━ NEUROSIS ━
CHAPTER TEN.

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IT WAS SAFE TO SAY, Violet was absolutely exhausted. It had been three days since the crash and every single night seemed to get worse than the previous one when it came to the frustrating topic of sleep.

Violet simply couldn't do it. She didn't have a clock to keep track of her sleeping patterns, but she was pretty sure the longest she'd managed to stay asleep for each night without waking up must've been two hours tops. Three at a push.

Every time she'd close her eyes and slip away into a slumber, all she could see were the events of the last few days replaying before her, echoing through her head.

The crash. The bodies. The screams. The blood that soaked her skin.

And what didn't help, was how fucking uncomfortable she was each night.

They had stripped the plane clean of any padding left on the seats, using it as makeshift mattresses and pillows. Any fire blankets, fabric, or clothes from peoples bags were used as blankets to keep them warm.

It wasn't exactly five star lodging, but it was the best they could get. Yet still, it didn't help end Violet's torment.

So here she was, in the middle of the day, trying to catch up on any sleep she lost.

Violet was lay down with her arms folded across her chest, using Lottie's legs as a pillow, her Yellowjackets bomber jacket lazily tossed over her face to block out the sun.

Lottie had her back resting against someone's suitcase to keep her propped up, playing with Violet's hair while she watched Van and Shauna plan out how they were going to ration the remaining food and water.

"This is all we have?" Mari asked, her lips parting at the lack of resources.

"Yep. We gotta ration." Van answered, passing Shauna a box of snacks. "Okay. Cut those into halves." She handed a bottle of water to Akilah, telling her to evenly distribute some to everyone.

"Here." Shauna handed one of the halved biscuits to Jackie. "Close your eyes and pretend it's bacon."

Jackie took the food, playfully shutting her eyes as she ate it. Shauna chuckled at her actions before turning to Lottie and Violet.

After taking note of Violet's potentially asleep self, she handed both portions to Lottie. She'd rather not get shouted at by Violet for waking her up, and she knew that if anyone had a chance of not pissing her off, it would be Lottie.

Lottie smiled in thanks before eating her part of the rations, which took all of fifteen seconds due to how small the portion was.

She looked down at Violet, gently shaking the girl to get her attention.

"I much preferred you playing with my hair than shaking me." Violet spoke up, her voice coming out muffled due to the jacket on her face.

Lottie grinned, slightly lifting up the jacket so she could see her more clearly. "I come bearing gifts. Well... a gift."

"Is it a bed?" Violet asked.

"No." Lottie pursed her lips. "It's a cookie."

Violet pulled the jacket back down. "Sorry. No one's home right now— Hey!"

Lottie completely removed the jacket from Violet's face, holding the cookie above her with a raised brow. "You need to eat."

"What I need," Violet squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light. "Is to sleep."

She reached her hands up, trying to grab her jacket. But Lottie raised her arm and held it out of reach. Violet would be able to reach it if she sat up, but she was way too tired to move. Besides, for the first time in a while she was actually comfy.

"Violet you haven't eaten all day." Lottie gave her stern, yet concerned look.

It may not have been enough food to completely cure her hunger, to actually sustain her, or anyone for that matter. And sure, she could always have it later. But Lottie couldn't help but push for her to eat it now.

She was already worried enough about Violet with her recovery from the injuries she got from the plane, feeling sick to her stomach at the fact she couldn't do anything worthwhile to truly help her with that.

That she couldn't do anything to stop it from happening to her in the first place.

That she wasn't the one that pulled her from the plane.

But this was something she could help with. So she wanted to do it. She needed to do it. No matter how small it was.

Violet let out a huff, taking the cookie half from Lottie and eating it. Lottie smiled triumphantly, waiting for her to finish chewing before handing her the jacket back.

Mari watched the interaction, her jaw dropping slightly. "Lottie gets a response like that, when I got a punch to the arm for accidentally stepping on her foot."

Akilah shrugged, chuckling lowly. "Happy wife, happy life."

"I heard that Mari." Violet spoke up, tilting her head back slightly to look at her with a grin. "It's not my fault you have a low pain tolerance."

Mari put her hand on her chest, feigning offence. "Rude."

Violet turned her gaze to Lottie, reaching up to grab her hand. Lottie's head tilted slightly in confusion when she felt Violet maneuver her arm. But the moment she felt Violet place her hand on top of her head, she couldn't help but giggle, knowing exactly what Violet wanted.

"Hair please." Violet said as she closed her eyes once more.

Lottie didn't need to be told twice, instantly picking up her previous action of gently running her fingers through Violet's hair.

Violet had clearly forgotten to put her jacket back over her face, but Lottie didn't mind one bit. In fact, she preferred it. So much so that Lottie carefully moved the jacket away from Violet's reach.

Because this way, Lottie was no longer deprived of the sight of Violet's face. And what a sight it was.

She looked down at Violet, smiling to herself at the way the girl's face relaxed, the way her lips tugged up in content when Lottie's fingers reached her hair once more after completing a previous stroke.

It wasn't uncommon that Lottie found herself in situations like this when it came to Violet Crawford. Situations where she simply couldn't take her eyes away from her.

She was pretty sure she'd memorised every inch of Violet's face with the amount of times she'd silently admired it. Every freckle, every dimple, every expression, every movement. Yet it was something she'd never grow tired of.

"Dude!" Van suddenly called out.

Before Lottie had the chance to look up, Travis barged past after taking it upon himself to snatch some food from Shauna.

He clearly held no care to look where he was walking, considering as he stormed past, his foot made contact with Violet's leg.

Whether it was by accident or not, Violet had no clue. But it was with enough force that it made the girl flinch.

Violet quickly lifted up her head, her irritated eyes scanning around to find the culprit. One they landed upon Travis they narrowed.

"What the fuck, man?" Violet spat. "Watch where you're going!"

Lottie's face scrunched in distaste at the boy. "Maybe you didn't notice but we're kind of in a situation here, Flex."

In truth, Lottie was more pissed off about the fact Travis had disturbed Violet than the fact he took the food.

Travis turned around at the use of the nickname, his nostrils flaring.

Violet sat up fully and moved her body in front of Lottie's as she turned to face the boy. Her jaw was clenched tightly, her fist curling up at her side. She didn't like the way Travis was looking at Lottie. Not one bit.

"If you don't wipe that look off your face—"

"Violet, don't." Natalie scolded, shooting her a disapproving look.

Travis shook his head, giving Violet a final glare before stomping away like a petulant child. Violet turned back to the others and let out a huff as she tucked her legs up to her chest, her finger nails digging into her skin while she waited for her anger to subside.

"Who died and made him king of snacks?" Lottie retorted.

"His dad, Lottie." Natalie looked at her in shock. "Literally his fucking dad."

"Nat's right." Jackie chimed in. "We should cut him some slack."

Violet let out a scoff. She expected Jackie to agree, to say something she didn't like the sound of. But Nat? She didn't expect her to become a pushover so easily. Especially for someone as ignorant as Travis.

Violet hated the fact Natalie was taking his side, that she was defending him for being so blatantly disrespectful to all of them. To her and Lottie. She let it slide the first few times, but now she'd had enough.

"Why?" Violet shrugged, ignoring the looks she was receiving. "Why should we?"

"You're being a little harsh Violet." Akilah said sheepishly, not wanting to offend her. Yet her sentence still managed to spark an eyeroll from Violet in response.

Lottie's brows scrunched as she looked over at Akilah. "Leave her alone."

Everybody knew that at times Violet could say things or act before thinking, letting her emotions control her like a puppet.

She was quick to anger. Quick to lash out. And honestly, she could be a real bitch sometimes. It was a well known fact. Even Lottie was aware of it. She had never experienced it first hand of course, but she had seen it many times.

However in this situation, Violet genuinely could not understand why no one else but her and Lottie were pissed off at Travis.

"Yeah, his dad died. And that's fucking awful." Violet continued her point. "He shouldn't have had to go through that, let alone see it. But that doesn't give him an excuse to act like a complete dick and ruin things for all of us when we're trying to make a shitty situation better. Javi lost his dad too yet he isn't acting like his brother."

Violet let out a breath once she finished her rant, the death grip on her legs loosening when she felt Lottie's hand on her knee in support. She continued to ignore the feeling of everyone's gaze on her, especially Natalie's.

Because it all honesty... she didn't care if what she said was too harsh. It was the truth. So the others could disapprove all they wanted, it didn't change how Violet felt.

"Yeah." Mari nodded, agreeing with Violet. "I guess it's fine if we all starve to death. As long as Travis' feelings are okay."

"We're not gonna starve to death, okay?" Jackie tried, attempting to reassure them all. "When the rescue team gets here—"

"If it gets here." Van was quick to give her a reality check.

Jackie deflated, biting back a scowl at Van's words. "Don't say that."

"I mean..." Shauna sighed, starting to mull over the idea that things weren't going to get better. "It has been three days."

"They're coming." Jackie mustered up a smile. She couldn't bring herself to think the worst. "They're coming..."

A wave of silence fell over the group, all of them seeming to give into the dark and hopeless thoughts that clouded their minds. Jackie's words of encouragement were nowhere near enough to stop it.

The thought of no one coming to rescue them was a hard pill to swallow. Yet now it was becoming a necessary one. Because the fact remained. It had been three days. Three days.

Surely they would've been here by now.

The feeling of Lottie's hand slipping from Violet's knee was enough to grab her attention. Looking over at her, Violet's brows furrowed when she noticed the discomfort spreading across her best friend's face.

She watched as Lottie looked over her shoulder skeptically, her gaze darting around the area as if she was on high alert.

"Hey," Violet spoke softly, putting her hand on Lottie's arm. "What's wrong?"

Lottie's acknowledgement of Violet's question was delayed, meeting her gaze after a few seconds. Violet's concern only grew in this moment. Because Lottie's eyes didn't soften like they usually did, they were still bubbling with worry.

"Lot." Violet prompted once more. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I just..." Lottie spoke hesitantly. "Did you... hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"I don't know." Lottie visibly tensed up the more she allowed her eyes to scan around her. "I thought I heard... something."

Violet joined her in looking around, searching for an explanation that would put Lottie at ease. "Maybe it was the wind blowing the leaves around?"

"Yeah." Lottie mumbled in a half reply. She inhaled sharply before getting up. "I'll be back in a minute."

Violet frowned. "Where are you going?"

"I just..." Lottie patted away the dirt on her pants. "I need to brush my hair."

Violet nodded in response, her eyes never leaving Lottie as she walked away and over to her bag. She let out a sigh at the sight, feeling like she'd failed her in a way.

Violet didn't like that she had no idea on what to do, that she didn't know how to comfort her. She wished that she knew what was going on in Lottie's brain, or that Lottie would open up to her about it.

She just wanted to understand.

But she also knew that she couldn't push her. That she wouldn't. No matter how much she wanted to learn about Lottie's troubles.

Violet just hoped that Lottie still knew she'd be there for her no matter what it was. Because she truly meant it when she said she would do anything for her.

"Guys!"

Everybody looked towards the sound of the voice, watching as an out of breath Taissa ran over to them all, an excited smile plastered on her face.

"Guys, there's a lake! There's a lake!" Taissa pointed behind her. "I saw it from that hill."

"Holy shit." Violet beamed. "How far away?"

"About four or five miles." Taissa told her, matching her excitement.

"Do you think we could hike it?" Shauna asked, standing up.

Taissa nodded. "It's pretty rocky, but yeah."

Jackie looked around at them all, growing worried when she noticed the shared enthusiasm on everyone's faces.

She quickly rose to her feet as she blurted out. "Uh, we— We can't just... leave."

"We've got two days of water, tops." Taissa reminded her. "And then what? Just sit around and die?"

"What if the rescue team comes?" Jackie countered.

Taissa shook her head, letting out a sigh. "Do you think they're taking their time on purpose? If they knew where we were they would be here already."

"You don't know that." Jackie refused to falter.

Laura Lee decided to speak up for the first time, looking back at Coach Scott. "What do you think Coach?"

"I don't— I don't know." He sighed, wincing as he shuffled the positioning of his leg. "I mean, you'd have to leave me behind. I guess, but whatever."

Violet's face scrunched at his suggestion. There's no way they'd even think about leaving him on his own to fend for himself with the state he was in.

"We could make you a stretcher." Taissa offered.

Jackie chuckled dryly. "Oh, okay."

"Seriously, if we take turns carrying it—"

"No!" Jackie snapped, growing tired of the conversation already. "This— this is bullshit! I say no. Okay? No way."

"Let's put it to a vote." Taissa suggested. Although it was clear it wasn't a suggestion. It was happening. "All in favour of waiting here?"

Jackie was the first to raise her hand, looking around at the group to see who agreed. Mari was the next to join, then Laura Lee.

And then Lottie.

Violet bit the inside of her cheek at the sight of Lottie raising her hand. Lottie took note of Violet's lack of agreement with Jackie's standing point and frowned, realising they disagreed with each other.

"All in favour of the lake?"

Violet raised her hand, as did the rest of the group. There was no need to count hands. It was clear that Taissa's idea had the majority.

"Then it's settled." Taissa grinned. "Grab your shit."

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[ AUTHORS NOTE! ]

it's officially moving day for the yellowjackets ;)

[currently unedited.]