Aloe Vera
She could get the whole "let's work together" thing …. Really, she wasn't oblivious. It's just that it didn't seem like anyone needed her. It seemed better to pretend that she didn't want to help, than be snubbed by others … that had happened too often in her young life, and she'd long since learned her lesson.
"Don't let them see that they are hurting you … it'll only encourage them. Pretend you don't care and they'll get bored and leave you alone", were words that had filled her childhood. So she learned to hold a book in front of her, looking for all the world as if she was deeply engrossed in its contents, when in fact it was all she could do to make out the words with eyes glassy from unshed tears.
Did she think that she was better than everybody else? No, not really. Some days it was hard enough to just think that she was better than what everybody thought of her.
From her isolated spot on the beach, she watched others, those that hadn't moved inland to the caves, go about their island "jobs". Gathering firewood, sorting through baggage for supplies, etc. Every time she heard a group laugh, she winced inwardly, convinced that the joke was at her expense. Twin feelings of shame and despair warred within her. Despair at the thought that everyone hated her, laughed at her, mocked her, and then shame for thinking that people even noticed her …. She knew she wasn't the center of the world, but some days it just felt like every insult had her name on it.
As a trio of men move past her, loaded down with palm fronds, she quickly turned her gaze back to her magazine. "Focus on the article" she tells herself, "pretend to ignore them, so they'll ignore me".
"I would have thought you'd have that thing memorized by now".
Without looking up, she replied "Why, do you want to read it too? Need some tips on how to get your date to call you the next day".
Boone snorted at her and crouched down in front of her. Ignoring him, she turned the page with a flick of well manicured fingers. "Don't you get it, Shannon? We are stuck here. There are no phones, or dates, or any of the stupid crap you think is important. All you do is sit around, working on your tan and leaching off everyone else". Snatching the magazine out of her hands, he glared at her silence. "When are you going to grow up? The world is not here for you sole entertainment, Shannon."
Reaching for the magazine, she sneered back at him "Obviously. If it was I'd be stuck here with some interesting people".
Holding the glossy pages out of her reach, he stared down his nose at her. "You are such a waste, Shannon." Shaking his head, he stood. "People here are trying to make this a place to live, and you just sit around reading crap like this."
"Then I guess you don't want to read it. Too bad, you could have used the article about preventing breakouts, pretty boy." Reaching for it again, she snapped, "Give me the frickin' magazine, Boone!"
With a snort, he threw the magazine back at her. "I don't know why I even bother with you. You'll never change, will you?"
"Then why don't you just leave me alone …. I'm sure I could survive without your lame insults."
"If I didn't talk to you, who would? Nobody here even likes you, Shannon. You'd just be here alone."
"That's not -"she started.
"Not what, Shannon?" he cut in. "Not a big deal? God, you really don't care about anyone but yourself, do you."
"Whatever, Boy Wonder", she snapped and opened up the magazine to a random page. She heard him walk away, and softly closed her eyes. "It's not true" she whispered to herself. "I was going to say 'it's not true'".
She let the tears fall quietly on the pages of a perfume ad. A rustling behind her caused her to whirl around. She saw the Korean woman, Sun, standing quietly at the tree line, with some plants in her hand, and a look of sympathy in her eyes.
Looking at each other quietly, Shannon broke the awkward silence with a watery chuckle. "Hey, Sun. How come every time I see you, you catch me crying?"
Taking that as an invitation, Sun looked back over her shoulder, and then came to Shannon's side. Sinking down into the sand with an enviable grace, she put her arm around Shannon's shoulder. Momentarily shocked, Shannon hesitantly accepted the other woman's gesture of comfort. "I wonder how much you saw." Shannon mused aloud. "At least you couldn't understand what he said …. It's bad enough to catch me crying, thank God you don't understand why."
Looking out across the beach, Shannon missed the knowing look that crossed Sun's sad eyes. Speaking softly in Korean, Sun offered compassion.
Trying to lighten the mood, Shannon pointed at the plants Sun had brought. "What are those for?"
Sun reached over to the plants and selected a stiff, pointed looking piece. Speaking quickly in Korean, Sun snapped the plant in half, exposing the oozing center. Pointing to Shannon's scabbed knee, she motioned for Shannon to rub the plant on the injury.
"Oh, for my knee? Is this the same stuff as before? Thank you again, by the way. It helped." Taking the plant she rubbed the sticky sap on the scab, and listened to Sun speaking rapidly in Korean.
"I don't have any idea what you're saying, but, well, thanks for the company. According to His Royal Pain-in-the-Assness, if it weren't for him, I'd be all alone. Funny thing, I feel even lonelier when he's lecturing me. Anyway, um, thanks for … you know."
Bobbing her head and smiling, Sun continued speaking softly in her native language, showing Shannon how to split the plant open with her fingernail to expose more of the healing juices. Holding up the plant, Sun slowly said something in Korean, then looked at Shannon expectantly. Suddenly unsure of herself, Shannon fidgeted with the once forgotten magazine, seeking comfort from its familiarity. Seeing her reach for the magazine, Sun gently tugged at it, and again held up the plant and repeated the word.
Shannon, beginning to grasp Sun's idea, hesitantly repeated the word.
Her eyes dancing with mirth, Sun shook her head and said the word again, more slowly.
Again Shannon tried it. Grinning, Sun shook her head, repeated the word again, and emphasized the second syllable.
Smiling at Sun's determination, she tried it again. Nodding her head emphatically, Sun motioned for Shannon to say it again.
Saying it again, but this time with confidence, Shannon took the plant from Sun and motioned with it.
With a smile bright enough to light the night sky, Sun gave Shannon a half hug, and looked at Shannon with pride. Feeling good about herself for the first time in days, she giggled at Sun's "proud mother" behaviour. Together, the two giggled and repeated the word.
That was how Sawyer found them. Leaning against each other, looking at a shredded piece of plant, and alternately giggling like school girls and saying something in Korean.
"Now what do we have here? The Princess holding court?"
Caught up in the moment, Shannon turned her laughing eyes to Sawyer.
"Hey! I just learned Korean!" She held up the plant and repeated the word, looking to Sun for confirmation. "I have no clue what it is in English, but I can say it in Korean!" she said proudly and then dissolved back into giggles.
Taken aback by the happiness in her eyes, he was stunned to hear anything but haughty disdain from her lips. "Who'd of believed it", he thought to himself, "The Princess isn't such a princess after all".
Opening his mouth to speak, he was interrupted by the do-gooder.
"God, Shannon! Knock it off! Stop laughing at her." Striding forward to Sun he reached down to pull her up. Turning his back to Shannon, he addressed Sun, speaking a tad too loud and a bit too slow, "I apologize for my sister's behaviour. Just ignore her. Everyone else does."
"She's Korean, Boone, not stupid. You don't have to shout at her." Shannon snapped, her haughty mask firmly in place, Sawyer noted.
Turning to Shannon, Boone, sneered at her. "When I said you should do something, I didn't mean make fun of other people. God, you never change do you?!"
"Did you want something, or are you just here to spread you loving sunshine?" she said coldly.
"I'm going up to the caves for water and foolishly thought you might help. But I guess I was wrong", shaking his head in disgust, he left.
Sun, aware of the tension, put her hand on Shannon's shoulder and said something gently in Korean. With that, she moved quietly back into the jungle to the caves, leaving Shannon alone.
"Aloe Vera."
Snapping her head up, Shannon saw Sawyer standing there, arms crossed, and head cocked to the side.
Defense mechanisms now firmly back in place, she snapped, "Excuse me?"
"The plant your friend showed you. It's Aloe Vera." And with a thoughtful, and suddenly too knowing, look on his face, he continued on his way across the beach.
Surprised at his lack of wise crack, she could only look at the plant in her hands. Reaching for the magazine out of habit, she flipped through the pages aimlessly, not really seeing anything.
Laying the magazine aside, she looked out across the waves.
"Your friend" she repeated, and smiled at the thought.