~𝟭𝟴~

The song in Ava hums in the beginning of this chapter is If You Need Me by Julia Michaels. This song has really helped me through some tough times, so i really recommend giving it a listen :) 

The next morning, I woke up before any of the boys. I decided I would go pay Han a visit and explain why I was off the day before. I made him and myself a smoothie, seeing as he couldn't eat solid foods. I got a cab and went to the hospital. When I got there, I immediately went to his room, remembering the number from the night before. When I got there, he was still asleep. I placed his smoothie on the bedside table and sat down next to his bed. I started softly humming a song, the words forming in my head as I hummed.

If you need me, I'll be right there

When you're dreaming all your nightmares

I'll come tackle the monsters

I'll find where they hide in the night-time

If you need me, I'll be right there

When you're happy and when you're scared

I can still be your shoulder

I'll be by your side even if I'm not next to you

I was pulled from my thoughts as I heard someone humming along. I opened my eyes to find Han looking at me, humming the same tune I was. His voice was slightly rough from sleep.

"What are you doing here so early?" he asked, smiling, and readjusting in bed with a wince.

"I woke up really early, so I thought I'd bring you a snack."

I handed him the smoothie and he tasted it, smiling at me brightly.

"Thank you. It's so good."

"Your welcome. And I wanted to apologise for... For the way I acted... When you came out of surgery," I said cautiously.

"Why would you apologise?"

"I guess I felt guilty so I wanted to get out of here as fast as I could to avoid giving it away."

"Why'd you feel guilty, though? This wasn't your fault."

"I know that now. But at the time I guess I just... Needed someone to blame for you getting hurt. I felt responsible."

He gently took my hand. He showed me the most adorable smile, making me giggle. Then the doctor came in, a slight look of surprise spreading on his face as he saw me.

"Miss Noyes, you're here early."

"You know my name?"

"My patient hasn't stopped talking about you. Han has so many good things to say about you."

"Oh really? Have fun gossiping about me?" I asked as I looked at Han.

"I wasn't gossiping. I was bragging with the amazing teammate that I have."

I smiled at him. The doctor checked his vitals and the stitches from the surgery. There was still a large bruise where the gunshot was, making his slightly tan skin look pale in comparison. I felt my brows pull together at the sight of the wound.

"I know, right. Purple definitely isn't my colour."

I laughed lightly at Han's comment, nodding.

"But the scar will look cool, though. You think I'll get a girlfriend faster with it?"

"Probably. We girls like scars, especially ones that hide under shirts."

We laughed together, the doctor joining in too. We were still giggling when Hyunjin and Lee Know came in. I smiled at them.

"Good to see you're laughing again. And good to see our Hannie boy is awake and happy."

"How could I not be happy, Lee Know Hyung? Ava came to see me first thing this morning and now two of my best friends have also come to pay a visit."

"What are you doing here so early anyway, Ava? We thought you were still asleep," Hyunjin asked, taking a seat next to me.

"I don't really know. I just woke up super early for some weird reason and thought this one might need some company," I answered, looking over at Han.

"I was just asking Ava if I would get a girlfriend faster because of my scar and she said girls like scars."

"Oh, really? Well, I'll keep that in mind next time I go looking for girls then."

Lee Know smirked at me. I just rolled my eyes at him.

"You guys have any scars?" I asked, looking at Lee Know and Hyunjin.

"Yip. Got shot in the shoulder," Hyunjin said, pulling his shirt over his shoulder to show the circular, white mark on his pearly skin.

"And you, Lee Know? Any scars?"

"Actually, I've got a few."

He turned around and lifted the back of his shirt, showing a white line on his back. Then he rolled up his sleeves. The one side had a mark reaching from his shoulder to about halfway down his upper arm. The other arm only sporting a little white line, just above the middle of his upper arm. I recognised the latter.

"That's the mark you got when you jumped through the window to save me, isn't it?" I asked, getting up and walking over to his side. He nodded. I trained my eyes on the little mark, gently running a finger over it. Goosebumps rose on his skin, and he shivered. I pulled away and looked up at him. He just pulled down his sleeves again and wouldn't look at me.

"How about you, Han? Got any scars besides the one from surgery?" I asked, sitting down next to Hyunjin again.

"Yip. I've got one on my left hip. But I can't really show you right now. Hospital gowns, you know?"

I giggled at him. Then I heard Lee Know speak.

"What about you, Ava? Got any interesting marks?"

I sucked in a breath at his question. Should I show them? I asked myself. I decided against it. Instead, I rolled up the shorts I was wearing slightly, showing them the marks on my upper right thigh.

"Got this from a pair of brass knuckles with spikes on them."

The boys nodded and left it at that. A while after that conversation passed, I felt someone's gaze on me. I looked up to find Lee Know studying my neck and shoulder. Without my knowing, my shirt had shifted, showcasing my collarbone and part of my shoulder to him. I quickly adjusted my shirt, hoping the dim light of the hospital room hid my scar.

...

When we got back to the dorms, I sat down on the couch, rubbing my forehead. A headache had started throbbing between my brows. I got it to ease up enough to stand up and go to my room to get me some painkillers when Lee Know took a seat next to me. When I moved to get up, he took my wrist, his eyes asking me a silent question. I eased back down onto the couch.

"You saw the scar, didn't you?"

He nodded. I looked at the floor, wringing my hands. If I told him about the scar, I would have to reveal the whole story.

"If you're not ready, I understand. I just wanted to know if it had anything to do with... You know-"

"Yes. It does have something to do with it. And yes, I'm not ready. But what I do know is that when I'm ready, I can come to you. And it gives me so much comfort to know that you all care so much."

"Any time. Day or night."

I sighed and stood up again.

"Now I am going to get me some painkillers for my upcoming headache and then I'm going to investigate the smell coming from the kitchen. I have a strange craving for something sweet."

I headed upstairs and went to my room. I searched around in my drawers for some painkillers.

"I could have sworn they were right here," I thought out loud.

"Hey, are you looking for something?" Changbin asked, peeking his head in past my door.

"Yeah, do you guys have some painkillers? I think I misplaced mine."

"Sure. I think Chan Hyung has some. I'll go ask him."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

The smell from the kitchen had become significantly stronger. At first, I thought it smelled like homemade cookies, but as I got closer to the kitchen, I realised it smelled burnt. I got in the kitchen to find Felix loudly placing a pan of burned black lumps on the counter and swearing under his breath.

"I'm guessing those were supposed to be cookies?" I asked, leaning on the fridge door.

"Yip, but somehow I got distracted and now they're ruined."

"I can help you to make new ones if you want."

"You'd do that?"

"Why not? I'm waiting for Changbin to bring me a painkiller for my headache, and I have nothing else to do. Besides, I want to help."

"Okay, but I'm warning you, I can get messy."

"Good, you're not the only one."

(Third person)

Felix and Ava were a mess seconds after starting. They were both covered in flour. The floor was white as snow. Chan is not going to be happy, Felix thought to himself. They finished some cookie dough and rolled it into balls, placing it on a pan. Then Felix started making some icing, his artistic streak showing itself. Just as Ava was about to grab the spoon he was making it with, he lifted the spoon above his head. She was about half a head shorted than he was, so she couldn't reach. Instead, she noticed he had left the icing bowl unguarded. She grabbed it and ran around the kitchen island, him only noticing her plan too late. He placed the spoon down on the table and went to grab her, but she just moved around the island. He kept chasing after her, soon realising it was a futile attempt. Then he got creative. He had a direct line across the island, nothing in the way. He put his hands on the countertop, seeming to Ava as if he would come after her again. Instead, he jumped on the counter and slid over to her side, catching her by surprise.

He grabbed her elbows, making her almost drop the bowl in her hands. He took it out of her grasp and placed it on the counter. Her knees gave way underneath her, a fit of giggles rushing through her. He held onto her elbows to make sure she wouldn't fall. His giggles started bubbling up at the sound of her cheerful laughter. Soon, they were both a giggling mess, clutching their stomachs to stop the pain from laughing so much. When they straitened up again, Ava ended up standing between Felix and the counter. His close proximity made her blush slightly, but he didn't notice because of all the flour on her face. She looked up at his eyes and noticed some flour stuck in his eyebrow. She hesitantly reached her hand up, pulling away ever so slightly before touching his eyebrow, brushing the flour off. Even when it was gone, her hand lingered there for a little longer than necessary. Until they heard someone clear their throat. They both jumped at the sight of Changbin, smirking at them.

"Here's your painkiller, Ava. That is, if you still need it," he added over his shoulder, walking up the stairs. Felix stepped away from Ava, afraid he would make her uncomfortable. Just then, the timer went off for the cookies.

"Guess the cookies are ready," she commented.

"I'll handle this. How about you get cleaned up. You look like a snow angel," he said, making her laugh. She went up to her room, but just as she went into the bathroom, something caught her eye outside her window. But when she went to check, it was gone.