Notes: New chapter up... Sorry it's been a couple of days since I updated... Thanks to oncethrown, hersheygal, A.StClaire, mick-da-mouse, and DarkDizzyMerryGoRound for reviewing chapter 2! Please read and review... I hope you at least get a little kick out of my story... I apologise for the first song about Neosporin, but the point of the song is that it's lame, so...
Kate stumbled through the jungle in search of escape. No matter how she tried, she couldn't keep herself from spilling her soul to anyone everyone around her, and she found that the only way to keep her secrets safe was to be alone, away from the world, where only she would be able to hear her acoustic-backed love song about being split in two.
"Kate, hey!" She heard Jack's voice through the leaves. "Kate?" She ran… she couldn't tell Jack what was on her mind. Not now. She couldn't tell anyone. Jack ran after her, perplexed. "Kate!"
She hurried away from him, finally tripping over a mangled branch and grazing her knee. "Damn it…" she whispered as she snuck behind a twisted structure of woody vines.
"Kate?" Jack called as he followed the path that he believed Kate had taken. Soon he was completely out of her sight.
Kate examined her knee. It wasn't bad, just scratched. She would live. Maybe some Neosporin would be nice…
Maybe some Neosporin
Would keep this pain from roarin'
Just a bit on the abrasion
To keep the hurt from blazin'…
"Dammit… that was pretty lame," Kate said to herself when her 50's commercial-type jingle was completed. She really wished this would be over this. Nothing could be more embarrassing than this suddenly breaking into song and acting as a walking, singing advertisement for an ointment… except for maybe revealing the bigger issue on her mind.
"Hey there, sassafras," Sawyer drawled as Kate approached him. "Come here to give me a little southern serenade?"
"Shut up, Sawyer. I just want some Neosporin."
"Only for a little something in return, Freckles," he smiled.
"Jack won the meds, fair and square. I don't owe you anything."
Out of nowhere, a fiddle melody appeared from nowhere and Sawyer began to sing:
Just one little song
"Please don't, Sawyer…," she begged, nervous at the sight of some of her friends getting in line to square dance.
You've wanted this all along
And, forgive me if I'm wrong
But its not meds
You're lookin' for
-
I can't admit it, but you're right
This damned thing keeps me up at night
And though I try with all my might
I think I like you
All the more
-
You love me so
Cuz Jack can't get you
You'd love me more
But he won't let you
-
But I love him too…
Not to upset you
-
And you'll end up with him
Now that I bet you
Cuz you need someone with whom
You'll find redemption
Cuz I will be your doom…
-
I don't need this intervention
-
You need someone to make your amends to
-
And you're telling me that that someone isn't you…
-
The sound of fiddles dissipated and the line dancing ceased.
"Sawyer, that's not…" she paused, not knowing what to say. Was that true? Was it really destined for Kate and Jack to be together? From the very beginning it had seemed that way. Jack + Kate. But more lately… She hated being tied down by fate… Still, that was no basis for a relationship with Sawyer. Maybe Jack was made for her, but what if he wasn't? What if it was Sawyer? Or what if it was Tom and her only chance for true love was now lost forever?
"What the bloody hell did you do that for?" Charlie asked, genuinely angry that he had been forced to dance in such a manner. "What was that? Square dancing?" Believing that this forced musical-extravaganza was really nothing but some kind of plague. "Do you think this is what led that made Rousseau go mental and kill her crew? Bollocks…"
Before Charlie could finish his rant, Kate was off once again. Jack walked in from the jungle. Instead of following Kate he stormed up to Sawyer.
"What's wrong there, Captain Hero? Little jealous of my little duet with Freckled there? Cuz if you are, I wouldn't mind singing a little ditty with ya."
"Sawyer, please just stay away from Kate, okay? I'm taking the rest of the meds now."
"Whoa there. Don't have to get all snappy cuz I got to go first. Sure she's got some left in her for you."
Jack couldn't take it anymore. Instead of fighting it out as he planned to, he began to sing:
Man, you've pushed me farther than you need to
And I don't like where this is gonna lead to
I know you say you love her too
But you don't know her as I do…
So back off
What you two have isn't real
Please back off
You can't tell her what to feel
Please back off
Cuz you're the guy who'll treat her wrong
She's been toying with you all along
-
But before you finish your stupid song
Let me remind you where she really belongs
You think you'll tame her; you're wrong
Cuz Kate's love has always belonged
To me
So back off
You can't know what she feels
Just back off, Doc
And let our girl's wounds heal
Please back off, Jackass
And leave things up to her
Cuz neither of us knows what's on her mind
And I'll be damned if I ever find
That a girl like that would choose your kind
And…
"You know what?" Sawyer picked up a bulky luggage case and handed it to Jack. "All yours, hero."
"What?"
"It's your meds. You won 'em. Fair n' square. Have fun being Mr. Leader Guy."
"Hurley… something always seems to be on your mind. What's wrong? You can tell me."
He gazed at her. This was ridiculous. A girl like her with a guy like him? No way. Though he wanted to, he couldn't get around to trusting her. She was too… perfect. Too him anyway. And he wasn't anywhere near perfect enough for her.
"Nothing," he lied, when really everything was on his mind. The two walked side by side down the beach, leaving their two sets of footprints in the sand; one pair much larger and deeper than the other. They could be holding hands, but they weren't. Hurley was nervous to go there.
The waves began to beat rhythmically against the shore and the birds started to chirp in time. Oh no… Hurley thought. Please not now…
I've got a feeling
She doesn't like me
She sends my reeling
But she's here cuz she feels sympathy
-
I've got a feeling
He won't believe me
But it's unfounded since
There's no place I would rather be
-
I'm not gonna fall for this again
-
It's gonna be a while till he lets me in
-
I'm not gonna fall into a trap
-
Only I'm here to fill that gap
-
I'm in love with her
-
I'm in love with him
-
And in harmony they sang:
But I don't know if thing is just a whim
And am I on some solid ground
Or am I out on a limb
And it seems like now
This thing is kind of sink or swim
And I'm a heavy guy
So there's a chance I'm gonna sink
-
And I don't know why
I should care what the rest think
I'll be there for him
-
And I'm afraid for her
I'm afraid of what they'll say
Cuz she's a pretty girl with a fat guy
-
I'm a pretty girl with a fat guy
-
And I'm scared they'll punish her
Because of what I weigh…
-
When the sound of the waves returned to normal, there was an awkward silence between Hurley and Libby.
Finally, Libby broke the silence, "So…you're afraid I'm too good for you…"
"Well…yeah."
"Don't say that…"she said, placing her hands around his face. "Don't be so self-deprecating… you deserve more than that. And please don't overdo the whole thing with me either. I've got flaws just like everyone else."
"Well, thanks. And I think you do deserve it," Hurley said. "I mean, I don't exaggerate when I say you're perfect." She smiled and she gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.
"Well, so do you," Libby returned. Hurley stood silent for a moment, almost shocked that she had kissed him.
They continued down the beach, this time holding hands. Hurley's footsteps didn't seem so heavy anymore.
"Libby? When we were singing… did you hear anything I was saying?"
"Well, yes… but only after we were done. Weird, huh?"
"I'll say…Wait, Libby? Can I tell you something else?"
"Anything."
Hurley began his explanation:
When we found the hatch, we found a room of food quite large
And we came to the decision that I'd be the one in change…
Hurley's song went on for twenty-three minutes, describing in detail the shame that Hurley felt for stockpiling food. Libby listened patiently and silently thought of ways she could help.