STRANGERS ♱ yellowjackets

04. brother's best friend

SUSANN-ROSE HOPPER had never gone as quiet as she did in that moment. And she hated it. She hated how big of an impact the winger had on her. I mean, she hated the girl! But if it was only hatred why did she feel like her heart was on fire? She was scared of her emotions, she felt like she wasn't in charge as the bleach-blonde teenager stared at her from a few feet away.

I think you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life. The words kept repeating inside Bunny's head, like a prayer or a riddle she couldn't quite figure out. After a long moment of silence, Bunny opens her mouth ready to say something but is interrupted by Shauna clearing her throat. The two blondes turn to look at the brunette who stands awkwardly next to Bunny.

"Are you guys ready?", Shauna asks, eyeing the two with a questioning look. Natalie doesn't look at Bunny anymore, only nods and walks to Van. Bunny's eyes follow the girl for a second before snapping back to Shauna. The brunette clears her throat again.

"Bunny", she starts with a regretful expression, "I'm really sorry." Susann-Rose smiles as she shakes her head. "It's okay", she says, trying her best to comfort the girl.

"Sometimes I just get so angry I don't think", Shauna explains. Bunny hushes her sweetly as if to say she doesn't have to explain herself. "It's okay", Bunny says, "really."

Shauna nods and takes a deep breath in. "Bunny, I think you are so fair. You understand other people's emotions and stories like nobody ever can. That's why you are so diplomatic", Shauna says with a small smile, causing Bunny's smile to widen as well. "I think you'd make a great diplomat or something."

"Thanks, S", Bunny says and pushes the girl's arm gently. "I think you are one of the most interesting people I've ever met. You are so smart and I could listen to you talk for hours and hours", Bunny says with a wide grin, causing Shauna to show her teeth as well. The words meant a lot to the brunette and Bunny knew that.

"Hey", Taissa's voice calls softly, interrupting the moment the two girls were sharing. Taissa is holding a jacket out of the blonde girl. "Let's get you home, okay?", she says and Bunny nods, accepting the brown Mocca jacket with a grateful expression. She is freezing.

The car ride home was filled with giggling and dramatic gasps. It felt good to just laugh and goof off with Taissa. States and now nationals put a lot of pressure on both of the girls and they had forgotten to just be friends and have normal conversations.

"Okay, but was I just imagining things or were you and Natalie Scatorccio having a moment?", Taissa asks, looking over at the blonde from the driver's seat. Bunny buries her face in her hands, trying to hide the redness that is creeping onto her cheeks. "You were definitely seeing things", Bunny says, but her voice is not convincing at all.

Taissa bursts out laughing as she then looks at the girl with a shocked expression, "Oh my God! You totally were!", she exclaims and smiles widely, still shocked by Bunny's reaction. Bunny shakes her head furiously, "No!"

Taissa only grins as she turns the car to the Hopper driveway. "My, my, my, Susann-Rose", she says in a teasing tone, "you having the hots for Nat was not on my bucket list this year."

"I don't have the hots for Nat. In fact, I feel nothing towards Nat. Only pure hate", Bunny says and glares at Taissa who's only smiling. Tai shrugs as she stops the car. "Just, don't let PJ find out. He might lose his mind", Taissa says. Bunny flips the girl off before taking her seat belt off. The girls exchange goodnight's before Bunny hops to her front door.

"I'm home", she yells, knowing her father stays up late every night. "Hi, honey!", Phil's voice echoes from upstairs.

As Bunny does her everyday nightly routines, she doesn't get the same satisfaction as she usually would. As she brushes her teeth for the third time, the only thing she can think about is a certain bleach-blonde winger.

A few hours later, Bunny still can't sleep. She's been waiting to hear the front door click, but the Hopper house's perfect silence hasn't been disturbed. When the clock strikes three, Bunny gives up. The only person she knew she could call was the last person she wanted to talk to right now.

Bunny knows Natalie's home number by heart. She has to. It's the only number she can usually get a hold of her brother. The line rings a few times before someone picks up. Bunny twirls the telephone wire around her finger as she looks around her dark kitchen.

"Hello?", she asks, nervously. What if Natalie's mother picked up?

The other side of the line stays quiet for a while before scoffing, "Bunny?" It's Nat.

"Is PJ with you? He hasn't come home", Bunny asks.

"Yeah, we just came home. Do you wanna talk to him?"

"No, it's okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hey, Bunny."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for what you said today."

"You're welcome."

Natalie hangs up, but Bunny doesn't put the phone down for another minute.