Three

2

Our trio stopped at the edge of the forest.

"Are you sure we should go in there?" Grumpy asked.

"Are you going to chicken out?" I teased.

"I'm not a wuss. But how do we know that it's safe?"

Red stepped into the shade of the trees. "We don't."

I followed her. "The eleven-year-old is braver than you."

"Actually, I'm twelve," Red corrected.

"I'll probably end up killing myself before I die of natural causes," he grumbled.

"Or unnatural. The creatures are still a threat," I reminded him.

"Yep. You two will be the death of me," he confirmed.

They didn't tread deep into the forest before they collected enough branches for a fire. They traipsed back to the open sand. The sun was now an orange half circle behind the horizon.

"We better build it while we can still see," I noted.

Red set up the sticks in what seemed like the proper formation.

"Where'd you learn that?" I wondered aloud.

"Girl Scouts," she replied.

Grumpy twisted a stick quickly downward on the rest until it began a spark. He continued until it was a small flame. He added the stick to the pile and the rest caught aflame until the fire was strong.

The sun set fully and the moon shone brightly, reflecting on the sea. The stars twinkled. There were so many; more than I'd ever seen.

Red followed my gaze and looked up at the sky. "I think we should introduce ourselves."

"Why?" Grumpy said stubbornly. "There's no use to get to know each other. Then we'd get attached, and as soon as one of us dies-which is unavoidable-we'll be unnecessarily upset."

"Fine. I'll just call you Grumpy the entire time we're here. Which will be a long time, in your book, since it's impossible for us to get rescued. Unless you kill yourself first, like you said."

Red smiled. "Grumpy is suiting. I'm June. Guess what month I was born in?"

"That's a hard one," I joked. "I'm Willow."

Grumpy snorted. "What, did your mom look outside the hospital window and see a tree?"

"No, my parents' first kiss was under a willow tree. My dad chose it, actually. I was born three months early, so they still hadn't decided. My mom died giving birth. It was a miracle I lived."

Grumpy stopped talking then. I smiled.

He squinted his eyes at me. "You're lying."

"Only about my mom dying. I still don't see her ever. She left when I was 3. Oh my God, my poor dad. I was all he had left."

June frowned. "My parents, too. They didn't want me to go in the first place."

Grumpy grunted. "They don't even know we crashed. They probably won't until the trip is supposed to end and we don't come back."

I sighed. "Stop being such a downer."

"I'm only being realistic."

June sighed. "You just have to look at the bright side."

"There is no bright side," he argued.

"Then you make a bright side," I snapped at him.

"Why get your hopes up for something that's next to impossible?"

"False hope is better than no hope, Grumpy," I said.

"Don't call me that."

"What should we call you then?" asked June.

"S-" he started.

"Aha!" I exclaimed. "Starts with an S."

"Steve? Scott? Simon? Seth? Stan? Sam?" June guessed.

He rolled his eyes. "It's Sam."

"I think I like Grumpy better," I said.

"Oh, shut up," Sam mumbled.

The temperature began to drop. We all laid down and tried to sleep. It was freezing, even with the fire. I tried to get comfortable on the sand that hours ago would have burned to touch, but now felt cold as ice. I curled up in a ball and tried my best to stay warm. I saw June shivering.

I crawled over to her and snuggled up next to her. She gratefully did the same.

I saw Sam scrunch up his face at us in the firelight. "You two barely know each other. How are you comfortable with sleeping like that?"

"We're warm," I replied.

June's breathing began to slow. I saw Sam staring at the fire angrily.

"You sleeping yet?" I asked.

"Shut up."

"It would be easier if you came over here."

"I don't know you."

"You know my name."

"You're girls. And I'm older than you."

"It's for survival."

"I'll survive over here."

"But you won't sleep."

"I'll pass out before I get that close to one of you."

"We don't have cooties."

"I am not going over there."

"Whatever you say. Have fun not sleeping."

I put my arm under my head and looked at June's sleeping face. She was only two years younger, but in that moment she looked like a child. She was a child. That's when I decided that I wouldn't let her get hurt. I'd protect her if it was the last thing I did.

The truth was, all three of us were children. We shouldn't have to fend for ourselves, let alone on a wild, dangerous island. We were kids. But we had to grow up now. I was still going to try all I could to make sure June didn't have to. I might lose my childhood; she won't, I thought before falling into a light sleep.