Heya everyone! First time on a fanfiction, I hope it's not too brutal, but feedback and reviews would be wonderful for me, whether you'd like to just add a comment or completely review I love compliments and criticism both so don't be shy :)

Disclaimer:

None of these characters belong to me, and are the property of William Golding.

Chapter 1: Running away

Desperate, harsh footsteps sounded in the woods. A fast, shaken pant of breath accompanied them with brisk sounds of creepers being destroyed. His hands were damp with blood, blood of an innocent soul. The liquid poured down his bare chest, down onto the grass below, leaving a reddened trail. Birds chirped insidiously, screaming abuse at him as he fled, cutting his feet on rocks and sharp twigs. The sun beat down on him fiercely, burning his already scorched back with its angry rays. When the boy had run far enough, he came across a small, quiet clearing. No evil birds and more importantly, no more people. There was a small rock so he perched there, realizing that he was looking into a clear, beautiful lake. His reflection terrified him, the black and red streaked down his face made him feel as though he was murderer. Realizing that he was crying, he buried his face in his hands, sobbing dismally. Teardrops washed away the paint, but the blood stained his young innocent hands. He rubbed desperately to try and get rid of the nasty colour that had consumed him, but he couldn't. Wrapping his knees up by his face, he cradled his legs in reassurance, he could still run. A few moments later, he was interrupted by the nearby rustling of bushes and footsteps fast approaching. Standing up, he was instantly struck into action, despite how rotten he felt inside.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" he yelled out, waving his knife around frantically. Silence. Then out of the bushes, a boy appeared. Long black hair stuck in his eyes and around his neck, but it seemed to resemble a halo. Rubbing his eyes, the boy brushed his hair out of the way and walked into the clearing.

"Roger?" he asked timidly, obviously fearful of his sudden appearance.

"Simon?" Roger said, in equal shock. He lowered his knife but still had an angry glare plastered across his face as he stared at the boy he hadn't seen in years. Or it had seemed like years, neither of them really knew when they'd last seen each other.

"W-what are you doing here?!" he yelled, annoyed that he'd been interrupted, especially when he'd found this place. Simon just smiled a little and went to sit by the lake, dipping his bare feet into the cooling water. Looking up, his face was just as kind as Roger remembered.

"I could ask you the same question. Why are you in Ralph's part of the island?" Simon asked curiously, splashing his feet a little. His chuckled at the shock on Roger's face when he stated this. Roger was amazed at his own idiocy, he never realized he'd run so far that he was now in enemy territory. Looking down sadly, Roger turned his heel to leave when Simon called out.

"I never said you had to leave. I…heard you crying. Are you okay?" he asked, his voice was making Roger feel agitated, he sounded too caring.

"I'm fine! I'm no coward!" Roger turned back around and angrily shouted at Simon, he hated people thinking that he was weak. Shrugging his shoulders, Simon just looked back up at him.

"I'm not saying you're a coward. Crying is a sign of maintaining strength for too long. Is it Jack? Is he the one making you cry?" Simon asked carefully, being even gentler now. It had the opposite effect on Roger.

"SHUT UP! DON'T YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT JACK! YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING! He's…" Roger was screaming now, but all the anger lead to his sadness. Panting lightly from his outburst, Roger sat back down on the rock and tears slipped down his face again. Simon had hit the nail on the head. Standing up, Simon kicked his feet and dried them on a leaf nearby then went to sit on a log, nearer to Roger. The boy was crying miserably, not just because of his own issues but because he'd been caught out. In an attempt to calm him down, Simon reached out and patted his shoulder, ignoring the danger it might put him in.

"Roger. You are not weak. Tell me, what's wrong?" his voice sweetened into sugar and for once, it didn't annoy Roger.

"Wh-y. Why are you c-comforting me? We're in different tribes, don't you want to watch me suffer?" Roger asked, sniffling as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. He never understood Ralph's tribe, how they all managed to be civilised with each other and have fun. It seemed so boring, but maybe because they acted like adults, Roger envied them. Simon sighed, edging a bit further forward and looking into Roger's eyes.

"I don't want to watch anyone suffer, not ever. I may not be in your tribe, but that is because I believe in Ralph. He's the cleverest and is capable of getting us rescued. But, even if we're different, we're human beings. You know that don't you, Roger? Don't let your tribe define you. So, tell me. I'm here to listen." Simon spoke bravely, he knew behind the paint and spear, Roger was still a boy with feelings. Roger's eyes widened and he almost cried all over again, no-one had offered him help like this before. No-one was ever interested in his problems. He could never tell Maurice, he knew he'd laugh and call him horrible names. But Simon, Simon was so strange. Even if Jack dictated most of his actions, he suddenly wanted to tell Simon everything, to let someone else know how he was feeling.

"Simon….I…You're right. It is Jack. It's just that…I'm not weak. He taught me to be brave, the first day we caught that pig. But now…..even after everything….he still treats me….he still….." Roger began to tell him the problem but he gulped, tears spewed over his cheeks again. Every time he spoke or even thought of Jack, he cried. Simon tried his best to understand and patted him gently.

"Even after everything he still treats you like his friend? After all you've done for him, he still doesn't understand? Jack doesn't realize how much you've sacrificed for him, does he? Oh Roger. You like him, don't you?" he asked, wondering if he might get hit for asking that. Boys were supposed to like girls and yet, the boys had been on the island for so long it was only a matter of time before they started developing feelings for each other.

"It doesn't matter. If I told him, he'd get angry and tie me up. I can't even take part in the pig hunts anymore, I see blood and squirm away in horror. That's why I came here, I had to get away….every time I look at him….." Roger continued, managing to stop crying quite so violently. He looked at Simon, surprised at the soft, sweet expression he was met with.

"I understand, Roger. I know just how you feel, infatuation is a strong thing. If you need to get away, you can always come here. I'm here a lot, I feel the need to get away from my own tribe too, you know. With Piggy and Ralph getting closer, the rest of us feel lonely. So, if you need a friend….you can always talk to me." Simon offered, patting Roger's mop of unruly hair. Gasping a little at Simon's hand through his hair, Roger managed a weak smile. He felt as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders, he'd not told Simon about the strange dreams he'd had about Jack, but that really was too private to tell.

"Now, I think we should get you cleaned up, wait here." Darting into the water, Simon collected water in a few nearby shells and went pack to Roger. Dipping his fingers into the water, he wiped the blood smears from Roger's face and made him wash his hands. Roger felt a bit like a small child, being taken care of by another but he enjoyed the feeling of Simon's cool fingers on his face. Knowing that Jack and the others would be looking for him, he stood up when Simon was finished and nodded at him.

"T-thank you, S-Simon. Um. No-one's listened to me before. And you were right again, we are human beings. I would like to come back tomorrow. It'd be nice…..to be your friend." Roger said shyly, scratching the back of his head nervously. Despite all the tribe conflict, Roger knew he wanted to talk more with Simon, he couldn't describe how good it felt to be able to express himself. Simon grinned as he turned around, heading back to the pool.

"I'll be here. See you tomorrow, Roger." He called out happily as he splashed his feet again. As Roger walked off he smiled, knowing that even though this was strange, it was great.