Chapter 12

"Mary Ann, maybe we should just tell them..." Gilligan and Mary Ann were walking along the next afternoon.

Mary Ann looked up at him. "Now?"

"Well, yeah. They're just gonna find out anyway." Gilligan said.

"I know. In fact, I would have just told them a long time ago. But Gilligan, I really don't want to give Ginger the satisfaction, whether she deserves it or not." Mary Ann crossed her arms.

They stopped walking and faced each other. "What? Mary Ann, what are you talking about?" Gilligan was confused as to how Ginger made her way into this conversation.

Mary Ann sighed. "Before we...you know, told each other, Ginger wouldn't leave me alone. She kept trying to convince me to tell you and so on. It got really annoying when she started arguing with me about it. Sure she was right, but I didn't want her to know at the time. I just don't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she's right, at least not now."

"Why not now? She's gonna know sooner or later. Why don't we just--"

"Because! Uh, because uh, look. Gilligan you don't understand how iritating it feels to be wrong!" Mary Ann made up an excuse which was, actually, mostly true. She hated giving Ginger the satisfaction of being right.

Gilligan blinked, dumbfounded. "Uh, okay Mary Ann. I guess."

Later that evening after dinner, Gilligan and Mary Ann were washing the dishes as usual when Ginger came into the clearing.

"Oh, you're still doing the dishes. Thats fine, I'll come back later." Ginger said.

"No, thats okay Ginger, do you need something?" Mary Ann asked.

"Um, actually I was wondering if I could talk with Gilligan..."

Right then, Mary Ann knew exactly what Ginger was up to. "Oh, well I guess you will have to come back later, he's busy!"

Gilligan looked at her, confused by how rushed her response was.

Ginger nodded and smiled. "Okay, I'll come by later then." She walked off.

"Gilligan, if she happens to catch you later, remember, say nothing!" Mary Ann said with an uncommon forcefullness.

Gilligan merely nodded, wondering what on earth was going on.

Gilligan barely had a second to himself as Mary Ann left the clearing, when Ginger intruded.

"Gilligan!" She smiled at him.

Gilligan jumped, surprised to see her.

"Oh, um, hey….Ginger." Gilligan couldn't help but hear Mary Ann's words of advice in his head.

Ginger walked closer to him, and Gilligan couldn't help but take a small step back. "So Gilligan, I see you've been spending an awful lot of time with Mary Ann..."

"Well, actually uh, its not that awful." Gilligan mentally smacked himself.

Ginger smiled at this. She had him right where she wanted. "Oh, Its not?"

"Uh no, I mean, what I meant is--" Gilligan tried to think of a way to change the subject.

Ginger cut him off. "Do you think Mary Ann's pretty, Gilligan?"

"Uh yeah, she's pretty, uh I mean--" Ginger cut him off again.

"Do you like her?" Ginger asked.

"Uh yeah, I guess, she's a real nice girl..." Gilligan stopped. GILLIGAN YOU DUMMY! What are you saying? You're not supposed to say anything to Ginger!

"Yes. But I mean, do you like...like like her. You know, like a...girlfriend?" Ginger smiled.

Gilligan turned red. Oh no, oh no! Ginger always got him to tell. Always. What should I say, what should I say? I can't tell her! Mary Ann told me not to!

"Um..." Gilligan jumped when he heard his name.

"Gilligan!" It was Mary Ann. She looked at Ginger.

"Oh hi Ginger, could I borrow Gilligan for a minute?" Without giving Ginger a chance to answer, she took Gilligan by the arm and pulled him toward her hut.

Ginger scowled. Just when her plan had been working!

Mary Ann turned to Gilligan once they were in the safety of her hut.

"Gilligan, you almost told her!"

"I'm sorry Mary Ann. Its a good thing you came." Gilligan looked down with guilt.

Mary Ann's expression softened. "Thats okay Gilligan, its not you're fault." She kissed him on the cheek.

"Just remember what I said."