Overtime

twenty-five ✧ || forgiveness

While wallowing in his guilt, drowning in seas of regret, a sudden slam sounded from behind the group — a door being thrust open. While it was muffled to The Professor, so lost in his own remorse that the outside world had blurred, the response from the teens was as clear as day. They all turned, curious as to who was still inside the building, when their jaws dropped.

"Aubrey?"

Colten's breath hitched at the sight of the girl, her body heaved against one of the school's front doors. Her skin was pale as a sheet with her stance slumped and heaving, and her eyes screaming 'medication.'

Her stare lifted from the ground, attempting to scan her surroundings through the blurring of colours before her. When her gaze met his, she could feel a smile work it's way to her lips. Despite her sleepy blinking, despite her not being able to recognize who it was she was staring at, just seeing her was all the blonde needed. "Aubrey!"

The top half off her black suit had been peeled off, and hung limply around her waist. Her pink tank top had been pulled back on, a fresh scar dipping from its neckline toward her neck. Beside her was an oxygen tank, its tube slipping around her face and tucking into her nose.

She was sick, she was in pain, but she was alive.

The group stood, eyes wide, smiles pressed to each one of them. While the teens stood amazed, excited that she had made it, The Professor stood shocked. His jaw popped open, his hand lingering against his chin, his stare flickering between her weakness and her teammates' joy.

"Aubrey, oh my God," Colten breathed, blinking back the tears of disbelief clouding his view of her. Even ghostly, even sick and stumbling, she was just as wonderful as he had always seen her.

He lunged forward, the rest of their group frozen in place. As he drew closer, the brunette's eyes squinted, attempting to make out the black and blue blur darting toward her. Finally, registering who it was lunging for her, her tension eased. She allowed her body to falter, and she let a tired smile creep to her lips. "Snow,"

She began to stumble, ready to hold him in her arms once more. As she started down, her body jolting on each step, the male leapt forward and captured her as she collapsed.

She discarded her tank at her side, letting go to wrap her arms around the teen's neck, humming a sleepy tune into his skin. His face buried itself in her hair, ignoring the feeling of dried blood tickling his face.

It was her. She was here. She was alive. They hadn't lost her after all.

One arm wound itself around the small of her back, wanting to avoid any unneeded contact with her wound. His other grew tangled in her hair, combing through the strands he feared he would never see again.

"You know, I always hated being called Snow," he breathed into her ear, his grip on her tightening hearing the charging of footsteps behind them. "Except when it's said by you."

Just as the words escaped his lips, they pulled away, smiling at one another despite the barrier of medication between them. The rest of their crew flooded them, the twins eagerly clasping onto each of her arms, gingerly wrapped around her to give a hug from each side. Dustin patted the brunette on the head while Raymond leaned against Noah, gingerly rubbing the girl's arm up and down; a sweet reminder that he too was there celebrating.

Jay lifted her oxygen tank from the ground while Noah adjusted the tubes in her nose, ensuring she was still able to breathe. Raymond tucked some of her hair behind her ears, ensuring it wasn't in her way. The entire time, Colten kept a grip on each of her arms, keeping her upright. Aubrey's gaze only ever shifted to smile and sleepily thank the teammates assisting her. Colten's gaze refused to ever tear from her, drinking in every motion, every breath, every word — every thing he was worried he would never witness again.