Chapter 831 - Saving the relationship (1) (1/2)

~ Los Angeles, Cliffside House ~

September 21, 9:21 AM

Sophia found Sarah on the training ground.

Sarah is up since early, which is unusual for her. She did her morning run and now she is beating a training dummy senseless. It's the same thing she did every morning since they returned from the resort.

Sarah was lost in her thoughts and it took Sophia some time to get Sarah's attention.

”For you.”, Sophia handed Sarah a bottle of water.

”Thanks.”, Sarah took it and had few gulps before closing it and keeping it down.

Sarah wanted to go back to beating the dummy, but she saw that Sophia made herself comfortable on a log which serves as a bench and it seems that she wants to talk to her.

Sarah looked at Sophia and raised her eyebrows indicating that she is waiting for Sophia to speak.

”How are you doing?” Sophia asked.

”OK.” Sarah was avoiding to look at Sophia, fearing that she can see through her lie. But she forgot that Sophia is here because she knows that Sarah is not OK.

Sophia eyed Sarah. ”It does not look like it.”

”How does it look like?”

”You look like you have something grave weighing on your mind. And if I don't know that you and Aiden are engaged and crazy in love I would think that you are avoiding each other.”

”It's not like that.”, Sarah half-lied.

It's not that she is avoiding him on purpose, but there is some level of discomfort which she is unable to overcome. Aiden apologized more times than she can count, and she told him every time that he should stop… and he stopped. They tried talking, some casual topics, but everything is forced, and they gave up after some time… and neither of them wants to talk again about Madison and that wretched night.

There is no point digging into that open wound, there is nothing new to come out of it, but for some reason it's not healing either.

Two of them agreed that in few days they will start chasing those eight people and giving them their deserved punishments, but until then it seems that they ran out of things to say to each other.

”Then tell me how should I interpret the fact that if you are not stuck in your computer room you are here training for hours. Always by yourself. You two don't eat together and based on everything I've seen it seems you don't sleep together either.” Sophia saw that Sarah lowered her gaze and has no intention of talking. ”Fine. You don't need to tell me anything. But you should talk to him… or did you give up?”

”Give up?” Sarah looked at Sophia in panic.

”Are you thinking of breaking up with Aiden?” Sophia clarified.

Sarah felt that she is running out of oxygen. ”No!”

”Then you should talk to him.”

”Don't you think I tried? It's just that… nothing seems to work.”

”How about you talk to me? I'm available.” Sophia patted log next to her, indicating for Sarah to sit.