After resting up in my hut, I got really hungry for lunch. I grabbed my tablet and left my hut to head back down to the hotel patio for lunch. As always, it was a bit of a walk, I managed to get there without it feeling like I was walking for that long.
As I walked up to the hotel patio, I saw lunch was already prepared for us on the tables. I also saw that Ellen was there as well, sitting down, eating what appeared to be a late breakfast. I slowly walked over to Ellen.
"Hi, Ellen."
Ellen looked up at me an frowned. "Go away."
"But..."
"Go away." Ellen grabbed a coffee mug and took a sip of coffee.
I got pissed off again, and all the anger and annoyance I dealt with from the others had finally reached my limits. "What the hell is your damn problem?!"
Ellen's expression hadn't changed. "Are you still here? Didn't I tell you to go away?"
"Shut up! Why are you like this? Why are you such a bitch?!"
Ellen didn't respond.
"Are you always like this?! Is it this whole island situation?! If so, guess what! We're all in the same shitty situation! But you're one of the few people who has a piss poor attitude!"
Ellen still didn't respond.
"Say something!"
Ellen finally had a response for me. "Seeing as that you aren't going to leave me alone, I might as well tell you what you want. First off, you call it being a bitch, but that is just who I am. Secondly, I'm not apart of your little clubhouse because you're all worthless trash in my eyes."
I knew I shouldn't be, but I was shocked at what Ellen was saying.
"None of you are someone I would wanna waste five minutes of my life with, get that through your stupid, worthless head. Along with the fact that any one of you could be planning a murder, I prefer not to risk anything by being with any of you."
"Ellen..." I tried to say.
"Silence! You wanted to hear me out, so you're going to! Now don't you forget it. I don't care about any of you, so do me a favor and stay out of my way. You all can do what you want, but I'm finding my own way off this island, alone."
I gasped at her last word. "Alone!?"
"Correct, alone, for all I know, one or even multiple of you is with whoever is controlling Aqua Tail, I'm not losing any chance of escaping for you trash."
"That is...That's..."
"Do you have something else to say? If not, go away for the last time. Actually, I am nearly finished my meal, so stay here all you want, as I'll be going real shortly."
As I stared at Ellen in horror, she finished her breakfast and got up from her seat. She picked up her dishes and brought them to the table for dirty dishes. She then turned back to face me.
"Stay out of my way." Ellen warned with venom in her voice. "You and everyone else, or you'll regret it. Ellen then headed for the patio stairs.
As she walked by me, I noticed she had a tattoo on the back of her neck. It was two pieces of a pink, split heart.
"Could that tattoo be a reason for the way Ellen is?" I thought to myself.
Shaking it off, I went over to the tables with food to start lunch. Ellen is honestly the worst person on this island, I don't know why I even bother with her, but maybe, just maybe she can come around.
As I got a plate of food and sat down, the rest of my classmates started to arrive, minus Ellen and Simon of course. They all got food as well and sat down with me. It was another usual gathering for this group. People yelling at and insulting each other, along with quite a few physical injuries. People getting too excited, while some were barely speaking at all. Another attempt at any clues to our mysteries without any results. Once we were all pretty much done, we agreed to meet up at the hotel patio for dinner.
As I put my plate away, I once again tried to see if I could spend some time with Dane, but once again he was off with walking and talking with Miranda.
"Damn it!" I thought to myself.
I decided to cool off by walking to the beach and enjoy the beach atmosphere. I saw that Kirsty was standing on the beach. I went over to her.
"Hi Kirsty." I greeted.
Kirsty turned around and smiled at me. "Hey Natalie, have you been working hard to find a way off this island?"
"Uh...yeah I would say so, but for now, I wanted to take some time off to relax."
I expected some kind of lecture about slacking off from Kirsty, but she didn't have one surprisingly.
"Understood, even I know that taking a break is important after a lot of hard work, you need time to recharge before starting up again."
I nodded. "Yeah, I totally get what you're saying, which is why I came here to enjoy the beach atmosphere."
"As did I, plus I tricked Henry into thinking I was in the forest, that should hopefully buy me some time away from him."
I groaned. "He's still madly in love with you?"
"Unfortunately, even though I repeatedly told him I'm not interested in him or men. But enough talk about Henry, let's talk about something more productive."
"Like what?"
"Future plans! All the hard work we do now is to ensure our plans for the future are a success!" Kirsty seemed really excited to talk about future plans.
I smiled at her. "Okay."
I spent some time talking to Kirsty about our future plans, which surprisingly was really nice.
"I see Natalie, your career path is indeed interesting." Kirsty commented.
"Yeah, I know." I replied. "While I don't hate my talent, I know I don't want to be a receptionist forever. If anything, it will help me get to where I want to be in life."
"But you still don't know what that is yet?"
I sighed. "No, I don't."
Kirsty rubbed my shoulder to comfort me. "It's okay Natalie, your whole life doesn't have to be set in stone while you're still in high school. You just gotta be working hard to figure it all out, and I know you are. Even if you have to be a receptionist for awhile after high school, you're still doing very good in life."
I smiled at Kirsty, feeling so much better. "Thank you so much Kirsty, I really needed to hear that."
Kirsty returned the smile. "No problem at all Natalie, anything to help out a fellow hard worker."
I just felt so much better for the future, that I forgot I was stuck on an island, while being trapped in a killing game for.
Kirsty looked around. "It was nice talking with you Natalie, but I'm gonna go for now. Henry has most likely left the forest already and has started to search for me."
I laughed. "Can't you just knock him out if he keeps bothering you?"
"Indeed I can and will if I have to, but I prefer not to waste my efforts on trashy men like him. I'll see you later Natalie." Kirsty gave me a small kiss on the cheek and then ran from down the beach.
I rubbed the cheek that Kirsty kissed, it was just a gesture of comfort, no way she be coming on to me. Shaking that off, I decided to take a walk down the beach, the opposite way that Kirsty ran down.
I ended up at the campfire area, where Raj was sitting on a rock. He looked quite sad. Concerned, I ran over to him.
"Hey Raj, what's wrong?" I asked
Raj looked up at me with sad eyes. "My collection."
"What?"
"My collection, I haven't seen it in who knows how long."
I mentally groaned. "Why am I not freaking surprised!?"
"It's okay Raj." I comforted. "I'm sure we'll get off this island soon."
"But my collection Natalie!" Raj cried, which surprised me. "I need to be with it now!"
"Whoa! Calm down Raj!"
"My collection!"
"For fuck sake!" I thought to myself.
I then had an idea. "Listen to me Raj, would it help if you talked about exactly what you were feeling about your collection? I'll stay right here and listen to it all."
Raj stopped whining and thought for a second. "Yeah!" He suddenly exclaimed. "That might just help me!"
I spent some time with Raj, listening to him poor his feelings out to me about his love for his collection and how much he misses it. It was so boring for me, and I really didn't understand half the stuff he was saying. But I guess I should feel good for trying to help him out.
"And I just wanna be with my collection, so badly!" Raj stated sadly.
"I see Raj." I replied. "Well I can definitely tell your collection means a lot to you, so I get why you're feeling this way."
Raj stood up. "That collection truly is my everything, Natalie. I don't know what I would do without it. If I didn't have it. I think I would..."
"Don't! Raj, don't say stuff like that!"
"But...it's true, I have no purpose without my collection."
"Why me!?" I asked myself.
"Look Raj." I started with. "You can't afford to think like that, your collection needs you to stay strong.
I know I was talking stupid, but this was all I could think of.
"Huh?" Asked Raj.
"Think about it Raj." I continued. "Your collection wants you back home, it is most likely waiting for you now. It needs the Ultimate Collector. That is why, you can't be talking like that. You need to stay strong, and do your best to get off this island."
Raj started thinking hard about what I just told him, a little too hard honestly. But I think I was finally getting to him.
"Please don't start freaking out!" I pleaded to myself.
"You're right Natalie!" Raj exclaimed. "How could I be so stupid? I can't think negatively, I need to remain positive all the time!"
"There you go!" I cheered.
"My collection is waiting for me back home, and I'm gonna get back home, I know I will."
"You got this Raj!"
Raj smiled at me. "Thanks Natalie! Your pep talk is exactly what I needed! I'm gonna go look for a way off this island right now!"
"Good luck Raj, be sure to let the rest of us know if you find a way."
Raj nodded at me and ran up from the beach. I felt good knowing I was able to help Raj, but then I remembered what I helped him with and then I just felt stupid. I know Raj is a nice and good guy, but he is too obsessed over his collection.
Getting all that out of my head, I left the beach to head elsewhere. I ended up back at the basketball court. There I saw Harvey and Dane. Harvey appeared to be doing a workout of some kind on the basketball court, while Dane was standing buy holding a big pack of water bottles. I watched as Harvey finished some kind of exercise, ran up to Dane, grabbed water bottle from his pack, and then punched Dane right in the stomach. Dane fell down rather quickly.
"Hey!" I cried, as I ran up to Harvey and Dane.
They both turned to me as I closed in on them.
"Natalie?" Dane asked in pain.
Harvey smiled at me. "Hey there babe, did you come to watch me workout?"
"No!" I yelled. "What are you making Dane do!?"
"Easy, all this pussy bitch is good for is being a waterboy, so I'm making him him hold some water for me as I workout."
"But why did you punch him!?"
"Why wouldn't I punch him?"
That did it for me. I kicked Harvey right in the balls. He dropped his water bottle and grabbed his balls with both hands, while looking quite in pian.
"Ow!" Harvey muttered.
I then gave Harvey a swift kick in the stomach, knocking him on his back. He laid there in pain, while I turned my attention back to Dane.
"Are you okay Dane?!" I asked as I helped him to his feet.
He quickly released the waters he was holding and grabbed his stomach. "It hurts a little...but I'll be fine soon."
"Is it true what Harvey told me?"
"...Yes...Owwwwww."
"Dane, you can't let him push you around like that."
"But...he said he would hurt me...a lot more...if I...refused..."
"And what did he just do to you?"
"...Hurt me..."
"Exactly."
I then spent a lot of time explaining to Dane why he shouldn't listen to Harvey and what he should do from now on to avoid stuff like this, while Harvey just laid on the ground in pain. And when I say a lot of time, I mean a lot of time. I was gonna savor every second of this and make sure I could make it last as long as I could. My god, Dane is just so cute!
"Do you understand what I'm saying Dane?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Dane replied.
"Are you sure? You don't sound so sure to me."
"I'm sure Natalie, believe me, I'm sure!"
"Okay Dane, but please understand that I just don't want to see you get hurt or used like that again."
Dane suddenly looked pretty down. "You're right, I'm sorry Natalie, I guess even though I hate it when stuff like that happens to me, I'm just too used to it at this point to really do much about it."
I felt so bad for Dane. "Hey there, it will be alright."
"But even in a place like this, where there is only a eighteen people, I'm still being treated like shit."
"I know, and it truly is horrible. People like Harvey are just the worst."
"I'm awesome!" Harvey shouted, while still on the ground.
"Shut up Harvey!" I shouted, before turning back to Dane. "Look Dane, you aren't alone in this. If Harvey or anyone else tries to bully you again, just come to me, and I'll take care of him."
Dane still looked quite down, but he gave me a small smile. "Thanks Natalie."
"No problem Dane, and it isn't just me either, Irene will definitely defend you from any bully, as well as Bridget or Sam, like I said, you aren't alone in this."
Dane's smile grew bigger. "Okay, I definitely won't forget that."
I returned the smile to Dane. "Glad to hear it."
"You're so smart and wise Natalie, I'm so lucky to have met someone like you on this island."
I got so excited when he said that. "Really?"
"Yeah, really! You're a really good friend."
"Friend?!" I yelled to myself as my heart just shattered.
"Yes, you definitely have been a good friend to me." Dane continued. "A lot of guys would be even luckier to have you as their girlfriend. Well I'm gonna rest up before dinner in my hut, see you Natalie!"Dane picked up the waters, waved goodbye to met, and left the basketball court.
I just stood there in shock. Does this mean Dane doesn't feel the way I feel?"
"Hey...babe..." Harvey muttered.
I had no response.
"Do you...wanna...make out with me?"
I got pissed, so I went over to Harvey and kicked him in the face, which I believe knocked him out. I didn't bother to check I was so annoyed and slowly getting angry. Harvey is the same old piece of shit, and while Dane is still so cute and innocent, he really only considers me a friend?!
Walking off my emotions, I headed back to the hotel patio for dinner. When I arrived, I calmed down for the most part, but was still quite annoyed. As I walked up the patio steps, I saw Simon was there, eating a burger. He saw me as I grew near.
"Oh look, office whore is here." Simon muttered.
That did it! I walked right over to Simon and knocked the burger out of his hand, it went straight to the ground.
"Hey!" Simon yelled. "I was fucking eating that!"
"I don't care!" I screamed. "What is your fucking problem!? Why is everything that comes out of your mouth something cruel and insulting!?"
Simon grabbed the front of my hoodie, and all of my anger was replaced by confusion and fear. I legit thought for a second that Simon would harm me.
"Listen to me real, fucking clear, bitch." Simon growled. "I'm the Ultimate Dark Comedian for a reason, everything and I mean everything I say is dark, that is just the way I am, and if you don't like it, then that is just too fucking bad."
I couldn't say anything, I just stared at Simon's face, which was full of a certain kind of darkness.
"Do you get it now, bitch!"
I quickly nodded, Simon then released me. I felt like crying. Simon turned around and walked over to the food table to grab a new hamburger. After grabbing one and starting to eat, he turned around.
"Anymore stupid, fucking questions?" He asked, sounding normal again.
Still trying to fight off tears, I asked. "Why do...do you have to use dark humor...in everything you say?'
Simon took another bight of his burger and stared at me. I was real nervous now, so I started playing with my ponytail.
"Relax office bitch, I'm not gonna go all evil on you again, but you don't need to know my fucking life story, just know I am the way I am for a really good reason."
As I played with my ponytail, I wondered what that reason was. "Why do...Why do you and Ellen eat by yourselves."
Simon snickered. "I'm not with that cosmetologist cunt, so don't ask me about her. But as for myself, I thought I made that clear last night why I don't join your stupid book club. I don't trust any of you, or care for that matter."
Even though I shouldn't be surprised, I was. Why was Simon like this? Both him and Ellen.
Simon quickly finished the rest of his hamburger, and then turned back to me. "Anything else, you bitch."
As I started to calm down, I started to get angry at Simon again. "Can you stop being such an asshole for one minute?! We're all in the same boat here!"
"First off, we're on an island, not a boat you dumb, blonde bimbo. And to answer if I can stop being an asshole for one minute, nope." Simon started to walk towards the patio stairs. "Bitch." He said as he walked past me.
"Asshole!" I screamed at him, but he continued just to walk away from the hotel.
"I take it back about Harvey being the worst." I angrily thought to myself. "That title definitely belongs to Simon, but still, why is he like this?"
Finally fulling calming down, I once again headed over to the food table to grab some dinner. After loading up my plate with food, I sat down at a table as the others started to arrive. Simon is definitely a huge piece of shit, but he does have some mysteries I wanna find out about him. But it definitely won't be easy.
I sighed as my classmates, minus Simon and Ellen joined me for dinner.
