36

There was a thousand different noises around me. People speaking, screaming on each other even, alarms going off and the opening of gates as the metal screeches against the floors.

All that woke me up.

My body was a stiff as a rock sleeping on the metal platform, known as a 'bed' in this place.

A few grunts escaped from my lips as I pushed myself up, swinging my legs over the platform.

I grabbed the edges for support, almost falling over from my aching head.

That was until loud thuds echoed through the cell and I jumped, my hearing sensitive.

I looked up, a muscular police-woman standing behind the bars and banging her baton against it to grab my attention.

"Rise and shine, buttercup." The blonde woman said, followed by releasing a tired breath.

After that, she definitely spoke more. I saw how her lips move, but her words didn't make sense to me.

I was still so disoriented. "What?" I groan softly, confused.

The blonde officer chuckled light-heartedly before her large, yet veiny hands reached down and grabbed a pair of keys off her belt.

"You're lucky your dad was my boss back in New York, kid." She said, and unlocked my cell. "Rivera, right?"

I looked at her blankly, my head still lightly spinning. "Uh..." I brought my hand to my forehead and closed my eyes, "Yeah. Victoria. Victoria Rivera. You... You knew my dad?"

The officer held the cell door open, standing at the frame.

"Sure I did." She said, "Your old man got me outta' the biggest mess of my life. I would've lost everything if it wasn't for him. You don't remember me, but I've met you a few times when he brought you to the office when you were younger."

The woman looks scary, absolutely intimidating, but her voice is so sweet and soft. I guess it's because she's big with a lot of muscle. She could hit her head against the top part of the door frame if she'd just stand on her toes-- around six foot tall with her large boots on.

I groaned, standing up.

"You look just like your mother, kid. It's wild seeing you here. Family trip to Santorini, huh?" She chuckled and gestured me over with a head nod. "Where's Corbin?"

"No, no... I'm traveling for university." I said, "My dad's not here."

"So, I can't call your mom or dad?" She said.

I looked down.

"No." I whisper.

She doesn't know?

There was a pause, and I could feel her gaze on me.

"What about the girl you came in here with?" She asked quietly, "What's her name."

Nervously I play with my fingers, knowing I was the one who made us fall into this mess. "Iris." I told.

"Last name?"

"Woods."

The woman nodded before stepping out of the way. "You stay in this room, alright? I'll go chat with your friend and see who can come fetch you."

I nodded as she lead me to the seating area right opposite of the cell I was in.

The room wasn't very big, only containing a long table in the middle and four hard-metal chairs, bolted to the floor.

As I sat down on one of the chairs, my mind began to slowly clear up, allowing me to finally recall what had happened last night.

I look down to my shirt, torn apart and stretched out by my collar.

Even my hands are a bit filthy.

Alcohol stains all over my clothes.

The boys at the bar we met yesterday night wanted to cause trouble. I just wanted to have some drinks to forget about this entire Olympiad stuff.

I guess I downed a few shots before things went south.

They thought I was too much of a 'goody-two-shoe' and kept on pushing me to just let loose.

I snapped and did.

The entire bar went loose and started throwing the snacks, they served over the counter, everywhere.

Everyone mingled and talked, but Iris stayed at my side at all costs.

That's when we ended up on the table, dancing together for the people watching.

Iris, well, she was also drunk. But she was having a more of a blast that I did. She was flirting with the older men, and doing body shots off of their bodies.

Abs, specifically.

At one stage while we were on the table, she took my chin and tilted it up, opening my mouth. She poured some tequila inside and forced her lips onto mine, and drank from my mouth.

Then the fights started breaking loose.

And that was when we decided to leave, but before we could, the police came.

Rumors have it that there was cocaine involved.

I sighed, sitting there awkwardly in silence and look around the room.

My head dropped in my hands, massaging my templates as I try to wrap my head around everything.

Until I heard a voice I was very thankful for.

"Oh my g-- Victoria!" The voice said and I immediately knew who it was.

My head snaps up with wide eyes and look to my right where I saw Daniela rushing through the security gates.

My heart started pounding, extremely happy to see her.

But yet again, extremely ashamed that this happened.

I took a deep breath in, mentally preparing myself to be scolded at.

I carefully stood up, not sure what to say, but when I saw her stop in front if me with a soft frown, I couldn't help but to burst out my feelings.

My eyes started tearing up.

"Daniela...I'm so sorry! I- I..." I stuttered, my throat dry and scratchy. All I could do was look at her with wide eyes, knowing full-well that she must be beyond frustrated and angry.

But then she pulled be into her embrace.

I was shocked, but I hugged her back instantly, my arms wrapping around her back and grabbing and tugging on her coat.

"Me tenías súper preocupada." She mumbled against my hair. (I was worried sick.)

"I heard the news over the TV and came as fast as I could."

I closed my eyes, frowning as I feel the guilt start to build up even more. My grip on her coat tightens as I feel her chin on top of my head.

"I'm sorry." I whisper shakily, "I-I'm so...so..."

Daniela held me tighter, one of her hands coming up to grip my hair gently as she pulled my head to her chest.

"Shhh, it's okay. Shhh. Don't apologize." She whispered, a soothing and calming tone in her voice.

She pulled back lightly to look at me in the face. She grabbed the sides of my head, inspecting me very closely.

"Are you okay?" She spoke fast and worryingly, "A-Are you hurt?"

"No..." I reassured her, "Just a headache and some sore muscles. Nothing else."

She let's out a relieved breath and I could see and feel how her tensed muscles relaxed.

"Oh, cariño." She whispered, before pulling me into her again.

She placed a light kiss on my forehead.

"I'm so sorry. This was all my fault..."

Daniela pulled back again, placing her hands gently on my shoulders and looked at me with concern.

"Hey, look at me." She said, her voice soft but firm.

I obeyed, my eyes hesitantly meeting hers.

"We both messed up. It was my responsibility to look after you... and Iris. I should've followed you. And I never should've said those things that made you leave. I was angry at the hosts, the moderators... and I took it out on you two. I'm not mad, but I understand if you are." She said, "But, what matters is that you're safe, and I need you to tell me what happened so I can get you out of this mess."

"Your friend is here too, sí?"

I nodded, in awe that she's so mature about this.

"Yeah... yeah, the lady is talking to her."

Her eyes study me closely.

"Are you sure you don't have any injuries?" She asked again.

"I'm fine."

After a few seconds the police officer came back with Iris next to her. Once our eyes meet, I saw how relief just flushed through Iris' body.

We were now sitting on the chairs in silence like two children that just got scolded at. Besides the fact that we technically needed to be scolded at.

Daniela and the officer spoke at her desk a few feet away from us.

Every now and then they turn to us while speaking.

It reminds me of the days when Cheryl and her puppets looked at me from across the halls while gossiping.

Suddenly Iris spoke up. I could tell she's nervous as she played with the rings on her fingers.

"What do you think they're saying?"

It's been a while since I heard that quiet voice.

I look at Daniela, watching her lips move as she talks.

"I don't know."

They glanced over at us then exchanged a few chuckles.

"Why are they laughing... laughing is a good sign, right?" Iris played harder with her rings.

"Better than them yelling at each other."

I saw a gulp going down her throat.

I turned to her.

"Hey. I'm really sorry for getting us into this mess, but I'm sure Daniela will get us out." I said, and she turned to look at me too.

"I'm not the one you need to be apologizing to." She said softly, nodding her head to the women still talking.

She's right to say the least. But Daniela doesn't want an apology either. She thinks what we did was her fault, and it aches my heart, knowing I was the reason she felt like that.

"Plus, I enjoyed it. It's not like I haven't been behind bars yet." Iris' lips formed a playful smile which I responded by laughing.

"That's not something you should be proud of." I frowned, yet held back another giggle.

"Hey, the grandpa attacked me first, okay?" She said, "Well... also that time when me and my cousin explored a restricted area at an abandoned school. Keagan ran of course, but the cops got to me. I swear that school was haunted. That week, I felt like I was being watched wherever I went."

I couldn't help but smile.

"You're insane," I said, rolling my eyes and shook my head.

"How aren't you still in jail for that stuff? You know you could've gotten a few years for that trespassing."

"They paid my dad to take me back."

"Oh."

My head whipped forward as I heard the clicking of Daniela's boots coming closer.

My heart started pounding.

Both Iris and I sat straight up, giving her our attention.

She seems calmer than before which is good.

The officer isn't giving us a deadly look from the receptionist which is also good. Instead, she smiled faintly as she looked at us and left.

Maybe this is Daniela's chance to snap at us, since nobody is looking anymore.

But she looked between us softly, hands on her hips.

She let's out a breath. "Come on, we're going home."

I was surprised, yet beyond thankful.

Iris jumped up from the chair with a huge smile, "Looks like the po-po can't ever keep me in, no matter what country we're in."

I kept seated, waiting for more information. There wasn't a chance we'd walk out of here with no consequences.

The look on Daniela's face as she bites her lip, makes me curious.

She definitely wants to say more.

"Home, as in back to New York." She added.

It was my turn to jump up, but not with a smile.

"What?" I scoff, "They're kicking us out of the island?""WHAT!?" Iris snapped around.

"The officer and I did everything we could, but the lady's boss, the chief, came." She said, "Let's just say he's not a friendly man."

Dammit.

I did see a taller, scarier man approach them, but didn't think anything about it. I should've known it wasn't going to be good.

"He wants us to get the hell out within the next 8 hours."

"Is there even a flight we can catch in that time?" I ask.

Daniela nodded.

"There's a private airplane the officer mentioned, but I have to make a few calls and sweet-talk to get it."

"What, no that's too much money."

Daniela was about to speak before Iris piped in after just standing there in disbelief.

"Wait, we can't leave." She turned to me, "If we return a day earlier, our parents will question us."

"We'll just say...hmm..." I think, "We'll just say that the people that didn't go pass to the next round, gets sent home."

Daniela crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight on to one hip.

"No, Iris is right. In the email sent to your parents, it specifies the dates. We're supposed to be back early evening."

"But-"

Daniela held up a hand to shut me up.

"I'm not taking chances." She said, "If your parents find out that you've been arrested... I could lose my job, and you two can get in a lot of trouble. I mean a lot,"

"We're leaving."