EPISODE SIX—
SAINTS

1996

"Seriously? How the fuck, are there no fucking berries!" Mari yelled, her voice filled with frustration as she kicked at a bush. "The birds could be picking them off or mice." Akilah pointed out some ways, Josie nodded at that before walking over to Lottie. "I'd eat the crap out of a mouse right now." She heard Van making the brunette pause and look to her.

"You're disgusting." She pointed at the ginger and then looked back to Lottie when hearing her speak up. "You know, some animals live off their own vomit." Josie titled her head, making a face and gagged. "Okay. Thanks for that image, Lot." Van obviously didn't really care that much.

"Did dead cabin guy tell you that or do you guys just talk about blood and stuff?" She was getting tired of Mari's comments to Lottie, it pissed her off. "Shut up, Mari—" Before she could say anything else, Lottie responded. "No, we mostly talk about how Danny Mears dumped you for his own cousin." She sent a smile before walking off making Josie go after her.

"Hey, they're second cousins. And that's totally legal, you know." Thats really how she wanted to defend herself? She stopped behind Lottie when she saw how Lottie did. She saw the girl looking in one stop but she didn't see anything. "You okay?" Lottie turned back, she didn't answer due to Van walking over. "Hey, look, ignore Mari, okay? I don't think she's taken a shit in like, two weeks."

"Yeah." Lottie responded,starting to look around which made Van ask if she was okay. "What's wrong?" She asked, looking to the spot Lottie had been looking at then to Josie. "Nothing! It's– it's fine." Van nodded at that, turning around and walking back to the others making them follow.

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2022

They were waiting for Shauna to show up, Tai said she was coming. There was a knock on the door, making Nat go get it and in came Shauna. "You look like shit." Nat chuckled making Josie let out a groan. Did they really have to start this? "Well, back at you." Shauna pointed to Nat.

"How's Jeff? Is he still hocking futons?" Josie rolled her eyes, grabbing the cigarette Tai was holding and inhaled some before blowing out. She didn't wanna be here anymore. "Okay, no. No, no. We're not doing this, okay? Not after all the shit we've been through. Now we got a situation here and we're gonna deal with it together." Tai quickly stopped the two before they could continue.

"Okay, fine. What's going on?" Shauna asked the four, making Nat point to the pictures laid out on the table. Shauna walked closer too it, looking down at them."Is that Travis?" Her voice was more of a whisper as she looked up at Nat."Someone strung him up and then tried to cover their tracks."

"We think it's the same person who's blackmailing us." Tai told Shauna who was now sitting down at the table."What? Blackmail?" That made Rosalia title her head."You didn't get one of these?" Nat asked as she handed Shauna the postcard all four of them had got but Shauna.

"No." How did they all get one but Shauna? "What do they want?" Shauna then asked, making Taissa speak. "50 grand in cash to keep their mouth shut. And we're not sure exactly what they know, but... I sure as hell don't wanna find out." None of them wanted too.

"You all got one?" Shauna asked, looking at the postcard again. "Yeah, it's what drove me back to town I thought–" Rosalia stopped herself from sharing how she thought Josie had sent it. "Misty did too." Nat pointed out, sounding like she thought Shauna did it.

"I mean it's gotta be someone from the team, right? Like, who else would know about this?" Josie wasn't sure on that. They hadn't heard from anyone who was on the team in years, since high school. "That reporter." Natalie spoke up, making Josie frown slightly. She was so different now, she wasn't her best friend anymore.

She quickly shook her head, getting rid of any sign of her frown. "Wait, wait, I thought I told you to take care of her." Shauna looked to Josie and then towards Tai. "We both did." She corrected, her attention also going to Tai. "I threatened a lawsuit. I told her to back off."

She nodded slightly, but Josette was still confused. Who else could it have been? "Fuck this," Nat turned around, grabbing her phone Nd letting out a chuckle and started clicking away as she turned back to them."What are you doing? "

Rosalia stood up straighter, moving away from the wall."I'm gonna bring Jessica Roberts... Great fake name by the way, to us. And I'll just say, 'Oh, I'm ready to tell my story.'" Shauna was quick to speak up, none of them agreed with that idea.

It was a shit idea, it'd probably get them locked up because Josie would crack."No, because if it is her, then we are just handing her the exact kind of story she's looking for." Rosalia nodded, everything that came out of the brunette mouth was right.

"Yeah, Shauna's right, Nat. Please." Taissa spoke up, standing up straighter as she crossed her arms and shook her head."Please just put the phone down." Nat wasn't listening, she went back to her phone."Stop it! Stop it!" Josie forgot how much they acted like siblings at times.

"Natalie!" Josie and Shauna yelled at the same time."What the hell is wrong with you!? Drop it!" Rosalia then yelled which made Nat finally look away from it. "You know I don't like when you yell at me."

Josie rolled her eyes, now crossing her arms as Natalie dropped the phone back on the bed. "Can you get the money?" Shauna looked back to Tai, she was the wealthiest out of all of them. Yes, Rosalia grew up rich but after she came back her parents cut her off completely.

That's how Rosalia always ended up crashing at Josie's. "I'm working on it." A sigh of relief was heard from Josie when they heard that. "Once you do, we put a GPS tracker in with the cash and that way, we can follow it and see who we're dealing with, together."

Josie did admit it was a good idea, one they needed to do together. That was the only way. "I cannot believe I'm about to say this but, should we loop Misty in?" Rosalia made a face, shaking her head. "No. She could be apart of this." That was also a reason, it seemed like something Misty would do.

"Well, she did take me to see Travis, but first she fucked with my car. Still, she's been helping me figuring it all out." Rosalia still didn't agree with it. She didn't like Misty back then and she wouldn't now. "Oh, yeah, 'cause, naturally. Um, is there anything else I should know about, or does the blackmail, Travis maybe being murdered, and this one playing buddy cop with Misty fucking Quigley just about cover it?"

Taissa just sighed, there wasn't anything else.

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She let out a sigh as she grabbed her keys, she hated this time of year. It was her birthday and she absolutely hated it now. She heard walking behind her and turned around to see Rosalia."So, what are we doing for your big day?" She smiled slightly at how Rosalia was happy for it.

"I'm going to have brunch with my parents,  Shauna and sadly Jeff. You will stay here, and when I get back I will sleep." God knows she would need it. Everytime she went to these things, she ended up getting in a fight with her parents or Shauna.

All it did was remind her how her sister was gone and she would never come back. "I'm sorry, Rosalia. But I really need to go." She sighed before grabbing her purse and living Rosalia standing in the hallway.

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Everything on the table was about Jackie. She understand why, she was gone. But it was Josette's birthday too, she hated that she spent it like this."Here we go." She heard her mother's voice as she walked back into the dining room. She placed the plate down on the table making Josie do her best to send her mom a smile. "I know it's silly to do this every year but it's not a real birthday without presents." She couldn't help but roll her eyes, every year it was to Shauna and Jeff.

They didn't even know Jackie like josette did. She was her sister. She was the one that was there when she found out the truth. She didn't hurt her like Jeff or Shauna did. It pisses her off. "Thank you." Shauna opened the box as Josie started to pick at her food, she wanted to go home.

"Oh." Shauna spoke up when she pulled the gift out, holding it up to everyone. "She's got little babies.. That is nice, that's very pretty." God, the sound of Jeff's voice always annoyed Josie. How could the two of them sit at this table like they didn't hurt Jackie? It took Josie everything in her to stay quiet.

"It's- it's lovely." She saw the fake smile on Shauna's face as she put it back in the box. "Jackie just adored rabbits." They all knew that, it was mentioned every year. Jackie this, Jackie that. Maybe it was selfish, but for once Josette wanted to be the one talked about. "Dig in before it gets cold." She heard her father as she took a sip of her orange juice.

It was quite for a moment, that's what she preferred. "You two have an anniversary coming up, don't you?" Her mother blurted out which was directed towards Shauna and Jeff which made Josie choke on her drink. She cleared her throat, her father checking on her and she just shook her head. That definitely caught all of them off guard.

"Yup. Yeah, pretty soon." Jeff was the one to speak which made Josette roll her eyes. "Jackie would've been so happy for you." Josette's grip on her fork tightened, did they even know Jackie at all? They claimed that she was their daughter, that they loved her but, they didn't even know her. They didn't know Josette either. Still, all these years later, they never payed one ounce of attention to her.

She hated it. Why couldn't they be proud of her? Somehow, even when Jackie was dead, she still received all the love and attention. "I truly believe that. She was generous that way. And she always worried about you finding someone, Shauna.  Silver linings, I suppose. You two are a... a better match." She couldn't help the scoff that was let out. What kind of mother said that?

She looked over towards Shauna, hearing her phone buzz."You're both the type to be content. You don't want more than, well, what you have." She noticed the look on Shauna's face, Josie let out a groan, hiding her face in her hands."Oh, I don't mean that in a bad way. No, I mean... it's nonsense, all this talk about having it all. The fact is, you just can't be remarkable and raise a family." Her mother finished, trying to explain what she meant."And you're the mother of such a special little child." Josie then heard her dad.

Josette didn't see much of Callie, she met her when Shauna had her and would visit from time to time but that was it. She could hardly be around Shauna after what she did. "I don't even like my daughter." Shauna suddenly said after taking a drink which made the table dead silent. Josette shuffled in her seat, that had never been said at these events. "I don't."

"She's... It's an inside joke. She's joking." Jeff tried clearing up for Shauna but it didn't seem like a joke. It sounded like Shauna meant that. "Oh my god..." The brunette mumbled as she rubbed her forehead. She heard her parents chuckle, obviously believing Jeff. "How is Callie?" Shauna's phone went off again. "Well, she's sixteen going on thirty."

"She reminds me so much of Jackie at that age." Josie nodded, agreeing with her mom. She reminded her of Jackie a bit too, maybe that's why she didn't visit much. "Callie's got college coming up, doesn't she?" She always forgot how you had to look at colleges earlier now. "It's so expensive now. Jeff works hard but, he's the only that contributes." Josette once again, choked on her drink. Why did she think it was a good idea to say that?

"Uh, financially, I mean. Providing for Callie's education must keep you both up at night." She cleared her throat, and it was quite for a moment. She reached over and grabbed her husband's hand, then continued."But we'd be happy to help. It would be–" Her words were cut short by Shauna. "No. Thank you, Mrs. Taylor. But um, that's not necessary. Jeff and I have it covered."

She looked towards Jeff who stayed quiet as he took a bite of his food."Just let us know if you change your mind." Shauna only nodded. "If you'll excuse me, I, uh, have to go– to the little girls' room." Josette stayed quiet for a moment after Shauna left, she couldn't help but remember that one time.

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ONE YEAR AFTER BEING BACK FROM THE WILDERNESS.

"You have no right to be here." Josie spoke up, quickly slipping outside and shutting the door behind her. She didn't want to see Shauna, she didn't want to see any of them. She thought she made that clear with how she refused to let any of them in and wouldn't answer their calls.

"She was my best friend, Josie."Shauna frowned which made Josie even more mad.

"She was my sister! And you–" Her voice dropped, becoming quieter. "You killed her, Shauna. You have no right to be here and lie to my parents face." Maybe she was doing the same, maybe she had taking the resentment and anger towards Shauna to far.

But this wasn't something she could let go. "I will never see my sister again and it is your fault. I hate you so much for what you've done."

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1996

Josie sat next to Lottie, holding her hand, she would have hided it but Lottie didn't seem to care. Ever since the other night, Josie had been more worried about her. All they girls looked up when Nat and Travis came back, seeing the two walking very close. Some of the girls started whistling when they noticed.

She couldn't help but laugh at that. Nat moved away from the boy at that. "Natalie and Travis sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-" Laura Lee started before Lottie cut her off. "I think they were doing a bit more than kissing." Josie slipped her hand out of Lottie's giving her a look.

"Hey Nat, what exactly are you and flex hunting for out there anyway?" Mari spoke up as Akilah was braiding her hair. "I hear it's beaver season!" Van pointed at her, which Mari chuckled at. "Sit and spin, assholes." Nat spined in a circle as she flipped them off which Josie laughed at.

"Is this why we don't have any food?" Jackie suddenly spoke, making everyone stop laughing. Josie noticed as Rosalia slowly stood up. "Cause you've been too busy running for Mayor of pound town?"

"Jackie, don't start–" Josie started to speak up before Nat cut her off. "Uh, go fuck yourself?" She let out a groan, neither were gonna listen. "I guess we shouldn't be surprised, Nats always down for a good time, right?" Jackie started to walk down the steps, her arms crossed.

Everyone was quiet now. "I can't magically conjure a deer, Jackie. But keep talking shit, I'll find something to shoot." That's when Nat started walking closer to Jackie."Oh wow, you're so tough. I'm not scared of you, burnout." That's when Josie stood up which made Lottie look up her and shake her head, telling her to not get in the middle of it.

"No, you're jealous. Because you're an uptight prudish little bitch." Josie walked over, grabbing onto Jackie and pulled her awhile while Tai pushed Nat back. "Knock it off! Both of you." She yelled st the two while Josie let go of her sister after she slapped her hand away.

Jackie flipped them off, going back into the cabin which Josie rolled her eyes at and walked back to Lottie.

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She couldn't find Lottie, she didn't know where the girl went and she was worried. Josie was searching everywhere, she wasn't in the cabin so she started looking around the cabin and ended up a little further in the woods. She heard walking which she thought was Lottie so.. She continued walking. She stepped on a branch, a loud cracking heard and when she looked up, it wasn't Lottie who she saw.

"Oh my God?" She mumbled when seeing Rosalia kissing her sister. The two quickly separated, seeing a panic in both their eyes. "I was um– I was looking for lottie... have you guys seen her...?" It was quite for a moment, none of the three said anything.

Josie shuffled on her feet, she didn't know what to say. "I saw her by the lake I think..." Rosalia spoke up which Josie nodded at, quickly turning and starting to walk away. "Josie, wait!" She heard her sister yell which made her stop and look to her.

"You won't... tell anyone, right?" She frowned slightly, realizing how scared Jackie was.

"Of course not, Jax. Besides um, whatever you guys have going on.. that's your business, not mine. "

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authors notes–
finally updating I'm honor of rosalias birthday 💗💗