𝐓𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐝𝐥𝐞

"My teen angst bullshit has a body count." I utter. My blazer is lazily slung to the side in an attempt to fight the sticky humidity that the island attacks us with.

"Try not to dwell on it." Simon smiles kindly. The tide crept up to our sitting positions, and swept over our feet. The water was nice and cool in the harsh temperature.

How do I not dwell on it? That'd not be his response if he only knew about the skeletons in my closet. My fingers lightly dig into the warm sand, designing shapes of ocean waves and variations of scribbles. 

Suicide gave Heather depth, Kurt a soul, and Ram a brain...

Back then, I unintentionally prayed for the death of Heather Chandler many times. Anyone would think, how could someone do such a thing by accident? I guess my mind curved my wording into metaphors rather than being so literal. I felt bad every time I did it, but I kept doing it whenever she would add another injustice to my life. I never realized how fucked up it was. I guess He was unfortunately listening all along. Praise Jesus, hallelujah, and whatever the hell else.

I don't know what the situation gave me, but I had no control in my life with JD. 

Jason Dean's desire to kill was brash. No matter how many times he performed an evil action, it never tamed the lingering urge in the back of his head. It's like trying to scratch a mosquito bite. Unlike a normal itch, the restless boil beneath the skin doesn't vanish after one fix. When you go to itch it, it merely intensifies. Then it becomes addicting, and the ability to halt whisks away. Feverish nails will scratch and scrape. Over and over until the skin breaks and bleeds. Nothing less but a gory mess and bloody hands. 

I was very well-liked in high school when Heather Chandler wasn't causing me strife. Even before the era of popularity, I was heavily involved in intellectual activity. When I was with JD, I was untouchable, far more than when I was with anyone else. Me and Heather Duke had one of our many fallouts. Rumors spread like wildfire, and she conjured up one about me having a three way with Kurt and Ram in the cemetery.

On Heather Chandler's grave.

Sick, I know.

Obscenities were painted on my locker. The rumors had been drawn on bathroom stalls and mirrors. It got me kicked off yearbook committee. I spilled about it to JD. He said he would have a civil talk with her, then the boys. I'll talk her down, Ronnie. That's what he said. Despite my doubts, I didn't protest.

Heather called out of school early that same day. Not a single part of me believes he had a "civil talk" with her. He threatened her with something, and I don't know what. Did I step forward about this? No. Two days later, Kurt and Ram were shot dead, and I was there, but not alone.

Through my trials of pure success during the time where I knew him, I had to give the guy credit. I have an exceptional memory, and a decent amount of common sense. We had little games and bets from time to time. Sometimes it would be fire practice on glass bottles to better our aim, or who could make a teacher crack about their sick sins. JD made people pay for simply looking at me wrong, and I claimed it wasn't to my knowledge. Despite my denial, there was always an inkling. I knew how he played. Even a fool could recognize that the flow of the wind was shifted in my favor.

Even thinking about it, a mix of admiration and horror swirls and churns in my chest.

"A glowstick needs to break before it can glow," I chuckled, curling my upper lip into a self-disgusted scowl as my eyes lasered into the unforgiving ground.

"But I think mine broke too much. Beyond any breaking point of a normal person."

"It would maybe help if you cleaned off that pigs blood." Simon points to my cheek. I blink a few times in surprise, grazing my finger tips over the scarlet stripe.

"Oh-" I gush, embarrassed. The time of the marking wasn't my proudest moment. I rub at the paint, and it easily flakes away by that point.

"Better." I note, feeling free in some way. We sit in silence, taking moments to breathe with the sea. My vision narrows to a thin line when I squint at the blue infinitely stretching out across the horizon.

"Veronica."

"Hm?" I turn my head slightly, raising a brow, the focus of my eyes still stuck the captivating view.

"You're around the little ones quite often, correct?" I turn my head fully to face him, curious as to where he was going with the subject.

"Yes..." I nod my head slowly, soon noticing that my blazer is sitting in the inch deep water. I scramble to retrieve it before turning back to Simon.

"It's going to sound weird but..." His eyes drift down to the ground, hesitating as he was seemingly confused about what he wanted to convey.

"Have they ever mentioned anything about a monster?" A serious look on his expression takes me aback, I furrow my eyebrows to the last word.

"Monster?" Something about it makes me want to laugh. Simon shrugs shyly.

"They have nightmares on the island, too, I guess." I shake my head at the thought of it and say, "They have wild imaginations, those kids." We rose up from the ground, dusting away the dry sand.

"Come on." A hand waves and I gesture for Simon to walk with me. I hastily wring out my soaked blazer.

"I'm assuming Jack's off with his hunters?" Simon piped the question. I blow hair out of my face. 

"Yeah. He's off hunting every day."

"I wish they'd help out more." Simon sighs. It's a nice fantasy, a world where those boys could do something useful.

"Yeah, Ralph has actually been wanting to have an assembly about that." I mention casually.

"Again?" He sounds as if it were mind blowing. I scoff, "Right?"

"If it hasn't gotten through to them the other five times, then it isn't worth wasting our breath."

I open my mouth to continue, but a group of boys near the assembly platform caught my attention.

Upon closer look, it was only one of the twins, Ralph, Piggy and some little ones buzzing in chatter. Well, the little ones were more so doing their own thing, and the older three were talking amongst themselves. That temporary numbness fell over my limbs as I find myself sprinting over to the group

"Who's on fire watch?" I blurt as my stomach churns. Ralph looks up at me, unconcerned.

"Tony and Luke are. At least they should be." And at that, the numbness washes away.

"I just wanna get off the island soon." I admit. Simon plops down onto the ground next to the little ones.

"I know how you feel." Ralph offers to share the burden. I sit next to Piggy, who hasn't said a word since Simon and I arrived.

"How have you been, Piggy?" I greet, presenting a smile. The hopelessly intelligent boy looks up from the piece of fruit he'd been eating.

"Exhausted. You see, Ralph and I are the only ones doing work around the island. Unlike you, and Jack, and those damned hunters that would rather run around with a painted face and all." Piggy's rant ended with a tone laced with venom that I hadn't heard from him before. Half a moment later, he visibly gasps at his own statement.

I go rigid. Of course, I was taken aback. A barrier of hesitation blocks my words before they can manage to escape.

"I -- What do you mean?" I cock my head to the side curiously. He shifted in his seat uneasily. Ralph makes eye contact with me, only to have him shrug.

"Jack is bad news, and you've been busy running off with him and doing God knows what! I thought you had decent standards and-" he pauses again, reacting anxiously to my pressing expression.

Without saying anything, I loll my head to the other side. Piggy gulps nervously.

"There's me and Ralph and have been working, and word has it that you're just one of Jack's sticky apples-"

I cut his words short by holding a finger up.

"That's what you think?" I laugh in what can almost be disbelief. Piggy tenses up a bit.

"I'm -- ok, wow." The air empties out of my chest as I try to take that all in.

Let's see how this is supposed to add up in Piggy's little mind. I've only gone on one hunt. I've been voluntarily watching these annoying little ones without order, and on my own call, too. I watch the fire more than I have to, I help build shelters and gather fruit with Ralph... What am I not doing? He called me a sticky apple -- a little term come up by incels to call us sluts.

"In case you can't remember, Piggy, I've been the one forced to watch these little kids. I insist on helping, but I get brushed aside. Then when I abide by your wishes, you get mad." My lips pursed as I wait patiently for a response.

"I..." Piggy's voice trails off, his head shook slowly as he tries to inch away from me.

"I help build shelters with Ralph all the time! And so does Simon, Simon helps." I point a finger to the usually quiet boy. His eyes darted between Piggy and I, not wanting to be a subject of conversation.

"I've only hunted once, Piggy! I've stayed on fire watch for longer than I had to just so I could cover for those damn hunters you hate so much. I hate them, too!"

Ralph stayed silent, yet he didn't seem fully surprised at my outburst.

"If you truly think I'm a slut, then don't use dodgy words to get around saying it. You can also admit that you think of me that way instead of talking it up like someone else said it -- which you never seem to specify who." I spoke in a semi-threatening tone, crossing my arms. Simon pulls away the attention of little ones in the silence.

"Doesn't that seem offensive? Like all of the stuff I've done to keep a system up has gone to shit? Has really no one noticed?"

"No! I mean, yes, but-"

"If it were that big of a problem, you and Ralph could go take it up with Jack, but leave me out of it, please, if you can't face me with your feelings head on."

Hunters could be heard nearby, probably coming back from a hunt. The sound catches Piggy's attention. His body language morphed, as he looked twice as anxious. The kid didn't want to be caught by Jack when he was throwing that accusation on me.

"I-I'm sorry," he stammers. His head shoots back to the tree line, scared to face Jack.

"I was just upset with Jack -- that's all! I didn't mean to upset you! It doesn't feel right for him to be off with his hunters and having no responsibilities!" Piggy spills his words in mild panic. Up to now, I could hardly get a word in through his blabbering.

He kept checking the tree line to make sure Jack hadn't approached. The fact that he was that scared to have any confrontation with Jack concerned me. I was probably getting too worked up over the situation.

"You and him are together constantly and... no one has a good feeling about it! There, I said it."

My harsh expression falls, and my body relaxed from the tense state it was in.

"I'm sorry for trying to knock you off that high horse, Veronica," Piggy rudely pouts. My face screws up in confusion.

"I thought you were better than to hang around him," he continues. "You used to defend me."

Suddenly defensive, I interrupt. "I do defend you," I try to speak reason. Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, I see him roll his eyes.

"No, you don't."

I suddenly felt guilty. I was supposed to be the one person who didn't act like a total dick to him - never mind the moments where I'd lose patience with him, yet here I was. I fill my lungs with air and try to collect a thought.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," I say as dignified as possible. "However, I don't owe anyone anything. That goes for you, Jack, and the rest of em."

Piggy doesn't answer my half ass response and Ralph sits there squeamishly. Awkwardly, I start tangling my fingers together as we all marinate in painful silence.

"You aren't some sticky apple," Ralph finally breaks the tranquility. "And I'm sorry for brushing you aside so much."

Piggy's eyes widened at Ralph, like he was surprised that he'd remained so neutral. I look at the boy, waiting to see if he'd say anything. I guess he finally cracked under my gaze.

"I apologize for not taking your conditions into consideration."

Ralph's eyes were locked on me, along with Simon, the little ones, and the one twin.

Piggy tries to force a sheepish smile, and I can see it's a mask. "The island is stressing all of us out I suppose." That's rational. I nod in agreement.

"Truce?" A weak smile tilts on my face, though the small expression had to balance a cringe. I didn't need any rivalry or bad blood with anyone.

"Definitely." He agrees. I sit back down and sigh through my lips, creating that 'motorboat' sound. Something new caught my attention; the twin.

I can't quite tell if it's Sam or Eric. The thing that throws me off, is that they're separated. They're never apart.

"Hey." My fingers snapping yanks him out of his daze. He looks up at me questionably. Another pang in my gut erupts when I notice he seems so lost for some reason.

"Where's your brother?" I glance around to check if he had been anywhere nearby to no avail.

He noticed how I didn't say a specific name, hinting that I wasn't sure which twin he was.

"Sam, is with the hunters." he states flatly, rolling his eyes at the mention of his brother. I jerk back in confusion. Ralph had the same look on his face.

The twins were always together. I couldn't put my finger on a word to describe his mood. He seemed so barren, like he was just missing something.

"Did you guys have an argument?" I try to say casually to show that it wasn't the most interesting thing. In actuality, I wanted to know so bad. Eric scoffed at my question, sending me into even more confusion.

"He just thinks that he's better at everything." Ah, twin quarrel. I raise a cheek, partially amused.

"What did you guys argue about?" Piggy chimes in. Eric opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a ringing howl.

Hunters.

The ground vibrates as the rumpus of boys bulldozed their way over, howling in victory. Jack led the chaos over, clad in the harshly applied pigs blood out of the velvety jungle.

Eric kept his focus on the ground, likely not wanting to make any eye contact with Sam.

Jack let out a whoop of triumph upon arriving at our spot, thrusting a spear in the air. I smirk at him, shaking my head slightly.

"Greetings and salutations," he solutes playfully, flashing a charming grin my way. I rise up with a bit of pep.

"You got a pig?" I muse hopefully. Jack exchanges a sheepish glance to Luke. 

"Well no-" 

My face falls at the start of his sentence.

"Then was all of, that-" I wave my finger at the group of boys with a disgusted expression. "-Necessary?" 

Jack laughs and snakes an arm around my shoulders.

"The extreme always seems to make an impression," he repeated the old quote.

Without warning, he dips down, pressing his soft lips to mine. I groan in annoyance against his mouth as I had little time to react. Boys wolf-whistle at the action, giggling amongst themselves.

"Mhm." I hum sarcastically shove him off. That's when I notice the glares from Piggy and the blank expression from Ralph. Wasn't my best course of action after that last conversation, I'll admit. Without giving their indications any regard, I look away awkwardly.

Roger surveys Jack and I, his eyes lingering on me before focusing his attention elsewhere.

"Well," Ralph starts to catch the hunters attention. "We're all here now."

"Okay, wanna certificate for stating the-" I elbow Jack in the arm to stop him from finishing the phrase.

"What the hell?"

"Shut. Up." I say through gritted teeth, barely moving my lips.

"I'm calling an assembly." Ralph regains a new tone authority. The rowdy hunters groaned at the call.

"Hold your horses, Fearless Leader." Jack holds up a hand for extra theatrics. Ralph arches a cryptic brow as Jack motions for a few hunters standing back to come forward. Robert and Pablo come up, and are holding two jackets like potato sacks -- they're filled with something, I just don't know what.

"We didn't bring home a pig, but we brought home something," he grins proudly. The two hunters open up the jackets to reveal piles of bright red fruits that remind me of apples in a way.

"Fruit." Ralph staggers, almost as a disheartened statement to himself. I look at Jack who flashes me a quick wink. Dumbass.

"Alright, hunters, please treat these fine people," he bows in a pseudo-formal gesture.

"Acting funny won't make you any less of a presumptuous douche," I remind him. Jack bobs his broad shoulders carelessly.

"Eh, and it won't stop you from sneaking away with me either, so there's that."

My face flushes red with a heat wave as his friends begin to snicker their nasty little laughs. However, the hunter boys start passing fruits around to hungry hands as quickly as it happened. The little ones bounce up and down anxiously like baby birds, waiting for their fair share. I watch as Peter sinks his teeth into the firm red fruit, the inside being revealed to be just as vibrantly crimson as the outside.

Juice began to dribble down chins, absentmindedly causing my mouth to water. When Roger handed me the fruit, I didn't even think twice about eagerly taking it, despite his long stare.

"You're welcome for the fruit, everyone!" Jack obnoxiously calls out. He turns to an unimpressed looking Ralph, and mockingly steps up to him.

"What's that, Fearless Leader?" He cups a hand to his ear as if he's listening close.

"All our past endeavors are forgiven? Great! Kumbaya to that!" He roughly elbows Ralph in the side and slumps off. I roll my eyes and share an exhausted look with Ralph as everyone sits down to eat. I can't help but laugh at how outlandish Jack manages to present himself time and time again.

I walk off a short distance away from the boys for some peace, sitting atop one of the nearby boulders. Jack saunters over with his usual display confidence.

"You know, you never manage to impress me with how immature you can act," I say indifferently to his upbeat attitude. Jack occupies the spot next to me on the boulder, tossing his own fruit up and catching it mid-air.

"Chow down, princess," he smirks before taking a bite. I eye him cautiously before moving the fruit to my lips. Suddenly, I'm mildly frightened to feel Jack's hand grip my wrist before I could bite down.

"Wait-" he blurts. My brows are narrow and slightly annoyed now.

"What?" I snap. Jack snatches the fruit from my hand.

"This one's no good," he shakes has head as he looks at it closer. I arch a brow and finally see what he has noticed. There's a thin gash imprinted in the flesh of the fruit, leaking juice.

"It's prolly full of bugs."

My nose scrunches in disgust. "Then toss it, I'll get another one-"

"-Hold up," Jack cuts me off yet again. My jaw clenches in natural response to Jack and his annoying antics.

"If you interrupt me one more time-"

"- You'll live," he insists. The boiling sensation begins to bubble in my gut until Jack pulls out his pocket knife, and begins dissecting the fruit across the top half. Any anger I formerly had dissipates as I watch him curiously. When he digs in deep enough, squinting with focus, he reaches into the wound and pulls something out. My heart goes heavy and cold, like a block of ice

"What the fuck?!" Jack hissed to himself. My face goes pale at the sight of glass that had been pulled out of the fruit. No fucking way. My brain begins to do loopty-loops at the close call we just endured. Jack looks at me, matching a face of horror. I searched his face for a rational explanation, but none was tangible in the void of confusion.

Swallowing the clot of anxiety in my windpipe, my head cranes back with a rickety motion in search of the person who handed me the fruit. Low and behold, Roger is already staring back. My chest fills with ice cubes when the bitter realization freezes over. I snap my gaze away back onto Jack, who is staring down at the glass in contemplation.

"The..." my words fail me. Thoughts wouldn't gather. Okay, it's confirmed. The glass thing is personal. But why?? Jack sets his jaw and roughly stands up.

"Who the hell-" 

I yank him back down with all my force before he could even get halfway through with the phrase. It only caught a few boys attention thankfully.

"Shut up," I say urgently. Jack looks wildly thrown off, staring at me as if I had a gun pointed to his head.

"What?"

"Don't say anything." I spoke through gritted teeth. "Please." My desperation poured from my lips.

"Veronica, someone literally put fucking glass in your food." He spilled critically, shaking the shard a few inches from my face.

"See this??" He rapped an index finger against a smooth side of the glass. "This isn't a worm!"

"Well, no shit!" I shot back with even force. The possibility of finding a razor blade in my Halloween candy during my era of childhood youth seemed more likely than ever finding a shard of glass in some fruit.

"You know what?" Jack breaks the silence.

My face twitches slightly. "What?"

"One of those dumbass hunters must've thought they were being funny by slipping glass into the fruit." He looks at me. "You got it instead of anyone."

He said it like a realization. I begin shaking my head, but he continues on.

"It's good I was able to catch it in time. Hell, when I find out who-"

"Leave it alone, Jack." I wave him off with exhaustion. 

"It's like you said..."

My eyes flicker back over to Roger, who is now looking away. 

"It was probably some dumb kid who doesn't think about the consequences to his actions..."

"I'm sorry," he sighs apologetically. "I'll get you more fruit-"

"- I'm not that hungry actually." I buzzed my lips and pull my knees up to my chest. Jack goes silent, staring at the glass in hand. My heart began to wind down from its marathon run when I came to terms with things - Roger was actually trying to harm me. He was actively doing so. Ralph abruptly stood back up, putting eyes on him.

"Time for the assembly now. No more stalling."

I'm snapped out of my droning thoughts. Despite everyone already being here, Ralph puts the cream colored shell to his mouth, blowing with his diaphragm to create that trumpet sound. Jack tossed the glass off into the bush and groaned along with everyone else.

"C'mon." He takes my hand and helps me off the boulder.

"Okay, I've said it once, I'll say it again, Jack. You and your tribe need to stop messing around, and focus on the important things here." Ralph begins his amplified critiques off strong.

"We need meat." Jack argues, joining with the rest of the group. I can't help but laugh softly at the worthless response.

"Jack, no. We need to put rescue before the pigs, and blood. We already have food. If you run around hunting all day, we'll get nowhere!"

Piggy nods his head approvingly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Hunting is good, and perfectly fine," Ralph says evenly. "It's necessary even, but it can't take up your entire day."

"We need real food." Jack bluntly justifies.

"We already have real food." Ralph quickly invalidates the phrase.

The bitter hunter turned to me for moral support. I shrug my shoulders without saying a word. I had to agree with Ralph again on this one. Then again, there's hardly a time where I don't agree with Ralph.

"Everyone has been pitching in. It can't be the same few people doing the same thing all the time."

It's clear Ralph is progressively getting more annoyed. I understand why he's fed up, though. He takes a deep breath before he continues his lecture to Jack.

"For instance, Veronica helps out more than you and any of your hunters," Ralph motions at me.

Jack flashes me a cool look, expecting me to say something, but it's not my place. They can argue back and forth all they want.

Typical men.

"Can I have the conch?" I raise my voice over all the debating voices talking over each other. Roger glowers as Luke exaggerates a scoff.

"No one gives a shit." Luke mutters under his breath, while that odd darkness in Roger's spirit returns. It's written all over his face. I clench my jaw and try not to glance at him. The venomous anger was bubbling behind my ribs.

"Sure," Ralph said simply, expecting me to put an end to the disagreement.

Jack crosses his arms, sighing as I retrieved the shell. Shaking it away, I put on a confident stance.

"I mean, Ralph's right, Jack..." I say softly.

"If that keeps up, you could cause something bad to happen..." My voice trailed off as I tried to evaluate the statement.

"How so?" Luke pressures, the scowl slowly growing on his face. 

"What if the one time you guys skip out on fire watch, a ship or a plane comes by? No one else will be there." I weigh different reasons. Luke quickly speaks up against me.

"The thing is, I know what you're trying to do, and so does Jack." Jack in question makes a face, literally having no clue of what Luke meant.

"Everyone knows." Roger drops a comment in.

"You don't have the conch, I do, so shut the fuck up, Roger. Please." The assertiveness finally kicked in, allowing me to stand my own ground. The hunters howled, amused at my backlash.

He shrugged as if to say, "have it your way," and his eyes drift up and down my body, biting his lower lip.

"Lay off her, okay?" Jack whispers, before crossing his arms again.

"Thank you, Jack. But I think I can handle hearing whatever he says. I don't need any acts of chivalry..."

Jack raises an eyebrow, and glances at Roger, who is seemingly impressed with my will.

"Chivalry is dead, and women killed it," says Luke dismissively. My jaw sets.

"Clever. I've heard that one. I don't think it's dead." 

"Why is that, darling?" Luke asks suddenly. "Are you too fragile to open doors for yourself?" He puts a sarcastic hand on his chest. "Or! Are you too good for that stuff?"

"Hmm," I laugh bitterly through my nose, looking at him with defiance as flames heat beneath the skin of my face. 

"You're so funny it's insufferable." I say bluntly, momentarily tugging at the end of my skirt to keep it from blowing up, due to the cool breeze.

"You know what's insufferable?" Luke quickly counters. "You pretending like you're so righteous while flaunting yourself with every passing second, then complaining when it gets you attention." 

"Is that so??" I gush disingenuously, putting on a faintly manic smile. "I had no fucking clue that I was so transparent." The second phrase drops all deceptive pleasantries, renewing the harsh-bitten words.

"Well I'm glad it's crystal clear now," Luke matches my facade with his words. Clenching my jaw, I exit that little side conversation. 

"The point is; if that does happen, we'll get nowhere. Hell, it's already proven that we haven't made progress on this damned island."

Fed up with Luke and Roger's breathy remarks, I spitefully toss the conch to Ralph. He gave me a look before speaking up.

"Thank you... Veronica," he says my name hesitantly. Snickers were heard amongst the boys. I look around at them. A few young children had a single red stripe, and the older ones had two; one on each cheek.

I notice one of the twins. It was obviously Sam, since he had been the one off hunting. He seemed unbothered, quietly teasing around with other boys.

I turn my head to see Eric. He looked sad. I took note of how he would occasionally turn his head anxiously to Sam, disappointed that his brother seemed fine without him. They'd make up soon, I know they will.

I snap out of my zone. Ralph's rambling had been background noise in those moments.

"And another thing..."

"Too many things!" Jack loudly mocked. Him and Roger snickered to each other, amused.

Ralph takes a slow breath to keep himself together before speaking calmly again. I can tell he was getting fed up with Jack's bother.

"And another thing... We need to make the schedule stricter. It would be easier with getting things done, and that way, everyone puts in equal work"

Jack groans in annoyance. The other boys murmur to one another, pouting.

"Sounds fine to me." I say simply, giving a small shoulder shrug. Ralph smiles at my support. I turn to my right to look at Jack. He stares back at me, confused, but quickly looks away.

"A sundial could help with making a stricter schedule!" Piggy chimes in excitedly.

"I don't know if we'll need that, Piggy. We could easily do without it. So many of us have watches," Ralph replies. I add in my own two cents.

"It may not be the worst idea, though. We should consider it, Ralph." I reason. Seeing that I'm on board with the idea, he slowly caves.

"Well, we can definitely consider it then." He says approvingly. Piggy is beaming now.

Jack holds out his hands to take the conch.

"I haven't finished talking," Ralph says plainly. Jack's arms flop by his sides.

"But you've talked and talked!" He groans. My fists tighten up. Calm down. Then set him straight. I inhale a deep breath, and release the pressure in my fists.

"Jack, he has the conch," I state sternly, rubbing his shoulder. He doesn't answer. Instead, he focuses his vision to the ground, steaming with frustration.

"I guess that's all for now," Ralph relents. "Anyone else want the conch?" He holds it out. Jack doesn't take it like I expect him to. He just stares at me, his expression unreadable. I show a tight lipped smile. He presses his lips together, not exactly smiling though.

I feel a tug at my blazer sleeve. I look down at the source, faced with big brown eyes.

"Percival," I exclaim in surprise. I bend at the knees to get at his eye level. He motions for me to come closer, seemingly wanting to tell me a secret.

And so it went; him cupping his hands to my ear. I strain to hear his small voice as the whispers barely tickle my brain. My face screws up in perplexity.

What he tells me sends my mind to question what he's meaning, or what would have even caused him to think this.

"What's he saying?" Ralph asks softly as he gives me the conch, not wanting to make Percival shy away.

"Uhm- he wants to know what you're gonna do about the 'snake thing'," I explain slowly, completely unsure.

Murmurs arise from the crowd. Percival beckons me to come closer. My eyes widens at his odd manifest.

"He said he saw a monster in the trees."

Luke snorts, trying to hold back his laughter. I turn to Jack, assuming he'd be doing the same. He is.

I turn back in front of the young child, grabbing his small hands to comfort him.

"There's no monster, hun. It's just your imagination." I reason, half-heartedly brushing a thumb over his knuckle to calm his fears. He vigorously shakes his head in utter denial.

"No! I saw it in the jungle!" He's insistent, shaking the grip of my hands to convince me.

"I know about animals and I know about snakes, but no monster!" Piggy chirps, trying to be helpful. 

"See?" I quickly invest in those words. "He says he doesn't know of any monster, and he knows about all the animals."

"He's probably talking about the jungle vines." Ralph intervenes rationally. Percival's eyes widen. "He most likely saw them at night and got spooked."

"See?" I pipe vibrantly, giving a quick shoulder bob.

"No monster."

He shows a small smile that soon fades as he's not fully convinced.

"Well then that's that," Ralph finalizes. "You all know your responsibilities."

Saying nothing else, we all disperse from the area. I feel a hand wrap around my elbow. I turn, anticipating it to be Jack. Instead, it's Ralph.

"Oh!" I exclaim, a bit surprised. He nods his head, gesturing to Jack.

"Could you just take a bit of time to talk to him? He'll listen more to you than he will with me." He beckons quietly, with a pleading face, hoping I would grant the request.

"Of course, Ralph." I nod. "I was planning on talking to him anyway." 

He sighs in relief, clearly putting a lot of hope into my effort. "Thanks." He pats me on the shoulder awkwardly.

"Well, I uh- probably should get to that then." I point to Jack behind me.

"Yeah," he grunts in response and brushes past me.

Without wasting time, I jog over to the blonde. I survey the people sitting around him; There's Luke, of course. Roger was giving the usual stink eye. Tony, Rapper, Bill, and- Sam? Where is Eric in that case?

Sam's just sitting happily, unbothered about not being by his brother. I brush the matter away and tap Jack's shoulder.

"Hey, Vera," he says miserably. I feel Roger's harsh scowl burn in the side of my face. I grab Jack's arm to pull him closer.

"Can we talk?" I question in a low voice. My eyes dart in a different direction, then back to his.

"Like... now?" He glances back at the other boys.

"Yeah, we can. Let's go." Despite the weird mood, he still grabs my hand. I reluctantly intertwine our fingers. Hand holding isn't something I particularly enjoy. There's no apparent reason behind it.

We walk through the woods, getting a good bit of distance from the beach and people. I admire nature like I usually do, never getting to see anything like this back at home.

"Alright..." Jack finally breaks the silence. "What did you want to talk about?"

I slow our pace.

"I'm sure you already know what it's about." 

"Figured," he buzzes plainly. "I just wanted to get us all food." 

I give him a knowing look. I can assume he wasn't going to be mentioning the constant pig hunts, and putting us at risk on his own accord. 

"I mean- that's great, Jack. It is, but..." My voice trails off. 

"But what?"

"The hunting. It's too risky. We already have food, and we need to focus on fire and rescue-"

"-We need meat, Vera." He pulls away from me, making me flinch at the sudden movement.

"But -- it's not everything," I try to keep my voice calm. I reach to grab him, but he dodges my touch.

"What isn't?"

"The hunting, Jack! The pigs and blood- you're getting obsessed with it." My breath quickens at the need to beat the meaning into his brain.

"Please..." He scoffs, not taking my side into consideration.

"We don't need that fruit and the usual fish. We need real food. Face the facts, Vera. We're stuck here."

His words cut deep. But I'm not ready to accept the idea that we wouldn't get rescued.

"You don't know that, Jack!" I deny, shaking my head fast. He nods indifferently. 

"I do, though."

"Please, Jack -- just do it for your friends," I sound more desperate than intended.

"Not even for me, just do it for them. At least try to make an effort with the fire and rescue." I pause to try and read for a reaction. "If we don't get rescued soon, go back to your hunting. But please just pay attention to Ralph's orders before he loses it."

A hard line of confusion flickers across his face.

"Why do you say it like that?"

My face parodies in the same confusion, and the words deliver as a stammer. 

"What are you talking about?"

"You're saying it like I would be reluctant to do something for you." He doesn't hold back the disgruntled mannerisms. 

I pause and press my tongue to the inside of my cheek. 

"Face it, Jack. That's not really your thing."

Faintly offended, he jumps onto my words. 

"What? It is my thing, I-"

He pauses and let my sentence stew in the air, coming to the realization that he had nothing to back his statement up. Jack rubbed his free hand over his face, slightly messing up the red war paint.

"I mean, I guess I can try." He reluctantly agrees. "Would you want to come to the next hunt though? Like after we do all of the orders?" He stopped us in our tracks, and looked into my eyes hopefully. He gets closer, our chests pressed together.

I think about it for a moment. I don't want what happened last time to happen again. However, on the other hand, if it means appeasing Jack, which would ultimately then in turn benefit our path to rescue, I'd be willing to put myself through that ringer again.

"Rules come first," I answer ambiguously, leaving room for the hope I would accompany him again. Jack quirks the corner of his mouth then glanced down, grabbing both my hands.

"If we ever get off this island -- If... What would we do?" His eyes curiously drill into mine. I think about it, although I never gave the topic much thought before, and I'm surprised he's even bringing it up. I pull one of my hands away, and rub the brooch on my shirt. My fingertips run over the cool hard surface.

"Well, I don't really know," I say truthfully. 

"I don't even know what to consider..."

I trail off, words dancing on the tip of my tongue that I can't quite place. 

"Us." Jack finishes for me. Shifting uncomfortably, I gently show a nod of the head and continue. 

"I mean, you're asking me this like I'm your girlfriend or something." The sigh of a breathy laugh ghosts through my lips. Jack knits his brows at the remark, and I quickly shut my mouth. He seems to think for another moment longer, quickly recovering.

"If not here," he begins slowly, grumbling his words out of embarrassment. He for once doesn't look me in the eye, and is instead looking down as he plays with my rings with one hand. 

"I'd like us to figure it out - when we get back." 

My eyes soften.

"Together." Jack declared firmly.

My chest flexes at that final word. I make a face, a cross between a smile and a frown at the notion, feeling surprised by his sudden disclosure. Perhaps I was even a bit wary. I can't be sure. Acting out of instinct, I go up onto my tip toes slightly, inching to his lips. He leaned down to meet me halfway. We were so close until a loud brushing sound crashed through the moment.

"Roger!" Jack jumped, as the sudden sound gave him a fright. I more so jumped at Jack's shout instead of Roger intruding. It gave me that feeling of my gut dropping, and my heart froze. The feeling quickly melted away as it was only temporary. I'm very used to this emotion by now.

"I wondered where you went," Roger speaks flatly, giving us a blank stare. I pull myself away from Jack and step off to the side, wiping my mouth and keeping my other hand crossed over my midsection as if this will help me hide myself. 

He locks eyes with me, sending me into a mind spur. I furrow my eyebrows as his focus drifts downward, studying my whole frame. A self conscious feeling washes over me, and I swiftly cross my arms over my chest.

"Veronica has to talk about some stuff so can I catch up with you later?" Jack questions, trying to sound casual. Roger opened his mouth but was cut of by a screeching squeal.

A pig. Shit.

Jack shoots off past me. Actually, he practically collides with me as he forcefully darts to the source of the noise, not minding my presence, making me stumble into Roger.

"Jack!" I groan, mid-tumble. 

Roger steadied me by my waist. It wouldn't have been weird if it weren't for the fact that his hands lingered there for too long. I pull away and chase after Jack who had disappeared into the greenery.

He's already walking back, coming in my direction, looking defeated.

"Jack, what the hell?" I shriek. He runs a hand through his hair.

"Sorry. I thought I could catch it." Jack shrugs, making me groan in response to his lack of caution.

"Good God, Merridew." I stress, grabbing his arm. Roger chuckles at me, keeping his head low.

"He's a lot of work huh, Veronica?"

I make a face at the phrase. What the fuck does that even mean?

The foliage begins to rustle again, and another figure approaches behind Roger. Lo and behold, it's Luke. Wonderful!

"Yeah," he interjects. "What exactly were you guys talking about?" He cocks his head to the side in a taunting way.

"Literally about how you guys need to focus on rescue. Is that a problem?" I ask him dumbly, trying to call his bluff.

"Is that all you were doing?" Luke ambles over in a snide strut with the means to intimidate.

"Why do you care?" I bite back. Luke can only smirk, shrugging as Roger persists to loom over us with his height.

"What else would a girl like you do if she got alone with a guy in the woods?"

Who does he think he is? I begin to make my way for him, but Jack yanks me back.

"The fuck is that supposed to mean?" He interrogates for me. Silence hangs in the air like a dripping cloth. 

"Luke, what the fuck are you on about? You always have something to say when she's around, so lemme hear it." 

He strides forward in a challenging stance, Luke hardly flinching. I rub my temples in self-beratement.

"C'mon, Jack, I'm messing around." Luke tries to play it cool. Jack sets his jaw, his expression morphing to a scowl. I recognize it, immediately grabbing it by a hook.

"Okay! Well that's enough of that-" It's my turn to promptly tug Jack back.

"No, Veronica, it's-"

"Look!" I practically laugh. 

"I don't care about what a high-school-has-been and a Stephen King-movie-character-headass have to say about me!"

"Fine. Fuck you, too then."

I screw up my face in confusion. 

"What the hell, Jack?" 

"Since you want to always complain about how my friends are pissin' you off, and how I apparently don't see the matter-- You get peeved when I actually do say something. So fine. Deal with it if you want." He simply shrugs the matter off. I close my jaw and look away.

"I'd stick with her, Jack," Luke hums, his smug tone almost sounding musical with how casually lax he fronts himself to be. Jack doesn't respond. Those two are good friends, and for once I see them at a difference.

"Plus, you know we were kidding right, Veronica?" Luke lolls his head to me. 

"Right," I whisper.

"Right," Roger repeats, a flicker of emotion dancing across his face as he and I maintain eye contact.

Jack darts his vision between Roger and I.

"Whatever," he dismisses in exhaustion and walks a few feet off to the left.

"How about we just get back?" I quickly suggest, grabbing Jack's arms. Luke makes a motion to Roger - I see it in my peripheral vision. 

"C'mon!" I urge without trying to decipher their wordless communication. Tugging Jack's elbow proves to be futile.

"Bitch, stop," Jack grumbles under his breath and yanks his arm away. I feel my nerves wilt in dejection. 

"Sorry," he quickly corrects himself and clears his throat. "Didn't you want to tell me more before Roger got here?" 

Swallowing the knot in my throat, I answer quickly. Perhaps too quickly, that I don't seem sure of myself.

"No, why do you ask?" Bad recovery. I know it's a lie, and I'm sure Jack can see through my fronting just as I'm sure Roger can.

"You just seemed like you had a lot to say."

Jack never wanted to hear me talk about certain things. It's either all talk about hunting strategies, make out sessions, or conversations about life before the island.

"It was unimportant." 

Jack shakes his head.

"No, what is it?" His hand wraps around my elbow suddenly. I eye the tight hold.

"Nothing, Jack. Really."

"No. What is it?" His hand tightens ever so slightly. I furrow my brows, shaking my head, unsure of what to even say. 

"I- nothing. It's nothing."

"You always do this shit," he spews into a rant, it actually startles me. 

"If you're gonna make a bed, you fucking sleep in it -- so in terms of that -- if you're gonna prepare me for a conversation, you best finish it."

A word forms on my lips as Jack gives me those urging eyes, flashing blue. Random words pour out before I can give them a second thought.

"Yeah, uh, do you know what's going on with the twins?" I stutter out. It was the only thing that came to mind.

"What about them?" Luke interrupts.

"Shut up."

"What d'you mean, Vera?" Jack asks, unblinking. I mentally cringe at the childish nickname as Jack has yet to wear it out.

"Um... Never mind. I think they just had an argument. It's fine." I close off.

"They're siblings. Of course they'll argue." 

"Yeah, I guess I forget that sometimes. It's just shocking- confusing really. Never see them argue." I state. Jack remains silent, allowing awkwardness to fall over. I can only imagine he knows I actually had more to say prior to the entrance of Luke and Roger. 

"Let's go now," I urge, brushing through the foliage. Luke and Jack walk ahead of me, but I'm okay with that. I stop and stare at Jack's back as he continues walking. The new confusion which ails me the most is my thoughts for him. I don't comprehend the development of this situationship. Sighing, I start my way down to the beach.

"Keep in line," an oaky voice grumbles behind me. I jump at the breathy sound, turning to face Roger.

"Bite me," I hissed back. He smirked, looking me up and down. Grunting in annoyance, I whip around and march away as dignified as possible. A force stops me in a halt -- A certain warmth presses the inside of my thigh. Unmistakingly, it's a hand. I harshly gasped in surprise as I feel his chest touch my back, daring me to make a movement.

"Stay in line." he repeats. With nothing else to say, he jogs off to catch up with Jack, leaving me speechless.

I stare at him, wide-eyed. The feeling of his hands left a tingly sensation imprinted on where they once were. 

Stay in line

The warning tone prevails as a ringing in the back of my head, egging the matter on.

"How do you feel, Veronica?" Jason Dean's whisper echoes in the distance.

I turn my face up to the sky, and mumble up to it.

"I want the world to go away."

♕︎♕︎♕︎

♕︎♕︎♕︎

Who fucking knows if it's only because we felt like we were the last two people on Earth?