Fallen from the Sky

Chapter 18

Andrew

I wish I could disappear this moment. Dissolve into the floor, become nothingness. Luna is flirting with me and I hate it, but I don’t know how to stop her. Alex and Harriet are kissing again, although I could have sworn they had both broken up less than ten minutes ago. I feel stuck, although I have more freedom here, in the same way it is restricted. I can’t find new people; I need to stay with them for support. I wonder what they’re doing at home. Surely, they’ve started checking the route? We’ve been missing for a few weeks now…

“So, would you like to go on the walk?” Luna asks seductively. No. I don’t.

“Not really.” I say, and she looks away for a moment. Daisy looks over, catches my eye, then rolls hers. I have to cover my mouth to stifle the instant laugh that escapes me, she smiles and winks. Luna looks back, eyebrows raised.

“Are you laughing at me?” No. I instantly burst into an irrational and hysterical laughter. I might be going insane; I don’t even know what’s funny anymore. Luna’s face falls, and I would comfort her, but I can’t breathe. I choke up the last bits of laughter and swallow.

“I’m sorry…” I say to Luna. “I’m really, really sorry.” I don’t know why I’m saying this. Why I’m ‘really, really sorry.’, because I’m not. I’m still amused by this phantom humor.

“It doesn’t matter.” She says, and gives a little cough. “It’s not like I care, is it?”

Now she’s mad. Well, she can take it the wrong way if she wants to. I’m not about to kneel at her feet and beg for forgiveness.

“Oh, Luna. I’m so very sorry, my gracious. Please forgive me for my ill-manners…”

Ludicrous.

“I guess you’ll be off then.” I say curtly, giving a fake, over exaggerated smile. She glares at me and stalks away. She pauses for a moment as if to say something bitter, then continues again, stalking into the depths of the jungle. I roll my eyes and Daisy walks over.

“She’s ridiculous.” She says, standing next to me, staring into the trees where Luna vanished.

“Yeah.” I say. I’m starting to feel a bit strange when talking to Daisy, as if I like her. It’s ridiculous because I sometimes think I feel that way about Luna. I think this island is slowly driving me insane; I’m sure I don’t like any of them. At least that’s what I want to think.

“Do you like her?” She turns and looks into my eyes. This isn’t casual, it’s demanding an answer with a surprising ferocity. I’m slightly taken aback by this command, so much that I am sent into a stammer.

“I- Umm… I don’t think…?” She tilts her head to the side with that kind-of-sassy come-on-tell-me-what-you-actually-think-because-I-know-that-isn’t-the-truth.

The thing is though, it is.

“No. I’m being serious. I don’t.” She sighs and looks back towards the trees.

“I guess that’s a good thing.” She says this almost to herself, and I feel a strange mix of pleased bewilderment.

“What did you say?” She gives a little start.

“What? Oh… umm…” She blushes slightly and looks away, her eyes watering.

“Why is that a good thing?” She blinks, still not looking in my direction.

“Umm… because-I-don’t-want-any-more-romance-on-this-island.” She nods to herself after her rush of words, and heads purposefully back towards the group.