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CHAPTER FIVE: SPITTING GAMES

His back was bruised and sore, with a shallow cut running about an inch across his back. He knew that it couldn't have been a dream now.

He went to her tent when he brought water to the beach later that day, but she wasn't there. He left her a short note with a pen that was running out of ink and paper that already had someone's flight schedule on it. It had been left out in the rain once, and now had a rough, wrinkled texture, but he could write on it.

'Kate-

I came by to see if you were here. You obviously aren't, so I guess I'll come back later.

Love, (he scratched that out, leaving an inky blotch.)

From,

Jack'

He was sort of glad she wasn't there, because he was afraid that he would have been too nervous to talk to her otherwise. He had a pleasantly numb feeling that had taken over his body that his mind automatically associated with her. Kate.

He sat down in the sand, facing the ocean, and let his mind wander while he stared at nothing in particular. Later, she came back and didn't notice him. She was busy helping some of the others move bunches of bananas. He sat and watched her, now beneath the trees, somewhat hidden. He found it easier to watch her from a distance than push himself at her, talk to her. His heart felt as if it would burst when he caught her perfect eyes, which seemed as blue as oceans and as pure as skies though he knew that they were really a vibrant green.

She smiled at him and he knew that was his cue. He stood up and made his way towards her. When he reached her side, he struggled to find words. He gave up after his mouth opened, he drew in a deep awkward breath, and then breathed out once more, his mouth closing. His mind didn't seem to be with him, as if it were up in the trees above the tents with the squawking birds.

"Hey." She said, and a little piece of Jack's mind seemed to have jumped to respond, because his mouth moved and words came out before the rest of his mind could process what had happened.

"I left you a note." The rest of his mind screamed 'NO!' just a second too late, and he winced inside, the little part of his brain that worked apologizing again and again, announcing that it was completely his fault. She looked confused and somewhat amused, though shy and wary.

"A note?" She asked. He swallowed hard before the free part of his mind had the chance to jump to answer again. The rest of his brain had taken command.

"On your blanket. You weren't there, so…" The free part wass laughing then, because she got an odd look on her face.

"You were in my tent?" The rest of his brain seemed to explode into a panic, sirens going off and people screaming 'NO!' at the top of their lungs. The free area took over, calmly answering.

"You didn't answer when I said your name; I wanted to see if you were alright." He told her. The rest of his brain patted him on the back when she nodded, understanding lighting up her beautiful face. She turned to find that the others had all moved down the beach towards the main camp, leaving her and Jack alone for the moment. He followed her gaze.

"Jack… can I… could I kiss you?" She asks him, and he feels himself fall head over heals in love with her. He nods numbly, his whole mind exploding in fireworks, and then she kisses him on the lips, awkward and anything but perfect, but Kate. He wanted to tell her to take her time, because neither of them was in any rush, but she pulled away and grasped his hand tight in hers before smiling and motioning for him to follow her back down the beach towards the others. When they reached the other people on the beach, Jack fell in love with everyone he saw because of his high.

She gave him a shy smile before she told him she had to go and disappeared into her tent. He stood there, watching the tent for a minute, but it was clear she wouldn't come out again. He sighed and turned towards the trees. He was already confused enough by life, and now this. This was even more confusing. They had quickly moved from not speaking to this (whatever 'this' was) and he didn't know where to go from here.