1996
Natalie Scatorccio wasn’t afraid of much anymore. Well that’s what she told herself, but as she dragged her passed out best friend, her Doe, out of the plane she was fucking terrified. “Doe! Baby wake up! For fucks sake wake the fuck up or I swear to god-” She says, leaning the shorter girl against a tree and shaking her, when Valèrie woke up she sighed in relief and hugged her. “Doe! You fucking terrified me.”
Valèrie looked terrified and around, not wanting to cry but her neck was in so much pain from bruising, she heard Taissa screaming trying to find Van, Shauna and Jackie together, girls running around crying, afraid, Daphne ran over to her and hugged Val.
“Are you ok Val?” Daphne asked, concerned and pushing Natalie away who looked annoyed at Daphne’s blatant disregard for anything but Valèrie.
“I’m fine.” Val says, a bit distracted with the chaos and the pain she as in.
“Yeah she’s fine Daph, don’t worry I’ve got her.” Natalie says, shooing Daphne off who glared daggers at the blonde as she walked away. “God she’s still obsessed with you huh?” She snorts, something about Daphne pissed her off but that was probably her just being a good friend.
Val laughs, “she’s not- I’m sure she’s just worried about me and trying to be a good friend.” She tries to argue, not believing Daphne could have feelings for her, it was such a foreign thought to her. They suddenly they heard Coach Scott yelling and went to help him, they saw he was getting crushed by the broken plane wing and all the girls lifted it up to help him, part of his leg had been crushed, Val felt nauseous and looked away, she saw Van who had smoke on her face, she hugged the girl when she heard a CHOP and saw Misty cut off the crushed part of Coach Scott’s leg.
“What the fuck?” Natalie said, her eyes wide, the other girls gasping, Val ran over to Nat and held onto her to make sure she didn’t pass out from nausea.
“Oh fucking gods I’m gonna be sick-holy fuck real ugly.” Val says, burying her face in Nat’s shoulder who patted her back grimacing.
“Help me move him!” Misty said, her face splattered with blood, they moved him and she got them to start on different things, Val was ripping shirts up to make bandages with Taissa and Natalie, when Laura Lee asked if someone brought contraband the rest of the girls immediately stared at Valèrie and Natalie who both looked slightly insulted and indignant, Val scoffs and flips them off.
“Okay. Wow.” Natalie says, faking surprise and smiles more like a grimace.
“This feels racist.” Val says, Natalie smack her arm and Taissa laughs, Misty ignores her comment and asks if they did, Natalie and Val look at each other.
“Obviously.” Natalie replies.
“Yeah who the fuck do you guys take us for?” Valèrie says, sarcastic and a bit snarky, feeling dizzy from low iron.
“Anyways, not like we can get it since we stashed it in our bags, and god knows where they are now.” Natalie interrupts, holding Val up slightly as she could tell she was getting dizzy. Van was rummaging through the bags and found a bottle of rubbing alcohol and asked if it was good, Misty gladly takes it despite Jackie’s initial protest and pours it on the wound, Val winced at coach’s screams. Javi was trying to find his dad still, so Valèrie and Nat went to go find Travis, when they found him they awkwardly stood there.
“Travis, hey, your brother’s tryna get back on the plane to look for your dad.” Natalie says, Val was holding her nose, trying not to wince at how awful this situation was, even in a terrible situation she experiences the worst social anxiety ever, everything cringes her out.
“The door ripped out on our way down, he was trying to help one of you idiots put on your oxygen mask and he fell out.” Travis says coldly.
“Yeah well..that..fucking sucks but..your brothers still here so maybe you should go and help him.” Natalie says hesitantly and unsure if the right words to say.
“Maybe you should fuck off.” Travis says as he walks away.
“Yeah well maybe you should stop acting like a fucking fifth grader and grow a pair and support your little brother.” Val mumbles under her breath, she couldn’t help it, he was already gone when she said it but Natalie heard and slapped her arm. “Ow!” Val whined,
“Think first. I love my discount best friend despite you having the worst ocd and low iron and blood pressure I’ve ever seen. Plus you have awful social anxiety.” Natalie says bluntly.
“Aww, yeah sorry, love you too though.” Val says and kisses Nat’s cheek(in a totally platonic way def not cuz she’s inlove with her) and walks with her back over to the others.
They heard Laura Lee scream and ran over and saw Coach Martinez’s body in a tree, Javi screamed and was crying.
“Holy Macaroni is that-” misty began before Natalie interrupted her.
“He’s gotta be dead right?” Natalie says, looking shocked and holding onto Valèrie.
“Yeah no shit he’s dead.” Daphne says before retching.
“Oi shut up.” Val snaps at Daphne. Shauna looks to Natalie and Daphne.
“What the fuck you two?” Shayna says quietly and stern. Val sighs in frustration and vomits, not able to stand the sight.
“Ok who has the best arm?” Jackie asks the girls, Mari raises her hand saying she does. “Ok, Thinking we could throw things at him to see if he moves.” Jackie says in a quieter tone.
“You want to throw rocks, at coach, who fell out of a fucking plane?” Taissa asks exasperated.
“I didn’t say rocks, someone’s shoe or whatever.” Jackie defends herself.
“Oh yeah that’s a fuck ton smarter, you’re on fire today Jackie, oh wait, that was supposed to be me!” Van retorts.
“Wait what?” Valèrie and Taissa both say, confused.
“Okay, guys stop it, we need a plane here.” Shauna interrupts.
“We could lower him with ropes? Vines I don’t know.” Laura Lee says, clutching her teddy.
“For fucks sake Laura Lee we’re not going to Tarzan him out of a tree-” Natalie retorts.
“Oh you got a better idea?” Laura Lee asked.
“Then shoes and vines? Sure, let’s just cut the fucking tree down!” Natalie says, Travis walks over and sees his Dad in the tree and begins to climb up, they look concerned and try to get him to come down, they look branch falls and so does Coach’s body, they all look away and Natalie holds Val as she throws up again. “Doe it’s ok- deep breathes.” She tells her, rubbing the girls back as she heaved. The poor girl kept on heaving even when there was nothing left in her system and sobbed, Daphne tried to intervene.
“Natalie move just let me-” Daphne tried to push Natalie away a em Nat snapped back at her.
“Shut up Daph- just stop. Doe doesn't need this bullshit right now, go fucking pick flowers or shit.” Natalie snapped at the girl, done with her trying to “woo” Valèrie at the worst times when she was in pain, Daphne huffed and stomped off, Natalie could give a shit.
Later that night they set up a camp fire and Val was cuddled into Nat, exhausted and quiet for once, she took her iron supplement and grimaced at the amount she had left. They were all solemn and silent till Laura Lee spoke.
“This is all my fault. I did something really bad, I had my piano lesson last week and I kept messing up, and Mrs. Brophy was yelling at me and I called her a bad word. Only in my head but still, God heard me. And now he’s punishing all of us.” Laura Lee said fearful and sad
“What did you call her?” Taissa asked.
“Cunt.” Laura Lee whispered, they all burst into laughter and were cackling when Lottie blurted out.
“I steal clothes from TJ Max just to return them and get store credits I never use.” Lottie admits and they all laugh more.
“…Ok so last year you guys remember how I was hanging out with Keira a ton right? Well on spring break we used her dads car to drive out of state and go to parties for all the two weeks and stayed at tons of hotels, went shopping and bought a ton of shit, one of the parties Mattias Todd who graduated the year before was there and…one thing led to another after a few bottles of whiskey and red and I slept with him and Elaine.” Valèrie admits quietly and embarrassed, they all burst out laughing, Natalie tightens her smile and grip on Val, concerned as to why she didn’t tell her.
“I used to sneak downstairs after everybody had gone to bed and watch the Colour of the night just so I could pause it on Bruce Willis’ wang.” Jackie admits, they all cackle with laughter. “What about you shipman? Any secrets that would crash a damn plane?” Jackie turned to Shauna.
Before Shauna could answer they heard Coach Ben scream and ran to see him, Misty had cauterized the wound to stop the bleeding for good, the mood didn’t get high after that, Val looked wearily at Natalie as they cuddled up to sleep around the campfire.
“They’ll find us soon right?” Valèrie asked softly as Natalie made a makeshift bed with their suitcases and sweaters.
“Yeah Doe, don’t worry they’ll find us.” Natalie reassured her, having hope for it still at this time. “Now let’s go to sleep silly Doe.” Valèrie rolls her eyes and falls asleep curled up with her, not seeing Daphne’s longing or jealousy, not expecting or knowing what Misty did once they were all asleep, stranding them there.