Okay, maybe Shauna was possessive, and maybe you were a little too overprotective—but maybe Jackie just never knew when to sit her ass down.

Before the crash, when you and Shauna would swing by to pick Jackie up, both of you would grit your teeth the second Jeff slipped out her window. It was annoying, sure, but manageable back then. Now? After the crash the tension thick enough to choke on?

Yeah. Hell.

And it didn’t help that Shauna and Jackie couldn’t seem to agree on anything anymore. Every time they snapped at each other, you ended up in the middle—never able to pick a side, never wanting to. That was the whole point, wasn’t it? The three of you were supposed to be together. A unit. Something like that.

But then came the vote: stay at the wreckage or leave. Jackie chose to stay. Shauna chose to go. And when they both turned to you, waiting—expecting—you kept your hands down and looked away. You refused to choose.

The group ended up walking anyway, and when Taissa miraculously found a lake, the relief barely put a dent in the tension.

Jackie was being petty. Shauna looked ready to tear someone’s throat out. And you? You were caught between them again.

Jackie lay on the rocks in nothing but her underwear, pretending to sunbathe like this wasn’t a survival situation. You and Shauna floated in the cold water, both watching her. Jackie looked at Shauna first, then at you, then—purposefully—turned her body away to talk to Mari like they were lifelong best friends.

Shauna’s stare lingered on Jackie before she forced herself to look away. Your jaw tightened, your own gaze following Jackie until it drifted to Shauna, who was already watching you.

You held the look for a second, maybe two, before she swam over.

“This is bullshit,” she muttered the moment she reached you.

You hummed in agreement, arms crossing over your chest, your soaked shirt clinging tight. Shauna’s eyes dropped to your arms before snapping back up to follow your stare toward Jackie.

“Don’t act like you’re not upset,” she said.

“I’m not acting like I’m not,” you whispered. “I just hide it better than you.”

Shauna swallowed, gaze flicking down to your mouth before she rolled her eyes and turned back to Jackie—who was definitely sneaking glances at the two of you.

“She knows exactly what she’s doing,” you murmured, hand tightening around your bicep.

“No shit,” Shauna muttered.

You watched Jackie for one more beat before you pushed off, swimming toward shore. Water streamed off your skin as you climbed out, your shirt and shorts clinging to every line of you. Jackie’s eyes were on you instantly, Mari forgotten.

Shauna cursed under her breath and swam after you.

You approached, and Jackie’s gaze dragged up your body before meeting your eyes. You clenched your jaw and flicked your attention to Mari, who scrambled away the moment Shauna stepped up behind you, her shoulder brushing your arm like a quiet claim.

“What?” Jackie asked, looking between the two of you, her tone sharp but her eyes softening in that way she only ever used on you.