twenty four - Next Steps

''Hey, I-'' Tristan Potter interrupts himself with a groan when Brandi tightens her grip around him. She loosens her hold him, eyeing him down with furrowed brows.

''I want to try this one on my own.''

She pursed her lips down into consideration. As much as she wants him to recover as fast as possibly, she also doesn't want him to take more than he could handle.

At the moment, she only wants him to be able to sit up from bed.

She pulls away from and takes a step back, leaning her bottom against the bed next to his.

Her eyes were intently fixated on his physique as he propped his elbows on the mattress. A struggles grunt was trapped in his throat while pushing himself up.

She was amazed to find his legs swinging off of the bed in a swift motion as his features twisted.

A distressed puff of air heaves its way out of his chest once he sat up fully, the skin on his knuckles tighten from gripping the edge of his bed.

''You did it,'' She smiles. This was just the beginning for him, soon he'd be able to strive like he once used to and this would all would be another dilemma over faced.

He slides himself on to his feet too fast for Brandi to notice. His knees bucked and he was falling.

She reached out for him, wrapping both of her arms around him and lifting him back on to the bed.

As she backs away from him, she swallows the lump in her throat while he sat, his heavy pants heard.

''Tristan,'' She breathes out. She shakes her head at him, ''Let's not move too fast. You did great today. We'll try all of this again later, before bed. Okay?''

He didn't meet his gaze. Instead, he found his pillow more interesting than the conversation going on.

''I think I'm gonna crash early tonight,'' He mumbles. She didn't protest against his choice, she couldn't. Just when he felt like he could jump back into regular routines, the hard reality of his conditions shut him down.

She didn't want this to be a discouraging exercise, but she knew that he's had enough if he failed so miserably.

Her bottom lipsslipped from her teeth as she nods her head. ''Okay.. I'll see you in the morning.''

She leans forward, pressing her lips gently against the side of his head. She pulls away slowly, hesitant on leaving him alone. He was disappointed, but does that mean she should leave him alone?

Pursing her lips, she runs a hand through her hair and heads out of med bay.

The music blaring from the garage was heard heard through any hallway you stood in.

It was another infamous party plotted most likely by Jasper Jordan.

The name itself made her skin bowl and a sneer twitching a corner of her lips.

He's the reason why Tristan is entirely defenseless, why he gets easily frustrated failed attempted on getting better.

If Brandi Potter was ever given the choice to shoot Jasper and make him suffer the way her younger brother does, she gladly would.

There would be no remorse nor obligations.

However, she followed the noise either way. Niyah usually makes and serves the drinks at these get togethers and she was more of the tolerable company than anybody else here.

Her brown eyes scanned the dancing teens. Ah, they all looked so familiar to her.

Back when she was first staying with the group of hundred the first day they dropped from the sky.

They were dancing, talking, smiling and laughing all around. As if this was a regular event that happened every other night. That nothing would consist of them that'll ruin their enjoyment.

Eventually, she found a dirty blonde standing in front Bellamy down the ramp.

His features were stern, persisted with annoyance the closer she appeared to move towards him.

She hasn't exactly spoken to him since this morning. After it was all over, the remained bare for their eyes, and their eyes only under the covers.

Remembering the way his hands grazed her legs, her curves, his eyes flickering at every notion she created.

It was as if for the first time, with what they didn't notice about each other before, they had noticed during their time together.

It made her feel love, wanted. As if she actually meant something, like she had a worth.

Until it was time to get up and prepare for another day of sitting around base, waiting for the next step, the curled up to one another. Talking about anything and everything.

She folds her arms across her chest, never budging the poker face she pulls off once Bellamy spots her presence approaching.

''I don't really want to dance,'' She whispers to him, her tone laced with seduction. Her hand held on to the opening of his jacket, pulling him closer to her.

Brandi reached out, snatching her her wrist. The blonde turns to her with wide eyes before dropping into a disgusted twinge.

''And he's really not interested.''

She pulls her wrist away from Brandi as she forces a smile, waving her off. ''Bye.''

Bellamy had suppressed his laughter as the blonde finally walked off. Brandi turns to him with the roll of her eyes before breathing a genuine smile.

''Hi.''

''Hi,'' He repeats, leaning down to peck her lips. Their lips smacked apart as he leaned back straight.

He reaches out for her arm, his hand trailing down until his fingers interlocked with hers, furrowing his brows. ''How's Tristan?''

She grins widely. ''He sat up by himself.''

He perks into a smile as well. Not as bright as hers, but it was still a smile. ''Really?''

The meaning of good news falters in her expression when telling him, ''But he tried standing up. That didn't go well for him.''

He breathes out a small, ''Awe,'' While engaging her in to a hug. His arms wrapped around her shoulders while hers wrapped around his torso.

She pressed her chin into his chest to look up at him. ''What you been up to?''

He inhale deeply, she could feel his chest rising immensely. ''Bell?''

''I,'' He looks down at her and pursed his lips. ''I was with Jasper.''

She deflated. That's why he was out for the whole day.

''Oh.''

''It's just,-''

The melody of her soft laughter paused his explanation.

She shakes her head. ''I don't need to know what really went down. It's fine, you probably had good intentions.''

Brandi was the first to depart herself from the hug, letting her arms fall to her side.

''Go have fun,-'' She arches a brow. ''Not too much fun. I'm gonna head to bed.''

His gaze flickered from Jasper who was already watching the couple from afar beside Harper. He had his sticking out and his thumbs down, signifying that Brandi was no fun while Harper kept slapping his arm.

She likes the archer and tried to help her through her darkest. Whatever business Brandi had in the garage was between her and Bellamy, but she wasn't going to have Jasper making judgmental comments on the side.

''Why don't you stay?'' He suggests. He looks back down at her with a glint in his eye full of mischief.

Though the offer sounded tempting, Brandi wasn't really in a party mood. Especially if it was surrounded by ignorant people and loose Lucy's like the one she had shooed away.

''It's late, Bell,'' She reasoned softly. ''But go party.''

He licks his lips. ''You sure?''

She nods her head. ''Yeah. I'm just tired, is all.'' She points a finger at the overly large bag he carried on his back. ''Want me to take that for you?''

He shakes his head. ''No, it's fine. I got it.''

''Okay,'' She mumbles, another smile tugging at her lips. She folds her arms across her chest, clinging  on to herself for some worth before heading back up the ramp.

Her gaze shifted from the ground to find Jasper rolling his eyes at her before taking a sip of his drink. Harper, on the other hand smiles at her.

Ignoring Jasper, as she usually does now a days, she smiles at Harper at makes a turn. The noise faded the closer she got to her room.

But once she's shut the door, it all became pin drop silence.