The Islanders

Marooned: Chapter Three

Chapter 3

We were on the ship and moving towards a new destination. I didn't care where it was, I was just glad to get away from home and the city, and partially be free of school. At least most of the work part anyways. I still have to see my classmates; all but a small group of them who weren't allowed to come.

It was weird though, I wasn't scared about everything. I guess Jack's really the only person who can make a lot of my problems go away. Like when I was scared because I had to present a project in English class, he told me not to worry and that I would do good. Lo and behold he was right and I got an 87% on it which I don't consider half bad.

As I lean on the side rail with the wind in my copper hair, the sun on my pale skin, my loose t-shirt rippling like the waves, and the sounds of laughter from passengers entering my small ears, life felt good. No, scratch that: it felt great. Especially since I haven't had to do any work for about two and a half days now - which also means I've made it through half the trip without drowning.

When I saw Jack walk over towards me after finishing a conversation with another kid in the class named Nathan, I found myself wondering how his day was going. Good? Bad? I guess it didn't matter to him because we were on a vacation. It's weird saying that me and Jack are on vacation. Together. I mean, I went camping with him and his family last summer, but that's about it.

"Hey Ivy," said Jack as he propped himself against the railing next to me.

"Hi Jack. So how are you liking the trip?" I said facing the water.

"Good I guess. How are you liking it?" He asked sarcastically while raising one eyebrow. Then he nudged me, "are you still afraid of falling off the ship?"

"No, I'm not anymore." I said while giving him a sly look. "I'm just afraid of drowning. How about you? Are you afraid of anything?" I've never actually heard of Jack having a fear before. I've asked the question many times but he just changes the subject to something that has no relation to fear.

"Nope, nothing." I can't sense if he's lying or not. He hides it so well sometimes but with me he'll show a sign or hint every so often that what he's saying isn't true. But right now he's keeping it buried deep within. For some reason, whether it's right or not to know, I want to find out what it is.

"Oh really?" Now I'm the one with the sarcastic tone. "If that's really true than you can't be human."

"Why not?" He says with his body now facing me.

"Because everybody has a fear." And for a moment something flashed across his eyes so with that I walk away with a half smile bearing the feeling I know what his fear is. For everybody to know on the inside he's afraid of almost everything.

                                                                                                  ***

It was 10:31 p.m. and I was tired. It must have been from walking around the ship numerous times looking for activities to do; swimming, indoor rock climbing, then the hour it took trying to find my room. Turns out I share a space with my two friends, Clarice and Lilith. Only Lilith was in the room. I guess Clarice is still out with some other people.

I basically fell asleep as soon as my head hit the soft cotton pillow and dreamt about Jack and I on an island. We were lying a few feet from the edge of the water and he had his arm around me and my head was rested on it looking at the sky while he looked at me. We just listened to the waves as they lapped against the sand along the shore over and over again. Then he leaned toward my ear and whispered, "I love you," and kissed the side of my head.

He pulled back so that we faced each other, we both started to lean in and- Beep! Beep! Beep! Lilith's alarm went off at 7:30. "Why does she have to wake up so early?" For some strange reason I wanted to finish the dream. "Do I like him?" I asked myself. It seemed too absurd that I quickly neglected the thought.

I mean it wasn't impossible; we've been friends since we were in grade one and we know each others deepest secrets. But it'd be awkward starting that kind of relationship already fully knowing the other person. "Wouldn't it?" But the question vanished almost faster than the last one. I really need to learn how to control my thoughts . . .

                                                                                                      ***

I went to the west side of the ship and saw Jack standing there, talking to a few other friends. I started walking towards him partly because I wanted to talk to him, mostly cause he was right next to the water bottles. Once he turned around and noticed me, he motioned for me to come join him and quietly spoke something to the others that made them leave. After grabbing a bottle of water I met up with Jack and we took a few steps to the railing and watched the waves roll over the other in a smooth pattern just like yesterday.

As I took a couple sips from the bottle, Jack leaned on the metal rail with his left arm and faced me while looking back and forth from the misty water to me.

"Um . . . I was just thinking that . . . that maybe later you and I could - " But he was interrupted by an awkward lurch from the ship throwing us over it's side and into the water. It hurt when my body hit the surface and I was freaking out and my mind automatically went to thinking about worst case scenario: that I could slowly die from water filling my lungs and replacing the oxygen that I needed. I started to scream as if someone might hear but stopped when I felt Jack's arm wrapped around my waist pulling me towards the surface. As soon as my head was above the water, I inhaled deeply and breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?" asked Jack with a worried look. I plainly said yes, barely paying attention to him and the burning of my red skin and  instead focused on the wreck and disaster before me. For the next few seconds we just treaded water when Jack suggested we swim to a small area of land. It appeared to be a couple miles out and I agreed because I didn't have a better suggestion that was realistic. I  guess we weren't the only ones that got the idea because there were at least 7 other people swimming towards it too as far as I could see and knew of.  

                                                                                                   *** 

The whole time Jack swam at the same speed as me, either because he couldn't move any faster or he didn't want to lose me; I'm hoping it's the second reason. I stopped swimming and started treading; I had another thought about Jack that I've never had before, I wanted him to stay with me and not to leave. Jack realized I stopped and again asked if I was okay.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed to breath without water going into my nostrils." And after that nothing was said until we reached the shoreline.

Finally able to touch the bottom with our feet without our heads falling under water, we walked, giving our arms a break that was well needed. As water got more shallow, we started walking on our hands and knees then crawled onto the beach in exhaustion along with some of the things from the ship. And in the matter of two heavy breathes I passed out; it felt so good to sleep. I didn't dream about Jack, instead, I was sitting on my bed with a tall fan in front of me blowing hot wind into my face. But instead of a constant breeze, it was slow and inhaled and exhaled just like a living creature does.

That was when I noticed I was dreaming and woke up. I turned my head to the sky and saw how dark it was and assumed it was close to 2:00 a.m.; then, after looking at the sky I looked to my right and saw Jack, 2 inches from my face breathing like the fan did in my dream. I noticed his arm underneath my shoulder and the other around my waist and both held me tightly to him. It was a nice feeling, to be so close to Jack inside of reality; to have him holding me but I knew it would be no good if he woke up and found us like this so I struggled for a bit and finally unraveled myself from him and turned away to face the empty sand.