Fade into you

Chapter 2

The next day, Nat could barely breathe. The cold air seemed to scrape her throat with its claws. She knew she had taken a risk when putting on her wet clothes again in order to not soak both outfits on the drive home yesterday. But she hadn't expect her head to feel like a bowling ball, and her sinuses to be stuffed to the point of applying an unbearable pressure on her brain.

There was no way she could make it to school. The sound of the rain against the windows was enough to make her nauseous. They didn't have heating, but they did own what felt like way too many blankets for two people. She dragged herself to the closet and grabbed a couple before plopping back onto her bed. It was still damp. When she came back from school yesterday, she had found and fixed the leak, but it had been too late. Her mattress was soaked, and the floor was worse. But she couldn't stand being in any other room in the trailer, so she had put a couple of towels on the bed and hoped for the best.

School was about to start, and Natalie couldn't help but wonder if Lottie had kept her promise and waited for her.

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It was, friday, and aside from Van, who had come by once to take some news, no one seemed to have noticed her absence. School had barely started and she was already going to be behind. She hated the thought. She hated asking for help more.

She wasn't going to go to the party. It was stupid, there would only be girls, shitty music and cheap beer. Plus going into Jackie Taylor's house felt like willingly stepping into a bear trap. She had never understood why Shauna liked her so much. Or why anyone liked her so much.

Someone knocked on her window. It could only be Van. Her arms felt weak as she opened it. Clearly the cold had drained her.

"Hey are you coming to the party?"

"Nah, I'm still sick, plus it's going to be shit anyway."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, I heard Mari is bringing some real booze. Plus everyone is coming, it would be weird if you didn't."

"Everyone?"

"Yeah, even Jackie asked to make sure you got the invite." Nat bit her lip, hesitant. She could use the alcohol, and she did like the idea of getting closer to the girls on the team.

Everyone means Lottie will be there.

She rushed the thought out of her brain.

You've gotten so used to people treating you like shit that when someone actually shows some decency you don't know how to act. Get a grip Nat.

"Okay let me get ready I'll join you in 20."

She sighed. What had she gotten herself into?

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Jackie's mansion towered amongst the other suburban homes. Every inch of the perfectly mowed lawn was being irrigated, and the white paint of the house made it resemble an ivory castle.

Nat stumbled down the driveway, with each step costing her more that the previous one. She desperately craved a drink, perhaps to make the party go smoothly, but her legs struggled to even make her walk, still weak from her hell week.

"Hey if Jackie talks too much shit, Tai and I have your back, you know that right?"

Of course she knew that, but hearing it out of Van herself felt reassuring in a moment like that.

They rang the doorbell and were met by Jackie and Mari. The music was much louder than Nat had previously thought, her head pounded.

"Van! Nat! Glad you could both make it, the Yellowjackets are finally complete!" Jackie said, moving to the side to let them in. Her smile seemed genuine, but Nat still didn't trust her.