Team8s and Counting Onwards

Flare and Bookmark were waiting at the school pickup area for their parents to come get them. Bookmark was calmly scrolling on her phone, but Flare couldn't be any more anxious. Since the court case, Book usually came and brought both girls to their house since Match was working, and Match would pick up Flare on her way home from work. However, since Match was able to leave the factory early, she planned on getting Flare from school herself and bringing her home.

Bookmark glanced up from her phone for a split second, and noticed the worried expression on Flare's face. Bookmark knew Flare well enough to know why, and she took a hold of her hand, trying to comfort her.

Flare tried to hold back her tears as she talked to Bookmark. "...she's not coming, is she?"

Bookmark shook her head. "I'm sure she's coming. Besides, my mom isn't here yet, there could just be some traffic."

Flare let out a shaky breath. "But she said she'd be here at 3:30, and it's 3:35 and I still don't see her!"

Bookmark squeezed Flare's hand a little tighter. "You know my mom can always come back and bring you over to our house if your mom doesn't come on time, right?"

Flare looked over at Bookmark. "It finally feels like I have an actual mom. Like, she even gets me takeout for dinner so I don't have to cook." Flare looked down at the sidewalk beneath her. "I don't wanna lose that."

Bookmark smiled at Flare. "And you won't. My mom and Mimi love you so much Flare, and I'm sure they'd let you stay with us longer if you need to."

Flare nodded, but her shoulders were still tense. "It's not just about having a place to stay. It's about... her. My Mom...at least I hope that's what she is. I keep waiting for her to disappear... just like Pencil did"

Bookmark didn't know what to say to that. She just gave Flare's hand another squeeze and sat with her in the silence.

Then, a rumble. The sound of a familiar car engine. Flare's breath caught in her throat as she turned toward the driveway—and there it was. Match's car was pulling in, a little dusty from the road, a little crooked in the way it stopped—but real. She was there.

The door opened, and Match stepped out. She looked tired, her hair tied back in a loose bun, her work shirt still streaked with grease from the machines. But her face broke into the softest smile when she saw Flare.

"Hey, Flare," she called out, voice a little breathless. "Sorry I'm late."

Flare blinked, almost in disbelief. "You... you came."

"Of course I came," Match said, opening the passenger door. "I told you I would."

Flare stood frozen for a second, then bolted into her mother's arms. Match hugged her tight, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"I had to make sure the factory was under control, and plue, the road was, like, all backed up," she explained, still holding on to Flare like she was afraid she might vanish. "But I wasn't going to let you down."

Bookmark watched, her chest tight. It was quiet again for a few seconds, except for the sound of tires rolling over gravel. Book's car was pulling up behind them.

Flare finally pulled away from her mom and looked over at Bookmark. "Thanks for waiting with me."

"Always," Bookmark said, smiling as she got to her feet.

Match gave her a grateful nod. "Thanks for keeping her company."

Bookmark shrugged. "She keeps me company, too."

"Yeah," Bookmark said, looking back once more at Flare, who was still standing next to her mom's car.

Flare then looked up at her mom, asking something quietly. Match nodded, then opened the trunk for her backpack. Flare then got into the car, waved to Bookmark one more time, and headed home with her mom.

Flare was starting to calm down, knowing that for the first time in what felt like forever, someone she called mom came to get her. "I thought you weren't gonna come."

Match knew why she felt that way, and it broke her heart. "I know I can never take back all the times you walked home from school when Pencil didn't come get you. I know it will take some time to trust me, but I can promise you when I say I'm picking you up, I will get to your school as soon as possible."

Flare's eyes widened. "You really mean it?"

Match nodded. "Of course. You're my daughter, it's my job to make sure you're all taken care of."

Flare sighed. "But I was Pencil's daughter too."

Match shook her head. "Not anymore. I wasn't going to stop fighting until I knew she had nothing to do with you."

Flare was quiet for a long moment, letting Match's words settle over her like a blanket. The car was moving now, the school disappearing behind them. Trees blurred past the windows as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the road.

"...Do you think it's weird I still think about her?" Flare finally asked, her voice small.

"No," Match said softly. "I do too. It's hard when the person I knew for so many years just... disappeared from my life like that. It had to be done, but it's a huge change for me too."

Flare looked out the window, her voice barely a whisper. "She never even said goodbye."

Match blinked hard, her grip on the steering wheel tightening for a second. "I know," she said. "And I hate that. You deserved so much better than silence."

There was another stretch of silence, but this time, it felt gentler. Less tense.

"Hey," Match said after a minute, glancing over at Flare with a little smile. "What if we pick up takeout tonight? Your pick."

Flare looked up, surprised. "Really?"

"Really really," Match nodded. "You've been so brave today. I think that earns you some dumplings or tacos. Or both."

A small, genuine smile tugged at Flare's mouth—one that didn't look like it was trying so hard to hide sadness behind it. "Can we get boba too?"

"You read my mind," Match grinned.

Flare leaned back in her seat, letting her backpack slide down to the floor of the car. For the first time in days, the weight on her shoulders didn't feel so heavy. The road ahead of them stretched long, but it didn't seem so scary anymore—not with Match driving.

And even if there were still questions left inside her—about the past, about Pencil, about what family was supposed to feel like—she knew one thing for sure:

Match came back for her.

And she wasn't going anywhere.

.................................................

I know this chapter is on the shorter end, but sometimes short and sweet is the way to go. You guys deserved a little Flare update, she's still recovering but things are getting better! Not much else I have to say, see you in the next chapter!

- Sunny