(Author's note time oh yeah but basically I've been thinking about this AU thing for a while now??? I haven got the full story planned out yet but this is one of the scenes from it. The while gist of the AU is it's basically a BFB highschool AU with an apocalyptic twist. It's something I'm kind of just doing for fun and writing practice atm, though.
But the set up for this scene in particular is that this takes place after Puffball and Basketball had to evacuate the town they were in because college and shit. But Puffball decides that they should save whatever highschool kid remained in Yoyle. So she convinced Basketball (somehow) and they ended up sneaking past the borders. So now we're here after they found on of the surviving groups ((the ones that are the main focus of this story)). Oh yeah and Puffball has to get Leafy up and moving again because Evil Leafy ((she's Leafy's little sister in this AU btw)) died so yeah. ANYWAYS that should be it so enjoy ig.)
Puffball knew this would happen eventually, but did it have to happen now? She stared at the girl across from her who was curled up on her sleeping bag. Clutching a red children's beanie in her hands. None of the kids here looked good. Puffball knew this as soon as she saw them. Everyone had dirt caked faces and generous coating of oil in their hair. Some were littered with cuts and bruises of every size. There were even a few that Puffball barely recognized as the kids she used to take care of.
On the surface she looked like every other kid here. Everyone was already shaken up, this girl included, but her demeanor was completely different. She never even bothered to look at Puffball when she opened the door. With her legs pulled to her chest and her eyes on the floor, she looked more like a toddler than a senior in high school.
Puffball took a breath, and held it. Her slender legs trembled just a little as she took a step forward. It'd only take about three or four steps until she could kneel down and be face to face with her. She needed more time. She wanted more time, but that was gone the moment she stepped in this room. There was no turning back now. One step forward, then another. What do I say? She thought. Another step, I can't do this, and then one more. I can't do this. Stop. The girl was right in front of her now. She knelt down and attempted to look the girl in the eyes, but the girl was still unresponsive.
"Hey, you're uh," she started. "You're uh.." Her face twisted into a puzzled look as she tried to remember the girl's name. The others told her before she walked in, surely she hadn't forgotten it in such a short amount of time. "Oh! You're Leafy, right?" No response. The girl had barely moved from her folded position. "Hey. Look at me for a second, yeah?" Nothing. "Hello? Hey can you answer me?" Puffball's patience was starting to chip away. She thought about raising her voice or snapping her fingers at her, but she didn't want to make her feel any worse than she already looked. After a few moments she slowly placed her hands on the girl's shoulders and, with bated breath, shook her ever so slightly. Finally, the girl lifted her head.
'Miserable.' Yes, that was the best way to describe her. When Puffball saw her face, she hardly recognized her as a living person. She looked more like a fresh corpse. The girl's hair was matted to her scalp, huge dark circles lay under her empty, dim eyes. Not at all like her peers'. The others seemed to at least have a glimmer of hope left in their faces, but not her. Whatever hope she had was gone, leaving behind an empty shell.
Puffball had been left speechless. She tried over and over to say the same questions as before, 'What's your name? Isn't your name Leafy? That's it, isn't it?' but it all bubbled up in her throat. Basketball could've handled this, she thought. I should've offered to watch the others. Can I still do that? I want to go back. But what will Basketball think of me? I told her I could do this. Will she think I'm a liar? No. No she wouldn't, right? After everything we've been through, she'd understand. She loves me, I know she does. I hope she does. The girl caught Puffball's attention again. A certain heaviness in her chest started to form, and then it grew and grew until it felt like she couldn't breathe. How long had she been here anyway? No. No no no I can't do this I-
