Page 28 of Stranded

It takes me longer than usual, but when I finally reach my hammock, I curl up on my side and close my eyes.

Somehow, I feel more alone than ever.

“Zee!”

“Tink!”

I wake to the sound of voices calling my name. Do they need my help? The sun has barely started to rise and I groan, sitting up. Were these guys always such early risers? I yawn, leaning over to grab my teeth cleaning supplies. I sit and clean my teeth, listening to them repeatedly calling my name. They don’t sound panicked, so I don’t think they’re in any danger.

When I’m done, I slowly make my way down the tree until I notice Kingsley below me on the skywalk. His eyes are scanning the trees as he calls my name.Why is he looking for me?

I know I spent some time with them yesterday, but today I’m feeling nervous about being around them again. They confuse me. Besides, I’m used to being on my own, it’s familiar, comfortable. Notenjoyable, though.

When I glance down, I realize my clothes are covered in dried blood. “Gross,” I whisper, turning to climb back up to my new home within the branches. I need to clean my clothes and since I’m not alone anymore, I can’t sit around naked while they dry. Luckily, I now have something else to wear.

Grabbing the black shirt from my bag, I make my way high up through the trees where I can avoid the guys, towards the waterfall. When I finallymake my way to the ground, I look around quickly, and, satisfied that they aren’t nearby, I leave the shirt on a rock near the edge and wrap my hair up, tying it on itself in a makeshift bun so it doesn’t drop in the water. Then I pull off my skirt and top and quickly carry them into the water, swimming towards the waterfall.

I scrub my clothes against each other to remove the blood, and when they are finally clean, I quickly rub myself down before swimming back to the shallow end. When I get out, I hesitate. I’d rather wait until I’m dry to put on the shirt, but I also don’t want to be caught naked.

I hesitate for five more seconds before fear wins out and I pull it on. It sticks to me in a couple of places, but it's so hot out on this island that it should dry quickly. It hangs down to my mid thigh and the neck hole is so big it falls off one of my shoulders.

I untie my bun and braid, combing my fingers through my hair as I watch the waterfall. Something about it has always soothed me. Some days I’ll sit here for hours, watching the water flow.

“Zee?”

I gasp in surprise, spinning around to see Kingsley standing at the edge of the path. His eyes widen as they move up and down my body. He takes a slow step forward as he licks his lips.

“Is that my shirt?”

I look down at the ACDC logo across my chest, then glance back up at him.

“Umm… Whoops?” I say awkwardly. Because it clearly is his, there’s no way to deny it.

Is he mad?

“I’m sorry I took it. It just looked so comfortable, and I’ve had nothing else to wearin so long—”

“Zee,” he says, holding up his palms towards me as he closes the distance between us, stopping only a couple feet from me. I take a small step backwards and he stops walking. “It’s fine. It looks better on you, anyway.”

“Oh.” I don’t know what else to say, his words surprised me.

He gives me a half smile as he looks me over again. “We were calling you, did you not hear us?”

I shrug, because I don’t want to lie, and look at the ground between us as I resume raking my fingers through my hair.

“Are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?”

I look up at him with a frown, then I try to hold back my smile as I ask, “You have food?”

“I can make a mean guava, or if you give me enough time, how about a coconut?” He cocks an eyebrow at me in question as I start braiding my hair.

“How about I show you some other fruit to eat? Then we can start prepping Brutus, he should be drained by now.”

He looks at me with surprise before a smile covers his face. If I thought he was attractive before, it has nothing on a smiling Kingsley. I swear my heart just started beating faster at the mere sight of him. “Yeah, I’d like that, thanks, Zee.”

He silently watches me finish my braid, then I tie it with a small piece of vine and grab my clothes. They’ll dry better by the beach.

“Ready?” he asks, as I move in his direction. I nod my head, then he holds his hand out towards me. I frown at the gesture, wondering what he wants, then guessing he wants to carry my clothes for me, I slowly place my wet clothes in his outstretched palm. He lets out a small laugh,transfers the clothes to his other hand, then holds out his hand towards me again.

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