Zoe woke up just after eight o'clock in the morning. She saw that Lucy and Ryan were already awake talking quietly to each other in the bed. Ollie sat reading a book in the row of seats beside her, and Cloda appeared to be awake on the top bunk. Jemma and Martin remained asleep, Martin with a very pale white face.
Zoe sat up and brushed her long blonde hair, knowing that today would be the day that they returned to school. She rolled on some deodorant and changed into a light pink blouse, rolling up the sleeves and leaving the first four buttons undone before she put on a pair of jeans and trainers. She took a brief glance over at Martin who remained asleep while she applied a small amount of makeup before she packed her bag neatly away and kneeled up on her seat to speak to everyone.
"How are you all?" She asked, seeing Jemma begin to wake up.
They nodded in response, shrugging their shoulders,
"So today's the day.." she sighed, looking out the window at the beautiful beach they had stayed at.
"Has he woken up yet?" Asked Jemma who was looking over at where Martin was sleeping.
"I don't know.." she replied, walking over to where he slept. She kneeled down beside him and stroked his cold cheeks with her thumb before feeling his slow pulse on his neck. She was immediately alarmed, her brows narrowed before his eyes slowly began to blink open.
"Hey.." She whispered, stroking his face and leaning closer, watching him catch his breath, "Are you alright?"
Martin breathed deeply, his eyes unable to focus on her.
Jemma watched intently through the gaps between the seats behind, incredibly worried about how he was recovering from last night's procedure.
"Martin?" Zoë repeated, taking his hands,
"I'm okay." He breathed, rubbing his face with his arm before finding himself able to relax in her comforting embrace.
"You look beautiful today." He whispered,
"Well you look horrible, go get another hour's sleep or something to get some colour back in your face. You look like a ghost." Zoë Replied, splitting up the hug, but just as she was about to walk away she turned around and pressed her hands against his pale cheeks again, kissing him lightly as he tried to muster the energy to surround her lips with his.
When Zoe broke it apart she noticed that he was blushing slightly and smiled, "there's a little bit of colour back already."
Martin responded with a laugh as he attempted to open his bag and pull out a clean shirt.
"I'll go out and get some breakfast." Said Zoe, collecting her handbag,
"I'll go with you." Added Martin, buttoning up his shirt, "give me two seconds till I find my shoes."
Zoe smiled and sat waiting on the passenger seat, watching him gaze into her eyes as he ran his fingers through his hair and walked towards her.
"You ready?" She Asked, opening the passenger door,
"Indeed." He replied before turning to see everyone else,
"See ya." They pardoned, smiling at him. He looked to Jemma who looked to his abdomen then back to his face, tilting her head slightly in concern. He blankly smiled back at her, giving a brief nod before he exited the van after Zoë.

"So what was up with you this morning?" She asked him, linking her arm with his as they began to walk along the footpath to the nearest bakery.
"Didn't feel the best." He replied,
"For a second I thought you had died you were so pale!" She exclaimed, smiling worriedly at him.
"If I'd wanted to die I would have done it three weeks ago." He told her, taking her hand and stroking her soft knuckles with his thumb.
Looking down, Zoe gave an exhale and leaned her head on his shoulder as he wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head while they continued to walk on the promenade.
"How're you feeling about this new job, then?" Asked Zoë, looking up at him and changing the topic.
"Bit nervous, I'll admit." He replied, "under qualified, that's for sure."
"Oh shut up, you kept five students under control for three weeks straight, 24/7." She told him,
"Excuse me, I think you'll find that was a two-person job." Said Martin, smiling down at her.
"Well I think you'll find that from now on it'll always be a two-person job." She told him, stopping and wrapping her arms around his shoulders before he kissed her gently on the lips, holding her hips and not caring about the rest of the world.
Zoe held onto his neck and looked into his eyes as they split apart.
"Oh crap you're covered in lipstick." She giggled, leaning her forehead against his.
"Seriously?!" He laughed, wiping his mouth with his wrist and seeing the pink residue come off.
"Stop! Stop you're making it worse!" She chuckled, licking her finger and trying to wipe his lips.
"You could've warned me!" He laughed, looking down at her,
"There. I think you're good now." Giggled Zoe, taking his arm again and glancing up at him from time to time.
"You know you look really good without your hair all done." She Complimented, running her fingers through his hair,
"Seriously? Why do I bother then?" He laughed,
" 'cause you're so posh." She scoffed, making him hold her tighter and close to him as they walked to the bakery that had just opened with the aroma of freshly baked bread.
Zoe bought the bread, grinning at the chefs obvious flirtation with her.
"Mademoiselle, eh?" Chuckled Martin, watching her walk back towards him with a smile.
"Oui, monsieur?" She flirted in return, her hair blowing backwards in the wind as she gave a teethy grin at him.
"Je t'aime tellement." He murmured, smirking at her.
"Stop it or I'll cover you in pink all over again." She giggled, looking ahead, trying to keep in her immense pleasure as she bit the inside of her mouth into a smile and walked back towards the van.