𝕮𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖞𝖉𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖒 - Teen timeline

𝕰𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖓

Veronica and Natalie were doing the exact same thing they had been doing for the last two months. 
They would get up before the sun, the bundled up, doing everything possible to keep themselves warm and to protect themselves from the freezing air outside, then hunted for anything for the group to eat so they wouldn't die of starvation.
They would walk as quietly to the door as possible, waiting for Lottie to do her ritual.
They put their hands out, allowing Lottie to smear ash on them, Veronica had to repress a gag as Lottie dropped her blood into their tea and they had to drink it. 
They both hold their breaths as Lottie sages them, Natalie has to suppress her eye rolls while Veronica has to try her best to not stick her nose up at Lottie with logic and facts and the fact that this probably isn't doing anything. 
But she doesn't talk Lottie's ear off. 
She doesn't complain. 
She knows Lottie is doing it from the goodness of her heart and truly believes that this will help them. 

"It's not like this Wicca bullshit is doing us any good,"
"Well, you keep coming back alive, don't you?"
Natalie looks her up and down before hesitantly sipping the drink, passing it back to Veronica, who also takes a sip.
"Thanks Lott," she whispers.
Lottie nods, "You're welcome Ronnie, be safe," 
They then put their face shields on, the fabric helping so it didn't feel like their noses were on the verge of falling off. 

"Thanks, Lot," Natalie playfully mocks, taking Veronica's hand. 
Veronica playfully rolls her eyes, "She deserves a bit of thanks for getting up at the ass crack of dawn with us," 
Natalie nods, "It's fucking freezing out today," 
Veronica nods in agreement, "I'd give anything for some nice tea and honey right now," 
"Why would you need honey when we have Lottie's blood in our tea," 
Veronica scrunches her nose, "God, that's my least favourite part of all this who doo witch shit," 

The two walked in silence for a moment, Veronica was the first to speak up, tugging her mask down. 
"Do you think he's still alive? Javi, I mean," 
Natalie turns to look at the girl, "Veronica, it's been two months, no food, freezing cold weather, lets be realistic here," 
"I mean..." Veronica trails off, "What if he found a cave or some shit? Ate berries and insects? Or fish? Melted the snow for water? There is-" 
"There is also a chance we are getting our hopes up for no reason and that is not what Travis needs right now. False hope. I mean, Jackie was only out there for..." Natalie trails off, seeing the look on Veronica's face. 

Taissa had helped take Shauna inside, Veronica felt the tears stream rapidly down her face as her eyes locked on Jackie's corpse. 
Her back was facing the group, it wasn't until Natalie lightly touched her shoulder, her eyes tore away from her corpse. 
"Ronnie, lets head inside, okay?" 
Veronica nods, walking straight past everyone, heading straight for the empty bedroom, frantically trying to wipe her eyes. 

Natalie followed her, shutting the door softly, pulling Veronica in for a hug. 
Veronica cried into Natalie's shoulder, holding onto her tightly as sobs racked her body. 
"Shh, it's okay, it's okay," Natalie gently brought them down to the floor, holding Veronica tightly. 
Veronica pulled away from Natalie's shoulder, wiping her face, "I can't believe it," 
"I know," 
"She was fine last night. We could have saved her Nat! We could have brought her in and she would still be here with us! I could have stopped her, I could have brought her in" she cried.
"Hey," Natalie softly wipes the tears streaming down Veronica's pale cheeks, "You can't do that. You can't blame yourself. It's not your fault," 
Veronica looks down at her lap, "Yesterday, we had a heart to heart, and she said she was unlovable after everything that happened with Shauna and Jeff, I told her she wasn't and I told her I loved her, then she died," 
Natalie pulled Veronica in closely again, gently rocking her back and forth. 

"Sorry," Natalie whispers, "I shouldn't have brought her up," 
Veronica shrugs, "It's fine," she takes a breath, "I mean, I just hope we find something, for closure," 
Natalie nods, "Yeah, I hate seeing Travis like this," 
Veronica nods, giving Natalie's hand a squeeze. 

~~~

As soon as the girls made their way back, Travis was running up to them. 
"Did you find him?" 
"I'm sorry, Travis," Veronica shakes her head, "There was nothing," 
"You guys need to start getting up earlier, staying out later, I mean, fuck I'll start coming with you to cover more ground," 
Veronica nods, "Yeah, sounds good, Travis,"
"We could probably start another hour before sunup," Natalie begins. "If Javi's still alive..."
Travis shoots her a look and Natalie shudders a bit. "I-I mean farther out makes sense."
Travis just nods, turning around and heading back inside. 

~~~

Veronica and Natalie walked into the Coach's room, "Hey, Coach," Veronica mumbles, fiddling with with the sleeves of a jumper she stole from Natalie.
"How did it go?" he asks, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. 
"Great. Except the part where we failed for the millionth time," Natalie says.
"But," Veronica pulls a piece of paper from the pockets of her sweater. "At least, there's this," she hands it to Coach.
"Wow, these are getting pretty good."
Natalie nods, Veronica rocked on the balls of her feet. Coach passes it back to Veronica, Natalie helping him pull out the giant board the trio had began to make.

Veronica places it on the spot Coach pointed.
"Okay, so like seven miles in each direction?"
"Ballpark, zero sign of game," Natalie sighs.
"Or Javi," Veronica looks at the two.
"You know...At this point...I mean...There's no conceivable way"
"We know."
"But, you know, Travis"
"We have to try, for a little longer,"
"Yeah, Yeah that's gotta be tough,"
"He'll be okay, Coach"

~~~

Veronica sat with Natalie at the fireplace, the blonde's head rested in Veronica's lap. 
She played with her bleached blonde strands, her roots had grown out a pretty decent amount, a reminder of how long they had been stuck here. 
"Hey," 
Veronica looks over, Travis sitting beside her, "Hey," 
"It's pretty late," Travis looks at the girl. 
"Yeah well, I don't get much sleep anymore," she pauses, "Besides, who needs Saturday morning cartoons when you have a fireplace to stare at?" 
Travis laughs, Veronica cracks a smile, looking down at her watch. 

The batteries had run out a little bit ago, but she still wore it every day. 
"Veronica?" 
Veronica looked up, "Sorry, I must have zoned out," 
"It's fine, I was just asking how you were...in general?" 
Veronica let out a small chuckle, "Fucking peachy, how about you?" 
"About the same," 

The two sat in silence for a few moments, Veronica looked down at Natalie, smiling as she gently continued to play with her hair. 
"You know, I was kinda scared being stuck here with you," Travis begins. 
"Really? Why?" 
"I mean, no offence, but I thought you would be kinda...mean?" 
"Me? I mean, sarcastic and a smart ass, yeah. But mean?" 
Travis smiles, "I mean, I know that now, I mean you have your moments where-" 
"Where I can be a total emotionless bitch? Yeah. Yeah, I've noticed that while we've been here," 
"I wouldn't say you're an emotionless bitch," 
"Well thank you Travis, I'm starting to like you a bit more," 

Travis looks at Natalie, "You know, she doesn't ever stop talking about you. It's like every time we talk it's 'Veronica this' Veronica that'. It's annoying as all hell, but I will say, she is wrapped around your finger, Howard," 
Veronica softly laughs, "Don't let her hear you say that," 
"I'm happy you two have each other," 
"Thank you, Travis. I'm happy I have her and she was willing to not give up on me after my many fuck ups," Veronica paused for a minute. 

"I hope you know, we are doing everything in our power to find Javi," 
"I know you guys think he's dead," 
"I never said that. But, I mean, it has been two months," 
Veronica looked over, regretting every bringing Javi up when she saw Travis beginning to have a panic attack.
"Travis, hey you're okay," she tries to soothe, but his breathing gets more erratic, waking up everyone.
Natalie stirs, sitting up, "What happened?"
"He's having a panic attack,"

Lottie stands in front of him. "Breathe with me Travis, come on you can do that. Breathing is the only thing in the world right now,"
Veronica watches as she calms him down with ease, Natalie got up to get him water.
"Your brothers alive." Lottie informs before getting pulled aside by Natalie.

"Really had to make a whole scene, hey?" 
Travis can't help but crack a smile, "I think this is the part where you're suppose to be nice and give emotional support" 
Veronica smiles, lightly patting his shoulder, "There. Better?" 
"I'll take it," 
"You better,"