15. promises

                                    

                                          



BUNNY STARES INTO THE FLAMES OF THE FIREPLACE as she sits on her mattress cross-legged. Her mind is clouded by the previous event in the attic, question after question as her mind doesn't seem to find answers to anything. Nothing makes sense. 
"Hey", Natalie's voice is soft and quiet as she takes a seat next to the girl. After the attic Bunny went quiet and didn't say to word to anyone, not even Taissa; the only person Bunny trusts with uncomfortable things like this. "Does it hurt still?", Natalie asks, avoiding the real question she wants to ask, the one she knows Bunny can't answer. Are you okay? What the fuck just happened?
Bunny turns her gaze away from the flames to the blonde next to her. She lifts her hand to her shoulder and fixes her sling slightly, "Yeah", she says, her voice quiet as she loses herself in the train of thoughts again. Nat watches the girl dissociate again, feeling disappointed that she isn't able to keep the girl's attention on her. She wants to help her. Natalie lays down on her mattress, turning her back to the blonde. 
"Do we think it's still up there?", Akilah asks from her mattress, looking at the ceiling with an unsure expression. Taissa sits up from her spot and huffs, "You all need to stop", she says angrily, "There's nothing up there." She glances over at her best friend who's staring into the flames again, her eyes unmoving like they're made of glass. "Lottie's been acting weird for weeks."
It is true, ever since the crash the dark-haired girl has been more distant than ever. But to Bunny, it still didn't make sense. 
"Fine", Taissa says and grabs her bag, mattress, and blanket, wrapping them up into a neat pile, "I'll prove it." 
"You're gonna sleep up there?", Akilah asks. "That's right", Taissa answers and stands up, "Who's with me?". The girl looks around the room, finding Van, who only shakes her head at her girl. Finally, her eyes flicker to Bunny, a part of her expecting the blonde to have her back. "Fine. More room for me, then", Taissa mutters and walks to the ladder, disappearing into the attic. Bunny's eyes are still glued to the flames, she doesn't even notice that her friend left. 
As time goes by, Bunny still hasn't moved. Shauna finally makes up her mind to go up to the attic with Taissa and gets up from her mattress, grabbing her pillow and blanket with her. She glances towards the fireplace where Bunny is sitting and sighs deeply. 
"Bunny", Shauna calls softly as she makes her way, trying her best not to step on any of the sleeping girls. Bunny doesn't react until Shauna sets her hand on her shoulder, causing the girl to turn around confusedly. "Are you okay?", Shauna asks, her big brown eyes filled with concern. Bunny blinks a few times before glancing back at the fireplace and returning her gaze to the girl. How long has she been sitting here? 
"No", she finally says, her voice low and quiet, as she looks at the girl in front of her. Shauna gives the girl a sad smile before grabbing her arm and tugging her up softly. "C'mon", she whispers and nods towards the attic stairs. She helps the girl up, and then throws her blanket and pillow on top of Bunny's mattress, rolling it into a portable roll. Shauna grabs Bunny's hand softly and leads the girl carefully to the ladder, staying behind to make sure the girl doesn't fall as she climbs up. 
Taissa lifts her head from her makeshift pillow as she hears someone crawl into the attic. As she sees Bunny and Shauna appear a confused expression melts onto her face accompanied by a small smile. 
"What are you doing?", Taissa asks and sits up.
"We were just gonna keep you company. If that's okay", Shauna says softly. Taissa nods as she looks at her two friends. "Plus, I think someone needs your voice of reason right now", Shauna continues and nods towards the blonde girl who stands awkwardly before her. As Shauna sets Bunny's mattress next to Taissa's, Tai lifts her blanket a bit as an invitation for her best friend. Bunny lets out a small breath before crawling to her best friend's side, snuggling into her warmth as the two lay down on Taissa's small blanket of a mattress.