𝕽𝖚𝖓 𝕽𝖆𝖇𝖇𝖎𝖙 𝕽𝖚𝖓 -Yellow Jackets

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝔂 𝓢𝓲𝔁

Elizabeth sat in the cabin, tears streaming down her face. 
Her mind was swarming, she had no idea if Natalie would get away or not, but she prayed. 
For the first time since the age of 13 outside of church and the small prayers Laura Lee made them say before games, she prayed. 

"Natalie!" she heard Travis yell. 
She shot up so fast her head began to spin, but she sprinted out, sobbing in relief when she saw Natalie standing beside Travis. 
"Lizzie," she cried as Elizabeth crushed her in a hug, holding her so tightly, being scared that if she let go she would disappear. "Oh my god," Elizabeth sobbed as she held her girlfriend. 
Elizabeth looked up from where her head was buried in Natalie's shoulder, seeing everyone carrying a body. 

Javi's body. 

Natalie pulled out of the hug momentarily. 
"Travis. It all happened so fast. The wilderness chose," 
Travis shakes his head, "No," tears are streaming down his face. "No. No. No!" he sobbed, rushing to Javi's frozen body. 
He sobbed over his frozen body as everyone slowly piled inside, leaving him to have a few moments with his now dead brother. 

Elizabeth tugged the crying Natalie away, as soon as they were inside in one of the bedrooms, Natalie pulled Elizabeth into a tight hug, sobbing into her shoulder. 
"I-I was so scared, Lizzie," she sobbed, her knees giving out, she was cold and shaking, Elizabeth slowly brought her to the floor, grabbing a blanket, wrapping it tightly around her. 
"I can't imagine how scared you must have been," 
Natalie wrapped her arms around her girlfriend even tighter, her sobs growing louder as she buried her face in Elizabeth's chest. 
Elizabeth ran her fingers through Natalie's hair, trying her best to soothe her. 

"I'm so sorry. I-I'm so sorry I-" 
"Shh, it's fine, it's fine, you don't need to apologize Nat," 
"Please don't l-leave me, I don't w-want to be a-alone," 
"I won't Nat, I promise. Please, try to take deep breaths, okay? Can you do that for me?" 
Natalie hiccups as she tries to get full breaths out. 
"You're doing great, Nat," 
Natalie calmed down a bit, wiping her eyes as she sat in front of Elizabeth. 

"I'm a horrible person Lizzie," 
"What? No you aren't," 
"But I am," she looks in Elizabeth's eyes. "I'm the worse one here," 
"Nat-"
"I let him die in my place Lizzie. He was taking me somewhere safe, then the ice began to crack. Before I knew it, he was falling through the ice and I tried to save him, I really did. Then Misty tackled me and stopped me. I watched him drown and his last words were him pleading for my help, saying my name. And I didn't save him, he died in my place," 
Elizabeth took a breath, tilting her head, tears welled in her eyes. "Listen Nat, you aren't a bad person. You aren't. I know it feels like it may be right now, and it might for a while, but you aren't a bad person," 

Natalie shakes her head, "But I am-" 
"Hey," Elizabeth grabs Natalie's face gently. "You, are not a bad person. You are a 17 year old teenage girl who is trying to fucking survive," 
A tear runs down Natalie's cheek, Elizabeth takes her thumb, gently wiping the tear away.
Elizabeth pulls the girl into a kiss, Natalie happily kisses back. 
The kiss is soft and sweet, it makes Natalie feel nothing but love from her girlfriend. Elizabeth pulls away first, a small frown tugs on Natalie's lips as she does. 
Elizabeth rests her forehead on Natalie's, holding her tight, "I'll always love you Natalie, and I'll never think you're a bad person," 
"I love you too Lizzie," Natalie whispers, pulling the girl in for another kiss. 

~~~

Elizabeth held Natalie as she stared blankly ahead of her, the guilt was eating her alive, Elizabeth could tell. 
Elizabeth felt like a horrible person as she wasn't focusing on the fact that Javi died, rather that Natalie survived. 
Elizabeth thought about how if she didn't interfere, Javi would be alive, Travis wouldn't hate her and her girlfriend wouldn't be in her arms right now. 
Javi was a good kid, a kid who Elizabeth knew would of had a bright future ahead of him, who had a heart of gold, but none of that mattered out here, not anymore.