Survive

Four

In the morning, I felt pretty good. I rolled away from where I slept, brushed off the sand, and repeated the routine of washing off in the ocean. I came back to the shore but stayed closer to the water this time. That girl from the jungle terrified me now. But what if she wasn't real and I was imagining her? But then how could she hurt me? This island is finally driving me crazy. Crazy enough to feel a whole spectrum of emotions at once.
  Cole and Mason started to stir, and eventually made their way to the shoreline with me. They sat beside me and no one said a word. Finally, Mason broke the silence with his usual awkwardness.
"So. This weather though. Pretty islandish."
"Shut up Mason." Spat Cole. "Obviously it's been a rough night, so let's just enjoy the somewhat peace of this crapshoot while we can." I can tell that something happened when I left that night. Maybe they weren't asleep when I came back. Does that mean he felt me sleep next to him? If he did...
"Guys, it's ok, really. Unless something happened last night I don't know about..." Both Mason and Cole exchanged suspicious looks and fell silent again. "You guys have been weirder than me lately, we need to talk about this stuff."
"We know that Willow. It's just, some things are left unsaid." Cole seemed irritated and flustered. Maybe a fight between them? Either way, I wasn't walking alone anymore. I was going to stay in sight of both of them, maybe then that girl will leave me alone.
Later that day, Mason and I went into the jungle to collect wood and other kindling materials. We could tell by the way the wind swirled and squished the clouds together, a cold and stormy night was coming. There wasn't much kindling to be brought, and it wasn't easily found. The leaves of trees were too soggy with the humidity of the air, and most of the wood had been chewed by bugs or filled with moss. Neither of these factors would have made good firewood. The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife, when finally Mason spoke, "So, Willow. I've been thinking for a while now, can I ask you a personal question?"
"I don't care. Fire away."
"Ok, um cool. So, do you know, like Cole?"
"Like Cole?"
"Yeah, you know, like, like like him?"
"Are you serious? Like him? Jesus Mason. No, I don't. He's a big brother to me, that'd be weird..."
"Then do you like me?"
"What? Mason, no. I mean, I don't wanna be mean, but no."
"It's ok, I kind of figured." After that there was a long silence. I knew his ego was hurt but he didn't want to admit it.
   Finally we finished collecting the wood and other kindling materials. We were just making our way out of the clearing when we heard talking. I stopped Mason and held a finger to my lips. Instantly he silenced and we listened.
"Y-you're very b-beautiful." It was Cole, but who was he talking to?
"Thank you, stranger. But compliments aside, my purpose is to serve you, my lord." The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.
"Your lord?"
"Why, yes. And may I just say, you my lord are strikingly handsome."
"I...uh..."
"Shhh, my lord you don't need to speak. But I have one question."
" W-what is that?"
"Do you think I'm beautiful enough for a kiss?"
"A kiss?"
"Yes." Then silence. I didn't want to but a driving force sent me shooting onto the beach, and I saw it. I saw what I knew I didn't want to see. Cole was kissing the jungle girl. I dropped the kindling and wood, I couldn't believe my eyes. Tears swelled and burned in my eyes. I turned on my heel and ran like hell into the jungle. I could hear Mason calling for me to stop, but I couldn't. I needed to get off this island. The depression, the anger, the jealousy, everything I felt was now bubbling to the surface. I kept running until my legs gave out beneath me. I collapsed onto the leafy floor and cried. I screamed, and kicked, and cried. I knew what I had to do. I didn't want and couldn't be on this goddamn island anymore.