Warm. It was so warm.

Blue. So much blue. Was everything blue?

There was a noise, and my ears sounded like they were filled with cotton for a moment. I blinked as a shadow fell over me and my eyes were filled with more blue. A different color blue though, aqua like the ocean. They were eyes I realized. There was more noise and I had to read the lips to understand, before my hearing caught up to me.

"Hey, are you alright?"

I blinked again, and a pair of amber colored eyebrows pulled together.

I stared. He Stared.

Who? Where? . . .

What?

Suddenly I was acutely aware that my mouth felt like the Sahara desert (sand and all). I remembered then, distantly, like it was a bad dream. The boat. The storm. The kids. Maya, Angel, Nudge. Sucking in a breath I tried to sit up. The world started to spin a lot more than usual, and a hand on my shoulder gently pushed me back down.

"You should take it easy for a while," Nameless Boy said softly.

Hmph. I do not like being told what to do. I narrowed my eyes at him. I was perfectly fi- my head actually did hurt quite a bit. I reached up to feel fabric of some kind rapped around my head. A shirt? As I started to peel it away Blue Eyes protested, but then it was off. My ribs ached a bit too, and I gingerly lifted my stiff shirt to reveal more fabric laid across my right side in strips. It looked pretty gnarly with all the dried red blood. I felt Blue Eyes watching me, but there was no need to get his panties in a twist. I dropped my shirt, I would leave that one alone.

Gritting my teeth I sat up again, fighting off nausea, "where is everyone?"

If he was alive everyone else had to be too, right? Right?

He shook his head of honey colored hair at my disregard for his advice to lay down.

He was looking toward the water. "Some kids are down on the beach and there are other looking for survivors," the last word brought a soft, sad look to his face.

My head snapped to the coastline. Maya, Angel, Nudge. I squinted, but for the life of me I couldn't make out any of the faces on the blurs from my spot under a group of palms. I shifted my feet under me – Blondie protested, again – I stood anyways and oof!

Yowza. My ankle throbbed, my legs gave out, and I started to fall like a sack of potatoes. Lucky for me strong, sturdy arms were there to catch me around the waist. He didn't even look put out or annoyed as he lowered me gently to the ground again.

"I think you might have a sprain," he said pointing at my ankle.

I smiled apologetically. My bad.

My ankle was a light shade of purple and a little swollen. Seriously? Ugh. I settled, reluctantly and impatiently, for describing Angel's blonde curls and Nudge's chocolate skin and bright, brown eyes and Maya's general Me-ness. Blue eyes nodded his head (I really had to learn his name), eyebrows drawing together.

His mouth became a tight line. "I've seen the first two," my heart soared, "but I haven't seen anyone else who looks like you. I'm sorry," my heart skipped a beat.

No. No, no, no, not Maya.

I focused on not hyperventilating. Maya was still out there. I knew it. She was strong. She was just further along the coast. That's right. I just had to go find her and bring her back.

"I have to find my sister."

He gave me a sympathetic look. "I know, I'm sorry. You really shouldn't be moving around right now though."

Oh, that was it! Did I mention I don't like being told what to do?

"I'll crawl if I have to," I practically roared at him, "but you can't stop me from looking for her!"

"Okay," he calmly said, hands in the universal 'I surrender' gesture, "at least wait to see if the search party found her."

"Well when will they be back?" I demanded.

"They left about two hours ago, so they should be back any time now."

Hmph.

"Fine," I huffed, "I'll wait ten minutes, but not a second more."

That actually might be hard without a watch, but still! I had to find my twin.

Blondie looked relieved.

"So what's your name?" as long as I was stuck here I might as well make conversation.

"Dylan."

"What are you doing up here anyways?"

He looked confused for a moment, maybe thinking I meant the island. Then he realized I meant here, with me.

"Oh, well, I was an intern at a hospital back in South Carolina, so I was just checking on you, making sure you're okay."

I blanched. My cheeks flushed a little. I laughed awkwardly, suddenly feeling very bad for the way I had been acting toward him, which I admit, was a bit crazy. He had freaking saved me and taken care of me and made sure my rude butt hadn't bled to death.

"Thanks," I said sheepishly, "for everything". Man was I bad at this whole grateful thing.

He smiled though, his face lighting up, "you're welcome. I never got your name by the way."

"Max," I said.

"Max," he repeated, trying it out. "I really am sorry about your sister," he really did look sorry, "I hope you find her."

"Me too," I looked toward the crashing waves, "me too."