Chapter Text
A month into the fourth year at college, Jackie and Shauna had finally managed to relocate to a new apartment not too far from campus with a beautiful floorplan, which was surprisingly cheap enough to cover. The apartment was newly furnished, with hardwood floors, and high ceilings. Their landlord had assured them that no murder had happened in the building– yet, Shauna had thought.
The rent was suspiciously low, but who was Shauna to argue against another greedy landlord. Even if someone had died there, it was not her issue to concern herself with others' issues.
Plus, Shauna was grateful to some extent that the landlord hadn’t mentioned a murderu even if there had been one. For the sake of Jackie.
Shauna knew her dearest and longest friend would have high tailed out of the apartment before the landlord had even finished his sentence, leaving this gorgeous apartment in the hands of another lucky pair of college students.
“Jesus! How much is it?” asked Natalie, who laid half sprawled over the couch Shauna had found on facebook market place.
“1600 but split between us it's 800” Shauna said with pride. “I found the listing on some reddit thread.”
“Never thought I’d see the day you became a scruffy discord mod kind of person” Nat laughed.
“Shut up!” Shauna rolled her eyes, ready to argue back against Nat.
“Remind me Natty, who had the open floorplan apartment and who is currently stuck with a roommate who may or may not be selling your used socks?” Jackie asked as she walked into the apartment. Her keys clanged against her reusable water bottle. The smirk plastered on her face was evident she’d heard enough of the conversation to defend her best friend.
“Ugh stop! You guys always get gay and gang up on me.” Nat said her voice just short of whining.
“Do not!”
“Not even!”
Both girls complained at the same time.
Though a warmth bloomed through Shauna’s chest at the possibility of being gay with Jackie. To be honest, Shauna had found herself lingering near her friend since they’d met in high school. She’d stay away rethinking the small moments they would share– that could easily pass as just friends. And recently, ever since she started living with Jackie, the domestic nature of their life had made her far more softer.
But with softness came an uneasiness. The truth was that there was no way Jackie could ever think of her in the same way.
Natalie rubbed her face over her face. “I need to find a different place as soon as possible though. I caught Noelle..” her voice dripping with venom when she spoke her roommates' name, “lingering near my laundry basket a couple days ago. She is a fucking freak.”
Noelle had been a random roommate Natalie had been living with for over half a year now. Natalie had picked up her friend’s lease when Van had told Nat that they planned on moving in with Tai for their fourth year. And while Nat had complained to all of them individually at every event, she also understood that deep down Van had always wanted to live with Tai. Shauna remembered the night after Nat had complained and left Shauna and Jackie’s old apartment, Jackie had crawled into Shauna’s bed saying how glad she was that nothing like that would separate the two.
And the butterflies that erupted in Shauna’s stomach did not last long, when the next topic of conversation was the guy in Jackie’s class, Jeff, who had asked her out on a date.
So, yeah, nothing would separate JackieandShauna unless it was a random guy named Jeff.
“Nat, did you ever end up reaching out to my friend?” Jackie asked.
Natalie crumbled under her gaze.
“Right.. So that’s a no” Shauna muttered.
Jackie had told Natalie three months ago that Jackie’s friend, Lottie, from Art History 148 had been looking for a new roommate. Jackie had excitedly come home to call Nat about an opportunity to help her escape her creep of a current roommate.
But leave it to Nat, to procrastinate her own escape.
“I know I know” Nat grumbled, “I’ll do it today.”
Jackie and Shauna both knew this was a half promise.
“Don’t bother. How about this… you meet Lottie tonight?”
“What no? I can just text her.”
“Well you probably won’t. I gave you her number months ago.” Jackie replied sassily. “Plus, Lottie is hosting a block party and she told me to invite my friends. And unfortunately, you might fall under the category.”
Shauna snorted.
“Gee thanks Jack!” Nat replied sarcastically.
“So… you’ll come?” Jackie asked excitedly.
Nat hummed, though Shauna could tell it was not out of her own free will.
“And Shipman, you’ll drive us.” Jackie said.
“What? How do you know I am not busy tonight? I might have a date…” Shauna said her voice trailing off, though she could tell she was not convincing anyone of her busy schedule.
“And do you?” Jackie asked rheatorically.
“No,” Shauna whispered dejectedly.
Now it was Natalie laughing at her. Shauna stuck her tongue out at the bleach blonde girl, and Nat flipped her off in return.
—-
By the time the sun had gone down, the dip in weather had been more noticeable. The days and nights had been warm, and with Summer finally giving way to Fall, this was the first night Shauna had noticed that the weather tonight felt far colder than it had the past few nights.
The three girls had parked a few streets down, not having anticipated that the street parking would have been far and few in between. Shauna had never met Lottie herself, however from what Jackie had told her, she was not surprised to know that the girl had enough influence to drag more than half the private college’s attendance to her party.
Shauna didn’t even think she knew more than ten people at college let alone this many.
The block party itself was less of a block party, and more of a forest party. Their college was located in Northern California, it was nestled in between redwood forests, with many of their pathways to classes that weaved in between the thickness of the forest. It was specifically why Shauna had chosen to come here (other than the fact she knew Jackie was coming her as well).
Most of the surrounding homes near campus all sat in between the trees as well, so it wasn’t shocking by any regard that this party happened to be in the middle of the forest at night. If Shauna hadn’t been so desensitized to the foliage by now, she would have been apprehensive about attending tonight.
The wind picked up once again, almost like it was cooling as it weaved through the branches and the coolness of the breeze made her face colder. Shauna, like most times, wore her flannel shirt over a black tee shirt that stopped at her waist and a pair of loose jeans. Natalie in similar fashion had jeans on however it was paired with a dark leather jacket and an equally dark eyeliner.
Jackie, however, the polar opposite of both of the girls wore a short skirt and a shirt. The honey blonde girl came unprepared as usual, and before the girls had even made it to where the bonfire was burning in the clearing of the forest Jackie stepped closer to Shauna.
“GOSH!” Jackie exaggerated. “Why is it so flipping cold?!”
“Not like I warned you about the weather or anything.” Shauna said as she rolled her eyes (all in fondness of the younger girl).
“Shaunaaaaa” Jackie whined. Shauna knew exactly what was to come next.
“Nope.” Shauna tried to stand her ground.
“Please?” Jackie’s voice pleading, her large beautiful eyes highlighted under the full moon, and her bottom lip jutting out.
Shauna could be a bitch, but she wasn’t cold hearted. Though, she might just be cold after what she was about to do.
Shauna peeled the dark brown flannel off her shoulder and over her arms and held it out to Jackie. The moment the warm flannel no longer covered her arms, goosebumps arose on her own arms. Jackie should really be grateful.
“Thanks Shippy!” Jackie excitedly put on the flannel as she bounded down the hill towards where the group of people were visible pouring drinks and a few kegs lined up near the large group of people.
“Way to stand your ground Shippy” Natalie mocked.
“Shut up” Shauna grumbled. “Don’t you have to be networking right now?”
Natalie’s face fell. “Please don’t remind Jackie. I love her but there is no way Lottie is better than Noelle.”
Shauna snorted. “I think anyone is better than Noelle. As long as they aren’t snooping in your laundry basket I’d say that is a win.”
The two girls made their way down the slope that Jackie had skipped down just moments before. Shauna scanned the scene trying to spot the girl. It wasn’t hard to locate her, she was talking animatedly to a tall girl, who Shauna assumed to be the one and only, Lottie.
Shauna nudged Nat with her elbow and nodded her head towards the two girls talking, both of their faces only illuminated by the bonfire burning close by and the soft light of the full moon above them.
“This is your chance.” Shauna reminded her again.
“Ugh I need a drink.” Nat said as she walked away towards the cases of beer she’d seen on a plastic table nearby. “You coming?” Natalie asked as she turned around after having walked away a few steps waiting for Shauna to join her.
Shauna half jogged-half walked to her matching the speed at which Nat was walking.
“I’m driving.” Shauna said.
“Here.” Nat handed over a can of coke.
“Thanks.”
“What to smoke?” Nat asked as she finished pouring herself a cup and bringing it to her lips. Her face grimaced as she took a deep gulp and then poured herself some more.
“Yeah why not.” Shauna and Nat walked to the edge of the party where far more people were scattered. Two familiar figures sat on a fallen log that littered on the ground. It was the perfect seating to view the party far enough to not be bothered, but close enough to be able to see everyone mingling. The two figures sat close to each other, their hands intertwined and legs pressed to one another.
The closer Shauna walked up to their friend she could see the soft blush on her friends faces.
Van and Tai had been together since the start of their first year at college. When Nat had introduced Jackie and Shauna to Van and Tai, Shauna had known that what the two had was special, and unequivocally rare.
While she was incredibly happy for them, there was also a feeling of loneliness she’d feel when she saw how happy they were. How they were each others. And there was no ifs or buts. It was set in stone.
That kind of certainty Shauna yearned for.
“Scarttoricio, Shipman.” Van greeted them.
“Palmer.” replied Nat.
“Jesus, just say Hi like normal people.” Tai rolled her eyes.
“Hey Tai.” Shauna replied.
“Thank God! Someone is normal here.” Tai said jokingly, as Van poked her in the side making her girlfriend giggle just a bit.
“Where is you better half?” Van asked to Shauna.
Shauna was going to feign confusion. She knew exactly who Van was referring to, but in all honesty, she did not want to be teased by increasingly tipsy people while being completely sober. It was not her idea of fun.
But Nat beat her to it.
"She's mingling with my future roommate-to-be.”
“Oh shit! No more Nosy-Noelle?” Van asked, shock evident on her face.
“That’s if Scattorcio, manages to actually talk to the girl that Jackie has been hounding her about. For all we know Nosy-Noelle and Natty will be roommates forever.” Shauna muttered.
“No way. Still?” Van poked fun at Nat.
It might have been Shauna’s comment, and the fear of being stuck with her peering roommate forever, or the judgement from Van that made her stand up abruptly.
“Fine!” Nat turned around and stomped over to the general direction Nat and Shauna had last seen Jackie and Lottie.
Shauna could see more people had arrived since they’d sat down. The music was much louder than before, and people seemed to be drinking at a much faster pace. Shauna made a mental note to go find Jackie in the next thirty minutes if she doesn’t manage to spot the girl from the log she was perched on recently.
“Baby I’m going to grab a refill, do you want anything?” Van asked as she got up and dusted off the back of her jeans.
“Hmm.. I’ll come with. I need something to eat. Shauna, do you want anything?” Tai asked as she turned to acknowledge her friend who was still sitting on the log.
Shauna simply shook her head no, and held up her still full coke can.
When Van and Tai had walked towards the rest of the drink and snacks, the reminder that Shauna was sitting at the edge of the wood on her own hit her like a truck.
Did she look like a loser right now? Maybe she should get up and go find someone to talk to? Maybe Jackie was available and free from Lottie and she could go find her? But then the thought of being seen as attached to Jackie, unable to even fend for herself for one night made her feel sick.
It wasn't long that these thoughts remained, because as she turned over these thoughts in her head she heard a voice.
Which wasn’t odd, considering there were large groups of people all around her talking, dancing, and laughing. It was the fact the noise didn’t sound like the rest. It wasn’t a human sound that drew Shauna’s attention.
Before Shauna could ignore it once again, the deep guttural sound echoed through the forest behind her.
Shauna got up hesitantly looking into the forest, looking for the owner of the sound. Maybe a dog was out there?
Were there stray dogs in the red woods?
Honestly, she had no idea. It wasn’t like an English major knew the ecology of the forest in which she was currently standing in.
It was the next sound that sent a shiver down her body. It was a scream. A familiar voice, almost like the scream belonged to Jackie. The thought of Jackie in the depth of the woods alone, hurt, and screaming out for help pushed Shauna into motion before her brain caught up to her own actions. Unbothered to look for external help, Shauna leapt over the log and ran into the woods.
Her body carried her further and further until the sounds of the party behind her felt distant enough. The light from the bonfire no longer lit up the path below her, and only the sifted light through the trees from the moon gave her enough light to see where she was going.
“JACKIE?” Shauna screamed as she ran further. Her legs carried her, she couldn’t even think of how and where she was going. The stitch in the side of her ribs was barely noticeable.
“JACKIE?? Are you out here?” Shauna yelled again. Her voice became desperate with each call that went unanswered.
How much had Jackie drunk? Was she out here alone? Or worse… did someone take her here?
The thought of all the horrible things happening to Shauna made her skin crawl.
After the third time she called out once again, and no one one replied. Shauna considered for the first time, what if she had simply misheard?
It was possible, right?
Shauna had no definitive proof that Jackie was out here. The sound could have been from the party itself, and the weird acoustics of the forest had made her think it was coming from within the thick trees.
If Jackie was not out here, Shauna needed to go back to the party and find Jackie. And if she is not there, then she would rip the forest apart to find her.
Shauna forced herself to turn around, adrenaline still coursing her veins as she walked swiftly back towards the area she’d run from.
Carefully climbing over the overgrown foliage, Shauna put her foot down and climbed down the hill. This deep in the woods, every sound of movement was much louder. Shauna couldn’t help but think of how the trees moving sounded louder, her clothing rustling sounded louder, her steps louder, and—
Behind her a twig snapped.
Shauna turned around swiftly, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was behind her.
But before she was able to get a proper look, she felt something collide with her body, a hot searing pain, and then darkness.