Chapter Text
Avid shivered as cool air hit him as soon as the sliding doors opened for him.
It was just going to be a quick stroll through the grocery shop, Avid convinced himself. Surely nothing could go wrong, right?
Avid searched through aisles for nothing in particular. He had forgotten his shopping list at home, hence decided that he would probably identify anything he needed upon seeing it.
He froze in front of the meat aisle. Good thing he wasn't a vampire now that he was revived. Unholy god, everything was so expensive.
Avid glanced behind him as he heard the doors open again. His expression quickly turned into one of panic.
Oh no.
It was them.
Shelby's fashion sense hadn't changed much. She still wore the dress and shoulder cloak she borrowed from the crypt who-knows-how-many years ago at Oakhurst when she had gotten stronger. She chatted passionately with Drift, Avid's former roommate. Something felt...different between the two of them. Avid couldn't quite put a finger on what.
Drift had her platinum blonde hair in a ponytail. She wore a black leather jacket and rested her hands comfortably in its pockets. She rested her head on Shelby's, making the height difference apparent. Yet somehow, it seemed really adorable.
Avid finally forced himself to look at the last figure in the trio.
Scott stood taller than the rest of the group. His white hair covered one of his tired, ancient, red eyes. He wore a black jacket with silver spikes(though Avid was pretty sure it wasn't actually silver, right?). Avid couldn't help notice how he smirked every now and then when Shelby flirted with Drift, or how he ruffled his hair every few seconds, as if it was not already perfect.
He seemed so different yet...comforting?
Was that the right word for the fluttery feeling in Avid's heart? The one that made him want to stay near Scott and kiss him all over?
Avid halted the train of thought. He needed to hide. Quick. He was done for if those three found him.
Avid stumbled to the opposite side of the store, rushing through aisles. It wasn't a large shop, Avid was sure he wouldn't be able to hide quick enough.
And he was right.
He tripped, sending him and his bag of groceries crashing onto the floor. He felt three pairs of eyes settle on him with a confused gaze.
There was a moment of awkward silence as Avid got up, face red with embarrassment. Drift finally broke the thin ice.
"Do you need–"
"Avid?" Shelby interrupted. Her voice was small, but it was enough to get Drift to shut up. It was probably what they all were wondering anyways...
"AVID?! AVID!" Shelby exclaimed as she ran up to him, engulfing him in a hug. Avid stumbled back a step from the sheer force and chuckled nervously. She still smelled of blueberries, as she did the last time Avid met her.
"WHERE WERE YOU? WEREN'T YOU DEAD? WHAT–HOW" Shelby fumbled with words as she pulled back and took a good look at his face.
"You're not a vampire anymore, are you?" Drift asked, her voice laced with worry. Avid forced himself to nod ever so slightly.
Avid finally turned his gaze to Scott, prepared for more hatred than he could probably deal with. Instead, Scott looked at him with what seemed like...remorse. He looked so destroyed, yet somehow he also seems anxious, as if anticipating something. His mouth was hanging open, exposing his pointed fangs.
Avid couldn't help what he did next.
As soon as Shelby let go of him, he dashed to Scott. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. His tears dissolved ito sobs as he pressed his face against Scott's shoulder. Scott seemed startled, frozen in place, before he wrapped his arms around Avid, patting his back as if he were a child.
"You are such a pain."
Scot's voice was as soft as Avid had remembered. It was drained of all emotion, but Avid was pretty sure he could hear a slight sigh of relief. He could practically feel Scott smiling at him.
He pecked Scott on the cheek as he finally pulled away. Scott gave him a lopsided grin, something which didn't seem like it belonged to such a perfect man, but fit nonetheless.
"Come on. Let's get you home."