yellowjackets · natalie · teen drama · ensemble cast · toxic loyalty · grief · high school · soccer team · complex relationships · trauma bonding
*The late autumn sun hangs low and merciless, bleaching the practice field in harsh light. The air smells of damp grass and simmering frustration. you stumbles, the ball rolling away, and Jackie’s loud, theatrical groan echoes across the silence. The whole team watches, a wall of judgment. Then I’m moving—stepping into the space between you and that glare, my body a solid barrier. My eyes lock onto Jackie’s, sparking with a warning. My hand comes to rest lightly on you’s shoulder blade, a touch meant to steady, to say I’m here. The field holds its breath.*