Dekka was miserable. Really, really miserable. Of course, she was used to being unhappy. She had been unhappy ever since she nearly died from the bugs eating their way out of her.
Maybe there was something wrong with her. She wondered if, if she was a boy, Brianna would have taken her. Maybe there was something wrong with her. After all, Brianna seemed to think so. But Dekka knew that she wasn't mad. She was just madly in love.
That sounded soppy. Dekka, madly in love? Yes, madly in love. Sam had suggested it was just a crush, and that she would get over it. Maybe so. But it didn't seem like that to Dekka.
She stood, at the edge of the cliff. The wind was whipping her hair. She considered, not for the first time, jumping. Dekka sighed – and turned. She walked back down the cliff. She knew it would take a lot more than this to make her jump. At least she knew she was needed. That Sam needed her to help with all the work around the lake.
Dekka passed Edilio and his team, working hard at the fields.
'Dekka!' he called. 'What were you doing up there?' Sam gave him a meaningful glance. Sam, at least, knew what it was like to be missing someone you loved more than anyone. Dekka passed them, and continued to the town that had been made, being careful to give the boat cabin that Jack and Brianna stayed in a wide berth.
No such luck. Jack was coming out.
'Hello,' he mumbled. Since everyone now knew or had guessed Dekka's secret, it was quite awkward around them. Dekka looked at him fiercely. It was so unfair. Brianna loved THIS nerd? He was the most stupid, scrawny little boy. Why him? He didn't have anything she didn't have. Oh yes, she forgot. He was a BOY.
Suddenly an idea struck her.
'Jack!' she said breathlessly. 'We need to talk.' Jack looked scared, and held up one of the walkie talkies he had managed to rewire.
'Edilio just bleeped me; they need my help moving a tractor that's stuck.' Oh yes, she forgot, he was the world's strongest nerd.
'Can we talk later then?' Jack looked worried, but nodded.
'I'll meet you this evening? At the cliff top?' Dekka suggested. When he nodded, they both walked off. She was not at all sure he was going to be there. Oh well, she supposed that was the best she could get for now.
Her walkie talkie bleeped. It was Edilio, asking her if she would come to the construction site to help move some boulders. She left at a run.