HEARING DAMAGE
TEEN NOLA - CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX !

THE FEAR IN NATALIE'S voice mixed with the haggard wheezing from a terrified Travis, who clutched desperately at his chest, was what caused everyone in the cabin to rip away from their slumber. They all almost immediately rose to their feet, watching the boy struggle to breathe as Natalie attempted and failed to calm him down.

"What happened?" Akilah questioned the blonde as she sat herself up using the strength of her forearms.

Natalie shook her head from side to side. As she continued to fret over the still freaking out Travis, she hurriedly explained, "I don't know. I think he's having a panic attack or something."

In an instant, Lottie had appeared by his side, knees pressed to the floor, her eyes widened in concern. "Travis, look at me. Breathe with me, okay?" She uttered comfortingly as she grabbed hold of Travis' shoulders to steady him. "You can do that, okay? Breath is the only thing in the world right now. Breathe in. And out."

Travis' heat beat at the speed of light within his chest, pounding aggressively against his chest. As Lottie's hand moved to his chest, pressing right against his heart, she was able to feel it beat even through the thick layers of clothing that clung to his body. Slowly but surely, thanks to Lottie and her comforting ways, Travis finally managed to gain control of his breathing once more, allowing it to even out.

The two exchanged a few words before Travis somewhat frantically pulled a large portion of the blanket over his lap, almost as if to conceal something. Lottie cleared her throat awkwardly before stating matter of factly, "Your brother's alive. I know he is. You should get some rest."

While the Matthews girl rose to her feet and began to walk away, Natalie, who had gone off to get Travis some water to drink, handed him the cup. "Take this." She then took off after Lottie, frustration violently swirling in her eyes.

The Martinez boy nursed the cup in his hands, unwilling to take a sip just yet. Instead, he swung his head round to stare at Nola who had been sitting only feet away, tangled up in her blanket. His voice was low, but a whisper as he spoke. "Tell me what you said again."

Confusion fell across the features of Nola's face as she looked back at him. Her eyebrows furrowed, her nose scrunched up. She quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

"That you can hear him."

Nola heavily sighed. Her shoulders fell as her gaze dropped to the blanket, the girl suddenly looking very interested in the pattern. "Travis—"

Travis quickly cut her off. "Please. I know you can. Lottie said so." A scarily vulnerable look that Nola had never seen before from Travis appeared on his face. He looked so completely desperate for any proof of his brother's life. His pleading gaze bore into the side of Nola's face, burning her skin due to how intense it was. "You can hear him, right? He's still out there?"

She hated this. She knew how much Travis wanted to know about Javi but she really didn't want to tell him. If she did, she'd only be giving into the Wilderness, doing exactly what it wanted of her. Even if he knew, what was he really going to do? Find him and bring him back? Nola internally asked herself.

Truth be told, every now and again, she could in fact hear as Javi's scuttled around the forest. The snow crunching under his feet, the sticks that snapped under his weight.

When Travis clocked the look of hesitation that appeared across her face, he heavily sighed as he reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand, mirroring what she had done months ago when she first confirmed that Javi was still out there. His actions caused Nola to glance up at him and meet his gaze that implored her to be honest.

A weak nod from the Rilke girl caused Travis to sigh in relief. "I-I can hear him. As much as it pains me to admit, Lottie is right." Nola muttered through gritted teeth, the girl practically choking on her words as she forced them out. It pained her to give in, no matter how much Travis needed it. "Javi's alive."

"Thank you." The boy gratefully breathed out. His fingers curled even tighter around her hand as he squeezed her hand in appreciation.

This was the last time. Never again would she do this, regardless of how much he begged. With that knowledge, Nola just smiled back at him. "No problem."

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THE BLISTERING COLD WIND pounded against the windows and snuck in through the cracks of the door, sending a chill through the air and causing everyone to bundle up on themselves, wrapping their clothes more tightly around their bodies. Natalie and Travis had returned empty handed from their hunt, just like every other hunt since the first snow fall.

Despite their efforts to get up earlier and go out further, not a single animal had been spotted and captured by the pair. It was at every single one of them had gone into hibernation, hidden away from the starving group of survivors.

Akilah had been moving back the cabin, handing out everyone's bowls so they could get food as soon as it was ready. She glanced around curiously when she noticed the all too familiar absence. "Is Shauna out in the shed again?"

"It's freezing outside." Natalie commented, her body shivering at the thought of being out in the icy cold wind for any longer than she had to be. Like everyone else, no one could understand how Shauna was surviving being out in the shed all the time.

Coach Ben peered up from his book as he stated, "Well, then maybe one of you should go out and get her."

No one wanted to be the one who had to go and collect Shauna. No on wanted to be the one sent out into the cold. They just all looked around awkwardly, refusing to make eye contact for fear of being chosen. After a few seconds and no one volunteering, Taissa groaned loudly as she stood up and slammed her hand against the table as she prepared to head for the shed.

"Don't. She'll come when she's ready." Lottie calmly said. Her words caused the Turner girl to spin on her heel with a sigh.

Taissa had to refrain from rolling her eyes at Lottie's statement. A tight-lipped smile formed as Taissa replied to the Matthews girl. "You make it sound like she's doing her homework, Lot."

The two stared at one another, their eyes locked. "She's processing and she needs our support." Lottie matter of factly stated. She broke through eye contact before glancing around at everyone else. "Okay, it's healthy."

Natalie couldn't help but snigger. "So healthy. Everyone who's seven months pregnant should risk getting pneumonia by staying out half the night chatting with their dead best friend." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she expressed her derision for Lottie who had been getting on her nerves more and more lately.

Misty's eyes squeezed tightly. "It's not fair. We're always waiting on her."

Her words caused Mari to nonchalantly shrug her shoulders while she turned back to stir at the broth. She tauntingly smiled to herself as she made a suggestion. "Well, maybe we should just eat hers tonight. That'll get her to move her ass."

Taissa's eyes narrowed at the girl. "No one is eating Shauna's food."

Regardless of how strong her voice was, Taissa just didn't seem to hold the same authority of the group that Lottie did. Gazes filled with pure inquisition shifted over to the Matthews girl who swallowed hard at the pressure suddenly put on her. "No one is eating Shauna's share." She finally stated, putting an end to the subject.

There was then a sudden groan of disgust from Taissa. Her nose was turned up as a nasty smell entered her nostrils. "Okay, who reeks?"

"We all do." Van replied to her girlfriend, her voice filled with amusement. It was true. They had all been far too cold to bathe consistently, leaving them all greasy and smelling extremely ripe.

"Yeah, but this is next level." The Turner girl grumbled. Her eyes had sharpened as she searched for the source of the rancid smell. She quickly followed the scent until the smell was located.

"Are you fucking serious?" Taissa then exclaimed. She quickly returned to the rest of the group, the pee bucket now held tightly in her hand. She swung it aggressively in everyone's direction as she hurled an accusation. "Who took a shit in the pee bucket?"

Natalie's fingers carded through her tangled up blonde hair. "Come on, guys. We made a rule. If it's yellow, it can mellow. If it's brown, then fucking do it outside." She uttered. She couldn't believe someone had seriously taken a shit inside the cabin. "Just fess up, who was it?"

Looks of curiosity painted across everyone's face as they glanced around at their friends. No one was willing to take responsibility.

Misty decided to point the finger at someone. "Does it look like it's a girl poo or, you know...a boy one?" She questioned the Turner girl. Her suggestion that it had been Travis or Coach Ben was incredibly thinly veiled and was obviously to all.

           "What?"

           Travis couldn't help but grow amused at her ridiculous accusation. He shook his head lightly in her direction as he drawled out, "That is definitely not a thing."

"Seriously? You all need to grow up. Whoever did it, just admit it and then go throw it out." When no one admitted doing it, Taissa just angrily sighed. "Oh, for fuck sake. I'll do it." She uttered while reaching down and grabbing hold of the bucket yet again. Her shoes pounded against the wooden floorboards before coming to a stop. "Where is the other lantern?"

           "Akilah had it yesterday." Misty informed the group. She made deliberate eye contact with Akilah, who sat opposite her as she accused her of losing the lantern.

           Akilah was quick to make a retort. "I put it back, Misty."

           Taissa's frustration continued to grow. "Oh my god, you're all a literal shitshow." She snapped at the group, looking at each and every one of them. She quickly pulled the cloth that settled around her neck up to cover the bottom half of her face. "Don't let anyone eat mine."

          And with that, Taissa grabbed the bucket and headed outside to empty it, slamming the door shut behind her as she went.

         Nola had to fight back an amused grin that threatened to appear as she struggled to her feet. She tightened fabric of her varsity jacket around her body as she sidestepped past the girls on the ground.

           A few looks of confusion were sent her way as she headed for the door. They wondered why she of all people was heading outside. Going out into the blistering cold would certainly not help her get better any faster.

          Stevie's brows furrowed. She subconsciously began to jump up from the table as though she was prepared to stop the Rilke girl from going anywhere. An almost rude tone mixed with her voice as she asked, "Where are you going?"

          Nola stopped short of the door, her fingers barely brushing against the brass knob as she glanced back at the McClane girl. "To get Shauna before the vultures ascend." She jokingly stated as she jutted her chin towards the group that sat gathered around the table, hungrily spooning food into their bowls.

         Before Stevie could utter a word of protest, Nola had already pulled open the door and headed out into the snow. Her body aggressively shivered as the freezing cold wind bit at whatever exposed skin it could find. The ever growing blanket of snow crunched beneath her feet as she rushed towards the meat shed, though her movement faltered as she overheard frantic sounding cries. "This is sick! Stop laughing!"

          She felt disturbed. What could Shauna possibly be yelling at in there? She continued to make her way towards the shed, her hands gripping onto the makeshift door that had been fashioned from a part of the plane and pulling it open. Her voice was small as she called out for her ex girlfriend. "Shauna?"

           The freaked out doe eyes of Shauna Shipman landed upon the Rilke girl as she slowly walked inside the shed, slowly taking in what was before her. "Nola." Shauna croaked out before swallowed hard past the thick lump that formed in her throat.

            Nola's eyes widened. They darted back and forth chaotically between the knife in Shauna's hand and the clownish make up wearing, frozen body of their dead best friend. "What's going on? What's with the knife?" She quietly questioned as she slowly approached the brunette. As though Shauna was a deer, Nola didn't want to spook her.

           She suddenly caught sight of the large chunk of flesh missing from Jackie's forearm. It lay only feet from her body, looking as though it had been haphazardly thrown aside. "Shauna..." Nola slowly muttered.

            Shauna shook her head frantically. Desperation swam in her eyes and slipped past her lips as she almost pleaded for Nola to understand. "I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't even know I was doing it. She just wouldn't stop."

            A nod of understanding from Nola very slowly began to calm her down. "She's gone, Shauna. Jackie isn't doing anything. You know that." Nola uttered comfortingly as she gently pried the knife from Shauna's grip. As she tossed the knife to the ground with one hand, she raised up Shauna's chin with the other. "I know you miss her, believe me so do I, but you can't keep coming out here. You're too at risk of getting sick."

          "And not me sick, lose the baby sick."

          In order to make Shauna understand better, Nola then brought her free hand down and lay it upon Shauna's protruding belly. Even though the layers upon layers that she wore, the little kicks from the baby were hard to miss.

            Shauna found herself tearing up as she too brought her hands to her belly, placing them atop Nola's and squeezing hard. She sniffed while tears trickled down her cheeks. "She's just gone. I still can't believe it. It just doesn't make sense. How can she be dead?"

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author's thoughts.
chapter twenty six. not proofread.
so nola did exactly what she said she wouldn't and told travis that she could still hear javi. anyway i hoped you enjoyed :)