STRANGERS ♱ yellowjackets

07. mary-jane

BUNNY STARES AT HER MARY-JANES, her eyes glued on the blood stains that cover the leather shoes. Her butt has grown numb about fifteen minutes ago, but standing up took too much effort on her own and she didn't want to ask for help. Besides, everyone was focused on taking care of their own wounds and finding their luggage, Bunny didn't want to bother anyone.

Her mind kept wandering back to the plane, going through the endless scenarios of her hitting her head on the floor a little harder, or if she had picked her seat closer to the end of the plane. Bunny came up with 121 different scenarios, but she counted the last one off - she needed even numbers.

It wasn't until the temperature started to drop down that Bunny decided to call for help.

"Uh - guys?", she started, her voice echoing awkwardly through the crash site. "Could someone-"

A scream echoes through the forest, causing Bunny's head to snap in the direction of the voice. It was Laura-Lee, it had to be. Bunny's brows furrow as she looks around, everyone seems to be running in the direction of the scream. Bunny squeezes her eyes shut, preparing herself mentally before pushing herself off the ground. It takes a good 37 seconds for her to get up. Bunny feels the blood as it starts rushing through her numb legs again, giving her just enough energy to limp toward the scream. Misty said that there's nothing wrong with her legs, the pain is just from the broken rib bones that are radiating to her bag and hips.

As Bunny reaches the tree everyone is gathered under, her free hand flies to her mouth. She turns her gaze down.  Natalie is the first one to notice her presence.

"Okay, who has the best arm?", Jackie asks, looking around the team that is gathered under the tree. Mari throws her hand up and answers with a shaky voice, "I do, Jackie."

Bunny squeezes her eyes shut still holding her hand over her mouth, growing even more disgusted at the scene in front of her as the girls begin to discuss whether they should throw shoes at their dead Coach or not. Shauna, thank God, interrupts the discussion and knocks some sense into the situation.

"Okay, guys. Stop it. We need a plan here", she says with a stern voice, coming to Jackie's rescue.

"We could lower him with ropes", Laura-Lee suggests, holding her teddy bear close to her chest. Natalie gives the girl a look as if saying 'Are you fucking kidding?' Everyone goes silent, causing Laura-Lee to continue with a panicked voice, "Vines, then? I don't know!"

"Fuck's sake, Laura-Lee, we're not gonna Tarzan him out of a tree", Natalie snaps at the girl, causing Bunny to finally snap out of her trance. She feels her stomach twist again, finding ill comfort in the annoyance of the bleach-blonde's voice. It feels so familiar.

"You got a better idea?", Jackie shoots back at the burn-out, causing Natalie to spread her hands in annoyance, "Than shoes and vines? Then, sure let's just cut the fucking tree down!" For the first time, Bunny speaks up, "Maybe we should-"

"Dad?", Travis' panicked voice booms over the blonde girl as he runs to the tree, causing everyone to yell again. Misty runs off to get some blankets in case someone falls off. Bunny's eyes are glued on the climbing boy, "Travis, on your left!", she yells, causing the boy to notice a branch to grab on. "Don't encourage him", Jackie snaps at the blonde girl, who doesn't even spare a glance at the captain. Her eyes follow the boy as he climbs the branch his father is on. She is the first to notice the branch breaking.

"Travis, get back!", she yells, causing the other's to do the same. As the branch began to slowly crack and fall to the ground, Bunny froze, her eyes glued on their pierced coach in terror. Natalie grabs the girl from the back of her shirt, yanking her backward into her arms as the tree branch hits the ground with the coach. Natalie manages to look away at the right moment, but Bunny's eyes stay on the now-for-sure dead man. Natalie's hand slides down from the girl's back to the elbow of her healthy arm, tugging it slightly so Bunny would turn around, but as Natalie's own eyes find the dead man she can't do anything else but freeze as well. It isn't until Bunny takes a few fatal steps backward and crouches over to vomit into the bushes that Natalie snaps out of her trance of terror.

"Shit, Bunny", Natalie says with a shaky voice as she watches the girl vomit out the entire content of her stomach. The older blonde hesitates for a long moment before stepping closer to the girl and bringing her hands up to her hair, gathering it up from the way. Bunny tries to shrug the girl off, but Nat stands her ground, not letting the younger Hopper twin's pride win this time. The moment gives both of the girls an unpleasant flashback to a night in their junior year when PJ held a house party and Susann-Rose drank too much. Since Nat was staying over, she had to take care of the younger girl. Neither of them ever talked about that night again, but they both remembered it vividly. 

When the night began to fall, the team used the blankets to carry their dead coach back to the plane. As Bunny walks a few feet behind Natalie and blood-covered Travis, she notices the flask passing between the two teenagers. Something weird twists inside her chest, as her face forms into a frown. Bunny blames her weak state for the unknown feelings she can't name, so they wouldn't send her into a spiral. And it works, she pushes the feeling down until it doesn't exist anymore.

Bunny stays outside with the others as Laura-Lee, Van, and Taissa go inside the plane. Bunny feels completely useless as the others gather firewood and start a small fire to keep everyone warm. "Hey", Nat calls softly as she sits down next to the blonde. Bunny's eyes are fixed on the dancing flames when she hears the girl's voice. Natalie's tone is lacking the usual edge, causing Bunny to cock a brow. "Hi", she answers and turns her gaze back to the fire. Natalie clears her throat, unsure of what to say next. No words could describe the gratitude she feels for the young girl, and also the need to scold her for risking her well-being like that. Before Natalie can thank her, Bunny opens her mouth.

"You don't need to thank me. You pulled me aside earlier - we're even now."

Bunny's voice is almost dismissive as if she is annoyed by the fact that Natalie prevented her from getting crushed by the branch. Natalie's brows furrow as she looks at the girl's profile. Bunny doesn't spare another glance at the older blonde, feeling the familiar jealousy bleed back into her veins and rushing through her body. She feels like shit and she needs to get it out somehow.

"Even?", Natalie repeats with a scoff, coldness returning to her tongue.

Before Bunny can answer, Taissa returns from the plane and sits down next to her best friend. Bunny turns to look at the taller girl with a small smile, leaning her head on her shoulder. Natalie shakes her head as she bites the inside of her cheek. She turns to look away from Bunny, cursing the girl's name over and over in her head.