day 15
Not much more had happened with Dottie and Eli in the past few days. Both of them acted like they'd never kissed (Y/n) and she acted much the same way apart from her sudden peak in wearing turtlenecks to cover up the hickey Dottie had given her.
Part of her wanted to call them out and an even bigger part of her wanted to kiss them again. (Y/n) felt so strange admitting to herself how much she had enjoyed the attention, even if neither of them liked her in that way and they were just doing it to spite the other. (Y/n) had never felt so... Loved in her entire life, it was an unfamiliar yet welcome feeling.
But she wouldn't let that get the better of her. Becuase Eli and Dottie were together and she wasn't really into either of them, she was into the idea of having someone who cared about her.
Today marked the passing of two whole weeks since arriving on the island and this meant they were to receive another package and have their weekly meeting.
(Y/n) only prayed that she or no one else was going to get a 'gift' in this one.
All nine players were sat around the living room in their nightwear (with the exception of Bella who yet again found a way to fully clothed herself in time) since they'd been so rudely awoken and sent downstairs by the alarm. (Y/n) had turned up the collar on her nightshirt to successfully conceal the red area on her neck.
Max was sat next to (Y/n) and squeezed her hand as Tim started unpacking the box. He could sense the blizzard of anxiety that was rushing through her.
"Hey, whatever's in there it's gonna be okay." He assured her quietly.
(Y/n) stood up to go help take some of the new food into the kitchen, hoping that doing something would take her mind off it I stead of just watching the contents of the large box going down and down.
"Are you feeling alright?" Tim asked with clear concern as he handed her several loafs of bread.
"I'm just about nervous is all, you know with last week and that." (Y/n) mumbled.
Tim frowned and lovingly patted her head. "I'll be here for you."
"Can we hurry this up??" Eli hissed impatiently, he wanted to rip Tim's hand off for touching (Y/n).
"Sorry." (Y/n) took the bread away to the kitchen.
Finally the box was emptied and there were no mysterious gifts for anyone. While (Y/n) felt relief she also felt oddly... Cheated? She of course wouldn't wish any of these people to have their own terrible memories be brought up but the lack of follow through made her own gift seem so targeted.
Tim stood in his usual position of the centre of the room and cleared his throat to begin the meeting.
"I don't have to many notices so this should be quick-"
Just when they thought there weren't any surprises the sound of a bell chimed through the air and their heads turned to the screen knowing that this meant they were about to receive a message from the Gamemaster.
And just when I thought you lot were too boring... Although I'm struggling to see the reason for all this hype about (Y/n) but I am glad to see you like her so much!
"Oh my god." Bella said in disgust, everyone had their own ideas of what the message referred to.
Angelo, Bella and Owen all thought it pertained to Owen and what he'd said to them.
Tim thought it was about him, and Hana thought it was about her.
Dottie, Eli and (Y/n) were all sure this was referencing what they'd done a few days ago.
Max was just confused.
"Let's just... Ignore that. He's clearly trying to get in our heads." Tim said quickly, he was shocked to see how readily everyone agreed- none wanting their dirty secret to be let out of the bag.
"What?" Max intruded. "We should address this, what hype is he talking about?"
"Max, Tim's right. The Gamemaster is only trying to get us to argue." (Y/n) couldn't help her (e/c) eyes gaze from straying to where Dottie and Eli were sat.
"I think I agree with Max..." Angelo muttered, he could feel Owen's sharp glare on him but proceeded anyway. "While the Gamemaster may be trying to stir up trouble this wouldn't be brought up for no reason."
Max nodded in agreement and looked to (Y/n) who was reluctant to say anything.
"Has anything happened in the past week that could allude to this?" Bella inquired, hoping to get some more information on Owen.
(Y/n) once again looked over to the couple but she looked away as she relaised she was being obvious. "No, nothing's happened." She stated firmly.
"I think that settles it." Tim cut in again, he would hate for this to be taken any further as the possibility of his writing being discovered loomed over his head and haunted him.
Max looked at (Y/n) again, she had been so paranoid and anxious before and now this message had popped up she suddenly didn't care and thought nothing of it. His eyes narrowed as they fell to her neck, a red mark peeked out from above her collar.
Max reached out to push her collar down. "Hey! What are you-"
(Y/n) reeled away but he'd already seen it.
"(Y/n), is that a hickey?" Max asked like a strict parent, he honestly didn't care if she had one he was just confused as to why she'd lie about it.
Her hand quickly rose to cover it though her face went almost as red as the mark.
Dottie's complexion seemed to match (Y/n)'s, her freckles being covered with the intensity of the blood in her cheeks. She couldn't help but feel a bit of pride but that was overshadowed by the fear in her heart from Eli's death stare.
All of Eli's muscles seemed to tense as the words left Max's throat. Dottie only mentioned getting him back she didn't talk about marking (Y/n), if (Y/n) was going to be marked by anyone it should have been him.
Similar feelings were held by both Owen, Hana and Tim though they felt even more anguish since they had no idea of who it was given to her by, only living in the shame that it wasn't them.
"Who? Who gave that to you?" Owen said with a threatening tone that he rarely used.
"Um... I, uh-" (Y/n) stumbled over syllables in humiliation, she just wanted the ground to swallow her entire being.
"I did." Dottie sqeaked, saving (Y/n) from the embarrassment of having to say it. "But only because Eli kissed her first!"
'You bitch.' Eli thought as all the intensity that had been shot at Dottie was redirected to him. "We're... Going through a rough patch." He said through gritted teeth.
Murderous intent had to be restrained around the room as the at grew thick with tension. Silence hung around them like a cloud of smoke and Dotrie and Eli could almost feel themselves getting stabbed already.
"Well, shit." Angelo broke the quiet, earning a sharp elbow from Bella.
"It didn't mean anything, neither of them did. That's probably what the message was talking about." (Y/n) murmured and crossed her arms. "I'm gonna go get dressed." She felt like she'd been storming out of everything lately but it was hardly her fault that they acted so weird around her.
Hearing that the kiss didn't mean anything did sting Eli and Dottie a little though it did help relieve some of the intensity.
Sadness wasn't the right word to describe how (Y/n) felt. She wasn't upset about the discovery she only felt that... Everything was happening at once and it was happening to her.
Years and years in a mundane life of getting scolded and yelled at and just feeling intense loneliness had suddenly been flipped on its head.
She raked her fingers through matted (h/c) hair that she hadn't had the time to brush that morning.
"(Y/n), wait."
(Y/n) turned to see Owen had caught up to her in the hallway. The usual glint in his eyes had faded, putting (Y/n) at unease.
"Yes?" She huffed.
"Why did you... Why would you do that?" He sounded almost injured in the way he spoke.
"I don't know, I was being stupid." (Y/n) responded with a sigh. "I... I really should be getting ready."
Owen nodded. "I just wanted to know."
"I'm not usually like that, I hadn't expected this to happen and I just-" She cut herself off with a loud groan and grabbed her head.
"Don't be so hard on yourself." Sure, he was mad at her but Owen also understood that (Y/n) didn't know that she was his yet. Until he made it clear who she belonged to, Owen couldn't hold stuff like this against her. Besides, she seemed so guilty that he himself almost shared in her guilt. "You made a mistake but it's over now."
(Y/n) slightly shocked Owen when she hugged his waist tightly. She just needed something to hold onto, something to rely on unconditionally. Things were changing so quickly and all she wanted was for the world to slow down for even a moment.
And while the hug came as a surprise it was definitely not an unwelcome one. Owen was quick to return it, holding her tightly too and offering warmth and comfort to (Y/n).
He looked down at her with a gentle smile that disappeared when his brown eyes landed on the hickey that stained (Y/n)'s otherwise perfect (s/c) skin.