The Secret Behind Her Eyes (Discontinued)

7) Recovery

A/N - Hey it's been awhile. I decided to keep going with the story, I'm almost finished with school so I'll be able to update again. I'm going to delete the 2 non story chapters. Hope you enjoy! Also I can't think of a better title, sorry.

Katelyn sat in her room staring at the ceiling. What went wrong? She wondered. Was it something she said? Was it maybe something she did? Katelyn sighed, knowing she's probably not gonna get those questions answered. Flashes of that moment kept replaying in Katelyn's head. Aphmau's face, wet with tears accompanied by a breaking voice. It's been a week. She hasn't come back home yet. She could try calling Aaron but knowing him, he won't tell her.

A knock interrupted her train of thought.

"Kawaii-Chan can you leave me alone." The door opens despite Katelyn's plea and as she lifts her head to yell at the intruder, she noticed a deep crimson colour rather than the expected light pink.

"Nicole." Her best friend doesn't reply, immediately pulling out a rolled-up bag and making her way to the closet. Before Katelyn could protest, Nicole shoved some clothes in the bag and dragged her best friend out of her room. Nicole, nearing the front door, scooped up another bag laying on the floor and said bye to Kawaii-Chan. She then proceeded to shoved her best friend into the car before shut the door and entering the vehicle herself. Katelyn, who eventually grew tired of questioning Nicole's actions, gazed out of the glass pane, entranced by the blur of familiar structures that rushed past her in a hurry. Eventually the car slowed to a halt in front of large building with an oversized dumbbell handing about the entrance. Nicole opened the door for Katelyn and jokingly bowed. Katelyn, rolling her eyes, pulled out their bags from the back and stepped out of the car and entered the gym, closely followed by the fire haired friend. The two of them weaved through many halls before entering a spacious room lined with thick navy blue pads.

"Ok then" Katelyn spoke as she stepped onto a cushioned mat.

"Are you gonna explain why you dragged me here?" Nicole smiled at her and threw a pair of sparring gloves at her before strapping her own gloves on. She then lifted her hands to her face, shifting herself into a defensive stance.

"Come on."

Katelyn rolled her eyes and took her own stance. They both froze for a minute, calculating the perfect moment to strike. Katelyn then rushed forward, starting strong with a right hook. Nicole smirked and ducked under the incoming fist, going for a quick jab to the side as she avoided the attack. stumbling across the mat. She paused and exhaled deeply before rushing at her for another right hook. Nicole internally sighing at her best friend's repetitiveness, she had a feeling she knew the reason for this. Nicole then sprinted towards her before sweeping her leg thus tripping Katelyn over. Frustration flooded into the bluenette's mind faster than her impact to the padded floor, she knew blindly charging at Nicole won't work, she's too dexterous for that to work. Yet her brain, preoccupied by the uneasiness left by that previous night, couldn't think of any other tactics. Katelyn growled before pushing herself off the ground turned to find Nicole standing there with a smirk on her face.

"Is that really all you've got?" Nicole taunted

"Not even close" Katelyn aimed her right hook toward Nicole's face once however at the perfect moment, she pulled her fist back and thrusted her left fist into Nicole's stomach, winding her in the process. With a smile and a discreet wheeze, Nicole laughed

"There you go, now you're actually trying"

Soon the small sparring session became a flurry of blows, each girl dancing around each other while exchanging punches and kicks until eventually their stamina ran out and one final whack knocked each other to the ground. As they laid there panting heavily, Nicole spoke out.

"Better?" Katelyn nodded while sluggishly throwing her gloves off.

"So, care to explain why you seem down in the dumps lately." Her only answer was more laboured breathing, Nicole pushed further.

"Did something happen between you and Aphmau?" Katelyn slowly nodded.

"Need to talk about it?" Katelyn paused to a minute.

"Yeah."

As so she explained everything that happened, how she finally gathered the courage to admit how she feels and how she got shot down immediately. How reactive Aphmau was when she heard how she felt. How Aphmau hasn't returned home since their talk. Nicole suddenly pulled her into a hug and Katelyn suddenly felt the pressure build in her eyes.

"I shouldn't have told her, that was a mistake." Katelyn sniffled while holding back her tears.

"You said I wouldn't lose her as a friend"

"And you didn't, I'm sure when you talk to her, everything will be explained. Just give her time."

The two friends sat there for a good few minutes before their time in the sparring room came to an end and they had to exit the gym. After changing into new clothes in the changing rooms, Nicole stopped Katelyn as they walked past the door.

"So, you wanna head to my place for a bit? We can watch some Netflix if you want to?" But Katelyn shook her head, claiming that she needs some air and decided to go for a walk. Nicole nodded and went their separate ways.

The ice haired girl began to wander the small town she calls home. Passing by the many shops that she's become accustom to. However as wandered, she saw a flash of black out of the corner of her eyes.

Following her curiosity, she watched as the ebony waved in the air in the form of hair but soon disappears into another shop. As discreetly as possible, Katelyn peeked through the window, watching the raven-haired figure chatting to the cashier before purchasing a bouquet of flowers. As the figure turned around, Katelyn ducked away from the window, heart drumming against her chest. Aphmau...

Curiosity driving her now, Katelyn subtlety followed her as Aphmau made her way through the multiple streets.

Eventually Aphmau unknowingly lead the azure girl to a vast field, Katelyn, about to approach her, realised where she was about to enter. Ice eyes wandered and scanned her surroundings. A vast green field with large stone wedges emerges from the ground in neat rows, varying in sizes and decor. Each one showing different signs of decay depending on how long they have stood there. Long stone walls encase the field with a tall metallic gate looking over the site. Katelyn, realizing where Aphmau is going, turned to walk away however-

"Katelyn?"

The angelic voice forced her to stop mid step. Sheepishly, Katelyn turned once more to find Aphmau standing behind her, with a bundle of flowers in her hands and her head tilted like a confused puppy

"What are you doing here? Katelyn opened her mouth to answer yet only half formed words and stutters were heard. Aphmau frowned.

"Were you following me?" Katelyn panicked

"Y-yes. No! I mean I-I saw down the street down the street and I wanted to talk to you and-" She took a deep breath in attempts to stop her from thumping against her chest.

'Take your time. Breathe.' She followed her mental instructions before speaking once more

"I want, need, to talk to you but we can do that later. I don't want to interrupt your visi-"

"Come with me?" Aphmau asked causing Katelyn to stop midsentence. She watched as light blue eyes stared into her own brown, blinking blankly.

"Sorry what? A-are you sure? I don't want to-" The ravenette nodded

"Please I don't want to be alone, usually Aaron comes with me but he's busy." Katelyn reluctantly nodded her head in agreement, resulting in a soft smile on Aphmau's face that made Katelyn's heart soar. They both pass the threshold of the always watching gate before turning multiple corners. Eventually Aphmau suddenly stopped causing Katelyn to almost bump into her. With a loving gentleness, the black haired girl lowered the bundle of flowers in front of a large stone hedge. Aphmau smiled once more.

"Hey Mom. It's been awhile"