Heyheyhey! Hostfanatic is back! I know I've been updating pretty fast, but I'm assuming you guys don't have a problem with that. Those of you who reviewed, thank you so much! I really appreciate it, you guys. What do you think of Jodi's nickname for Sunlight Passing Through the Ice, "Sunshine?" Hope you liked it! Kind of why I called the story "His Sunshine." Anyway, enjoy! You know where the disclaimer is if you're that desperate to see it.
Reviews, please!
I yawned and stretched, reminding me of three days ago when I'd done the same thing. I'd rolled over into Kyle's arms, feeling on top of the world.
Now, however, I was on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I had found Jodi, sure, and she didn't hate me, which made me happy. But on the other hand, I only had a week and a half left with her…and Kyle.
I sighed. Morning, Jodi, I thought.
Morning, Sunshine. Did you sleep well?
Jodi, you know exactly how I slept. You're kind of in my head.
It is more courteous to just ask instead of searching through your thoughts. But your thoughts say that you didn't sleep very well.
No…I guess I didn't.
Where's Kyle?
Blinking and frowning, I pushed myself up on one elbow. He wasn't there.
I don't know.
Quick, let's go find him. Jodi was worried.
You're right… I was worried, too. I quickly got to my feet and hurried out the door.
I almost ran into Wanda on the way out.
"Oh! Sunny!" she exclaimed. "You scared me."
I smiled weakly. "Hey, Wanda. I'm really sorry about that, honest."
She smiled at me fondly, just like Jodi would have, like an older sister. She wrapped me in a hug—we were about the same height. I was just a bit taller than her, and my muscles were more built up than hers.
"You're a sweetheart," she murmured in my ear.
I sighed. "I…I'm going to miss you, Wanda," I whispered. I had to tell her sooner or later, right?
She frowned and pulled back, staring at me with confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean? Where are you going?"
"I found Jodi three days ago," I confessed.
Her face split into a grin. "Really? Sunny, that's amazing! Why are you…oh…"
Her smile faded. "So…you're really leaving, then?" she asked quietly, looking sad.
"I don't want to," I admitted. "I'm afraid. By the time I get there, Jodi and Kyle and, well, all of you…"
"I know," Wanda murmured.
"Well, not you," I said after a moment. "You're a soul."
She shook her head. "I don't want to be, though," she told me. "I'm probably not going to move on to another planet when I'm done here. I want to live a human life, which means I'm going to die a human death. With Ian."
"You really love him, don't you?" I asked her.
Her smile was blinding. "With all my heart."
"I never see you guys fighting at all. Kyle and I argue sometimes."
She shook her head. "That's not necessarily true," she disagreed. "One time, we got in an argument, and I ran away from him. I accidentally fell in a gorge, though, and he had to come and get me out. The experience taught both of us a lesson, though, and we swore to always look out for each other, even if we fight sometimes."
"I'd do the same thing if I could stay here with Kyle," I sighed wistfully.
She linked arms with me as we headed down to the breakfast room. "I think that it's just Jodi's body that loves Kyle, though, and not you, Sunny," she said quietly, squeezing my hand with hers. "I think that you truly will be happier somewhere else."
"Maybe," I said morosely. "Maybe I'll be happier out of this body, but I'm not so sure I'll be happier on another planet. I like this one. I don't want to leave."
"I don't want you to leave, either," Wanda sighed.
"But I won't steal Jodi's body any longer than I have to," I sighed as we stepped into the eating area. "She and Kyle deserve happiness."
"You're a truly selfless and kind person, Sunny," Wanda whispered. "I'm sure that you will make the best of your situation no matter where you are."
She's right, Sunshine, Jodi whispered. I don't want you to have to leave…
I was a little surprised. Jodi and I had grown closer over the past three days, but I hadn't known that she really cared about me that much.
Kyle, she reminded me after a moment, and worry swept through me as I looked around and didn't see him anywhere.
Then I realized that I couldn't see Ian, Jared, Jeb, or Jamie, either. Melanie, Wanda and I sat down together at our table.
"They're off fixing the ceiling in the wheat fields," Melanie explained as she saw my confusion.
Oh. So he's all right, then. Jodi was relieved.
Yes, he's all right. It made me sad that I was relieved, too.
One Week Later
"Morning, Sunny."
"Good morning, Kyle," I murmured.
"Did you sleep well?"
"More or less." I didn't want to tell him the truth—that I'd been up all night thinking about him.
"And…er…how's Jodi?" He was a bit nervous, not meeting my eye.
"She's fine, too, thanks." I smiled. Wanda and Jared had the same exact conversations about Melanie when Melanie was still in Wanda's mind.
He sighed and fell into step with me. "Just a few days left before they'll be back," he told me. Jared, Jamie, Ian, Wanda, and Melanie had gone on a raid the day before, and since it was a shorter one, just for some goods and medicines, they would be back at the end of the week. My two weeks were almost gone.
"Yeah," I said morosely. It wasn't fair. I didn't want to leave! I wanted to stay here!
Sunshine, I'm really—
I don't want to hear how sorry you are, I snapped, knowing that I wasn't being fair. That doesn't help anything.
Jodi fell silent.
"Look, Sunny, I know that you don't want to leave," Kyle said quietly. I looked up at him, a little startled.
"It's all right, though," he continued. "Your leaving can benefit us all. You'll be happier, too, when you're not here anymore. You were just here to keep Jodi alive, and now that you can be done with that, I'm sure that you'll be happier."
I felt like he had sucker punched me hard in the stomach. I took a step back, my head reeling.
He saw my expression and instantly realized his mistake. "Oh…no, Sunny, I didn't mean it like that!"
Tears blinding my vision, sobs choking me, I turned and ran.
"Sunny, come back!" I could hear him shouting behind me. He was big and strong, but I was little and fast. I could hear him pursuing me, but I pushed myself faster, and soon, his calls faded away into the distance. It was just me now, running blindly through the caves, his sentences echoing through my mind.
Your leaving can benefit us all…
You were just here to keep Jodi alive…
Sobs wracked my body. How stupid I had been to think that he might have started to care for me! He hadn't taken care of me—he had taken care of Jodi. He hadn't saved my life—he had saved hers. He hadn't kissed me—he had kissed her.
Sunshine, please, it's—
Shut up! I yelled at her, bitter jealousy fueling me. I promised I wouldn't squash you, but that's getting a lot harder with you always telling me what to do! Just leave me alone!
She fell silent, and I ran faster. I didn't know where I was. I didn't recognize this part of the caves. It was all black, silent, and I just focused on running faster.
Then, suddenly, there wasn't ground under my feet anymore. There was just empty space.
Wanda's words echoed in my head. I ran away from him…I accidentally fell into a gorge…
Screaming, I tumbled head over heels into the enormous chasm.
There was impact. There was a stunning, blinding pain. There was Jodi, screaming in the back of my mind.
And then there was nothing.
Cliffie! Duh-duh-duuuuh! *dramatic music* Review, please! Next chapter will be up soon! Tell me what you thought of this one, though.
