Chapter Five: Petty Fights

(Jealously, Part 2)

***

When Jordan stepped foot into the lodge and saw the living room, she froze.

It looked so.... normal. Like the events of last year hadn't happened at all, like time and grief hadn't touched it. Yes, there were sheets and no lights were on, only a blue-tinged light from the moon coming through the slats of the shutters brightening the gloom, but other than that it looked the same since the last time Jordan stepped foot in here. Nothing had been touched, moved or taken out of the room, as if serving as a time capsule of the last night Hannah and Beth had been alive and safe. Of when they all still remained as a close-knit group of friends before a prank and their disappearance tore most of them apart.

It felt so jarring, like something had to be different, to physically show how much had changed since the girls had disappeared in the fabric of the room, and yet it was still the same—except, ghosts and memories haunted it, clung to every surface of the room like the thin films of dust did.

"Home sweet home," Josh announced as Jordan forced herself to move into the room, the suitcase rolling beneath her with dull thumps on the wooden floor. She could do this, for herself, for Josh and for Hannah and Beth. She had her meds. It was just one weekend. 

She could do this.

"Sweet is not the word I'd use," Matt muttered as Jordan propped the suitcase against the wall, Mateo and her resting the carry-on bags on top of it as she shucked off her parka and put it on the suitcase and bags, Mateo doing the same and leaving him in just a flannel and shirt.

"Oh my gosh, it's so good to be inside. Even if it's still kinda freezing in here," Ashley commented.

"I'll get a fire started," Josh offered, heading right toward the fireplace.

"This place barely looks any different," Matt observed.

Jordan nodded. "It's freaky it all looks the same. I thought something would be different a year later..."

"Nobody's been up here," Josh revealed as he still kept trying to get a fire going.

"Even with all the police coming in and out?" Ashley questioned.

"Not a lot of action up here lately," Chris told her.

"Yeah, after the case went cold and the search parties ended, the police just... left. No one's been here ever since," Mateo elaborated. Jordan pressed her lips, looking down as she remembered being part of those search parties, screaming Beth's and Hannah's names into the air until her throat went hoarse and her body was numb with cold.

But they never responded, the wind stealing away her cries for them, smothering any response they could have made. Cementing in the freezing of their case.

"Nope," Josh affirmed, still trying to get a fire going. Jordan hoped it'd be soon—she was tempted to steal Mateo's parka just to be warm.

"What's up party people!" a familiar voice yelled as Jordan turned to see Mike and Jess enter the room, her boyfriend's best friend grinning as he held his hands up.

"Hey!" Jess greeted, waving.

"Hey!" Josh replied back.

"Yo, dude! Nice to see you!" Mateo greeted, pulling Mike into a hug as they slapped each other's backs.

"Likewise, man!" Mike exclaimed, grinning before he pulled away and said, "Hey, Jor-Jor! Long time no see!"

Jordan rolled her eyes at the ridiculous nickname as she hugged Mike. "Mike, how many times have I told you I hate that stupid nickname?"

"What? You love that nickname, Jor-Jor," Mike said, grinning deviously as Jordan scoffed and punched him in the arm before stepping back and standing with Mateo, rolling her eyes again.

As she did, she noticed Matt look at Mike, jaw clenched tight, venom in his eyes.

"Oh God," she groaned, looking heavenward.

"What's going on?" Mateo asked, giving her a quizzical look as Jordan shook her head while she prayed Matt didn't start something. They, least of all Josh, didn't need any petty fights this weekend.

"Make yourself at home, bro," Josh told Mike.

"Will do," he replied.

"Yeah. Come on in. Take a load off. Have whatever you want," Matt said, saccharine venom in his voice before he stood up and walked over to Mike, anger and accusation in his eyes. "You just take whatever you want anyways, right?"

"Woah. Easy there, cowboy," Mike responded, hands held up.

"Matt, stop before you do something stupid," Jordan warned, eyeing Emily's ex and Emily's current boyfriend.

But her warning fell on deaf ears as Matt demanded, "What the hell were you doing with Em out on the trail?"

"What?" Mike asked, obviously confused.

"I saw you and Em. Through the telescope," Matt accused, still glaring at Mike.

"Matt, chill. It was probably not what it looked like," Mateo reasoned, before he looked at Mike and added, "Right, Mike?"

"Yeah. You're talking about before? We just ran into each other. It'd been a while, so we hugged and I said hello. Is that against the law?" Mike explained.

At hearing the explanation—an explanation Jordan had given Matt just a while ago—relief flicked in Matt's face as he smiled. "Right, yeah. Duh. Sorry, it's been kind of a long day. I overreacted."

"Nah man. Don't worry about it," Mike replied, accepting the apology.

"We cool?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Totally," Mike replied.

Matt walked away and Jordan let out a sigh of relief before she looked at Mateo and said, "I'll go see if Emily's coming in."

Mateo nodding, kissing her before Jordan walked back to the doors to see if Emily would be walking through them and she could finally reunite with her best friend.

She didn't have to wait long, as a familiar figure in a fur-lined leather jacket and sleek dark hair cut in a fashionable bob walked through the doors.

"Em!" Jordan cried out, grinning as she attracted her attention.

Emily turned, and her face broke out in a rare, genuine smile. "Jord!"

She rushed to Jordan, wrapping her arms around Jordan in a tight embrace as the brunette returned it, laughing.

"It's so good to see you!" Jordan exclaimed.

"I know! It's been way too long," Emily agreed as she pulled back, that genuine grin still lighting up her face.

"How've you been, Em? How are things going with you at college?" Jordan inquired.

"Well, fashion school is still a challenge but you know me, I like the challenge," Emily answered, smirking as Jordan nodded. "And Matt is... ugh, Matt."

"What's wrong with Matt?" Jordan asked, genuinely curious.

"Nothing just... sometimes he can be so annoying, just questioning everything that I say or do lately. Like, can I have some trust here, hun?" Emily ranted, rolling her eyes.

"Well, maybe you guys should talk? He's a good guy Emily, and I think he'd be the right person for you," Jordan advised.

"Thanks, babes. I'll keep that in mind. But I mean, it is what it is. It's not as if everyone can be as sickeningly sweet and adorable as you and Mateo are," Emily said, giving Jordan a pointed look as she smirked. "Speaking of Mateo... how are things?"

"Still pretty amazing. He's just... I don't want to say perfect, but he kinda is. He's just so there for me, and he's like my rock, you know? Even with my anxiety and how much of a fucking mess I am and can be, he's still there for me, and when he goes through his rough patches, I'm there for him. We have our downs, but we get through it together and with that plus last year, I think it's just made us stronger. I honestly could not wish for a better partner," Jordan gushed.

"Ugh, you're right. He's so perfect, and so perfect for you. You two really are a match made in heaven," Emily said, as something twinkled in her dark brown eyes before she switched subjects and asked, "How've you been, Jord?"

"I've been good. No, really, I am. I mean, I don't think I'll ever not feel anxious, but I've been getting better. The meds help. And while med school is draining, it's been exciting and fulfilling as well. I can't wait till I'm finished and am actually a licensed doctor and can save lives, Em," Jordan answered, smiling at her best friend.

"Good. I'm glad you're feeling better, Jordan," Emily said, another rare smile of hers appearing—this one softer and full of all the sisterly love she had for Jordan and the happiness at hearing her best friend was feeling better, having been there for Jordan since the car crash where her mom died and when Jordan developed an anxiety disorder after it happened and been there for her since the very first panic attack, been there to ground her and then to comfort her with cheesy movies and snack foods and be there for Jordan when she went to therapy to manage her anxiety and when she needed medication after Beth and Hannah's disappearance and Jordan's guilt just made it worse. To hear her best friend she saw more as a sister was feeling better, was recovering well, caused no small amount of joy for Emily.

Jordan smiled in appreciation with Emily, with the girl who'd always been there for her ever since they were kids playing in a sandbox—and, as Jennifer's Body so wisely said, "Sandbox love never dies", and it never did for Jordan and Emily. The two were inseparable, had become closer over the years instead of drifting apart, always there for each other if they needed a shoulder to cry on or to help study for a test or to have sleepovers and gossip while watching rom-coms and horror movies and eating junk food. Emily was there for Jordan with her anxiety, with her grief over her mom, with when she had an attack, to remind her when to eat and to give Jordan two of her precious rings, to encourage her to be more confident in herself, and Jordan was there for Emily when she needed it, when the mask of the alpha bitch cracked around Jordan and she saw the vulnerable, insecure girl beneath it, that she always advised that Emily could be both soft and tough; so far, she was only that around Jordan. It bamboozled many that they were so tight, but those who knew them knew their bond wasn't just that of friendship, that it had shifted into them seeing each other as sisters in all but blood, who'd laugh and cry and maybe argue, but would tear apart any who'd hurt the other, Emily most of all. They weren't joined at the hip—both girls valued their independence highly and could see that being so would do more harm than good for their friendship in the long run. They offered each other support and were close, but if they needed space, they would give each other space. But it was a friendship Jordan never imagined could break.

However, their friendship had fractured with the prank, with Hannah's and Beth's disappearance. Jordan had refused to talk to or see Emily for months after the disappearance and the search parties had stopped and the case went cold and they were presumed dead, unable to look her in the eyes and see someone who didn't seem to regret her role in causing it, not like Matt and Ashley did after they apologised and, after a beat, Mike did as well, sincere regret and guilt on his face for the prank. It may seem like Jordan and Emily might have never reconciled or even would have been hostile instead of friendly if they met at the lodge—until, one day where Mateo wasn't home, Emily had driven over to Jordan's and Mateo's place and demanded they talk. They tried to, only to end up yelling, screaming and arguing with each other.

They might have kept arguing and breaking their friendship further if Emily's mask and anger hadn't cracked and the guilt surged forth, as she let out tears and guilt she'd kept bottled up and admitted that while she wanted to do the prank to teach Hannah a lesson and not sleep with Mike, she and Jess and everyone else never intended for Hannah or Beth to disappear and maybe even be killed, and felt guilty that it had. That had Jordan's own anger crumbling as she pulled Emily into a hug and let her cry. After, they had a lengthy talk while letting out some tears, but it had been good for both of them and their friendship. It took time and many talks after, but their friendship healed and they were close again, texting and calling each other as often as they had before and finding time in their busy schedules for the occasional breakfast and lunch or the rare dinner. And, when Jordan had a really bad anxiety attack, she'd called Emily instead of Mateo.

Her best friend had dropped everything she was doing and drove to her apartment, probably breaking several speeding laws, with everything she needed to help Jordan during and post-attack as she helped her and comforted her after it was done, calling Mateo after it. That cemented Emily firmly into Jordan's support system, like she'd always been, and Jordan appreciated and loved her for it, and that along with everything else had Jordan glad she had Emily back, glad to have her best friend back.

Glad to have her sister back.

Now, back on the mountain, Jordan could really see things would be okay, when she had her boyfriend and sister in all but blood with her.

The two friends exchanged smiles before going to rejoin the others. When Emily did, a scowl came over her face at seeing Mike and Jess curled up together on the couch, Jess most of all.

"Oh my God. That is so gross," Emily snarked, crossing her arms as she stood by one of the only two covered armchairs, Mateo near the other as Jordan stood by Emily. "Are you trying to swallow his face whole?"

"Em..." Matt warned as he stood up.

"Em, maybe we shouldn't start something," Jordan advised.

But Emily ignored them both as she asked, "Seriously, can she be any more obvious? No one wants in on your territory, honey."

"Excuse me, did you say something?" Jess questioned, also standing up.

"Oh, did you not hear me? Was your sluttiness too loud?" Emily fired back.

"Em," Jordan groaned.

"Sounds like someone's bitter she didn't make the cut," Jess sniped.

Jordan was quiet—Emily was bitter. Bitter as in she called Jordan at two in the morning sobbing and Jordan had gone to her place, where she held Emily and listened as she screamed and sobbed out her broken heart over Mike and the cutting betrayal she felt over Jess going out with him just a day after their breakup. She'd been there for Emily through that heartbreak, then her anger over her supposed gal pal doing that to her, which now caused a bitter rivalry between them. Jordan liked Jess and Mike, especially since Mike was her boyfriend's best friend, but she'd seen what they'd done hurt Emily deeply, and she'd always stand by Emily. 

If she was bitter despite having moved on and now being with Matt, then Jordan couldn't blame Emily—even if she wished that she and Jess wouldn't get into this on today of all days.

"Yeah, it's all a big cattle call with that dreamboat. Congrats, you're top cow," Emily snarked.

"Cuts real deep calling Miss Homecoming a cow," Jess retorted.

"Em, come on—" Matt started, trying to defuse the situation, only for Emily to cut in, "Shut up, Matt."

"Stay out of it, you dumb oaf!" Jess yelled at him.

"Hey, watch it!" Emily snapped.

"Oh, you're the only one who can put him down? No one else can play with your toys?" Jess demanded.

"You're such a bitch!" Emily snarled.

"Whatever. I don't give a crap what you think," Jess retorted.

"Hey, guys, cut it out," Mateo said, but both Jess and Emily ignored him as Emily fired back. "At least I can think. 4.0, bitch, honour roll. Suck on that when you're trying to sleep your way into a job."

"Who needs grades when you've got all the natural advantages you can handle?" Jess returned, gesturing to her body.

"Oh please."

"You couldn't buy a mouldy loaf of bread with your—" Jess retorted, only for Jordan to yell, "Both of you, shut up!"

Jess' mouth snapped shut as they all turned to her, Emily and Mateo the most surprised. While Jordan was a mediator if any fights broke up, she did so in a calm, peaceful manner while Mateo was more forceful. Never had they heard her explode like that to diffuse an argument.

But Jordan was getting sick of this petty nonsense and drama as she continued, "Seriously, can you guys stop arguing for one fucking second? All your petty drama and fighting is tiring and insulting to why we're all even here! We're not here to hash out grievances between us that are already over, we're here because of Hannah and Beth and Josh! And if we can't stop finding something to pick a fight with each other about and not remember that, then we should all get off the fucking mountain because this is just doing more harm than good for Beth and Hannah's memory."

"Jordan's right. Coming here was for Hannah and Beth. Let's not waste it with being putas to each other and with all this bullshit drama," Mateo agreed, coming to Jordan's defence.

"Jordan and Mateo are both right. This is not why we came here. This is not helping. It's not what I wanted," Josh agreed as he now stood up from his position by the fireplace and moved away from it. "If we can't get along for ten minutes, then maybe we all need a little bit of a break, right? Mike—why don't you check out that guest cabin? The one I told you about."

"Yeah. Yeah, alright," Mike said as he got up. Jordan noticed that, unlike her, Mateo and Matt, he hadn't spoken up once during Emily and Jess' argument, and he was Jess' boyfriend.

Offering a hand to Jess, he asked, "Want to go do that?"

"Any place without that whore," Jess replied, before amending, "Not you, Jordie."

"Thanks for the clarification," Jordan deadpanned as Jess took Mike's hand and they walked away and out of the lodge, Josh instructing, "It's right up the trail."

When the couple was gone, Matt blew out a sigh. "Glad that's over."

"Yeah," Josh agreed, once again turning back to the fireplace.

Emily turned to Jordan, asking, "You okay, babes? Never heard you so mad before."

"I'm fine. Just... try not to pick any more fights with Jess, okay? Please? For Hannah and Beth and Josh and for me?" Jordan requested.

"Jordan, just say the word and I'd pretend that Jess is once more my best friend in the entire world again," Emily assured, patting her arm even as she looked annoyed about not  starting any more petty fights with Jess.

"So that means in Emily-speak..."

"I won't start anything with that bitch. No promises on not finishing anything she starts, however. Gotta defend myself when that stupid bitch attacks me."

Jordan smiled. "Thanks, Em."

Emily returned it.

"I think I might get some air at my spot before it gets too cold," Jordan said.

Emily nodded and blew a kiss at her, Jordan placing a hand over her heart before returning the kiss back as she moved to the door while Emily went to the bags and Matt was near Josh while Chris, Ashley and Sam hovered at the edges. Mateo, noticing, asked, "Where you going, querida?"

"Just to my spot to get some air," Jordan answered.

"Okay, I'll come over. Do you want me to make you any hot chocolate before I do?" Mateo offered.

"Yes, that would be amazing," Jordan replied. "See you in a sec."

Kissing Mateo's cheek, she left the lodge and went to her spot.

Once she was gone, Emily looked at Mateo and said, "God, you two are so adorable it's revolting."

"Thanks, Emily. I think," Mateo muttered.

"Are you gonna ask her now?" she asked, looking at Mateo meaningfully.

"Yeah—seems a perfect time for it," Mateo confirmed grinning at how even though Jordan going to the spot on her own wasn't part of the plan, she was still there. All he had to do now was make the hot chocolate, set the mood and ask it. Excitement and nervousness ran through his veins at the thought of how he was so close to doing it. Was this always how you felt when you asked that big question?

"Well, if she says yes, then you better remember what I said about hurting my girl or breaking her heart," Emily said, giving Mateo a terrifying look that only Emily Davis could deliver, one that looked like she was eviscerating you yet also scorching you alive with just one glare.

Mateo chuckled, remembering that lecture again, a lecture as terrifying as that look. "Trust me, Em, I won't."

Like that, Emily's lips curved up into what almost looked like a genuine smile. "Then go for it and good luck, Romeo. Remember—treat my girl right or I am throwing your body into an unmarked grave."

"Noted!" Mateo said as he walked over to Josh and asked, "Hey, Josh, we have any hot chocolate mix and milk?"

"Uh, yeah. I stockpiled everything up," Josh informed, before he grinned. "Making your move now, huh, bro?"

"Yep," Mateo confirmed as Matt grinned.

"Good luck, man. She's gonna love it and say yes," Matt encouraged, patting him on the shoulder.

"Thank you," Mateo said as he headed into the kitchen and seeing that, indeed, there was hot chocolate powder and milk. As he made the hot chocolate, he could hear Emily and Matt arguing over a bag, but tuned them out. He wasn't interested in hearing any more couple drama—not when he was so close to his surprise, to asking that big question to Jordan.

Once the hot chocolates were made, Mateo walked out of there, putting one down to grab the carry-on bag and slinging it over his shoulder, and was considering how he was going to open it when Matt and Emily appeared—probably to get that bag—and Matt held open the door for both him and Emily. Mateo gave him a grateful smile as Emily and Matt walked through and they walked down the stairs, ready to go down different paths, Matt and Emily exchanging quick conversation, before Emily hissed, "Remember, Romeo. Unmarked grave if you ever hurt Jordan, especially after this."

"Understood," Mateo said as he walked down the trail toward Jordan's favourite spot and Emily and Matt headed for the cable car, the steam from the hot chocolate mugs wafting up in the air, heart pounding with that fear and excitement again.

And ready for the surprise and to pop the question to Jordan.

***

It's happening!!!

I really loved writing this chapter and have Jordan and Mateo finally interacting with their best friends at last as my faves Mike and Emily finally arrive. And trust me, you'll be seeing a lot moire interaction with Mike and Mateo in the future...

But Jordan and Emily. JORDAN AND EMILY!!! They're like Jennifer and Needy and Jackie and Shauna (Yellowjackets wasn't mentioned along with Jennifer's Body since the show doesn't come out until six years later in-game timeframe) if they weren't so toxic/codependent and also like a cat and their favourite human (Emily's the cat. Jordan's the human) I love them and their friendship so much, they're more sisters than friends, and while the prank did break them a bit, they did become close again (because I can imagine Emily would have guilt she kept bottled up so she wouldn't show any vulnerably past her confident, bitchy mask) and they just... them <333333333 (can't wait for them in the mines together)

And yeah, Jordan interrupted the Jess and Emily argument, even if it was on the last legs and being out of character by snapping XD And she's gone off out of the cabin, with Mateo right behind her! And Emily knows the surprise, and is supportive while also threatening she'd murdered Mateo and dump his body in an unmarked grave if he ever hurt or cheated on Jordan, because I think she'd be the type of person to threaten that to someone who's planning for what Mateo's planning for Jordan (especially since Jordan was there for her with her breakup with Mike and the betrayal she felt over Jess getting with Mike)

But yeah, the surprise is next! I mean, you're all probably guessed it by now, but it will be fully revealed next chapter along with Jordan s reaction! And then, we get into the craziness >:)

Please read, comment and vote!

GhostWriterGirl out!