The Islander

4

Harry's pov

The first night was exactly as I expected it to be. Miserable.

I snacked on a small handful of berries before settling with my back against the suitcase. Niall was laying across the airplane seats, his head propped on his arms. He offered to share the space, but it was too hot and humid to be so close. Dorothy was leaned against the other wall, her eyelids pressed tightly together as though she were stuck in a bad dream.

I didn't sleep. I couldn't close my eyes, so I sat there without making a sound and watched her. What might have been five minutes felt like an hour. There was no way to tell how long I sat there with my eyes on her, but when her eyes popped open, I immediately turned to look away. With no other choice, I looked at Niall.

"Are you in love with him?" She grumbled quietly. I looked at her now. Her tired eyes hid a thousand untold stories. "You're staring like you're in love with him."

"Not with him," I said. I thought of someone else. Someone I might never see again. Someone who hated me. "Why are you sleeping here with us? Wouldn't you rather be cuddling with your island boyfriend?"

"Max would be more interested in cuddling with you or your friend," she said. There was a small smile across her tired features. "If you looked at him the way you were looking at Niall, he'd swoon."

"Would he?"

"He would," she teased. "He likes your hair. He was telling me earlier about how badly he wants to tangle his hands in it and-"

"You're lying," I said. It was a bold assumption, but the sneaky grin playing on her lips was an obvious giveaway.

"You're right. He never said that, but I know for a fact that he would much prefer to snuggle with you."

"I'll keep that in mind for later."

"Can't sleep?" she asked. I shook my head. "It gets easier over time, but you should at least close your eyes. Niall might get scared if he wakes up to find you staring at him."

"Do you really expect us to stay inside this cave?"

"Until you die," she said. She didn't smile. "Forever."

"Will you stay here, too, then?" I asked, and she looked away. She thought for a moment.

"Sure," she said. "After all, if you're famous like you say, I'm sure it's an honor to have you on the island. Will you visit during your next world tour? I'd love to see you in your natural habitat."

"If I have a chance to get off this island, you're coming with me," I said with certainty. There was no doubt in my mind. I would save her first.

"What about your lover?" she asked with a nod toward Niall. "Would you let him tag along?"

"Of course," I said. "I could never leave him behind."

"And Max?"

"The list keeps getting longer and longer."

"Max," she said sternly, and with a smile I agreed. After a small somber silence, she asked, "Why were you on that plane?"

"We were going home," I said. My heart dropped at the thought of my mother who was expecting me to walk through the front door tonight. When Niall began to stir, I held my breath. I whispered, "Do you think they will look for us?"

"For a week or two," she said with a disheartening shrug of her shoulders. "After that they'll give up. They'll find something more interesting and less devastating to broadcast."