-The Loophole-

The Flash of Lightning Before it Rains

I opened my eyes.

"Olivia? Guys, she's awake," I heard Toby's voice frantically shout.

"Via?" Inza came into view. I squinted, blinking a few times as my eyes adjusted to the light above me.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"You scared us!" Inza practically yelled. I cringed.

"Yeesh. Sorry--" I was cut off by Inza, Toby, and Jim throwing their arms around me. "Careful, I'm still sore!"

"You slept for almost an entire fourteen hours! We thought you weren't gonna make it--" Toby began.

"Yes we did," Jim butt-in. "We knew you could handle it." I raised a brow.

"Y'all are sending some very mixed signals here."

"Yeah, well, just... don't do that again!" Inza smacked my arm. "You scared us, nonetheless." My mother walked in.

"Hey, kids," she began.

"Dr. L," Toby greeted.

"Hey, Barb," Inza waved.

"Oh, shoot!" Toby looked at his watch. "We're gonna be late for... the... uh.. study group thingy! Yup! Studying for that test that we all have!" My friends all scrambled up, grabbing their school bags.

"Did you at least go to play practice?" I asked. Toby paused before tipping his head down, looking angry.

"I did... but a certain understudy didn't make the practice very enjoyable for me." I scowled.

"I'll beat her ass if--"

"Olivia Lake!" My mother cried.

"What?!"

"Guys. Time," Jim began.

"We've gotta go now. Bye, Via," Inza blew me a kiss.

"See ya, V," Toby winked, shooting finger guns.

"I'll be back later," Jim stated, following the other two out. My mother turned to me.

"That sort of language isn't going to slide around here in public.. But I have to say, you have some good friends," she observed. "They visited before and after school. Anyways, I came here to tell you: you're staying here another night. And I need to call the Museum to reschedule your interview, which was supposed to be later today." I facepalmed. Why did I have to be so careless? That's more than likely going to screw me over with this interview.

"Okay...." I sighed. "Anything else..?"

"Just get some rest. We'll be back in later to continue further treatment, but with your internal bleeding, the best thing you can do is rest." With that, the woman left.

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The sun went down quicker than Tobias expected. Granted, it was now four o'clock in the afternoon, but he wished it didn't happen so damn soon. He was paranoid. So paranoid that Bular was going to bust out of the bushes or out from behind the nearest building. So paranoid that he didn't notice his mentor creeping up behind him because he was fixated entirely on what was in front of him.

"Master Tobias!" Toby nearly jumped out of his skin, summoning the armor involuntarily, but using it to his advantage. He immediately pointed the sword at Blinky's throat.

"Toby!" Jim and Inza scolded. Toby flinched at their voices, showing his true vulnerability as he looked up to see Blinky's confused and slightly terrified expression.