The Island

Part 6 - 5

Five:

"Experience, where I come from, is never a bad thing. Even if it's a bad experience, you still learn from it and become stronger because of it. This is why I am running for ruler over all of you that occupy this cabin." Jeanette began. She stood proud at the podium - her blue dress had rose-shaped fabric attachments all over it. Even though it looked like something you'd wear to prom, Jeanette still rocked the look in front of her friends. Behind the podium, Jeanette wore black flats with a similar rose-shaped attachment at the base of her toes of each shoe. She rapped athletic tape around her bruised ankle, but it didn't slow her down. "What happened the first night be were here is only the start of my strength. I'm sure you all know what I'm referring to, so I'll skip the details and move into another thing that made me stronger - you guys. Telling me that you thought I might be responsible for his death and telling me I couldn't be apart of the investigation made me stronger. Those experiences thought me to grow up and be a woman. And a strong woman, too. I am trying my best to show this and to not let these events drag me down like they normally would. And I could not have shown this more than this morning when I decided to venture outside and take a dip in the lake." Jeanette looked right at Carmen. Her face lit up with concern. "As some of you already know, this morning something caught to my foot underwater and nearly drowned me. Rest assured that I am fine, and I am not pushing myself to the breaking point speaking to you-" "You nearly drowned?" Brock questioned her. Jeanette looked to him. "Yes." She nodded. "And I don't think it was an accident either. The device triggered when I put my foot in it. Someone might have tried to drown me-" "Stop." Brock halted Jeanette. He sat in between Jeanette's empty seat and Taylor in the front row. "Someone tried to drown you. You're kidding me." "Well, we're pretty sure. From all that's happened-" Jeanette tried. "Oh my Lord." Brock leaned back and put his hands on my head. "Okay, this is sick. This is so, so sick..." He trailed. He sat silently for a moment and then shot up. "Alright, which one of you is it?" He turned to the crowd. "Huh? Which one of you sick bitches is it?" He looked all around the crowd. JT stood up. "Sit down and shut up." He said, gesturing his hand to Brock's own seat. "Oh yeah. Yeah. I'll sit." Brock nodded with a crazy look in his eyes. "I'll listen to this sickening nonsense. Jesus, when am I going to wake up from this sick nightmare-" "Brock, sit down now." Sara commanded him. Brock put his hands up and sat down. "If I can continue.." Jeanette said to refocus her friends. They looked to her with their ears open. "I believe the killer of my boyfriend shall be brought to justice under my authority." For once, Jeanette didn't tear up at the thought of Adin. "This killer that walks among us is obviously crazed and well unaware of societal standards." Immediately looks were shot directly at Brock. At first he didn't notice, but when he saw Carmen's head turn to him, we stood up again. "Oh, so now you think I killed little-old-Adin. Well you're wrong!" He yelled. "Get him out." Sara commanded. "Someone-" It didn't take a second time for JT and Andie to stand up and look at Brock. JT was closer to Brock, so he simply reached across the dining table chairs and grabbed Brock's shoulders. "Let go!" Brock yelled. JT remained a firm grip on the cross-country runner's shoulders. Meanwhile, Andie went around the row of chairs and in front of the podium. Everyone sitting had their eyes on him. Andie gripped Brock's arm and pulled him away. With an iron grip Andie pulled the upset Brock back in front of the audience and to the perpendicular hall to the Billiards room. JT caught up and began to push Brock along. Jeanette watched from the podium the three disappear around the corner to the Billiards room. "Alright, I will continue-" "Jeanette, I think you've said enough." Sara stopped her. "Let her finish her speech." Carmen said, turning around in her seat to Sara. She sighed with a hint of annoyance. "Okay, Jeanette. Finish." Sara said dismally. "Thank you, Sara. I am well aware of the controversy my speech has made, so I will skip to the final few lines of my speech." Jeanette cleared her throat. "...And with our soul efforts devoted to unmasking the identity of Adin's killer, this cabin shall get to the bottom of what happened to him. Alongside investigation efforts will come rescue fires and other ways to seek help, like I've listed before... Um, please vote for me and do not forget who the most experienced person on this island is. Thanks." Jeanette got off the podium and walked straight to Carmen. Carmen stood and hugged her. Through her hug, Jeanette saw the faces of her friends. Particularly Wyatt was focused on her. With his stare locked on her, Wyatt began to clap loudly. He looked beside him and saw Emma wasn't clapping. His clap was joined after Carmen, who had released her from the hug. She clapped softly, smiling at Jeanette and telling her how great of a job she did. "You did excellent. You're a shoe-in for leader." She said. Jeanette didn't hear her words though - she was lost in thought. "What if they don't trust me?" Jeanette thought. "What if I'm honestly not good enough for this?" Jeanette didn't even look at Carmen. "Jeanette? Hello?" Carmen waved in her face. "What's wrong?" Jeanette shook her head. "Nothing. Help me make lunch, please." Carmen nodded. "Let's go." She followed Jeanette into the kitchen. And with that, all of the speeches were over.