Rain. God how she hated rain.
Funny really, Lara had lived in England enough to become accustomed to terrible weather; she had that typical stiff British upper lip attitude in griming and bearing whatever the heavens threw at her. Of course that had never stopped her wishing she was somewhere with a better climate and less rainfall. Sam, on the other hand, jumped at the chance at complaining at the lovely British weather back when they were at Cambridge University.
"Jesus Christ, does the rain ever have a day off over here? I feel like Gene Kelly is about to jump out and start warbling along to Singin' In The Rain."
"This is England Sam."
Lara let out a long sigh as she thought back to that day with her best friend. It was when she was in only in her first year, and she'd only known the American girl for a few months. She and Sam had just returned from winter break as they wandered around the quaint shops early on a damp January morning. Yes morning. Sam couldn't resist a chance to hit the sales and so she dragged a reluctant Lara with her.
A loud crash of thunder snapped the young archaeologist out of her memories. Small droplets continued to pour down over the skin of her arms and neck and Lara suddenly realised that she was shivering. What had it been? One or two hours since she'd escaped that godforsaken cave? Waking upside down surrounded by rotting flesh and blood wasn't the nicest greeting that the island she'd washed up upon had to give. And that dead body...god. She still felt sick thinking about it. The sun had just began to set as she'd stumbled out of that opening narrowly missing being crushed to death, and now night had fallen casting darkness all over the land. Lara had salvaged a single match from Sam's abandoned pack, so all she needed to do now was find a place to rest for the night. Hopefully she could contact the others in the morning and regroup. Luckily it wasn't long till she managed to find a small makeshift camp and set a fire going.
The brutal cold that had wormed its way around her body as she'd walked in the rain was replaced almost instantly as the roaring heat from the flames engulfed her. At least she wouldn't freeze to death now, maybe just die from hunger instead. No. Lara couldn't think like that. She had to keep going, keep pushing forward. Hopefully the storm would subside by the morning so she could search for food. No use now when she had no weapons and possible predators stalking the woods. Lara pulled out Sam's camcorder, which was surprisingly still working, and pressed play on the oldest entry. She was greeted with the image of herself sat at her desk back on the Endurance days before they had been shipwrecked. Sam's voice filtered through the speakers and Lara tried to imagine her best friend was sat right beside her.
"Here's the soon to be world famous archaeologist, Lara Croft, in her native habitat. She's on the hunt for the lost kingdom of Yamatai, home to the fabulous Himiko, mythical Sun Queen...and ancestor of yours truly."
"Sam...this is serious." Lara had replied, finally looking up from her notes to face her friend.
"Oh sweetie..."
Lara felt her heart flutter slightly at Sam's endearment, just like it had done back on the ship.
"...I know. I'm just trying to lighten the mood here. Everyone's so on edge! What are you so worried about?"
"I'm close to something, I'm sure of it. I just don't know if the others will listen...or even if they should."
"Lara you know this stuff better than anyone! Seriously, I'm not just saying this to make you feel better. I trust you, Roth trusts you! You got this. Now let's take a break okay?"
"Okay, okay. And Sam...Thanks."
The camera moved away from the archaeologist as Sam turned it around to face herself. At the campfire, Lara smiled at the American girl's face coming onto the screen, and for a minute she forgot she alone on a murderous island.
"She's not always this serious you know."
Only Sam would know Lara inside out, the girls had seen each other at their worst and best. At university Lara had been more interested in studying and her father's books than partying and getting wasted, where as Sam was the complete opposite. Lara couldn't count the number of times Sam had interrupted her at 10 o'clock at night, forced her to put on a flimsy dress and then dragged her along to some party or a nightclub. Often with the boys that lived in their dorm, who Sam loved to flirt with; nothing ever came of it, she was just a big tease. As for Lara, she didn't really care all that much. She was more interested in reading about the lost civilisation in Peru than hot guys. Although she did have a brief 'fling' with a guy named Harry two doors down from her room that Sam had pretty much forced onto her.
"Guess who I've been talking to!" Sam announced as she strolled into Lara's room one Friday night, cell phone in her right hand and coffee cup in the other.
"Sam, I'm trying to read..."
"Yeah, yeah I figured that much. I'm hear however to tell you that you should be reading Harry Snow's abs!"
"I beg your pardon?" Lara asked startled as she looked up from her book.
"Harry Snow! That's who I ran into! He and the boys are going to Fuz tonight, and he asked me if you were coming."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him yes of course. Now c'mon we need to find you something to wear." The American girl replied, opening up Lara's closet and began rummaging through her clothes.
"What!? Sam I have an exam to study for."
"An exam that isn't until next week, and besides, you're gonna ace it anyway. Ancient Japanese culture? Lara you might as well have a PhD in it. Oh this is cute, try it on!"
Sam pulled out a short black dress Lara had been bought years ago for her 18th birthday and threw it on the bed.
"You're not going to let me get out of this are you?"
"Nope." Sam replied with a cheeky smile on her face.
A few dates later and Lara and Henry had hit it off. The dates had continued, and all seemed to be going well. Yet Lara couldn't help but think that something was off. It was only about months into the relationship did she come to the realisation that it was because of her best friend. Lara had been sat in the kitchen two doors down slightly tipsy at a mini dorm party, with Sam at her left side and Harry at the other, engaging in various drinking games with the guys.
"Right ladies, who's up for a little Truth or Dare?" Will announced, sending a wink Sam's way whilst sipping from his bottle of Corona.
Lara, although drunk, had internally cringed. Truth or Dare was an abysmal game in her eyes, and she had a feeling this was just a part of Will's plan to kiss Sam. Sam, who had somehow slumped into Lara's side, giggling like a schoolgirl. Harry placed an empty bottle on the middle of table, spun it, until finally it landed on Will. The game had gone on for a while, and the drinks kept flowing until finally it landed on Lara.
"Truth or Dare Lara?"Will slurred, wrapping his arm protectively over Sam's shoulders.
Lara had contemplated choosing 'Truth' before her subconscious (her drunk subconscious albeit) had told her to 'man up' as no self respecting Croft would wimp out of a dare.
"Dare." She'd replied with confidence, raising a questioning eyebrow at Will.
"Alright then. I dare you to kiss Sam."
Lara had nearly choked on her drink and in the end resorted to coughing, as Harry patted her on the back trying not to laugh at same time.
"Is the big bad Croft scared of a challenge?" Will chuckled.
Lara didn't know whether it was the way Will and Harry teased her, or the fact she had that bold Croft instinct, but before her mind could process what she was doing, she had turned to Sam with a daring look in her eye. Unsurprisingly Sam didn't look the least bit phased; in fact she had looked quite pleased as she grasped the nape of the archaeologist's neck drawing them in closer to each other. It was with that drunken snog that Lara had realised she'd harboured some more than friendly feelings for her American friend. She'd broken up with Harry a few days later.
Another flash of thunder and Lara realised she'd been so deep in her thoughts about Sam that the camcorder had reached the end of its footage. A nearby owl hooted over the sound of the wind and rain hitting the ground as she put the camera to one side; she could always look back to the footage if she ever needed to. God knows that if she didn't get off this island soon, then there would be no doubt she'd re-watch footage of her friends. Lying down her side, she was reminded of the injury she'd sustained back in the scavenger den as pain ripped through her left side.
"Argh, bloody bastard," She groaned sitting back up, clutching the wound; she was lucky that she hadn't lost much blood from it.
Lara knew that in a few days it would no doubt get infected, but it wasn't like she had much choice in the matter. She shuffled onto her other side, hoping to find more comfort front from this position. In the end, she knew that it would continue to hurt throughout the night no matter where she laid down. Ignoring the pain as best she could, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Tomorrow she would hunt for some food, before finding the others and Sam. Dear god please let her find Sam. Before she knew it, Lara's thoughts of the Endurance and her best friend blurred into dreams as she dozed off beside the fire.