For a second, no-one did anything, the four teens stood at opposite ends of the small pathway, waiting for someone to make the next move and hoping it wouldn't be down to them.
Holly had no idea why she was so surprised to see Jason in the village, Robbie had told both her and Ruby that this was the day that Jason would be coming home, though she knew her shock was partially down to the change in the older boy's appearance.
In just a few weeks, Jason really seemed to have made a turn around, and was looking healthier now than he had done in months, the change between him then and now was completely outstanding and Holly herself was truly amazed by it.
"Jason," the blonde finally breathed, shaking herself out of her shock and making her way over to ex without a second thought, only realising this could be a bad idea when the image of their last interaction flashed through her mind.
It hadn't been pretty in the slightest and ended with her slapping him and Jason promptly collapsing. It wouldn't be surprising if Jason didn't want anything to do with her, after all, in his mind, both Holly and Ruby had done some pretty awful things. Stilling, Holly tried to catch Robbie's eye so she could have some sort of indication on what Jason's response would be to her, though the older boy was frustratingly giving her no clues.
"Hey Hol," Jason replied with a smile, noticing that Holly was unsure of what her next move should be, though his warm tone lessened her nerves significantly and she took another step forward, this time with Ruby close behind, a small smile playing on her lips as she realised that Jason seemed to be truly getting better. "How you been?"
"A lot better now that you're here," Holly whispered, unable to speak properly without crying, already she was trying to hold back her tears, though it was getting increasingly difficult. She had missed Jason more than she thought possible, so to see him standing just a few feet in front of her, with no qualms about her presence, well it was more than she ever thought possible in a million years.
"Oh just come here," Jason breathed, pulling Holly into a tight hug, the two teens realising just how much they had missed one another, as they made physical contact once more. Their hearts were both thundering loudly in their chests (it really wouldn't be surprising if half of Chester could hear them), and the surrounding air was silent as Ruby and Robbie gave the two their time together, knowing that it was needed.
Even after everything they had gone through, neither Jason or Holly's feelings for one another had died down, in fact they were as strong as they had always been, though it would take a lot of time and work from both of them to get their relationship into a strong place again.
After a moment, Jason regretfully pulled away, knowing full well that Holly wasn't the only one who wanted to see or talk to him. He pulled Ruby into a tight hug also, inhaling her flowery perfume and unable to fight the small smile that had graced his features for being around his two closest friends once more.
"I missed you Rubes," he said softly as they pulled out of the much shorter hug.
"I missed you too, but you're back now," Ruby replied with a smile, just like everyone else, glad to see that Jason was looking and acting a lot better than he had previously been.
"Yeah I am, and I'm a lot better too," Jason nodded, running through a hand through his hair as once more he readied himself up for yet another apology. Unfortunately, he'd still have a lot more to make, but he wasn't going to fix anything by staying silent.
"I just want to let you both know how sorry I am about how I treated you, it was unfair of me and I was just doing it because at the time it seemed like I had to. You have no idea just how much I regret everything I said and did, and I know you probably won't accept my apology after everything I did, but I just need to let you know how much I wish I could take everything I did back."
"Oh come here you big softie," Ruby said, laughing lightly as she hugged Jason once more, letting him know that she had fully forgiven him. "Me and Holly thought the same thing you know, but well your friendship means a lot to us, and I'm not going to let it go without a fight."
Jason chuckled lightly at that, breathing in a deep sigh of relief as everyone he came into contact with seemed to be more than ready to welcome him back into their lives with open arms, something he hadn't been expecting due to his awful treatment of well... everyone before he'd been placed into recovery.
"I actually need to go though," Ruby said, shooting Jason an apologetic look. "There's a massive English essay I need to finish up on before tomorrow. You'll help me won't you Robbie?" Before the teen could answer, Ruby was dragging the youngest Roscoe away, ignoring the amused looks that Holly and Jason were shooting her way, both laughing once the pair were out of sight.
"Not obvious are they?" Holly giggled, playing loosely with a lock of hair and hoping that Jason wouldn't realise just how nervous she was.
"Well subtlety has never been Robbie's forte and Ruby's pretty much the same in that sense," Jason shrugged, falling into step with Holly as they entered the main square of the village. "So how've you been?"
"Uh yeah, I've been good," Holly shrugged, trying to work out just how much she should share with the older boy, because she doubted that he would want to hear about how she had stayed up to the early hours of each night, unable to sleep because all her thoughts were plagued with Jason and how he was doing in the hospital.
"You miss me?" Jason joked, the awkwardness growing as Holly only stumbled to answer, unsure of just how much she could share without seeming like a pathetic little girl, after all there wasn't exactly a handbook on this sort of situation and she was somewhat at a loss on what to do. "You don't have to answer that."
"No, no it's fine J. I did miss you actually, a lot," Holly said sharply, spotting the hurt look on Jason's face and hating herself for being the one to cause it. She couldn't just play it cool and hope that Jason would be able to understand what she was really thinking, not if she wanted them to still have a chance of being together.
They'd suffered so much because they'd both been hiding things and hoping that it'd never come to light, but she may as well tell Jason the truth about her feelings, where was the real harm in it anyway?
"I thought about you a lot when you were... away. Thinking back on what I could have done differently to help, what I could have said to-"
"Hey don't think like that Hol. You and Ruby were doing what you thought was best, and you did do right, because without you, who knows where I'd be right now. I didn't mean anything that I said earlier, especially when I dumped you and the day before my sectioning, but I was scared and lashing out, you have to understand that. You can't feel guilty about what happened to me, because I know you do, it's written all over your face. Me going into treatment was probably the best thing that could happen though, it saved me Holly, and that's down to you.
"And I had a lot of time to think about us whilst I was Pine Lodge. I kept thinking about our relationship and everything we could have had and it made me realise what an idiot I was for dumping you. You were the best thing in my life Holly, and without you there giving me support I'd probably be a lot worse off today. You didn't know, but everything you did and said kept me... well a bit more sane, and if you'll have me, I'd love for us to get back together."
"Are you serious?" Holly asked, beaming widely as her very dreams came true right in front of her eyes. She had prayed and prayed that one day, her and Jason may be both ready to attempt their relationship once more, but she hadn't imagined it to happen so soon after he'd returned
"I've never been so serious about anything else in my life," Jason vowed, a small smile playing at his lips as he saw just how truly happy Holly was at his words. "I mean I want to do it properly this time, because before I was so screwed up we never really had a chance. But this time is going to different okay, we're going to go on shitty, romantic dates, and we're going to talk about things that are bothering us, and we're most definitely going to make this work."
"Most definitely," Holly smiled, agreeing fully with what Jason said, once more shocked by how much he had changed for the better in just a few short weeks. She stopped walking and wrapped her arms around Jason's shoulders, leaning into a kiss, her heart beating wildly as the two teens got lost in the motions, both losing themselves to the pure passion and chemistry that surrounded them as they continued to stay entwined.
}}}}}}}}}
"So?" Ruby asked Robbie in a hushed tone as her classmate peered around the corner, intently watching Holly and Jason talking, making sure that nothing bad happened between them, or at least, that was Ruby's excuse for snooping.
"They're doing what they were doing five seconds ago Rubes, which is bloody talking," Robbie hissed, rolling his eyes as Ruby huffed lightly. "And cause I can't hear them from here, who the hell knows what's actually happening. Look I think we should just go, it's bit weird spying on my own brother and they're not exactly getting up to anything."
"But they could do, and I want to know exactly what. They love each Robbie, even a blind man could see that, I just want to make sure they do this properly the second time round."
"And they will, but you got to give them time, they won't just be all over each like nothing-" Robbie said, trailing off as he glanced back at Jason and Holly, his eyes widening at the scene in front of him. "I take back everything I just said."
"What? Why?" Ruby asked, jaw dropping as she realised what Robbie meant by his latest words.
"Well, they currently have their tongues down each others throats, so I think we can all guess on what's going to happen next, though I really don't want to watch that."
"Fine, we can go," Ruby said, trotting down the lane as she smiled at the thought of her two friends. Maybe now they'd find the happiness that they truly deserved. Robbie lightly laughed to himself as he watched the bubbly brunette increase her pace, wondering what his life had turned into, as he now considered her, Ruby Button, as one of his closest friends. Wonders would never cease.
}}}}}}}}}}
"How was Doug?" Sandy asked when Jason returned home, the teen weaving around his brothers to reach his mother, who was stood by the kitchen counter, peeling a multitude of potatoes. He purposefully ignored the sly look that Robbie shot him from the table, focusing only on Sandy.
"Uh, yeah he was okay and he said as long as I'm up for it I can pick up a couple of shifts again,"
"I'm so glad love," Sandy beamed, grateful that the kind hearted deli owner was okay with giving Jason another chance, when so many people would have already turned their backs on him. The normality of his job at the deli would only help to settle Jason back into everyday life and hopefully speed up the over all recovery process.
"You need any help with dinner mum?" Jason asked as he took note of the carrots that still needed to be peeled and chopped, as well as a load of other prep that Sandy needed to do, for tea to be served on time. "I'm all caught up on my coursework so I'm happy to chop some carrots."
"Oh no that's okay love. One of the others said they were going to help me out, anyway this is your welcome back meal, I can't have you making it."
Jason turned to where the rest of the family were crowded around the table, bills, appointments for the garage and notes all spread out on the table, as the five members were for once, doing something productive with their Sunday afternoon, though Jason knew Robbie had been texting Ruby ever since he'd returned, in favour of finishing his PE assessment.
Despite the pretence that they were all working, it was obvious that the five had all been listening into the conversation, as Jason couldn't help but note the way they'd all frozen as he turned, trying to predict what his next move would be.
"Mum I don't mind, we always did stuff like this at the clinic, it was a bonding activity for everyone there I think. Anyway I want to help, it's a lot better than being holed up in my room."
"Don't worry bout it Jase, I was just about to help mum out now," Joe said, standing as he did so, though it was too late as Jason had pulled open the cutlery drawer and was staring in silence for a second as he tried to find the section normally saved for the knives.
"Am I missing something or are there no knives in this drawer? Or... anything that's sharp actually?" He asked, looking to his mum, though noticing both her, and the others guilty and uncomfortable expressions. Jason connected the dots in seconds and was unable to stop his face from falling slightly.
"You've hidden them haven't you? You've hidden every single thing in this house that I could use to hurt myself." No-one said anything at Jason's words, after all what could they say? He was completely right, because the Roscoe's had done just that.
They had scoured the house from top to bottom, removing everything they could that Jason could possibly use for self harm, because they were taking no chances. Before being sectioned they had no idea about Jason's self-harming, and if he could hide it so well from them the first time, who was to say that he wouldn't succeed a second?
It felt slightly barbaric, taking away some of Jason's basic freedom, but the family didn't know what else they could do. In time they'd put everything back, when they could see for themselves that Jason was truly getting better, but until that moment the items were out of harms way, though would Jason see that and understand their reasoning?
Because when the Roscoe's had directly acknowledged Jason's eating disorder and depression in the past, it had always ended with screaming matches between the whole family, as the teenager strongly denied any and all accusations directed his way, doing everything in his power to dissuade them.
The whole family held their breath as they waited for Jason to say something, because this was his first real test, his chance to give the family some proof that he was truly getting better, but would he take it?
"You don't have to all look so worried you know? I'm not going to have a massive go cause of what you've done," Jason said finally with a comforting smile directed at the others, causing them all to breath out a silent sigh of relief, grateful that he hadn't blown his top and was instead focusing on the issue very maturely.
Like he had once done in regards to pretty much everything. "In fact, if it was me in your position, I'd have done the same thing, but I'd still like to help out with dinner. Feel like risking it mum?"
Sandy nodded with a small smile, leaving the room to grab one of the knives, a giant weight that had been laying heavy in her chest finally releasing, and giving her space to breath. Her baby was getting better, he was going to get through this.
}}}}}}}}}}
Shortly after nine p.m rolled around, Jason excused himself from the heaving and merry living room, intending to make sure he had everything for school the next day before grabbing a shower and going to bed. The day had taken a lot out of him and all he wanted was his bed and some time alone.
The second his bedroom door clicked shut behind him and Jason knew he was truly alone for the first time in hours, the teen let out a shaky breath, sliding down the wall, till he was crouched on the floor, taking in deep breaths and trying to calm his nerves with little effect. He hadn't been lying when he'd told Sandy that the day had taken a lot out of him, though it was for different reasons than for what she thought.
The whole day had been exhausting because of all the pretences he'd had to keep up, with never a second of alone time to gather his thoughts and relax. No matter what he was doing, there was always at least one pair of eyes on him, watching and judging his every movement, just waiting for the moment for him to slip up, so he could be sent back to that hell-hole that was Pine Lodge once more.
Overall Jason had thought he'd done a pretty good job, his family thought he was better, or at least their version of it and even the doctor's were buying his lies, though that didn't mean he could stop with the pretences in the slightest.
They were all waiting for him to screw up and Jason couldn't do that, he had to let them think they were winning if he wanted any sort of release, and if that meant taking his damn medication and injecting himself with insulin when they said so, then so be it. After all, sometimes you had to lose the fight to win the war, and Jason was damned if he wasn't going to walk away victorious.
So a lot of you were wondering last time if Jason had recovered, and I think it's safe to say that he hasn't, so there's a lot more pain and angst coming your way!
