Fallen from the Sky

Simple Complications (chapter 4)

Alex

By the time we reach camp, chatting happily with more fruit in our hands, Harriet and Andrew are laughing, trying to build a shelter. They look so happy, and I instantly feel jealous, I love how both of my friends are happy, but I want that. I remember how Harriet’s face became red with exasperation, how her will to continue faded quickly in that test. It was unkind, unfair even, yet I still took part and enjoyed the taste of approaching gossip. Not that gossip is really a thing anymore, I can’t help thinking about getting rescued, although Harriet seems distracted. Laughter dying down now, attempting to build the shelter with Andrew. It’s the type of thing I used to do with her.

I sit, leaning against the wall of the hut while Harriet turns to us, her beautiful face gleaming in the sunlight. Harriet clearly has been neglecting the fact we’re stranded. I know how much of a distraction Andrew is to her in normal life, but surely, surely, the imposing sense of danger and possible savagery should break through her crush? Well, her boyfriend, I guess. At least, I could break through my own crush, no one has ever known I’ve had this crush, and I don’t even think she knows herself. But there she is, turning to us with Andrew and beginning a conversation, her features shining in the sunlight, her green eyes gleaming and her golden hair flowing in the breeze, dancing, beautiful.

“Luna, I think we need your help over here!” Andrew is calling towards the figure next to me who stands and walks towards the pair. She’s laughing now, clearly catching onto the happy atmosphere. Well, I can’t feel it, I guess I should say the atmosphere everyone but me is picking up in, swimming in. Luna is bossing around with logs and sticks ordering them not to do this and not to do that. Harriet is snorting with laughter. I blink and look over at Daisy. She’s smiling, in the cooling shade of the shelter like me, trying to give the pair advice.

“Ignore her! Ignore her!” Daisy is shouting in Harriet’s direction.

Harriet is attempting to piece the logs together how Luna instructs, but when Daisy’s message hits her she snorts loudly and the logs tumble out of hands, down her frilly little skirt. She’s laughing so hard now she actually topples over, into Andrew’s lap. I know it’s not intentional and I myself even hate that spike of jealousy that runs through me. Andrew lifts Harriet’s head up and she tries to pick up the logs but the laughter takes over. Luna is catching the spread now; she’s laughing so hard that the rage earlier could have never happened. I really wasn’t lying when I called Harriet attractive last night. Last night? It feels much longer.

The day continues in it’s confusing tangle of other’s happiness and my own jealousy. Other’s laughter and my own neglection of the care-free atmosphere, feeling sad inside while I laugh and smile while collecting fruits. Singing songs by the campfire about finding our way back home only increases my fear, Harriet’s short kiss to Andrew before leaning on him to sleep is torture. I never expected what I found the next day.

I was woken by a shaken Luna, my heart panging, worried about what had happened yet my fear something had happened to Harriet takes over. I sit up instantly and look through the dark, there’s a figure lying half out of the shelter, half in the moonlight, a streak of it covering her face. Blood streaming down a gash in her cheek. I spring up and make a start, Andrew grabs me and holds me, steadying and comforting me, restraining me.

“Harriet is fine.” He says. “Luna just woke up from a nightmare and found her there.” I can tell Andrew doesn’t think that.

I manage to fight my way out of his grip and rush towards her. I kneel in front of her, her eyes are open but she seems groggy and weak.

“Alex?” She says. “Alex?” She looks up at me, terrifyingly pale.

“What happened?” I ask. “Harriet, what happened?”

When she doesn’t reply I start to panic. “Harriet!?” I want to kiss her desperately and get my answer but I restrain. Andrew got there before me.

Harriet continues to stare, looking slightly puzzled at my expression.

“Are you alright?” She asks.

“Yes, yes, I’m perfectly fine.” I don’t sound fine. I’m not fine.

“Alex?”

“What happened to you? I’m worried about you?” She points to her cheek.

“This?”

“Yes! That! What happened to you?”

“I don’t know. I- I remember being awake and my mouth was covered I- I tried to scream but my mouth wasn’t working. I started to panic because my eyes were covered and then my cheek really, really hurt. Then the person moved away and then about an hour later Luna found me and removed my coverings.” She looks extremely shaken. “I don’t know who it was, I probably could of removed the coverings myself but the world didn’t seem real. The person might of revealed themselves but my head hurts and I can barely remember a thing.”

“You’ve been attacked.” That’s my first thought and it sends a shiver down my spine.

“Yes, I know.” Harriet says. “They must be one of us, no animal could have covered me. Someone cut me.” She looks around and shakily manages to sit herself up, leaning against the shelter.

“Where’s Andrew?” She’s in pain and this really shouldn’t give me hatred towards him. But it does. And there he goes taking my spot, sitting in front of Harriet, stroking her hair and asking repeatedly if she’s alright. I wish I could do that.

“Harriet, Harriet, are you alright? Harriet!”

“Yes, yes, Andrew geez.” She seems better.

“My question is.” Daisy says, walking over. “How did somebody get the weapon to do this?” There’s an uncomfortable silence.

“I mean, we didn’t bring any weapons here and why would someone want to do this to Harriet? Well, we all like her, right?” Everybody nods in agreement and Harriet manages to prop herself against the inside of the shelter. Daisy has left a very ominous truth here, one of us, one of our close group of friends has done this to Harriet. Maybe they killed Josie as well-

It hurts to think about. I try to turn my attention to Harriet but then there’s Andrew and my brain gets tangled in mixed emotions and thoughts. What if I was reckless, what if I did kiss her just like Andrew did. What if I went for it? I mean, there’re not officially together, or they’ve just not announced it which means it would not be cheating for Harriet. What if I did? Then I have the impulse to push Andrew out of the way and do it when I finally bring myself back to reality. I can’t just do that. Not in front of anyone, not while Harriet is kissing another person, not when Harriet is with her crush. No. I simply will have to wait.

I sink to the floor and let myself lean against the shelter. Jazz and Daisy is fussing over Harriet, Andrew is talking in a hushed voice to Courtney and she whispers back. I’m the odd one out here. The suspect.

(sorry this chapter is kinda short. oops. this chapter has a name because when I wrote this I was planning to give each perspective a chapter name and not reveal explicetly who the character was and only reveal it through dialogue. tbh I think the name of this chapter does really suit what happens. I also added in that Alex (one of the few things I've edited for the wattpad version) just to make it match more with the others. remember to comment please :D also I think the way I described harriet and how I barely described the guys could've been a clue of my gayness)