Much needed healing

Third Person POV

Gray and Cole were resting in the base house. Whole day Gray tried to make Cole feel better. Sometimes he would act like a fool or tease Cole to provoke him like before but it was almost like someone killed the very spirit of him. Cole was still healing from the wounds he suffered in the hands of David but the external wounds were not that painful as the memories he held.

In the end, Gray left him to take some rest and went down to the main hall.

"Hey Gray, How was your day?", Ava said as she returned from the school.

"Hey guys. Well, it was fine.", Gray said not so cheerfully.

"Ah, Cole. Still, not feeling well?", Olivia said as she said on the sofa.

"Yeah, I know he needs time but I just can't see him like that.", Gray said.

"It's okay. He will come around.", Allen smiled lightly at Gray.

"Yeah, anyway, soon it will be weekend so, we will get back to school next week."

They chatted for a while and then parted to resume their own work.

.

..

.

Noah's apartment

George entered Noah's apartment to find Noah sleeping surrounded by number of books. Novel journals, syllabus books.

"Ah, this boy. Can't even take rest.", He arranged the books which made Noah wake up.

"Oh, you are back. How was your day at school?", Noah said in a sleepy voice.

"Boring. It's always boring if you are not there. And we'll, I don't need to ask yourse because I can clearly see what you were up to the whole time.", George said with a bored expression.

"You know me. Why bother?", Noah shrugged his shoulders.

"Did you eat?", George enquired.

"Yeah, I ordered something."

"Good then."

"What about my helping aid? You did not forget right?", Noah looked at George questionably.

"I did not forget but.." George stopped.

"But what?", Noah demanded.

"She gave it to me?", George passed on the cane to Noah.

"She? She who?, Noah was confused. He looked at the cane. The cane was rather stylish, not the typical one he was expecting. It was black with a silver lining on the edges making it look really cool.

"Ava.", George answered softly.

"Ava? That bully? You faced them? They did not hurt you, right? You are okay, right?, Noah started checking George for any kind of wounds.

"No.. No, they did not. Her friend asked me about you ... I think I told him that I had to get you a walking aid. So, when the school got over, she gave it to me. Well, rather forced it on me.", George walked towards the chair and sat down.

"Forced it? What do you mean?", Noah questioned again.

"She wants you to use this... and this only.", George answered.

"What the... I will not use it... I am going to get one by my own.", Noah threw the cane on the bed.

"She... She warned me that she shouldn't see you with any other cane. I could not help it.", George said with fear in his eyes.

"Urgh... Why is she doing this to me?", Noah took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Okay, I will take it. Hope she isn't pulling on any tricks with it.", Noah carefully inspected the cane.

.

..

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The base house

All of the five gathered in the dining area for the dinner. Cole was looking better than before as he walked towards the table behind Gray. He started talking to the others as the time passed by trying to get back to normal. All of them were happy to see the progress.

"Hey Cole, want to hear something funny?", Allen said as he settled down.

"Hah? What is it?", Cole looked at Allen curiously.

"Well, our dangerous gang leader Ava kind of got a soft spot for her current prey.", Allen said while picking up the jug to pour juice for himself.

"What?", The three spoke in unison while staring at Ava who looked like she is ready to kill Allen at any point.

"What nonsense are you blabbering about?", Ava spoke in a threatening voice.

"Just something I feel. You know how you react everytime when it is something about that nerd.", Allen was dead on hitting all the points to provoke Ava.

"What the hell, dude? What's wrong with your head?", Ava was mad.

"It is nothing serious, Ava. Chill. I was just trying to tease you. Did not think you would react so much. It is just you gifted the cane to that nerd. Well, never actually saw you showing sympathy to your victims.", Allen tried to calm down Ava.

"Sympathy? Ah, you have got it all wrong.I just gave that cane to him so, that he does not have any other excuse to avoid us. I was just too bored not being able to bully anybody for so long.", Ava tried to justify. Although, this seemed a rather made up excuse, even to Ava herself.

(Flashback to school)

Ava's POV

"So, he will not be coming to school. For how long?", Allen asked while looking towards me as he finished his sentence.

"I don't know. He asked me to get him a cane though.", George said as he sat on his seat.

A cane? Is he really hurt that badly? Anyway, why do I care about him? Is he is just making excuses to skip school so that he does not have to face me? Is that so? Well, here is what. His friend might forget and he will get another reason to not come to school so, I will get him the cane. Not just a simple one though. You really like to show your attitude scaredy cat? I will crush that down for you. *Smirk.

(Flashback end)

Ava's POV end.

"I really want to go back to school.", Cole said softly.

"But you are still not fully recovered.", Gray argued.

"I.. I just want to get over it fast. I want to face the damn place again to escape these memories.. I just...", Cole broke into tears.

Everyone gathered around him.

"You will. I will make sure you will. Just wait for few days. You will be fine.", Ava said as hugged Cole.

"Cole, I promise I will take you to school on Monday. Just rest for some time.", Allen said kneeling down in front of Cole who was sitting on the chair.

"I am sorry, guys. I know you are trying your best and I know I have to be strong. Just give me some time. I will be back. I will.", Cole said looking up.

"Of course, you have to be okay. I already miss you both bickering and making me crazy. My feelings of killing both of you are dying. So better be fast, okay.", Olivia said as she rolled her eyes.

Cole chuckled on seeing Olivia

"Of course, I will Oli. I am Cole after all. I am the one who will protect you all.", Cole said as he opened his arms to hug others.

All of them hugged him and stayed like that for a while.

"Well, this is awkward seeing the strongest and most feared gang of the school this way. Are we going to stay like this forever? I can't feel my legs anymore from kneeling for so long.", Allen said trying to change the mood.

All of them laughed and broke the hug, while hitting Allen for ruining the moment.