Three

3

The next morning, I woke up with a sore back. I stretched a little (it didn't help much) and noticed that June was still sleeping but Sam was nowhere to be seen.

I contemplated trying to find him though decided against it. I wondered what to do for food. I was starving. Fish, maybe, but I'd have to make a fishing pole and I didn't know how to clean a fish. Sam might. Of course Grumpy would be gone the one time I wanted him around.

I realized that my clothes were still damp. Instead of dwelling on my hunger, I took the opportunity of privacy. I stripped off everything but my underwear and set the articles of clothing out on the sand to dry. I laid down next to them and allowed the morning sun to warm my chilled body.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sunlight and the feeling of the sand on my back and the quiet. The only thing to be heard was the lapping of the waves against the shore and the calls of seagulls. A small smile came across my face. The peacefulness of it all was very relaxing. Maybe this won't be so bad, I thought.

I don't know how long I was lying there, but eventually I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was Sam standing right over me and I screamed in surprise.

I covered my chest quickly and sat up. "Why are you just standing over me and staring, perv?! How long have you been there?!"

He smirked. "Not long. Relax, I wasn't ogling at you breasts. I was just watching you. I couldn't tell if you were sleeping or not. You were smiling. Were you dreaming or remembering?"

"That's still extremely creepy. And neither. I was just enjoying the calmness," I told him. I felt my face burning and got dressed. Luckily, my clothes were dry.

He still had that dumb smirk, probably because my face was so red. "So we're stranded on an island struggling to survive and you're treating it like the beach?"

I sighed frustratedly and stood up. "I'm making the best of our situation. It may be dangerous here but it's also beautiful."

"Other than whatever those things are. You could be doing something useful."

"I didn't want to go too far from June while you were gone. What were you doing that was so important?"

He gestured at a pile of sticks, leaves, and vines. "I'm going to try to build a shelter."

I nodded. "I wanted to go fishing, but I don't know how to clean a fish, so I didn't think it would be useful to try and make a fishing pole," I told him.

"I know how. But before we get food we need to find water."

"You're right." I gestured to June. "Should we wake her up and look for it?"

"Yeah, you two go ahead. I'll start building the shelter."

"You really like being alone, huh?"

"Do you have a problem with that?" Sam said.

"Yeah, I do. We're never going to survive if we don't work together."

"Why does it matter? We're going to die whether we work together or not."

"If that's really how you feel, why did you get supplies for a shelter rather than tie yourself a noose?"

He didn't answer. The silence seemed to go on forever. Finally, in a very low tone, he responded, "Wouldn't be the first time I did."

I closed my mouth that had fallen open. "Oh... You... I... I didn't mean..."

He sighed. "I know you didn't."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm past that now, I guess. I'm just not a people person, okay?"

"Okay." There was an awkward silence. "Um, I'll wake June up."

Sam nodded and started to tie sticks together with vines. I walked back to the remnants of the fire where we slept and knelt down by June.

I touched her shoulder gently. "June?"

"Hmm?" she said--more like groaned--groggily.

"Time to wake up, sleepyhead."

"What time is it?" she asked, still half out of it.

I frowned. She might think she's back home or something. "Uh, late enough that everyone else is up. Can you get up for me, please?"

"Mmhmm," she replied. June rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. I watched her expression turn into confusion and then disappointment.

I almost cringed at it; it was heartbreaking. "What's wrong?" I asked, even though I had a pretty good idea.

She looked at me with sad eyes. "I thought it was just a nightmare."

I hugged her impulsively. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're stuck here. And I'm sorry for randomly hugging you. I just...," I trailed off.

"Don't worry, Willow. I really needed a hug. Thanks." She smiled brightly.

"It was my pleasure," I smiled back. How can she smile like that in our situation? How can she make me smile like that? I always try to stay positive, but--

June's voice interrupted my thoughts. "So do we need to do something?"

"Yes. Sam is building a shelter. You and I are going to find water."

"I could sure use some of that right now. Let's go," she said cheerfully.

I couldn't help smiling at her. But I was still having less happy thoughts deep down; and maybe not so deep. How long will that infectious smile last?