What was I doing? I was sitting here, with Kalie when I should be with Shannon. My Shannon. The beautiful, adorable, special Shannon…
I was torn; torn between my destructive and gorgeous sister and the beautiful girl next to me. I should be with Shannon: watching for the boogey-man that lived in the jungle, keeping her safe from the nightmares, protecting her from everyone else on this island. And yet, I was here. I had my arm wrapped around a beautiful sleeping girl that I barely knew. Her dark black hair tickling my arm as a breeze blew in through the front of the tent.
She asked me, when I showed up outside her tent tonight, asked me why I was here with her rather than my sister. She played it off like she didn't want to hear the fight that would start in the morning if Shannon found out I was here, but I knew she was happy to see me. There was a resounding look of relief on her face when I said I was staying with her until she fell asleep.
I hadn't spent the night with someone as sweet as her in a long time. She lay down and pulled the blanket over her as I moved further into her tent. She looked so sweet, so innocent I just wanted to hold her and protect her, like I was supposed to be doing with Shannon. "May I join you?" I asked, shocked that my voice sounded as shaky as it did. I was usually so sure of myself. I ran a company for Pete's sake.
She nodded, after what looked like a run through of a pro/con list, and softly said "of course." So I lay down next to her and wrapped my arm around her waist. My body formed around hers and I pulled her close. My heart pounded against my chest and I thought for certain she must hear it, but she didn't say a word.
Somehow, I started babbling about Shannon and telling her that she was my stepsister. How that mattered to the moment at hand I had no clue. I just felt like she should know; that she should know how I felt about Shannon. I wouldn't come outright and say how I felt, no I hinted and danced around it.
I held her close to me. "No reason. You can go to sleep now, I'll keep you safe." I bent down right by her ear and resisted the urge to place a soft kiss on her earlobe.
And now I'm here; holding her close as her breathing slows and deepens. I should leave; leave her and go back to where I'm supposed to be with Shannon. But I can't. I can't bring myself to get up and go back to someone who doesn't want me, someone who has never wanted me.
All Shannon has ever done is use me. She used me for money, for help and finally for sex. I've given her everything I have and even things I shouldn't.
But I love her. And I'll leave Kalie now and return to Shannon. I shift on the cushions, moving slowly so as to not wake the sleeping beauty next to me. I place a soft kiss on her cheek before getting up. After adjusting the blanket around her, I crawled through the tarp and picked up my pack. I glance back one final time, watching as a smile crossed her face.
I didn't sleep that night; just sat outside our tent and waited for the sun. I waited for Shannon to wake up and insult me as she always did and I waited for John to show up for us to trek into the jungle again; not to look for Claire, but to investigate that metal thing.
The past hour played through my mind, over and over. I remembered the feeling of her in my arms, the sound of her breathing. I was torn between Shannon and Kalie and I wasn't sure which one would end up winning.
AN: This is a companion to my fic Lost on an Island. This goes with the ending of Chapter 6: Scared. Please leave a review on what you think!