𝕮𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖞𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒 - Teen timeline

𝕱𝖎𝖋𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

"Excuse me!"
Veronica groaned as she lifted her head up, Laura Lee stood in front of everyone, pot and wooden spoon in hand.
"What the fuck, Laura Lee?" she groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"I have an announcement. In light of the expedition ending as it did, I have decided that I'm going to take the dead guys plane and fly south. I'm going to find us help and I'm going to get us out of here."
Veronica laughs.
She laughs and everyone looks at her strangely. "I'm sorry, you mean to tell me you're not kidding? Laura Lee. You're not a fucking pilot"

Laura Lee nods again.
"But y-you don't know how," Natalie sits up.
"I've been studying the plane manual for weeks, and I checked the gas tank, it's full. I use to watch my grandpa fly. He even let me steer a few times. I know that I can do this. You guys can't deny Van needs serious medical attention."
Veronica shook her head, "This is a bad idea,"

"Van's not the only one," Jackie stated. "Shauna, tell them."
"I-I really don't-"
"Tell them."
"Yeah, tell us," a few others chirp.
"I'm pregnant," Shauna admits.
Veronica's eyes widen, "What the fuck?"
"Did you get knocked up here?"
"No-"
"It doesn't matter when It happened, okay? It just matters that we get them both help"

"Alright, can everyone just... Laura Lee, you can't do this," Coach begins. "It's not even close to safe."
"There's no 'safe' anymore Coach Scott. It's going to be winter soon. If I don't do this, we're, we're all going to fucking starve"
"All right, well, I'm still the only adult here, so, no. I'm not going to let you do it."
Laura Lee keeps a firm stare, stepping towards the man.
"What are you going to do to stop me, Coach?"
Everyone turned to look at the man, who stood dumfounded.

~~~

Veronica and Natalie stood awkwardly in the kitchen, the air was thick and tense.
"Nat-"
"I just don't get it Veronica. Is it some deep rooted shit or is it me?"
"It's not you! I'm just- I can't say it,"
Natalie just shakes her head, biting her lip.
"Natalie, I'm just... I'm not ready to say it, I can't. It's like this fucking boulder forms in my throat when I try to say it. I can't Natalie, I fucking can't. I can't do this,"
"What does that mean?"
"I don't think...' Veronica feels tears well in her eyes as the panic and fear over come her.
The bitter, awful thoughts return, in some sick way, it almost gives Veronica comfort. It sure makes it easier for her when she blurts out

"I can't be with you. It's not going to work,"

Natalie looks at Veronica, tears welling in her eyes.
"Veronica, I don't care that you can't say it, we can talk this out-"
Veronica shakes her head, "No, no we can't. This, this is wrong and it never should have happened. We don't blend together. This was a mistake,"
Nat just glares at her, tears stream down her pale cheeks.
"Are you seriously going to throw all this away and ruin it over something so fucking stupid?"
Veronica looks at her, "I'm sorry, Nat. We're done,"

Veronica then turns around, walking outside, wandering in the forest, pausing when she sees Coach Scott, sitting by the water.
"Veronica? Are you alright?"
Veronica wipes her face, nodding, "Yeah, I'm fine,"
"Come sit,"

Veronica complies, sitting beside her coach, pulling out her cigarettes.
"Want one?"
Coach nods, taking it, "I thought we talked about your smoking,"
"Yeah well..." She pauses, lighting the smoke, "It's not like we're on the field anymore,"
Coach takes the smoke after Veronica passed it back to him, taking a puff, coughing slightly, Veronica laughs, "Are you a rookie, Coach?"
"It's been a while,"

Veronica nods as the two sit in silence for a moment.
"Are you and Natalie okay?"
Veronica looks at him confused, "How did you-"
"She told me. When you were talking to Jackie, we had a little talk. No judgement on my part, I mean I'm-"
"Gay? Believe me, I've noticed,"
"I was going to say supportive of you two, but, that works too,"
Veronica smiles, but it drops when the full realization of what happened earlier sunk in.
"I messed things up, Coach,"
"What do you mean?"

Veronica takes a deep breath. "Last night, Natalie told me that she, uh, that she loved me,"
"Oh, that's uh, that's a really big step,"
Veronica nods, "Yeah, and I, I didn't take it well,"
Coach nods, "In what way?"
"I kinda made a scene. I just, wanted to run away. I did the same thing with Danny, my last boyfriend. Then, I really fucked up today,"
"I'm sure it's not-"
"I broke up with her,"

Coach looks at her for a moment before taking a breath.
"Look, Veronica, it's not the end of the world to feel things and to allow yourself to open up to people,"
"It's not even just that, Coach, I mean... I really cared about Natalie, I still do. She was ready to say it and I wasn't. I'm scared that if I say it, something bad will happen and I'll lose her. It doesn't help I have all these stupid thoughts in the back of my mind that are making me second guess myself if I'm ready or not. And If I'm not ready to say those three stupid words with someone as amazing at Natalie then..."
"It's okay to not be ready yet, Veronica,"

"But what if I'm never ready?" Tears begin to well in Veronica's eyes, streaming down her cheeks slowly. "What if this was it? My one chance at actual love?" More tears stream down her cheeks, her voice becomes raspier, "What if I never get another chance?" she cries before wiping her face.
"I-I don't know, I'm just...sad. And I'm mad at myself for hurting Natalie and ruining everything,"

"Hey," Coach gently takes her hand, "You didn't ruin everything," he begins.
"Veronica, you're only 17, you don't need to have everything figured out right now, especially given our current circumstances. You and Natalie will figure it out, you always do. And by the way she was talking about you, I think that if you just talk to her, things will work out,"

Veronica nods, wiping more tears, "God, this is fucking embarrassing,"
Coach shakes his head, "Considering I've been your coach since you were a freshmen and this is the first time I've seen you cry, I would say you've actually done pretty good. I was beginning to think you were some kind of robot,"
Veronica laughs as she shakes her head, "No, I just show my emotions in the comfort of solitary,"
Coach nods, "I can't disagree with that,"

Veronica sighs as she looks down at her hands, "I'll talk to her, apologize and just, try to smooth things over,"
Coach nods, "Take things at your own pace, don't feel pressured to do or say anything you're not ready for. And those thoughts in your head? They do go away...eventually,"
"Thank you, Coach. I know listening to my teen angst bullshit while we're trapped in the wilderness isn't the best,"
"I'm happy to anytime, Veronica,"

~~~

Veronica helped everyone clear the way, getting ready for Laura Lee's take off.
Laura Lee went around, giving everyone hugs goodbye, pausing in front of Veronica.
Veronica playfully rolls her eyes, pulling the blonde in, "Bye Laura Lee, please, be careful,"
"I will, bye Ronnie,"
Everyone then joined in on the hug, turning it into a group hug.
Coach tried to convince her to stay, but to no avail, the girl was getting ready to take off.

The plane began to soar into the air, everyone began to cheer as they chased the plane all the way to the lake.
The smile washed off Veronica's face when she saw smoke coming from the helicopter.
"Is that smoke?" she hears Jackie ask, in the blink of an eye, Veronica stumbled back as the helicopter explodes in the air.

Veronica feels a few tears fall from her eyes as everyone around her cries and hugs each other.
Veronica looks over at Natalie, who tearfully looks at her, Veronica opens her arms and Natalie doesn't hesitate to hold her tightly as Natalie cries.
"It's okay, Nat," she soothes, but Natalie shakes her head, "I can't lose you and her in the same day, I can't,"

Veronica takes a breath, "You didn't lose me, Nat, I'm here, I'm here, Nat"