m going to save this conversation for another time.” She grabbed my arm. “Holy Lord, Sophie, you’re burning up.” She felt my head.

“I’m fine. Nothing a little tea won’t help.”

“No, you’re not. Wait here; I’m going to get Nonna.”

“No, Erin,
really I’m fine. Nonna doesn’t need to know anything about this.” I stopped her.

“Sophie, you’re really sick and she needs to know.”

“Seriously, she doesn’t need to know. She’ll make me drink The Crud if she finds out I’m sick.”

“Is that the stuff she sent you when you were sick back home?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Gross.” She cringed. “Okay, if you promise to stay in bed, I will make you some tea and bring you up real medicine.”

“I can’t. Geoff is probably already at the beach, waiting.”

“Don’t worry about Geoff; I’ll take care of him too.”

“You know what, he’ll figure out sooner or later I’m not coming, so don’t worry about it.”

“I promise I won’t do or say anything to embarrass you. I’m saving that for Friday night’s dinner. Now get back in bed before I
go get Nonna.”

“Fine, I will, but only because I can’t make it down the stairs.” I climbed back into bed.

“Good girl. Now stay there.” Erin shut my door.

After taking Erin’s medicine and sipping down the cup of tea, I lay back and tried getting Geoff’s face out of my head as I watched some birds dancing in the tree outside my window. I
didn’t want to admit the ache in my heart wasn’t from being sick, but from knowing I wasn’t going to see him for the next few days. Maybe not seeing Geoff for a few days was exactly what I needed to clear my head. Maybe my getting sick weren’t karma after all, but some kind of blessing in disguise. Blessings helping me put distance between Geoff and my heart. Just as I was about to lose the battle of keeping my eyes open, someone knocked on my bedroom door.

“Please don’t be
Nonna,” I said quietly before inviting the person in. My heart stopped for a short moment when I saw Geoff walk into my room.

Or maybe not
, I thought when Geoff sat on the edge of my bed.

“I told you not to play in the water.” He smiled.

“What are you doing here?” I pulled my covers over my head.

“What do you think I’m doing here?” He pulled off my covers.

“Too make me feel worse than I already do.”

“Why would I want to do that?”

“I really don’t know, and honestly, my head hurts too much to care.” I pulled the covers back over my head.

“Well, you’re wrong. I’m here because I was worried when you didn’t show up this morning.”

“Oh, that’s very nice of you.” My voice was nasally. “Please explain why I’m the one who is sick, and you’re not.”

“Because you’re not super human like me.” He grinned.

“I knew you were too good to be true.”

“Lucky for you, I have something that will make you feel better.” He tried handing me a cup of The Crud that looked like black tar and t
asted even worse. It was my Nonna’s home remedy for a cold and I will admit the one time my parents forced it down me, I felt better the next day, but it was the most putrid thing I had ever tasted and I swore I would never drink it again, no matter how sick I was.

“Who told
Nonna I was sick?”

“Not me, but she said to have you drink this and you’ll be all better by the morning.”

“I’m not drinking that.” I pushed it away.

“She said you would fight me, and for me not to give in to you, so drink up.”

“I’m not drinking that.” I glared at him.

“Okay, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell you this, but she said if I’m not man enough to get you to drink this, then I’m not man enough to be in your life. So if you don’t drink it, I’m afraid this is the last time I can see you.”

“She didn’t say that.”

“In a roundabout way she did, so clearly you can see my dilemma, so please just drink it,” he replied.

“I can see your dilemma.”

“Good, so you’re going to drink it?”

“No.” I stood my ground.

“Then I guess we can’t see each other anymore.”

“I guess not. At least it was fun while it lasted.” I rolled over and covered up.

“I’m going to try and ignore the stinging pain running through my veins right now, and make a deal with you.”

“I’m not in the mood for deals.” I mumbled from under the covers.

“Just hear me out.” He scooted closer to me. “If I take a big drink of whatever is in this cup, will you drink the rest?”
I sat up and looked at him.

“If you taste The Crud in that cup and swallow it without making any kind of face or throwing up, I will happily drink it, but i
f you can’t, then we lie to Nonna and say I drank it.”

“Deal. How bad can it really be?” He looked down into the cup before taking a big gulp of it. Even though it hurt to laugh, I couldn’t help it. There were no words to describe the horrific, disgusted look his face made as soon as The Crud hit his mouth, and the fact  that he had to cover his mouth when his upchuck reflex kicked in said it all. After a few minutes of bathroom time, he returned, only to grab the cup and flush The Crud down the toilet.

“Okay, so we lie to Nonna.” He grabbed his coat and headed towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To get you medicine that won’t kill you. Try to get some sleep; I’ll be back soon.” He shut the door behind him.

It didn’t take long for Erin’s medicine to fully kick in and for me to fall into a deep sleep with a victorious smile on my face.

“Sophie, hurry before they leave,” my mom yelled up to me. I was on the balcony, looking down, watching her dance with the fairies. I quickly ran down the stairs, but for some reason, I couldn’t reach the bottom. It was as if I was on a never-ending staircase.

“Wait for me,” I hollered as I watched the fairies surround her and lift her off the ground. “Mom, please don’t leave me,” I screamed when they started flying away with her.

“I’ve never left you,
mi amore
.” Her voice was fading, the further the fairies carried her away.

“Mom, take me with you,” I cried out before crumbling to the ground. “I can’t live without you.” My heart broke as I watched her disappear within the clouds.

“Sophie.” I heard Geoff’s voice, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Sophie.” I felt a hand softly stroke my cheek. My eyes were filled with tears when they fluttered opened from the pain in my dream. I hated when my dreams followed me to reality, at least the ones that reminded me of just how broken I still was. “You were dreaming.” He moved some hair from my eyes.

“I know.” I said still crying. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be such a baby, but sometimes my dreams are a little too real.” I wiped my eyes.

“You should never apologize for crying over losing someone you love.”

“I know, I’m sorry, it’s just some people think I should have already moved on, since it’s been almost six years, and that I need to let her go, but I can’t. I miss her.”

“I don’t care if it’s been a hundred years, you never have to let go of your mom and it’s okay to cry, no matter how much time has passed.” He wiped a tear from my cheek. “To be honest, I would worry if you didn’t cry.”

“Believe it or not, you’re the only person who has ever said that to me.” I smiled halfheartedly. “Thank you.”

“What do you miss the most about her?” He slid into the bed next to me and propped my head up on his shoulder.

“I miss everything. I miss her smile, the sound of her voice, the way she brushed my hair, her eyes, and how safe I felt anytime she held me,” I said.

“I can’t imagine the pain you must feel. I’d be lost without my mom.”

“I’m completely lost without her.”

“What is your favorite memory of her?” he asked.

“There are so many.” I took a deep breath. “But the one that lingers with me the most is the island, only because I’m still trying to make it happen.”

“The island?” He sounded confused.

“I never told you about the island?” I looked up at him and he shook his head no. “I think it was a couple summers before she died that we went on a boat ride, and my parents made it seem like we had shipwrecked into this tiny island in the middle of the ocean. I always knew they planned our getting stranded, but I never told them. They were having too much fun playing out the whole family-in-distress act. We camped there for almost a week, and I remember watching my mom let the sand fall between her fingers as she gazed at the island in front of her before we had to leave.” I smiled as the memory flashed through my thoughts. “She teased my dad about buying it for her, since she had found her own little piece of Heaven on Earth. A place not ruined by people. She never knew it, but my dad started saving the day we got home, and so did I.” I exhaled. “He stopped when she died. I guess he didn’t see the purpose anymore, but I never did. I’m hoping one day I can buy it and lay her to rest there.” I couldn’t believe I was spilling my pathetic heart out to him, telling him things no one else in the world knew.

“That sounds like a great plan.” He sighed. It was then I that saw the huge screen TV sitting on my dresser for the first time.

“Where did the TV come from?”

“I bought it for you.”

“Why would you buy me a TV?”

“Because we need something to do while you’re sick.” He climbed out of the bed.

“
We
need something to do?”

“Yes,
we
.” He walked over and grabbed some movies off the desk. “You need someone to make sure you get better before dinner Friday night.”

“Oh, so there is a motive behind you being nice.” I sneezed.

“You’re my only motive.” He put in a movie.

“You do know I have
Nonna and Erin to help me get better.”

“Yes, and now you have me, so scoot.” He threw himself on my bed next to me.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m getting comfortable.” He propped up some pillows behind him.

“You can’t sleep in my bed with me.”

“Why can’t I?”

“It doesn’t look right.” I started pushing him out.

“It’s not like I’m going to make a move on you. You’re sick, plus the only chair you have is a metal one, extremely uncomfortable.” He fought me off.

“Seriously, Geoff, get out.” I was now using my legs to push him.

“Seriously, Sophie, no.” It only took him one strong push to get me back on my side of the bed.

“Fine, but if you get sick, don’t blame me.”

“Don’t breathe on me, and I won’t get sick.”

“I knew you were here to torment me.” I started coughing.

“You better be careful. God doesn’t like ugly.” He smiled.

“Thanks.” I smirked. “What movie are we watching?”

“
Terminator.
”

“I’m the sick one. Put on a girly movie.”

“I don’t like chick flicks.” He grinned.

“Aren’t most of your movies chick flicks?”

“Yes, and I get paid a lot of money to be in them, but not to watch them.” He smiled.

“I don’t care what anyone says about you, Mann; you’re okay in my book.” I wiped my nose.

“Why, thank you, madam.” He pushed play on the controller. “Wait, what do people say about me?”

“I’m going to sleep now.” I rolled over.

“Seriously, what have you heard?”

“Good night, Geoff.”

“Good night, Sophie.” He kissed my cheek.

“You’re going to get sick.”

“It’s a chance worth taking.” He smiled.

He was gone when I woke up the next morning and, in his place, I found a note that read “
Sophie, if you’re reading this, then you woke up before I thought you would and I’m at the beach jumping, so go back to sleep, and I’ll see you soon. Love, Geoff.”

“Go back to sleep, right,” I mumbled as I slowly climbed out of bed. I leaned over the tub, and plugged it up, turning on the water and pouring some bubble bath into the stream. If I looked like I still felt, or how my breath smelled, there was no way I was just going back to sleep, knowing he would be back, plus a hot bath was exactly what I needed to soothe my still-aching muscles.

“How are you feeling?” Erin walked in.

“Do you ever knock?”

“Why? It’s not like you have something I’ve haven’t seen before.” She sat on the side of the tub. “Plus, you’re covered in bubbles, so I can’t see anything anyways.”

“I’m feeling a little better.”

“Oh, good. Let’s talk about Geoff.”

“Let’s not and pretend we did.” I put a hot cloth over my eyes.

“I’m not good at pretending.”

“Erin, nothing between us has changed, and I still feel horrible, so I can please talk about Geoff some other time?”

“You don’t have to talk; you just have to listen,” she replied and I started counting in my head. “So yesterday, when Mario and I were leaving, Geoff comes rushing out of the house like he had to put out a fire, so naturally I was worried that something happened to you.”

“Of course you were,” I mumbled.

“Just listening, remember?” she said. “Anyways, when I asked him what was wrong, he motioned to me that he was on the phone. He had one of those ear pieces in, so it’s not like I would have known.” She rolled her eyes.

“Is that it?” I looked at her.

“Sshh.” She glared at me. “From what he was saying, I caught on that he was talking to his doctor because he was telling him your symptoms. Then he told his doctor to meet him at his boat, because I guess he isn’t staying at the huge house down the street.” I rolled my eyes at her babbling. “It was kind of sexy hearing his powerful celebrity mode come out.” She went into a daze.

“Erin, long story short.”

“There’s no way of you knowing the point if I make it short. I need to tell you every detail,” she told me. “Where was I? Oh, yeah, sexy, demanding celebrity. So, after demanding his doctor meet him at his boat with only the best medicine for you, he asked if Mario and I wanted to tag along, so of course I said yes because it’s not every day a girl gets invited to Geoff Mann’s boat. At least, I don’t think it is.”

“Erin, please my head is killing me,” I pleaded with her.

“Fine, long story short,” she snapped. “Geoff’s boat isn’t a boat at all; it’s a freaking yacht, and after seeing how worried he was about you yesterday only tells me that I was right and that boy is madly in love with you.”

“Are you done?” I looked at her.

“Yeah,” she sighed. The love struck look on her face was more than I was ready to deal with when all I wanted to do was crawl back in bed and sleep the rest of my life away.

“Good, now listen very closely because this is the last time I’m going to say this. Geoff and I are only friends, and that is exactly the way I’m going to keep it.”

“But he loves you, and not like some kind of celebrity-needing-a-break love. He really loves you,” she replied.

“Erin, you’re stuck in some kind of fantasy world, and honestly it’s driving me crazy. Geoff doesn’t love me, and I don’t love him.”

“Yeah, well you’re stuck in some kind of dark hole of depression that’s blinding you from all the good things life is trying to give you, like love!” She sounded angry. “Sophie, he’s the only one who has been able to make you smile since your mom died, and I don’t care what you say because I don’t believe you. You’re in love in with him just as much as he’s in love with you. So what are you going to do about that?”

“I’m going to keep denying it,” I replied.

“Not if I have anything to do with it.” She stood up. “I know you don’t think I’ve been paying attention since your mom died, but you’re wrong. I know a huge part of you died along with your mom, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop living.” She got teary eyed. “Sophie, Geoff is a good thing. He’s the only person who’s been able to bring you back from wherever you’ve been for the last six years, and you may hate me, but I’m not going let you ruin this because I finally have you back.”

“Are you done?” I asked her.

“Yes, but if you could only see how worried he was, then everything I’m saying would make sense.”

“I’ll try to remember that when I’m not feeling like crap.”

“That’s all I ask,” she replied.

“Erin, wait.” I caught her before she could leave. “I have a favor to ask you.”

“Anything.”

“Could you and Mario pick up a few movies for me?”

“Sure.”

She wrote a small list before leaving me alone with the words she implanted in my head only moments earlier. Even though I never would admit it, deep down I knew she was right about everything. I guess I was wrong about how much she had been paying attention all these years. I’m just not sure why it took her so long to say anything.

I stayed in the bath until the water turned cold, took more medicine, and then climbed back into bed, hoping to fall back asleep before Geoff returned, since I had no idea how I was going to able face him after hearing what Erin told me.

* * * * *

I woke up to the sound of a strumming guitar. Geoff was sitting across the room with a guitar in his lap, pencil in his mouth, and he was looking at a piece of paper on the desk.

He’s writing,
I thought as I closed my eyes and smiled.

“I know you’re awake,” I heard him say.

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Because the snoring has stopped.”

“I don’t snore,” I replied.

“Yes, you do, but it’s a cute mousey kind of snore.” He smiled.

“No kind of snoring is cute. What are you writing?”

“I’m just putting some thoughts on paper.”

“Can I hear them?” I asked.

“Not yet.” He put down his guitar and walked over to me. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“Good.” He lay next to me. “Do you need anything?”

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Do you need my help?” He smiled.

“I’m sure I can handle this one on my own.” I smiled back at him.

I was shocked to see that the day had turned into night without me, but not as shocked to see how horrible I looked. I quickly washed my face, pinched my cheeks to put some kind of color back in my face, quietly brushed my teeth, and used my fingers instead of a brush, since I didn’t want him to know I was actually worried about how I looked. The only thing I didn’t do when I climbed back into bed was use the bathroom and I wasn’t sure how much longer I was going to be able to hold it.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Watching movies downstairs.”

“Talking about movies, did Erin give you any?”

“Yes, and that’s what they’re watching right now,” he replied.

“Aw, I wanted them for us.” I was disappointed.

“Yeah, well, I’m not really into watching myself.”

“Well, I’m into watching you.”

“Really?” He smiled at me.

“Watching your movies,” I restated.

“Oh.” He smiled. “Lucky for you, I snagged one before letting Erin take them downstairs.” He pulled out the movie from his bag. “However, before I put on this one, you have to promise you’ll stay awake. I don’t want to be caught watching my own movie
alone.”

“I promise I’ll try to stay awake as long as I can.” I put up scout fingers.

“Hopefully, it will a little longer than
Terminator
. You barely made it through the opening credits.” He put in the movie.

“
Terminato
r didn’t have you starring in it.” I smiled.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” He lay back down. “I’ve never seen any of my own movies.”

“You’ve never seen any of your movies?”

“Never.”

“Don’t you go to the premieres?”

“Yes, but I leave before the movie actually starts. I hate watching myself.”

“Well, like you said, there’s a first time for everything.” I got comfortable.

“You’re right, like jumping off a cliff.”

“That’s never going to happen,” I said.

“We’ll see about that.” He positioned himself next to me.

“You don’t give up very easily, do you?”

“No,” he said with an alluring smile.

“Great, you’re a male version of Erin,” I teased him.

“Should I take that as a compliment?”

“That depends on what you’re fighting for,” I replied.

“I know exactly what I’m fighting for.”

“I’m never going to jump off the cliff with you.”

“That’s not what I’m fighting for,” he said without breaking eye contact.

“What exactly are you fighting for?” I knew asking was just my way of opening a window that really needed to stay locked, but every fiber of me wanted to hear his answer.

“I think I’ve made that very obvious.”

“Some things aren’t worth fighting for,” I mumbled.

“Maybe not, but there are some things worth starting a war for.”

Yep, that was worth opening the window for.
I sighed on the inside. I really needed to learn to keep all my windows and doors securely locked when I was around him.

“Where are you going?” he asked when I climbed out of bed.

“To the bathroom.”

“Didn’t you just go?”

“I forgot to.” I opened the bathroom door.

“Does this forgetful issue happen a lot to you?”

“Only when you’re around.” I replied.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He said with a smile
, and I shut the door.