𝐄 𝐋 𝐄 𝐕 𝐄 𝐍
law of the jungle

Meredith Waters liked to think she would never get any peace and quiet in her life because abruptly, she was woken up in the morning to her mother demanding her presence downstairs. Questioning the urgency, the teenager had no choice but to comply, sliding her slippers on and moving down the staircase.

"There's someone here to see you," Her father muttered, moving away from the coffee pot and towards the marvelous hallway. "Take a look."

In bewilderment, Meredith turned on her heels, noticing a figure standing at the front door. Immediately, upon noticing who it was, her facial features dropped and turned cold. "Rafe?"

"Can we talk for a minute?" He lowered his voice so her parents, who were one room away, couldn't eavesdrop into the conversation. "Alone?"

"No?" Meredith crossed her arms defiantly as if it was obvious. "Are you joking?"

"Does it look like I'm laughing?" He scoffed, shaking his head and running his distressed hands through his hair. "Let's talk."

"Why?" She chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips. "Are you hear to cave my face in and call me a bitch ag-"

Whatever it was that Meredith was going to say was cut off when Rafe eagerly planted his hand over her mouth to trap any of her words in, unallowing them to enter the silent air. "Hey, stop talking. I did what I had to do-"

"Bullshit!" In disgust, Meredith smacked his hand away from her, watching as his jaw clenched in irritation. "What do you want, Rafe?"

"I already told you, alright?" He muttered, narrowing his eyes at her. "I just wanna talk. Alone."

Reluctantly, Meredith opened the door to the family room where she was sure her parents wouldn't appear before shutting the door behind her and turning back to face the Cameron son. "What? Seriously, I don't have time for this."

"I wanna talk about what happened with that Pogue," he started, eliciting an eye roll from the girl. "And... and how you treated me and Topper."

"What?!" Reeling back in shock, Meredith narrowed her eyes at him. "How I treated you? How about how you treated Pope?"

"He's a Pogue, alright!" He shouted, throwing his arms in the air defiantly. "And for you. You- what was that? He's you're friend now?"

"No?" She seethed. "But that doesn't mean you have to beat the shit out of him for doing his job! He didn't give you beer so you threw a fit like a fucking child-"

"Stop!" His fulminating voice silenced her, forcing the sable-haired girl to stand back in astonishment. "He was on the wrong side of the island, you know that. And- and you're one to talk."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Meredith crossed her arms, watching as his eyes glazed over in anger - or maybe he was just high, she couldn't tell.

"We know what you did to Topper's boat." Rafe revealed, causing Meredith to glare at him in utter confusion. "You think you can just get away with that shit?"

"What the hell are you talking about, Rafe?" Meredith almost laughed, because why on earth would he feel the need to bring up Topper's boat as if it was relevant. "Topper's boat?"

"Yes, his boat, Meredith." When he watched the way her lips lifted into a sly smirk, his blood began to boil over the pot, soon enough leading to an eruption. "What? Is this, like, funny or something?"

"Yeah, it's hilarious." The girl chuckled, eyes studying his for any sense of humor, but she found none. "What could I have possibly done to Topper's boat?"

"You sank it, Meredith!" He shouted, drawing more confusion out of the girl. "Shit! Do you know how much he has to pay for it?!"

"What?!" She reeled back in shock, being the first time hearing of Topper's boat being sunken. Out of all people who would've done it? She drowned out the complaints of Rafe as she contemplated who could possibly hate Topper enough to sink his prized possession. Then, as if it was a puzzle piece, it clicked.

JJ Maybank.

"I didn't sink his boat." Meredith scoffed, annoyed at the sudden accusation. "Is this a joke?"

"Does it look like I'm fucking laughing?" Rafe took a threatening step forward, igniting a fear in the teenage girl that she didn't even know existed. "Why the fuck would you do it? Unless it was some pogue, or some shit."

"I didn't do anything!" She shouted, pressing her hands firmly on his chest when he took a step too close, sending him back with a force. At the sudden action, Rafe's jaw tightened and he stared into her chocolate-colored eyes menacingly.

"Tell me why you did it." He forced, slapping his hand against her wrist and tightening his grasp. "What the hell is your problem? You think you can just go around doing whatever you think you want?"

"Get off of me!" With one final shove, she sent him back against the side table, the Cameron son stumbling for his footing with a grunt. "Don't accuse me of shit I didn't do. Now get out, Rafe."

As much as she hated to admit, she felt herself shrink when he took a step closer, a terrorizing grin splayed on his lips. "See you around, Mer. Don't worry, I'll found out who did it. If I find out you're lying to me, you're gonna wish you didn't."

With one last longing stare, the tall boy turned on his heels, leaving the family room door wide open with nothing but silence encompassing the girl. As if to taunt her, he turned to look over his shoulder.

"Oh, also." He started. "I'll be here to pick you up or Midsummers. I already let your parents know."

And just like that, he was back under her skin, Meredith begging to be freed. No matter how far he was, he would never truly be gone.

If there is one thing to know about Meredith Waters, it was that she absolutely despicable when she was on a war path. She would hurt anyone who got in her way if it meant getting her revenge or teaching someone a lesson. She didn't care if she left people wounded with scars that would never truly disappear, or with words that almost cut as sharp as the initial blade. She didn't care about any of that. All Meredith Waters cared for when she was out for blood was that. Blood.

"JJ!" Her voice broke out into the humid air, breaking the conversation between said blonde and Pope.

Just an hour before, she had expertly found the home of JJ Maybank, and just as quickly as she did that, Meredith arrived to her destination.

At her venom-laced voice, the two boys turned in shock, never thinking they would hear the voice of Kildare's most spoiled bitch on the cut. Nonetheless, they did and they were just as confused as ever.

"What the fuck is your problem?" She fumed, brows pinched tightly together. Before he knew it, she was stalking towards him threateningly, eyes encapsulated with a feeling he couldn't decipher. Almost resentment if not aggravation.

"Sorry?" He muttered, turning his full body towards her, the two daringly close to one another. Meredith desperately tried pulling her being away from the blonde, but it almost seemed impossible.

Although, she was able to notice the earmuffs that hung around his neck and the gun that was most likely once in his hand, now on the stump of a tree.

"Why the fuck would you sink Topper's boat?" Realizing she had found out, Pope's eyes widened behind them, heart immediately racing in fear.

It almost shocked her when the blonde chuckled, but she should've expected it. JJ Maybank thrived on disobedience and recklessness, it was just who he was. "Are you kidding? Did you forget what happened? What he did to Pope? To you?"

Meredith could've sworn she saw a flash of concern behind his cerulean eyes, but if she saw anything, it was long gone now. "Oh, sorry, that must've slipped my mind- of course I didn't forget!"

"So what's the problem?" He shrugged, not sparing his friend a glance as he engaged in an intense staring contest with Meredith. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't get his eyes to pull away from hers. "What?"

"You're actually a fucking idiot." She scoffed. "You do realize he's gonna wanna get revenge, right? Before you know it, he's gonna be beating the shit out of you."

"Well, good for me," He smiled. "'Cause I didn't do it."

"Dude!" Pope shouted from behind him, the two finally acknowledging his shaken presence. "Shut up!"

"Oh." Meredith nodded, finally catching on. It was Pope who had sunk Topper's boat out of vengeance. It made perfect sense, yet, never in a million years would she take Pope as the vengeful type. "So it was you. Nice."

Confused by her sudden praise, he knitted his brows together. "W... What?..."

"Well, I would congratulate you if it wasn't so stupid," She shrugged, turning back to the blonde. "What were you even thinking?"

"That my friend was beaten up by kooks and that he should defend himself somehow," JJ retorted. "I don't see you doing anything."

"Look who's paying attention," She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms defiantly. "You're so stupid, both of you. Seriously. He's gonna want to get payback."

"Yeah, well," JJ shrugged, finally moving away from her and their obviously heated staring contest. "That's the law of the jungle. They hurt us, we hurt them, so what?"

"Whatever." She shrugged, stepping away from overgrown grass and walking back go the dirt road. "Just thought you should know that Topper most likely knows who did it. So, have fun solving another problem."

"Why are you even here?" JJ spoke up, watching as she stopped in her tracks. "Like you give a shit what we do."

"I don't." She replied quickly. "But I do care that he showed up accusing me of it. Sort your shit out 'cause I'm not solving your problem."

"Great," the blonde boy smiled, sending her a curt nod. "Thanks for that clarification."

"That shirt makes you look like shit, by the way!" She called out, sparing him a menacingly glance over her shoulder, but she still wore a mischievous smirk when she watched his jaw clench. Truthfully, she had caught herself looking at the grey crew neck he wore, and to get her mind off of it, she threw an insult at him. That's just what she does. "Nice seeing you again, Pope!"

With that, Meredith walked back home from the Cut, making sure to avoid any busy areas that could risk her being seen on the south side of the island - where she should never be seen.

"Get dressed. We're going out." Harper, who had insisted on dragging Meredith outside of her house for whatever reason, stood at the threshold, crossed-armed and leaning against the doorframe. "Actually, I'll pick something for you."

"Uh, no you won't." Although, before Meredith could finish her protests, Dakota was dragging her up the stairs, following close behind Harper ( who was already set on Meredith's walk-in closet ).

"What're we doing anyways?" The sable haired girl questioned, glancing at her appearance in the mirror and pushing her hair up to create volume. "Is this about that movie premiere night?"

"Yes, ma'am," Dakota chuckled, rummaging through Meredith's endless stash of perfume scents. "Ooh, Chanel."

"Go ahead." The Kook Princess waved a hand towards the brunette fishing for a perfume. Her words clearly caught the girl off guard because she found herself glancing up in confusion.

"What?" She muttered, still holding the glass bottle.

"Go ahead." Meredith repeated. "Take it. I have, like, two more somewhere in that box." She motioned for the box Dakota once scoured helplessly in, but then returned to looking at herself in her vanity mirror, applying a coat of lipgloss.

"It's a shame you don't go anywhere with us, you have so many potential outfits." The two girls heard Harper call from the closet, the sound of drawers opening and closing.

"I do go places with you guys," The Kook began. "You just don't invite me anywhere."

"You always claim your busy." Harper shrugged, not that her two friends could see since there was a wall confining them. "But, seriously, its a shame. You know how many people would stare at you?"

Listening intently, Meredith found herself pausing. Yes, she knew, in fact, everyone knew that boys and girls would be catastrophically stupid to not have a crush on her. It was practically impossible for people to keep their eyes elsewhere when someone as pretty as her walked around. Yet, she still paused abruptly at Harper's words because the feeling of validation from anyone was foreign unless it came from her parents. But, that wasn't who she wished the validation from.

"Stop," Meredith chuckled nervously. "Nobody stares."

"Yes, everyone does stare!" Dakota joined, eyes widened. They knew she was confident, yet she would always shy away from compliments. "I don't blame them.You're, like, gorgeous."

"For someone who doesn't see it, you are." The blonde agreed, exiting the closet and joining the two girls in the bedroom. "Even pogues. That's not surprising, though. Oh, speaking of Pogues. What was JJ thinking bringing a gun to the kegger?"

Meredith had to try her absolute hardest to contain her eye roll, because if she did it one more time, her eyes just might roll out of there sockets. She was so sick of hearing Kooks complain about the actions of someone she simply wanted to rid her mind of - no matter the fact that she knew they were right.

"Seriously!" Dakota chimed in agreement. "He could've shot someone. How can he even afford one anyways? He's, like, super poor."

And you're super bitchy, Meredith contemplated mumbling, but she kept to herself and let her friends continue.

"I mean, there is no way us Kooks would be stupid enough to do something like that," the blonde pointed to herself. "And the fact that it was pointed at Topper!"

When nobody continued, yet still voicing their opinions through unison nods and hums, Harper decided to speak up to ease the silence. "But, enough of this topic. Rafe, Topper and Kelce are all going to the movie premiere."

She couldn't contain the eye-roll that she sent towards the blonde, and when she realized she had done it, it was too late to take it back. "You're point being?"

"They'll most likely want to hang out," Harper shrugged as if it was obvious but the last thing Meredith wanted to do was sit with people who obviously couldn't give a shit about her. At least Sarah would be a good companion if anybody got too annoying. "So..."

"We have to look hot!" Dakota cheered, breaking out into a wide smile. Meanwhile, Meredith grimaced.

"Oh, sick!" She faked a gag, but it only caused the two girls to erupt into a fit of obnoxious giggles. "Who cares?"

"Us, clearly." The blonde retorted, laying Meredith's outfit out on the bed for the girl to retrieve while her and Dakota made conversation near the window bench, sorting through Meredith's CD's - which she rarely used. "You never know, Meredith."

"Okay, Harper." The sable-haired girl rolled her eyes. "What's Rafe gonna do, strike up conversation about how long his next line will be?" She suggested, referring to the addicting drug he couldn't pull himself away from.

The two girls broke out into another fit of laughter as Meredith switched her outfit, a teal bathing suit underneath her clothes. At this point, if she was going outside, she would wear a bathing suit underneath her outfit. Harper had chosen a pink halter top which tied around her neck and jean shorts with small tears.

She had to admit, the blonde's fashion senses weren't terrible. If anything, she was almost as good as Meredith.

"Fine, say what you want," the blonde shrugged, tossing the discarded CD's back into their rightful place and moving to stand beside the vanity where Meredith previously sat. "But, when you're alone at this thing while I have fun with a guy, don't come crying."

"Trust me, I will not come crying." She nodded, pulling her hair out of the halter top. "If anything, I might just revel in it. But, be my guest. Go after someone who's gonna treat you like shit in the end."

"Okay, rude." Harper scoffed, the air clearly tensing between them, and it made Dakota feel out of place from where she sat awkwardly. "You didn't have to say it like that."

Having no other want other than to be honest, Meredith shrugged. She didn't see the point in pining over someone who would break her heart when he really should've been putting it together. "Whatever. Sorry."

"Are you, though?" Dakota eased into the thick atmosphere, attempting to lighten the mood. She snorted a laugh, and in return, Harper sent her a warning glare while Meredith pursed her lips. "Whatever, let's just go. Try and have fun tonight."

And so, with air so think that a knife could slice right through it, Meredith had no choice but to get into Harper's convertible, off to the movie premiere. Besides, if all went to shit and everyone got too obnoxious, she would still have Sarah to lighten the mood.

authors note!
i hate the amount of different scenes in this chapter but i didn't like the idea of giving you guys such shorter, filler chapters so i made it into one ! i kinda hate this but its ok. 🤷🏽‍♀️