Alani , Wren , Isa | 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟲
Wiskayok, New Jersey

The night was quiet, except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind and the distant hum of a passing car. Jackie carefully guided Alani up the stairs to her room, doing her best to keep her footsteps soft. Alani was leaning heavily on Jackie, her giggles slurred and her movements unsteady.

"Shhh," Jackie whispered as they reached the top of the stairs. "You've gotta be quiet. My parents are light sleepers."

Alani snorted, her head lolling onto Jackie's shoulder. "I'm like so quiet," she slurred, breaking into another fit of laughter.

Jackie sighed but couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, sure you are."

Once inside her room, Jackie shut the door and clicked the lock. She turned back to Alani, who was swaying slightly in place, her eyes half opened.

"Alright, come on," Jackie said, guiding her toward the bed.

Alani flopped onto the mattress with a dramatic sigh, sprawling out like a starfish. Jackie grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed and draped it over her.

"You're the best, Jackie," Alani mumbled, her words thick and slow. "I love you."

Jackie smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thanks, Alani. I love you too."

"No," Alani said suddenly, sitting up a little too quickly, her expression unusually serious. "You don't get it."

Jackie tilted her head, confused. "What don't I get?"

Alani's eyes were glassy, but there was an intensity to them that made Jackie pause. Before she could say another word, Alani leaned forward and kissed her.

It was quick, clumsy, and tasted faintly of alcohol, but it left Jackie frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.

Alani pulled back, her gaze softening as she murmured, "That's what I mean." Then, as if nothing had happened, she flopped back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her shoulder. Within moments, her breathing evened out, signaling she'd fallen asleep.

Jackie remained sitting there, staring at her in stunned silence. Her mind raced, replaying the moment over and over.

What the hell just happened? she thought, her fingers brushing against her lips.

———

As they walked up the dirt path to their trailer, the silence between them felt heavier than the cold evening air. The distant hum of a generator and the occasional bark of a dog were the only sounds in the small trailer park. Wren's gaze darted to Natalie every few seconds, her stomach twisting at her sister's clenched fists and stiff shoulders.

When they reached the front steps, Natalie yanked open the door without waiting, her boots thudding against the thin floor as she stormed inside. Wren followed, closing the door behind them and flicking on the overhead light.

The trailer felt cramped, the familiar clutter of dishes and jackets adding to the tension in the air. Natalie dropped onto the worn couch, elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.

"Nat," Wren said carefully, hanging her jacket on the back of a chair.

"Don't," Natalie muttered, her voice muffled.

"I'm not trying to fight," Wren said, stepping closer. "I just want to know what happened. You've been upset since Parker's bonfire."

Natalie didn't respond, her fingers threading through her damp hair.

"Natalie," Wren tried again, her voice firmer.

"I said, don't," Natalie snapped, finally looking up. Her eyes were red, her expression tight with anger.

"I'm your sister," Wren said, crossing her arms. "I'm not just going to ignore it when something's obviously wrong."

Natalie let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Of course you aren't. God forbid Wren doesn't swoop in to save the day."

"What is your problem?" Wren asked, exasperated. "I'm trying to help, Nat. Why are you being like this?"

Natalie stood abruptly, the couch creaking beneath her. "Because I don't need your help!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the small space. "You don't get to act like you care now. You've never cared."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Wren shot back, her frustration boiling over.

"You don't care, Wren!" Natalie yelled, her voice cracking. "You're always so busy being perfect, acting like you're above everything. I screw up, and you just watch. So don't stand there and act like you're suddenly care or something. It's too late for that."

"That's not fair," Wren said, her voice quieter now.

Natalie scoffed, her chest heaving. "Fair? Who cares about fair? Just leave me the fuck alone, like you always do."

She pushed past Wren, storming down the narrow hallway to their shared bedroom. The door slammed shut behind her, rattling the thin walls of the trailer.

Wren stood frozen in the middle of the living room, her jaw tight and her chest aching. Natalie's words echoed in her head, sharp and unrelenting.

With a deep breath, she sank onto the couch, staring at the faded pattern on the cushions. She hated fighting with Natalie, hated how everything between them seemed to spiral out of control so easily.

———

Isa's head pounded as she blinked, disoriented by the soft morning light filtering through Laura Lee's curtains. The floral comforter was pulled up to her chest. She took a deep breath, but it did little to calm her racing heart as fragments of the night before started coming back.

The door creaked open, and Laura Lee stepped in. "Hey," she said with a gentle smile, setting the mug on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?"

Isa rubbed her temples, eyes squinting at her friend. "Like I got hit by a truck," she muttered.

Laura Lee tilted her head, studying Isa with concern. "Do you remember anything from last night?"

Isa swallowed, her heart rate picking up. Images of Natalie's face, the kiss they shared, and the panicked flight that followed flashed through her mind. But she kept her expression neutral, glancing away. "Bits and pieces," she said, hoping it would be enough to satisfy Laura Lee.

Laura Lee sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "So you don't remember telling me about the kiss with Natalie?"

Isa's eyes widened. She sat up quickly, the room spinning for a moment. "What—what did I say?" Her voice trembled, fear creeping into her chest.

"You told me that you kissed her, then you freaked out and ran," Laura Lee said gently, searching Isa's face for any sign of recognition or denial. "And then you said you didn't know what to do, that you were scared."

Isa's shoulders slumped, the weight of last night pressing down on her. She pressed her palms to her eyes, feeling the sting of unshed tears. "I was," she whispered.

Laura Lee reached out and squeezed Isa's hand. "It's okay to be scared. But it's also okay to let yourself feel whatever it is you're feeling."

Isa stared down at the comforter, her fingers twisting the fabric nervously. "I'm not supposed to feel like this," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "It's wrong, isn't it? To feel this way about a girl? It's what we were taught."

Laura Lee's eyes softened as she took Isa's hand in hers. "I know that's what we were told, but it doesn't make it true," she said, her tone steady and full of warmth. "Liking girls, liking anyone you're drawn to, isn't wrong. It's just part of who you are."

Isa's lip trembled, a rush of emotions she'd been holding back threatening to spill out. "But what if everyone thinks it's wrong? What if my dad—" She cut herself off, looking away as if saying it out loud would make the fear real.

"Isa," Laura Lee said, leaning in closer, "I know it's scary, and I can't tell you that everyone will understand or accept it right away. But what I do know is that there's nothing wrong with you for feeling this way. And you deserve to be happy, no matter who makes your heart feel full."

Isa took a shaky breath, wiping away the tears that had gathered on her cheeks. "It doesn't matter, Laura Lee. Natalie probably hates me now. She probably wants nothing to do with me."

Laura Lee's expression grew gentle but firm. "You don't know that, Isa. You can't just assume how she feels without talking to her first."

Isa shook her head, doubt clouding her features. "But what if she does hate me? What if I just make everything worse?"

Laura Lee squeezed Isa's hand again, a small smile breaking through. "You won't know unless you try. Apologies can be hard, but they're worth it when it comes to people who matter. Natalie deserves to know how you feel, and you deserve a chance to make things right."

Isa stared at the floor, the weight of Laura Lee's words sinking in. Part of her still wanted to retreat, to avoid the risk of more hurt. But another part, the part that couldn't stop thinking about Natalie's eyes, her laughter, and the way her presence made Isa feel, knew that Laura Lee was right.

She let out a deep sigh, finally meeting Laura Lee's eyes with a mixture of fear and resolve. "Maybe," Isa whispered. "I don't know."

———

Isa leaned against her locker, spinning the combination lock idly, while Mari stood beside her, her voice low but animated.

"Okay, so," Mari began, leaning in conspiratorially, "apparently Mr. Wilson got caught sneaking out of the teacher's lounge with Miss Weber. Someone said they saw them holding hands."

Isa barely reacted, shrugging. "So what? Teachers date sometimes. Big deal."

Mari rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but Mr. Wilson's married to that accountant lady who drops off donuts for the office staff every week."

Isa huffed a small laugh but didn't take the bait. Mari continued anyway, clearly enjoying herself.

Meanwhile, Laura Lee stood a few steps away, arms crossed over her chest, but she wasn't paying attention to the conversation. Her eyes were locked on Lottie, who was further down the hall, talking with Wren. Her gaze lingered, soft and distracted, as if the noise of the hallway had faded into the background entirely.

"So then Miss Weber—" Mari started, but Isa suddenly straightened, her eyes narrowing as she glanced down the hall.

At the far end, Natalie leaned against a locker, her head tilted back in laughter at something one of her friends had said. Isa's stomach dropped.

"Oh, no," Isa muttered under her breath.

"What?" Mari asked, pausing mid-rumor.

Without a word, Isa grabbed Mari's arm and reached for Laura Lee's sleeve, snapping her out of her daze. "We need to go. Now."

"Wait, what? Go where?" Mari protested, stumbling as Isa started pulling her down the hall.

"Just hurry up!" Isa hissed, weaving through the crowd, dragging them with her.

Laura Lee glanced back once more, catching a fleeting glimpse of Lottie before Isa pulled her around the corner. They didn't stop until they were well out of sight, tucked into a quieter hallway near the science labs.

"Okay, what the hell was that?" Mari demanded, yanking her arm free and glaring at Isa. "Why are we running like fugitives?"

Isa leaned against the wall, catching her breath. "We were running away from Natalie."

Mari blinked. "Natalie? Why? What'd she do?"

Isa hesitated, avoiding Mari's eyes. She glanced at Laura Lee, who looked just as uncertain.

"It's complicated," Isa finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Super complicated," Laura Lee added quickly, nodding for emphasis.

Mari frowned, crossing her arms. "Right. Super complicated. What the hell does that mean?" She narrowed her eyes but didn't push further. "Fine, whatever. Just let me know when you're ready to clue me in."

Isa let out a breath, her heart still racing. She peeked around the corner, relieved to see no sign of Natalie. She just hoped she hadn't noticed them running like crazy people.

The shrill ring of the bell cut through the hallway noise, signaling the rush to get to class. Isa adjusted the strap of her bag, still glancing nervously over her shoulder to ensure Natalie hadn't spotted them.

Mari sighed, shouldering her bag. "Guess I'll leave you and your mysterious secrets for now. Laura Lee, come on. We've got math."

Laura Lee nodded, though her gaze lingered briefly in the direction of the main hallway—toward Lottie—before Mari tugged her arm.

"See you later, Isa," Mari called over her shoulder, her tone still laced with suspicion. "Good luck with that test."

Isa waved half heartedly, her stomach twisting into knots as she turned toward her biology classroom. The walk there felt longer than usual, every step heavier with the knowledge of what awaited her.

The moment she stepped into the room, her eyes landed on Natalie, who was already seated at their shared lab table. She was slouched back in her chair, lazily doodling on the edge of her notebook.

Isa froze for a split second, her pulse quickening. She considered turning back and skipping class altogether, but it was too late—Natalie glanced up, and their eyes met.

Natalie raised an eyebrow, smirking faintly. "Hey," she drawled, tapping her pencil against the desk.

Isa forced a tight smile and slid into her seat beside her. "Hey."

The air between them felt suffocating. Isa focused on pulling out a pencil and eraser, pretending to be absorbed in organizing her things.

"So," Natalie began after a moment, her tone casual but with an edge of curiosity, "I saw your stunt in the hallway. Real smooth."

Isa's hand froze on her notebook, her face heating up. She didn't dare look at Natalie. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Natalie let out a low laugh, leaning back in her chair. "Right, sure you don't."

Before Isa could come up with a weak excuse, the teacher entered the room and called for everyone's attention. Isa exhaled quietly, relieved by the distraction.

———

Jackie and Alani perched on the hood of Alani's beat-up Honda, sharing a joint. The scent of weed hung in the crisp air as Alani took a long drag and passed it to Jackie.

"God, this week sucks already," Alani muttered, leaning back against the windshield. She squinted up at the sky, her voice still groggy from the night before. "I need it to be summer already."

Jackie chuckled softly, taking a hit and exhaling slowly. "You'd probably complain about the heat."

"True," Alani said with a lazy grin. "But at least I wouldn't have to pretend to care about trigonometry."

Hey," Jackie said suddenly, her voice quieter than usual. "Do you remember anything from last night?"

Alani turned her head to look at her, feigning confusion. "Last night?"

"Yeah," Jackie said, her gaze darting to the joint in her hand. "You were pretty out of it."

Alani paused, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "No, not really. It's all kind of a blur. Why? Did I do something stupid?"

Jackie hesitated, her stomach twisting. She glanced at Alani, searching her face for something—anything—that might hint at the truth. But Alani's expression was calm, casual, like she wasn't hiding anything at all.

"No," Jackie said finally, forcing a small laugh. "You didn't do anything. I was just wondering."

Alani nodded, taking the joint from Jackie's fingers. She took a slow drag, her gaze shifting to the sky. "Good, the last thing I need is more embarrassing stories about me floating around."

Jackie's chest tightened, but she managed a smile. "Yeah, you're safe."

They sat in silence for a moment, the joint burning low between them. Alani flicked the ash off the end, her eyes distant.

"Thanks for looking out for me, though," Alani said softly, breaking the silence.

Jackie shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Of course. What are friends for?"

Alani smiled, but there was something in her eyes—a flicker of guilt, maybe, or something else she didn't want to name. She wanted to tell Jackie the truth, to admit she remembered everything. But the thought of saying it out loud, of risking the delicate balance between them, made her hold back.

Alani exhaled a plume of smoke, her head tilted back as she stared at the sky. A small smile played on her lips as she glanced at Jackie. "You ever think about how weird life is?"

Jackie raised an eyebrow, taking a hit. "You're gonna have to be more specific."

Alani smirked, nudging her lightly with her elbow. "Like, what if you and Shauna hadn't accidentally kicked a soccer ball at my head in second grade?"

Jackie burst out laughing, nearly choking on the smoke. "Oh my god, that was so bad. You dropped like a sack of potatoes."

"Uh, yeah, because I got nailed in the face by two eight year olds who didn't know how to aim," Alani shot back, grinning.

Jackie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "To be fair, Shauna kicked it, not me. I just didn't stop her."

"Mhm, sure," Alani said, rolling her eyes. "And then you both came running over, all panicked, trying to make me feel better with a melted candy bar from your lunchbox."

Jackie snorted. "It was the best I had! You seemed fine after that, though."

"Because I felt bad for you," Alani said, laughing. "You looked like you were about to cry."

They both dissolved into giggles, the shared memory pulling them closer in a way that felt effortless, natural. Jackie leaned back on her hands, her smile softening as she looked at Alani.

"Honestly," Jackie said after a pause, "I'm glad it happened. I don't think I would've had the guts to talk to you otherwise."

Alani's laughter faded, replaced by a warm smile. "Yeah," she said quietly. "Me too."

The moment stretched between them, the air suddenly heavy. Jackie's gaze flicked to Alani's lips for the briefest of moments before she caught herself. Alani seemed to notice, her own smile faltering slightly as her expression grew unreadable.

Neither of them moved for a moment, the world around them blurring into the background. Jackie's heart was racing, and she was pretty sure Alani could hear it.

But then, almost in unison, they both pulled back, the tension shattering like glass.

"Uh, free period's almost over," Jackie said quickly, sliding off the hood of the car.

"Yeah," Alani said, just as fast, hopping down beside her. "We should, um, probably get going."

They avoided each other's eyes as they put out the joint and grabbed their bags.

——————————————————————————
alex's corner!
THE S3 TEASER?? ben is bones. the yellowjackets are eating him alive
lottie needs a break too like why is she getting attacked each season why tf was travis choking her