authors note -

hey! {unfortunately} i'm back- and it's no longer 2014. if you discovered me from my 'The forgotten' fanfiction, i'm sorry to say that it's no longer going to be continued since I'm not into creepypasta, not to mention the amount of cringe i experienced while rereading that. but! this is my new fanfic, sticking to the human warriors AU since these are personally, my favorite to read. this is similar to my other fanfic, sticking to the same family dynamic and hollyleaf-centric. if you stuck around, welcome back, if you're new, then i hope you choose to stay! love you all.

Tousled raven hued hair, cut to shoulder length, sprung into sight. The crisp, polar air cutting into the adolescent's fair skin while her face scrunched up into a flinch as an icy gust of wind skimmed her way. Previously, last night's snowfall had concealed the autumn leaves that once scattered the ground. Holly's cream-colored boots bore into the snow as she treaded her way back home.

The snow never exactly phased her, she'd remember vividly playing outside with her brothers, them creating snow-forts and throwing snowballs at each other until their mother ushered them inside before they caught the cold. A nostalgic smile made it's way to her freckled face, the last time they'd done that was at age thirteen. It'd be considered childish if they were to do it now, though maybe with some convincing the neighbors would end up witnessing three sixteen year olds throwing snowballs at each-other.

Making her way up the steps, Holly brushed some snow off the back of her jeans and stomped her boot on the chestnut colored welcome mat that was god-know-how old, all sides were frayed, the thread sprawled across the concrete of their foot porch. She fished the house key out of her pocket, pressing it into the lock and turning, her ice cold hand twisting the rusty door knob as her face was greeted with the warm, comforting air of her home. The ebony haired girl was swift to shut the door behind her, the click of it closing seemed to startle a figure laying on the couch, her muted green eyes meeting with a pair of brown ones.

"Holly! You're home- Thank god, I was so worried!" Her mother cried, rising from her spot on the couch before she was embraced by the brunette, a sheepish smile coming to Holly's face.
"Yeah I uh- I could've swore I grabbed my phone before I left, must've not. I just went on a walk, all good. Sorry I wasn't home sooner- just y'know, snow."
Holly explained, half lying about the ordeal. She knew she hadn't taken her phone, in fact, she even glanced at it for a few seconds before taking off, debating on whether or not to bring it. She did however, say the truth about going on a walk, Leo had pissed her off earlier. Finding out your best friend is dating your idiocy of a brother is not an entirely great situation overall, and if she wasn't going to half strangle him to death she couldn't exactly stay in the same house as him.

Her green eyes flickered to the stove as Laura let go, saying something about 'You shouldn't go out by yourself' or 'Your father and I were so worried'. Of course her mind drowned them out, she squinted her eyes in order to see the time, 11:48 PM. Holly let out an amused 'hmph', she was gone that long? As her mother finished her lecture, Holly could've swore the timing had to be worse as her father, Cyrus made his way down the stairs.

You're serious? I have to deal with two lectures now? Thanks, God! Holly angerly thought to herself, her eyes focusing on their wooden floor that looked as if it hadn't been mopped in years, except it just was yesterday, the design of the wood making it seem old and unkempt.

"You're home late." Cyrus stated, his ocean-blue eyes boring into his daughter. One hand was on the railing of the stairs as he stood waiting for a response.
"Yeah, I am." Holly said, biting back an annoyed tone. It was obvious her father was tired, probably woken up from the commotion downstairs.
She could see her mother give a warning glare towards Cyrus, his eyes narrowing a bit as he returned the look.
"I think I'm going to head to bed, I'll see you two in the morning." Holly suddenly butt in, her voice off and nervous. She took her boots off and threw them into the pile of shoes before shrugging hr coat off as well, cringing at the silence in the room.

"I think we should go to bed too, love." She heard her mother say to Cyrus, the faint footsteps of socks on the wooden floor making it's way up the stairs, and by the sound of it, Cyrus followed. Holly let out a sigh of relief, dread pooling in her stomach as she realized she'd probably be grounded for the next week. Licking her dry lips, she quietly made her way towards her room, the white, wooden door cracked open the way she left it. Opening it fully, she stepped in and closed it behind her before heading to her closet. She changed into a pair of red shorts and a grey tank-top, laying down on her bed and relishing in the comfort as the mattress sunk around her.

Nervously, she reached over and grabbed her phone, awaiting the amount of texts and missed calls she was bound to have. Pressing the power button, she squinted at the harsh light that contrasted with her dark room.

8 missed calls from : Mom
3 missed calls from : Dad
4 texts from : Mom
- where are you?
- hello?
- come home this instant! your father's upset
- Holly please come home, we are all really worried, sweetie
2 texts from : Cindy
- Leo told me you found out about us dating, and you weren't too happy about it
- I'm really sorry, Holly. I love him though, I hope we can still be friends.
8 texts from : Heather
- hey girl! omg omg you won't believe what just happened
- so like
- you know dawn right? that one girl who tried to fight you last week
- so she texted me today and like
- she want's to be /friends/. excuse me what the fuck?
- like weren't you /just/ trying to beat up one of /my/ friends?
- not that you'd lose girl! you'd totally kick her ass if she laid a hand on you
- so i said no ofc, and she went off! like fr, not everyone wants to be friends with a straight up psycho. what a bitch. but i'd totally watch out monday, she's kinda out for you. love you girl, gn!
1 text from : Floyd
- Hey Holly, I was wondering if you're free tomorrow? I need to talk to you about something.

Holly's eyes widened at the last text, ignoring Heather's rampage of gossip. Her heart fluttered with nervousness as she unlocked her phone shakily to reply.

You : I think I'm going to be grounded, long story. But my parents have work tomorrow, you could come here if you'd like.

Floyd's reply came in a few minutes, alerting her half-asleep figure with a ding!. Holly quickly turned her phone back on and read the text, a soft smile gracing her lips.

Floyd : If you're down I can head over right now? I know it's late, but I really want to see you.
You : Sure! Go around the back though, I'll open my window. See you soon.

Holly's heart did a jump as she sat back up on her bed, putting her phone on the charger and deciding to change into a red tank-top instead. If I'm going to stay in my sleepwear, mind as well make it match. She looked at herself in the mirror, making a slight face at her reflection. She felt as if she'd gained weight recently, but since they didn't own a scale in the house, there was no exactly way to be sure. Holly reached over and grabbed a red scrunchie from her dresser, tying her hair into a messy bun while she cleaned up her mascara. Good enough, I guess. It's midnight, so it's not like it matters.

Holly walked back over to her bed, turning a dim lamp on so she could see a little better without the light seeping underneath her door. She laid there browsing social media for a while, in which she estimated around a half hour before she heard rustling next to her window as a certain male crawled through. Her eyes lit up as she rose from her bed in order to give him a hug.

"Floyd!" She said excitedly, squeezing him before letting go, looking up at his much taller figure. "Hey, Holly." The red and white haired male smiled warmly, "How was your day earlier?" Floyd walked over towards her bed, sitting down on the comfy mattress, Holly following beside him.

"Exhausting. Leo told me him and Cindy are dating. Are you serious? Literally anyone in the entire world and my best friend had to choose my brother." Holly complained, rolling her eyes. "So then I took a walk in order to get away from him before I ended up strangling him to death, and y'know, the dumbass I am, I didn't take my phone. Four hours later I come home and my mother lectures me half-to-death and now I'm here." She laughed, purposefully leaving out the part about her dad. "What about yours?"

The corners of Floyd's mouth curled into an amused smile, resting his hand on the comforter, the paleness of it contrasting heavily with Holly's dark grey covers. "It was alright, I suppose. I volunteered at a soup kitchen and cleaned tables there, not the most interesting, but the owner offered me a few bucks just for helping out. I had to reject him though, I'd feel guilty taking money for doing something I did out of pure kindness." His jade eyes met hers as he chuckled a bit, looking around her room and admiring the skillfully decorated area.
"You wanted to talk to me about something?" Holly inquired, perking up as she remembered. Her heart sped up a bit as Floyd nodded. "Aha- Yeah. I did." She heard him chuckle nervously, increasing her own nervousness.

She couldn't exactly pinpoint what she was worried about, it was probably nothing, but 'nothing' didn't need to be talked about face-to-face. It must've been important if he couldn't text it to her. Her eyes scanned him as if it'd give a hint to what he was about to say, but to her avail, there was nothing.
"Holly- I think I'm in love with you." Floyd suddenly blurted, his face burning in embarrassment as he looked at her. Taking in a shaky breath, "No- I don't think, I am. I'm in love with you- I have been for a while now. And I know you're still distant to be in a relationship ever since Sol broke up with you but-"
"Floyd I-" Holly started, feeling as if her heart was going to burst outside of her rib cage. "I'm in love with you too." She confessed, letting out a sigh of relief, her lips curling into a smile as she met Floyd's hopeful eyes.

Her head sunk into the pillow as she looked up at the ceiling, them both relishing in the calm silence before he finally spoke up again. "I'm so glad. I was worried- since you're so perfect to me. From your laugh, the way your eyes twinkle when you're excited, the fact that you'll go out of your way to help people in need. You're so kind to everyone, even the people who are mean to you, you find a way to see the good in them. I love that about you. You're perfect in the way you look as well, how you look drop dead gorgeous even when you arrive to school half-asleep and your hair all messy. The way your freckles contrast so vividly to your skin, those pretty green eyes of yours that can hold so much emotion at once- It's just. Everything about you is so amazing." Floyd spoke, his eyes showing honesty in every word. Holly felt her face flush as she smiled, tears pricking at her eyes.
"Stop, you're making me emotional." She half laughed, her voice breaking between as a tear fell onto her cheek. The bed dipped down a bit as Floyd moved beside her, almost effortlessly pulling her onto his lap. "Hey darling, It's okay to be emotional." Floyd pressed a gentle kiss to her hair, running his hand up and down her arm.

"It's just- Sol never treated me that way. He never called me gorgeous, or talked about my personality. He'd constantly compare me to other girls as if he felt I needed to be better." Holly wiped away a stray tear and kept herself from crying more. "I really love you, Floyd. Please don't turn out like him." Her voice pleading, brimming with an almost desperate twinge. Floyd felt his heart sink slightly, shaking his head as he pulled her closer, his hand now resting on her jaw.
"Never in a billion years, sweetheart. I promise you." He leaned in and gave her a loving kiss on the lips, feeling Holly relax into his touch as she kissed back briefly before it broke.

They both stayed silent for a while, cherishing the moment as they pressed together. Eventually Floyd shifted a bit, laying down on the bed with a half-asleep Holly on top. He gently played with her hair until her breathing slowed as sleep consumed her. Reaching over, he turned off the lamp, sleep soon taking over him as well.

thank you so much for reading! i def. haven't written in a while but this was sweet to write. as you saw, hollyleaves is going to be the main ship here, sorry if you like any other ships! ;;; of course as the series goes on, lots of things are going to happen, so who knows who Holly's going to end up with at the end. review if you'd like! it helps me get chapters out quicker.