STRANGERS ♱ yellowjackets

10. running up that hill

BUNNY STANDS IN THE WATER, watching the small waves brush up to her bare knees. She wants to swim so badly, but with her shoulder, she is most likely going to drown. She decides to enjoy the cool water for a few more minutes before returning to the shore. She lets her eyes rest on the treeline, taking in every color the forest has to offer. Suddenly, something catches her eye. A blinking light, like a reflection.

"Guys", Bunny calls, turning her head towards the girls who are playing in the water. A few of them turn their heads towards the blonde. She lifts her hand up and points toward the blinking light, "I think there's something there!"

As the team makes their way up the hill, Bunny could feel her stomach tighten, like her gut was telling her something was wrong. She tries to distract herself by counting all the woodland creatures she sees on their way up to the blinking light. It wasn't until they arrived at a wooden cabin that Bunny's stomach dropped.

As the other girls began to bang on the cabin's door and windows, yelling for help from anyone that might be inside, Bunny stays back - her fingers fiddling with her shoulder-cast. Her eyes roamed over the cabin as she felt her stomach sinking.

"Bunny", Lottie's voice was barely a whisper, but she knew that tone. Bunny's eyes snapped towards her dark-haired neighbor. "Yeah?", she asked, her eyes searching for any information from the taller girl's face. "I have a bad feeling about this", Lottie whispers, her face holding disgust as she looks at the small cabin, her knuckles white from squeezing her bag straps. Bunny turns to look at the house again as well, breathing in the off-putting energy of the place. "Yeah", she confirms, agreeing with the tall girl, "I know exactly what you mean."

As Jackie storms out of the cabin it alerts the two girls. Bunny senses the distress that the girl leaks as she sits down on the porch. Bunny turns to look at Lottie with an unsure expression, "I should probably-"

"Yeah", Lottie agrees, her eyes on Jackie as well. Bunny makes her way to the captain, her eyes soft as she approaches the girl. Jackie wipes her face quickly, giving the girl a small glare. "What do you want", Jackie's voice is harsh, but filled with emotion which gives away how scared the girl must be. Jackie's posture is hunched as she brings her face into her hands, hiding her terror in her skin. Bunny frowns slightly, feeling incredibly bad for the girl.

"What happened?", Bunny pushes, feeling the responsibility to help her captain weigh her shoulders down as she leans against the porch pole. Jackie lets out a small scoff before shaking her head. She lifts her head up just enough so Bunny can see her big round eyes, "I don't need a fucking therapy session, Bunny, okay? I know you mean well, but can you just like - fuck off. Please."

Bunny's heart sinks a bit as she looks at the girl, feeling herself shrink smaller under the brunette's irritated gaze. Bunny swallows softly as she nods, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. "Sorry", she says, her voice coming out quieter than she wanted it to, as she turns her back to her friend. Jackie immediately feels bad but decides to talk to the girl later, wanting to sort out her thoughts now.

As Bunny walks into the cabin, dust and the smell of damp wood fills her nostrils. She coughs as a dust cloud fills the room.

"Hey, Bunny! Check this out", Van says with a huge smirk and holds up what can only be a porn magazine for Bunny to see. Bunny squints her eyes and takes a look at the blonde woman in the picture. Her face twists at the over-forced arc and the tackiness of the photo, the woman is beautiful though. "She kinda looks like you", Van says and does a dramatic wink that makes Bunny laugh instantly.

"Have you ever thought about the fact that Bunny Hopper is totally a porn name", Mari asks and flips the page of the magazine that Van is holding up. Bunny brings her hand up to her heart, pretending to be hurt by the girl's comment. "Mari, you are cruel!", Bunny says playfully and lets her face melt into a teasing smirk. Van shakes her head softly, "But hey, at least you'll know what career you can fall back on if Yale doesn't work out for you!"