Love Restrained | Yellowjackets

chapter fifteen

XV

The next morning, the air was still thick with tension from the events of the last two days.

Hayden sat rigidly, arms crossed, staring out the windows, still ignoring that her arm was nearly killing her. She was so frustrated. The silence was killing her.

Every now and then, Natalie's eyes flicked towards her. She still hasn't said anything.

Travis stepped into the room where everybody was gathered. "Ok, where's breakfast?" He asked, looking around.

Hayden turned from the window, meeting Travis standing there, she rolled her eyes at him. "Well, I don't know if you noticed, but food is kinda running low."

He ignored her comment. "Shauna and Akilah are taking care of that." Mari answered the boy's question.

"How, exactly?" He raised a brow.

"Um, they're looking for food in the ground..."

Travis sighed, "Dirt, basically. Great." He headed to the door. "Come on, Nat, let's find some real food." He called, his voice with an undercurrent of command.

Natalie met his gaze with a nod. The subtle exchange between them was not lost on Hayden. Before Natalie could get up to go with him, Hayden interrupted.

"Well, I'm sorry, buddy, but that's not your job." She said, stopping Travis from grabbing the rifle hanging by the door.

For some reason she still didn't understand, the idea of Travis and Natalie getting along now was something that bothered her.

His eyes flicked to Hayden as he turned around, a smug smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It is now." He grabbed the rifle.

"No. It's mine." Hayden retorted.

She tried getting the gun from his hands but he wouldn't let go. Natalie just watched. Still in silence.

"Things have changed while you were away. Nat and I have a good rhythm going." He said proudly.

She scoffed, "Is that so?" Hayden turned around, searching for Natalie.

Natalie remained silent, eyes casted down, the weight of the tension in the room growing heavier. The lack of response from her only fueled Hayden's anger.

Hayden turned back to face Travis, "Well, I'm really happy about your... friendship or whatever, but you're done now, Flex."

"Don't call me that." Travis warned.

Hayden stepped forward. "Gimme the gun."

"She doesn't want to go with you." Travis hissed, not letting go of the gun.

Hayden was trying really hard to keep her cool. Why was he so fucking difficult?

"I don't give a fuck if she wants to come along or not." She lost with Travis, sharp words were about to blurt out, "She can stay here while you try to come up with some corny pickup line hoping that she'll finally give you the blowjob we all know you're dying for, just give me the fucking gun."

The room felt like it was on the brink of explosion. Everyone was now watching their interaction. Travis' grip around the rifle only tightened, while his expression slowly adopted a mischievous smirk. He let the tension linger for a moment, enjoying the discomfort etched across Hayden's face. He was not going to let her intimidate him.

Hayden tried to snatch the gun from his hands but he backed off.

"You know, Atkins," He began, his voice dripping with mock sincerity, "for such a pretty girl, you have a pretty dirty mouth."