While Kia spoke to her, Tatum was still mostly numb. She stared nervously at the blonde, occasionally cracking little smiles, but mostly just nodding her head obediently. She didn't know how to word what she wanted to see, and most of what the blonde said came out without Tatum getting a word in edge-wise. She just didn't have the words ready. Listening to everything the older girl said, Tatum did feel much better.

Mackenzie had never told her that her sister was so deep. Despite how upset she still felt, even down into the pit of her stomach, Kia's words did cheer her up a little. Tomorrow would be a new day, and next week would be a new week, and surely the school would find someone else to torture by then. Maybe Leon would find someone else to out to the entire campus. She immediately regretted the thought though; it was wrong to wish that on anyone. She knew it was the worst feeling, and she knew that first hand.

Before Tatum had even had a chance to formulate her thoughts, they were on their way again, and she was quiet and shy as she accepted the bag from Kia. Even on their way back to the room, the redhead didn't know what to say. She wanted to say something, anything, to show she had listened and not just stared and let it go right through her ears. But her social skills still failed her.

When they were close enough to see Mackenzie again, leaning up against the wall, Tatum immediately felt her chest loosen up. Even her face lit up just the slightest bit, and when Kia took the bag out of her arms and sent her on her way, she nodded obediently again. "Okay. Uhm, thanks," the younger girl finally managed to get out, her voice cracking a bit as she quickly cleared her throat.

Once Kia had fully disappeared back into the room, door shut behind her, Tatum didn't waste any time in closing the distance between herself and Mack. Practically running up to the older girl, she hung on for dear life, her arms wrapping tightly against the blonde's waist and her face immediately burying against her collarbone and shoulder. "Y-You're okay right?" she asked, concerned as she clung on. She didn't want to freak her out, being all crazy and clingy, but she felt so emotional after everything Kia had told her, on top of everything else going on.

Reaching down, she grabbed one of Mackenzie's hands, tangling their fingers together and squeezing. She didn't lift her head, just happy to be there, inhaling the familiar smell of her friend. It was surprisingly even more calming than the hospital smell itself.