DISCLAIMER:I do not own, or have anything to do with Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, or anyone/anything associated with them. I also do not own Matchbox Twenty. Somara, Raina, and their parents belong to me.
*summary: Uses the song "Bright Lights" by Matchbox 20. When tragedy strikes down an acting prodigy by the name of Raina Johnson, can her sister, Somara - along with Orlando's help - pull everything back together in time to save the film Raina was working on...and herself?
TWO
...there's some things in this world
you just can't change
some things you can't see
until it gets too late...
"What?" I whispered in disbelief. No way. She didn't just say...
Raina looked at me, tears clouding up her hazel eyes...my hazel eyes...our hazel eyes. "You heard me," she mumbled. I coughed.
"You...? No...Ray, how long have you known?" I inquired, knowing and at the same time not knowing that it had been months.
"About six months now..."
"Jesus, RainaLea! How could you not have told us sooner?!" Our father's voice thundered through the living room, tearing every last shred of sanity Raina had attempted to retain. Her strength broke, and Raina broke down in tears. I pushed myself off of the couch, and took her in my arms, cradling her as I had done time and time before when Raina had been hurt by anyone or anything.
"Jesus yourself, Dad," I spat, anger flaring in me. How dare he speak to my sister that way! Especially with what she had just told him. "Don't you think you could be a bit more compassionate? She's your daughter for Gods' sake!"
He said nothing, but merely watched us with interest. I stroked Raina's hair while Orlando continued to rub her back in circles. Suddenly, a timid voice whispered into my ear. "Somara...I'm tired." I nodded and realized that my worst fears were confirmed. I had known her coming home would bear bad news, I just hadn't known how bad.
Orlando helped me guide Raina to our old bedroom, and lay her down in her bed. He nodded to me, and left the two of us alone. As he left, a tear slipped down my cheek, and I watched Raina struggle to find comfort. "Ray...how much...how much longer until...?"
Raina sighed heavily. "About another...six or seven months, listen, Somara. Do me a favor...Orlando...knows all about you. He's been in love with the girl I've been telling him about for months, the girl...I've been wishing was out in New York and LA with me."
I raised an eyebrow. "LA? You were in LA, Ray?"
She nodded weakly. "Filming with Orlan..." Raina coughed. "With Orli. A new movie...that may not get done if I don't patch things up with you."
"Ray, what are you talking about?" I inquired as I stroked her forehead. I pulled back quickly at the raging fever I came into contact with. "Holy Hell. Ray, I'll be back."
I raced to the bathroom and turned on the cold water, filling the sink to the brim as I dipped a washcloth into the basin. I wrung it out lightly and folded the cloth into thirds before racing back to my sister. "Jesus, Ray. Why didn't you come earlier?"
"I just thought...you hated me."
Raina's words hit a hollow point in me that I had never encountered before, but I knew that she was right. A shaky hand found its way up to my cheek, and when I looked down at my sister, I saw a Raina that I had never seen before. Vulnerable. Weak. Dying. I broke down in tears, begging for my sister to forgive me for being so shallow and so selfish. To my astonishment, she did.
"We're sisters forever, Somara. Never forget that," I removed the cloth, refolded it, and placed it back onto her head. "I will love you...no matter what..."
"Shhh..," I silenced her. "You rest now. I'll come check on you in an hour, okay?" I kissed her pale forehead as I removed the towel once more and took it into the bathroom. I dipped the rag once more, wrung it out, and drained the sink basin. I let out a sigh and tried my hardest not to cry. I had to be strong. For Raina. I folded the cloth once more and walked purposefully into the room. I placed the rag back onto her forehead, and she smiled at me.
"Thank you, Somara," she whispered, the weak smile still marring her features that were so beautiful earlier.
"For what, Ray?" I asked, near tears at the anguish my sister had to be feeling.
"For being my sister. For loving me. For taking care of me...since the beginning. You're the better sister, so much better than I ever was...better than I ever could be..."
"No! No, Ray. You're the better sister," I cried, taking her hand in mine. "You are so beautiful, so wonderful. You've taught me so much, Ray. You can't leave me. You have to fight this! You've overcome everything else that stood in your way...you can beat this!"
She just smiled at me. "I hope you're right, Somara. I hope you're right."
"Don't leave me again, Raina. I lost you once, promise me...not again. Never again."
"I promise...not just yet, Somara. I won't leave you just yet...I promise," with that, she closed her eyes and drifted off into a fitful sleep. As promised, Orlando and I both took turns rewetting the cold rag and checking on her every hour. I wasn't about to lose my sister, not now that I had realized what I had missed, and not now that I had just gotten her back. I would help her fight her battle, even if it meant both of us losing.
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