Melodrama

The next morning everyone was unable to process what had just happened. There was a communal numbness surfacing the room, and the silence that came along with it was deafening. Crystal felt like spiraling. She couldn't help but still feel resentment towards Misty for being the reason for all of this.

Of course, she knew that Misty didn't know it would escalate this far, or maybe she did, but Crystal knew that the reality of it was hitting her like a tsunami. Misty sat on her rocking chair, Crystal was beside her on the floor. She looked to be in a dissociative state in similarity to the others, but there was just something in her eyes that Crystal couldn’t place.

Crystal interlaced their fingers together, giving Misty a look of acknowledgment, only for Misty to stray from her touch and remain her gaze on the fireplace. She had been acting like this all morning. She was being distant, it was unlike her. Crystal suspected Lottie had something to do with it. 

Lottie had the bright idea to swoop in before Crystal could get to Misty while she was having her panic attack and now Misty apparently didn't want anything to do with Crystal at the moment.

She felt cold inside now. All she wanted to do was be closer to Misty, but her friend wasn't having any of it. She didn’t understand. 

“Lottie, what is it?” Taissa asked, directing her attention from Shauna to Lottie, who was currently eyeing the snow from outside the window.

“The snow..” Lottie got up from where she was sitting and observed as much as she could through the pane, “It finally stopped.” 

This stirred everybody from their joint paralysis. They all turned their heads to Lottie, unsurprisingly. One by one everyone took turns opening up the door in groups. It's hinges had frozen overnight.

Mari, Travis, and Akilah were the ones to undo it, with Travis using most of the strength. It’s not like Mari put effort into anything, that much was evident. All she was good for was running her mouth and kissing Lottie’s ass.

Crystal stood aside Misty expressionless as she cheered. She felt her presence was useless. Misty paid her no mind in hours, it was driving her mad. Crystal was upset too. She saw everything unfold along with everyone else, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t confide in Crystal for even a short moment. If she found the time for Lottie, why not her? 

The group made their way outside and began shoveling snow. Crystal didn’t leave Misty’s side. They both put in good effort into clearing the area out, but the tension was still apparent. Crystal decided to cut it by attempting to lift her friends' spirits.

“I’m feeling a bit nostalgic right now.” She said, laughing half-heartedly, seeking a reaction from Misty.

However, Misty just looked at her cluelessly, “Huh?”

“You know.. when we first properly met.” Crystal recalled, “I sang a song and you told me to shut the fuck up.” 

Misty stopped what she was doing and looked at her incredulously.

“When I offered to teach you how to sing, that we could harmonize..?” 

“Yeah, I got it,” Misty spoke, continuing the task at hand.

Crystal finally broke, “Why are you acting this way towards me, Misty?” 

She stopped once more, dropping the bucket in an unnecessarily dramatic way, “I’m exhausted, I haven’t stopped thinking about everything, and I still don’t know why you are being so nice to me!” Misty snapped. 

Crystal’s posture tightened, “I already told you why! Stop pushing me away!” She scrutinized, gazing around the perimeter in search of any attention they might have incited. No one paid them a glance.

“You-,” Misty started, but came to a halt when Crystal placed her hands on Misty's shoulders and got up in her space. “Misty, you are all I have. Look around. Have you seen anyone here speak to me in a friendly way?”.

Misty refused to meet Crystal's gaze, preferring to view the ground beneath their feet. “If you’d much rather spend your time with Lottie, then that’s fine. Just don’t leave me running after your tail like a dog.” Crystal snapped, picking up the bucket and shoving the snow furiously.

Misty seemed apologetic. Crystal didn’t quite mean to snap at her that hard, it’s just- Misty was so difficult to get through. She understood why she may not trust her. Honestly, Crystal didn’t know why she had such an attachment to Misty either, but she needed her. Crystal admired Misty.

“I-I’m sorry, Crystal. I’ve just never had a real friend before, let alone a best friend.” Misty let on.

“Everything is my fault, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My head is a mess and I- I don’t know who I am anymore, I don’t think I ever did.” She finished, panting breathlessly from how fast she spoke.

Crystal surveyed Misty and her body language, it was certainly genuine. She knew there was something Misty still wasn’t telling her, but she’d let it go for now. 

“I’m not gonna lie. I don’t know you either, I thought I did, but I still feel this connection between us. I can't just let go of that.” Crystal said, 

“I know you feel it too. You are my best friend Misty, and friends don’t abandon each other when things get bad.” 

Misty smiled sadly, and embraced Crystal in a tight hug, “You are my best friend, I’m sorry.”

Crystal buried her face into Misty’s curls, “I forgive you, are we okay?”

Misty pulled away and nodded. That was finally settled. Now she had to figure out what the hell Lottie’s issue was. Crystal decided to postpone that. She had just gotten in Misty’s good graces again, there needed to be a cool-off period. She had to be logical about it.

“Come on, let's go back inside,” Crystal suggested, taking Misty’s hand and leading her back to the cabin.

Inside, things seemed to be less dark. Shauna went on a walk, she needed time for herself, or at least that's what Crystal assumed. Everything easily fell back into place. This was their new normal. It was oddly domestic. It was quite easy to lose track of time when no one was keeping track of time. Not a single person had thought to keep track of days.

Christmas could have already passed, and there was no way of knowing. Crystal’s favorite holiday was Christmas. Her favorite season used to be winter, although she didn't know if she’d view it the same ever again. It sucked, and she felt robbed.

Crystal had been holding onto her youth, terrified to let it go, but she could feel that pureness slowly being ripped from her grasp. She knew she couldn't hold on forever, but she wasn't ready. Her parents would go on and on about how she needed to act like a big girl. Crystal thought parents were supposed to hate seeing their children grow up. God, she missed them.

They may not have always seen eye to eye, especially in terms of her theater obsession and acting dreams, but they only wanted what was best for her. Crystal wanted to ask Misty what her parents were like, but after that little admission back at the cliff, she was nervous to bring it up.

The two settled on the bench by the window in silence. They were too cold to speak and were trying to warm up. Crystal still hadn't figured out how they did not get hypothermia yesterday with how long they were outside, Misty most of all.

Misty rubbed her arms, “You wanna know another secret?” she asked.

Crystal pondered for a moment, “Uhh, that depends.”

“It’s a safe one, I promise.”

Crystal looked at her questioningly, “O-okay, sure.”

“I don't actually believe any of this wilderness magic stuff,” Misty revealed, a smirk showing on the edge of her rosy chapped lips.

“Wait- really?” Crystal asked, dumbfounded. Misty seemed so convinced of it recently. Perhaps she was a good actress, just really bad at lying.

“Yeah, I mean I just didn't want to feel left out, you know? Plus the look on Mari’s face whenever Lottie asks for my help is priceless.” She giggled. Now that made sense. She was seeking validation from Lottie of all people.

“I guess that makes sense. I don't really know what I believe.” Crystal stated, blatantly lying. Not an ounce of her entire being believed in any of Lottie’s Ideas or prophecies. She just didn’t want Misty to know that.

It was for a good reason, she told herself. Crystal was still unsure of what she could say around her friend. She just needed more time to discover this hidden side of Misty that was recently revealed to her. Crystal was curious.

Misty was just so interesting. More often than not, it seemed like she was several steps ahead of everyone. 

Being around her took Crystal's breath away, it felt like living. Truly living. Not just existing. Whenever Misty was around, she didn’t feel like she had to be someone else, she didn’t have to perform just to keep people from calling her a freak. None of it mattered to Crystal, because all she cared about was Misty. 

Her feelings toward the girl confused her. Sometimes she felt like shaking her, slapping her, and screaming, but other times she wanted to braid her hair, tell her the deepest darkest secrets she would never say to anyone else, and just hold her hand.

She had this image of them back in Wistayok. Crystal would drive by Misty’s house to pick her up from school and they’d scream and sing along to every word of their favorite show tunes. The two would go back to one of their houses after school and do each other's makeup, gossip, and study together. 

Things she’d never been able to do with anyone. Not for lack of trying, people would dismiss her and Crystal would just accept her defeat. That’s where she and Misty differentiated. Misty never gave up and never took “no” for an answer. 

Misty needed it so badly that she’d do anything for it. She’d manipulate and squirm her way into others' skin until they had no other choice but to say yes. 

Crystal felt like her victim. She saw beauty in that. 

She was stuck in the curls of her blonde hair. Crystal was Misty’s prey, trapped in her spider web, waiting for imminent consumption. It was poetic. 

It was romantic. 

This was nothing like the imaginary friends she made up in her head. It was much better. 

It wasn’t a game. They were on the same team, after all. It was them against the world. They were the only ones who mattered, everyone else had lost meaning. Misty had inhabited every corner, every empty space in her mind. There was no space for anything else, it was all about Misty. 

Crystal wished she had access to music so that she could imagine a better life for them.

It was so just easy to get bored out there. It seemed like all they did nowadays were chores and talk. Crystal loved talking, but even she had her limits. Speaking of-

“Hey... Misty, I just wanted to say you did good with Shauna, or whatever..” Akilah hesitantly spoke after making her way over to them. 

“I tried, but it was too much for me..” She added doubtfully. 

Misty looked up at her, taken aback by the testament, “Well, thank you, but if you weren’t there when I stepped away, Shauna could have died.” She noted, looking at Akilah with her usual off-putting intense gaze. 

Akilah nodded gratefully, with a small smile, and walked away. 

“That was kind of her to say, no one ever gives you the credit you deserve,” Crystal announced, watching Akilah as she returned to her task of sweeping the floor. 

“Yeah, guess so.” Misty agreed halfheartedly. Crystal started playing with Misty’s split ends, not saying anything about it because there wasn’t much she could do anyways. Crystal had some too. All the girls likely did.

By now, the sun had set, and the room was illuminated by the fire. Lottie gathered everyone around the fire to do their nightly “prayer” which wasn’t actually what it was, it was only a chant to the wilderness, which Crystal found to be idiotic.

Once the prayer came to a close, they all got up one by one. Misty began humming a tune, much to Shauna's evident dismay. 

“Why are you singing that?” She demanded, leading Misty to give her a weird look. 

“I don't know. I... Uh, I think that Crystal was singing it.” She replied warily, only for Shauna to charge at Misty and deck her in the face. 

Crystal rushed over to see if she was okay, Misty was startled by the impact, but thankfully looked fine. Only one of the lenses in her glasses seemed to have cracked.

Okay, that was low. Misty needed those glasses.

Some rushed over to Misty, including Nat.

“Shauna, stop! Misty did everything she could.” 

And others tried holding Shauna back the best they could, “No, shut up! You all fսcking ate my baby! I saw you! You were covered in blood!” Screamed Shauna, ignoring all attempts to restrain her. 

“Shauna, stop it! You're acting insane.” Taissa yelled fearfully. 

Misty stood wide-eyed as Shauna bit Van. Crystal had no idea why this was happening. Shauna was angry, but that didn’t mean she had to take it out on Misty. She was one of the only girls brave enough to deliver the baby, not even Coach stepped up. 

Lottie walked in front of Shauna, “Travis, take Javi to the bedroom.” She said, ignoring everyone’s questioning looks. “Shauna... I know there's a lot of pain right now, but let it out. Shauna, we need you. Let it out.” 

Shauna peered over Lottie, looking her up and down. Just in a split second, she started throwing her fists at Lottie's face until she fell to the ground. 

Everyone stood by, watching as Shauna kicked and clawed at Lottie, unable to do anything about it. If you asked Crystal, Lottie did offer herself up, after all.

Shauna straddled Lottie, hitting her so hard that blood splattered with each hit. It sounded grotesquely wet.

Crystal looked over at Misty, noticing a rabid exhilaration on her features. Misty looked away to meet Crystal's gaze and saw that Crystal wasn’t quite appalled by the ongoing violence either. 

She’d be lying if she were to say she didn’t feel any gratification from seeing her current “rival” get battered down. 

Crystal wasn't a violent person, but she did enjoy horror movies. They thrilled her, and she felt like she was watching one right now. 

The one-sided fight eventually came to a climactic end. The two girls laid side by side. One panting, and one not breathing at all.

All the people in the room stood nervously stoic as Shauna shook Lottie awake. Lottie choked, snorted, and finally inhaled.

Shauna got up, rolled her eyes, and walked outside.

Misty was the first at Lottie's side. Of course.

She ordered someone to get towels and began nursing Lottie’s wounds. Crystal stayed back, watching bitterly. She just couldn’t help herself, it’s how she felt. 

She did however like how gentle Misty became in these situations, how she politely gave out demands and they just fell into her order. It must be empowering. No wonder Misty situated herself in that role. 

Ultimately the issue was settled. Routinely, everyone got ready for bed. Crystal changed her clothes right after Misty. Usually, all of them would wait a few days before changing, but things got messy this time.

Misty offered to help Lottie get dressed, but thankfully Natalie stepped in, brushing off Misty’s insistence. Crystal didn’t feel comfortable with Misty in that position. If she did end up helping Lottie though, It’s not like Crystal would say anything about it. She’s just glad it didn’t have to come to that point.

Crystal settled herself on the mat she often slept on. Later, Misty adjusted herself on the chairs that she slept on. Crystal thought that was ridiculous how they made her sleep there. Misty had learned her lesson about the poison thing, she shouldn’t still be being punished for it. 

“Do you want to sleep down here with me?” Crystal asked quietly.

Misty peeked over her shoulder, “But I’m not allowed t-,”

“Shh, I don’t care. Come down here.” Crystal interrupted, patting the spot beside her.

Misty sighed and got up, taking her blanket and pillow with her. Crystal scooted over, making room for her. Misty laid down beside her, adjusting her body to get comfortable in the small space.

“Now we don’t have to worry about getting cold, we can just share our body heat!” Crystal exclaimed quietly. 

Misty muffled her giggles under the covers, “Goodnight Crystal.” 

“Goodnight Misty,” Crystal replied.

Misty fell asleep before her, which was good, she hadn’t slept in a while. She needed the rest more than she did, and it was not like she would get any good sleep on that creaky chair.

Crystal drifted asleep with a tiny smile stuck on her face, barely even visible. She dreamt of what she could only wish to attain.