𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 :: 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

Twenty-three.

DECEMBER 21, 1966

FELICITY FELT RESTLESS IN HER OWN BED, she hadn't done anything productive since the day she got home from the hospital. Rosemary tried her best to get off of work early to be home to feed, bathe, and clothe Felicity who felt nothing. She was not there mentally, never did she smile ever since Dallas walked out on her nine days ago. They still haven't spoken a word to each other.

Felicity didn't want it to be her fault but it didn't stop her from blaming herself for the way Dallas reacted. Her guilt made her avoid eating the meals Rosemary would leave on her bedside table, she barely drank the glass of water that would look almost the same as how her mother left it, and the only time she left her bed was to use the restroom which was rarely.

Felicity was letting herself deteriorate.

That day was a normal day for Felicity, rotting in bed was the new normal. The week of Christmas break was for all students, if her and Dallas were still talking then she'd be out and about with him.

Felicity was alone in her sunlit bedroom, she was laying in the same position the day Dallas left. Every thought she had in her mind had dissipated, she had become the wall herself. No feelings, no emotions, and no thoughts.

She could hear the neighborhood children run up and down the streets on their break. It had begun snowing for Tulsa, which meant everyone would enjoy themselves outside. For Felicity though, she would lay in the cold room under her sheets where she claimed to belong.

The front door opens, Felicity took it as Rosemary returning early from work. She wished it was.

She hears her bedroom door open but slowly, not bothering to look up to see who it was.

"Felicity?" The feminine voice called out, it was not Rosemary's though.

She emerges from her bed when she realized it was an unknown.

"Veronica?"

"Mimd if I come in?"

"I mean you're already here." Felicity chortled.

Veronica approached Felicity on her bed, "I forgot to give you your key back but I thought I'd stop by to check up on you, see how you're doing."

"I've been doing well, thank you, Veronica." She nodded.

It was an expected awkward silence between Felicity and Veronica, neither one daring to bat another eye at each other.

"Listen," Veronica broke the silence, "I am really, really sorry for how things ended between us. And to be in all honest truth, you were right, I am selfish. I wish I had listened to you better, I just didn't know why I chose not to."

"It's fine, Veronica, I kind of forgot about the whole thing but I really do appreciate you talking to me about it." Her hand hovers over Veronica's.

"I just hope we could start over, I promise to start listening more." Veronica vowed.

"You don't gotta do all that but I would like to start over too, that'd be lovely."

Felicity and Veronica brought each other in for a hug, Felicity never knew the last time she's ever hugged Veronica but this must've been the first time. When they released from each other's embrace, it was a tearful moment for them. Felicity broke after trying to wipe her tears, making them hug each other once more, the hug that showed their sorries.

Veronica hung out in Felicity's room like the old days, where they caught each other up on each other's lives, with Veronica actually listening this time. Not much has changed with Veronica but it felt great to her to hear Felicity's fun experiences.

"There is no way you lost your virginity to Dallas, I thought you hated that guy!" She laughed.

"It was good though, really good." Felicity even surprised herself.

"You know what wouldn't sound bad?" Veronica tries to imply.

"Milkshakes at the diner?" Felicity scoffed, earning a gracious nod from Veronica. "I don't know if it has occurred to you yet but I pretty much can't walk."

"I can drive now, Felicity, come on! I'll wheel ya to the car." Veronica joked.

"Not funny."

Veronica helps Felicity get ready before heading out to the blue Chevrolet. Their drive was ordinary— windows were rolled down with the Beatles boasting in the radio, Felicity's freshly brushed hair blew back from the wind.

Felicity feels herself slamming into Veronica's side as the car takes a speedy turn into the parking lot of the diner. Veronica had not yet mentioned that she had just gotten her license, nor did she mention how bad of a driver she was.

"I almost died in a car crash, I'm going to almost die in another one." Felicity muttered.

"You ain't gonna die on my watch." Veronica smiled.

She waits for Veronica to pull out her wheelchair.

When they arrived inside of the diner, Felicity got a bunch of stares from others and some smiles from those who must've read the daily news. They were seated at a table instead of a booth, to avoid having to get up and out all the time.

During their wait for a waitress to come, Felicity could feel someone's eyes on her, a stare that made her feel uneasy.

"You know that guy?" Veronica asks.

"Huh?"

"The one looking right at you from behind."

She turns around to see Simon from months ago, she had completely forgotten about him up until now. He stood up from his booth and moved all the way over to Felicity who tried to hide away from his presence.

"I don't see you for months and look at you, all crippled." Simon chuckled.

"Piss off, I bet there's a county jail out there that'd be happy to accept your presence." Felicity retorted.

"See, Felicity," he pronounces her name bluntly, "that Dallas Winston of yours ain't gonna stop me from making your life a living hell."

"I'm crippled according to you, my life is already a living hell so yeah, go ahead." She challenged.

"Oh you'll see, just wait."

He takes off with a smirk on his face, Felicity's breath was shaky after their encounter.

She regretted almost everything she had just done.

𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆