The Spark

The Argument (Reprise)

(back to Y/n's POV)

I sat in the sand, plucking pieces of grass from the nearby patch of greenery while Piggy told a story. Something about Cambridge or Camberley. I wasn't paying attention all that much, so I started to idly tie the pieces of grass together to make a bracelet.

"...and that's the true story of Camberley," Piggy concluded, folding his hands in his lap.

"That was a good story," Bill said honestly.

"It was kind of boring," Johnny said honestly.

"Do you have any other stories?" Henry asked.

"Wait, Y/n, you kissed Jack!" Percival sat up on his knees, excitedly pointing at me.

"I did kiss Jack," I said, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Did you do anymore than that?" Henry asked, bouncing over to me.

"They kissed?" someone asked.

"You bet they did!" Percival said excitedly. "She went like-" He wrapped his arms around Henry's neck and leaned in close to his friend, making loud kissing noises.

"Hi, cut it out!" Henry said in a strangled voice, trying to push Percival off of him.

"Boys, boys," I reprimanded them, pulling Percival away from Henry. "Let's keep our hands to ourselves, okay? And let's also remember that some people's love lives are none of your business."

"But I want to know!" Percival whined. "Please, Y/n, please?"

"Sorry," I said firmly. "Instead, why don't I tell you another story about...uh...town names and the like?"

"Boooring." Henry propped his chin in his hand, a look of disdain on his face. "Why can't we have gone on the hunt with them too?"

"Because you're a little young to," I said. "And besides, you don't have any hunting experience whatsoever."

"I'll get some!" Henry declared.

"Me too!" Bill said. "I'm dying of boredom out here!"

"Me three!" Johnny said.

"Me four!" Percival said. "Come on, Y/n, I bet if we ran fast enough, we could catch up with Jack and the others!"

"No," Piggy said primly. "You're supposed to stay here while they go hunting. You can't go. I won't have it."

"Me either," I said. "Why don't we play Marco Polo or something? The water looks awfully refreshing. Or build some sandcastles?"

"Okay fine," Percival said with a resigned sigh. "Let's go."

~

I popped my head up from under the water, shaking my wet hair out of my face.

"Come on, Piggy!" I encouraged the bespectacled boy standing at the edge of the shore. "Just dip your toes in or something! Aren't you hot?"

"No," Piggy said. "I don't want to." He sat down, a dejected look on his face. "Besides, everyone'll laugh at me."

"I wouldn't laugh at you," I said, swimming over to the shore and sitting beside him.

"But they will," Piggy said stubbornly, pointing to the littluns happily splashing and playing in the water. "They'll just call me fat and stuff and shove me around. All because Jack Merridew thinks it's really funny." He gave me a scornful look. "Why do you like him so much? I thought you didn't like him and that we were on the same side with that." His expression turned sadder.