[centre][h1][b][color=fff200]Niesha[/color][/b][/h1]
[img]http://i65.tinypic.com/2prbtlc.jpg[/img]
building 2 (mess hall)[/centre]

[i]I love you, Niesha[/i]

The four words shook Niesha to her very core. It wasn't simply the admission. It was that anyone could say that to her, and...mean them. She was sure Sara had said them...or had she? Niesha had never voiced the  words before herself. She was sure that...that Sara had. Just that..flippant way people do, rushing out the door, shouting back "Love you". Not meaningful. Just a goodbye, incase they died before seeing them again. 

It overwhelmed Niesha, so utterly and completely, she didn't think she could ever speak again. It through her off stride, although some part of her was berating herself [i]what did you expect would happen? this is what normal people do[/i]. She Didn't even know what she felt now, her own emotions a true turmoil, like she was being spun around and around in a hurricane. She didn't think she would ever see the eye of this storm. 

She stood staring at Sophia, trying to figure it all out, but unable to. There was just so much. And she had never been good at emotions. She had never been good at processing them, and for a moment it was like she was...shutting down. 

Hope. A strange thing in this world, really. And yet they always had it, didn't they? Or they wouldn't be here. But hope that...,,maybe she wouldn't be so alone. With Sophia...it just seemed better, somehow. She didn't know why. But maybe you didn't have to understand hope for it to be so. Happiness. She couldn't deny the happiness she felt, at the words. They made her feel wanted. Cared about. That someone was there, always thinking about her. And....it wasn't something she'd had much off. And Love. 

Niesha reached out, to grab Sophia before she could step away, step too far away. [color=fff200]"Sophia"[/color] Her tone was soft, her voice loving, hopeful. [color=fff200]"I..."[/color] She couldn't say it, the words got stuck in her throat. She cleared her throat, and had to look away. [color=fff200]"I....I...I"[/color] Oh, just say it. You look like a fool, standing there and stuttering away like some sort of mad woman. 

Yet her mind leaped at the chance to break away, to turn her attention towards Kris, remembering the fact that she was injuried, that she had promised to check up on her. [color=fff200]"You're right, we should"[/color] She said, furious at herself for chickening out. She bit her lip, and she turned away from Sophia, ashamed. She wasn't worthy of Sophia. She knew that now. 

She was going to ruin this even before it had a chance, she knew it. She didn't want to hurt Sophia, and yet she knew that that was what she'd end up doing. She closed her eyes tight at the stinging of tears, glad to be facing away from Sophia. [i]because crying will get you what you want, crying will make you braver[/i]. Her hands curled into fists, digging her nails against her skin. 

Suddenly she turned back to Sophia. [i]say it. Do it. don't chicken out.[/i]. She drew in a deep breath. [color=fff200]"I love you too"[/color]