Thank you again to everyone who is reading and has reviewed in the past.
Chapter 2 is short, just a little bit of Skate goodness.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2
( In the jungle. )
( Kate is walking purposefully head, deftly stepping over roots and mounds whilst looking for something, up in the trees. )
Sawyer: Hold up Freckles!
( Kate stops and turns, noting in surprise that Sawyer is way behind her. )
Sawyer: ( Catching up ) You always got to walk so damn fast?
( Kate rolls her eyes smiling - )
Sawyer: ( Indignant ) What?!
Kate: You always complain about everything.
( With a parting smile Kate turns and continues to walk, only this time marginally slower. )
( Sawyer follows, mumbling to himself moodily - )
Sawyer: Maybe you'd be complaining too, if you had to carry all the damn fruit.
( Un-fortunately Kate has very good hearing - )
Kate: ( Without turning around ) I'd be happy to carry the fruit for you Sawyer.
( Kate's voice is one of irritatingly reasonableness, and Sawyer's not going to give her the satisfaction - )
Sawyer: Think I cam manage sweetheart.
( Suddenly Kate comes to a halt, still, but not turned to face Sawyer. Instead she is staring upwards, into the boughs of a tree, assessing it. )
( Sawyer, inwardly grateful, stops too. )
Kate: Well, that's good.
Sawyer: What's good?
Kate: I just don't think you could climb trees like me.
( In a fluid, almost catlike motion, Kate crouches and then springs upwards, flying off the ground, grabbing the lowest branch and acrobatically swinging herself around so Kate is straddling the branch like a horse.)
Sawyer: Kate!
( Kate easily moves up, onto another, higher branch, into the foliage of the tree, and out of sight. )
( Sawyer meanwhile is half impressed and half scared, having dropped all the fruit in shock. )
( From an unseen vantage point - )
Kate: I'm fine!
Sawyer: Yeah, well … just don't go falling off o.k.!
( Ignoring him - )
Kate: It's really great up here, the view's fantastic!
Sawyer: Well, I'd come up there if I was damn monkey too Freckles.
( A pause. There are sounds coming from above, rustling of leaves and noises of exertion from Kate as she climbs from branch to branch, in search of mangoes. )
( Sawyer waits impatiently below, wishing Kate would come down, and trying not to look too worried as he's worried that she can see him. )
Kate: ( Calling out ) There isn't that much up here. There are barely any mangoes.
Sawyer: Yeah, well, I told ya we should have gone somewhere else, every tree here's been picked clean.
( Silence from above. )
( For a moment, Sawyer somehow thinks he's inadvertently pissed Kate off, then he realises that he has made a valid point and Kate is actually lost for a comeback or reprimand / words. )
Sawyer: Guess you should listen to me more often Freckles.
( Even all the way up in the tree Kate can tell Sawyer is smirking, just by the way that he is talking. )
Kate: Yeah, congratulations Sawyer.
( Beat. )
Kate: And stop smirking.
( Sawyer's face drops. )
Sawyer: Anyway, we must have got enough fruit by now. Why don't we just go back to the beach?
Kate: Yeah … maybe you're right.
( Sawyer laughs. )
Sawyer: Twice in one day! Maybe I should make a habit out of it.
Kate: ( Laughing ) Yeah, maybe.
( Suddenly and without warning Kate drops out of the trees, intending to land crouched down on all fours. But, what happens instead is that one foot lands on a root, un-balancing Kate and sprawling her across the ground with a painful smack. )
Sawyer: ( Panicked ) Kate!
( Abandoning all pretences Sawyer races across to Kate, terror written across his face and his hear thudding madly in his chest. )
Sawyer: Kate! Jesus Freckles … Kate, are you alright?!
( Kate slowly and sorely stands, brushing bits of leaf and dirt off her, staring around in bewilderment as if wondering how she got there. )
( Sawyer reaches Kate and despite the fact that she is standing, grabs her firmly by the arms, quickly scanning for any obvious, serious injuries. )
( Kate places a calming hand on Sawyer's cheek. )
Kate: Sawyer I'm fine.
Sawyer: ( Still panicked ) You sure? You just fell outta a damn tree!
Kate: ( Confused ) Yeah .. I screwed up the landing. I guess I just, uh … miscalculated.
( Kate looks into Sawyer's concerned eyes and blushes. Nothing but her pride has been suffered any serious damage. )
( But looking into Sawyer's eyes, Kate can see the fear of losing her, and the worry for her well-being, and she is touched. Kate looks directly into Sawyer's eyes. )
Kate: ( Softly ) I'm fine. Thank you.
( This seems to start to satisfy Sawyer, and he smiles a little in relief, not caring that Kate can see. )
( Kate smiles too and tenderly leans up to kiss Sawyer, capturing his bottom lip between her own, and tugging on it gently. Sawyer kisses her back, even more tenderly and gently, not exerting any pressure, as if he's afraid that Kate is made out of glass and could still shatter. )
( The kiss, lasts, lingeringly, for a few seconds then they break apart. Ducking her head down, Kate slowly rises her eyes to meet Sawyer's, who is looking straight at her. )
( As soon as their eyes make contact it's like a physical jolt of energy hits them both, simultaneously. And in the same instant both Sawyer and Kate realise what it is; this kiss is very reminiscent of their first. )
( The passion is still there, that tiny bit of awe, and a humbled, naked feeling. )
( But there is something different, some softer, gentler, and safer about this kiss.
Love. )
( Kate briefly considers telling Sawyer, saying the three words right now, out in the open, right to his face. I love you. )
( But then Sawyer smiles at her, slyly, happily, a confidential smile. I know too. )
( Kate realises that there is no need. )
( And then the moment has passed, Kate leans in and gives Sawyer a little, chaste kiss and he rests his fore head against hers, exhaling. )
Sawyer: You know those bruises are gonna hurt like a son of bh tomorrow.
( Kate laughs. )
Kate: Guess you're going to have to take special care of me then.
Sawyer: Freckles, not one damn day passes when I don't wanna do that.
( Kate dips her head, smiling, a big toothy grin that shows all of her teeth, plus all her happiness, then she raises her head again, to share that smile with Sawyer. )
( Lightly, and still smiling, Kate pushes Sawyer on his good shoulder. )
Kate: ( Happily ) Come on, let's get back.
( Sawyer lets go and motions with his arm - )
Sawyer: After you, your highness.
( Kate laughs at his charming idiocy and heads toward the pile where Sawyer dropped all the fruit. )
Kate: You know you're lucky I didn't break any bones.
Sawyer: ( Following ) Yeah, why's that?
Kate: You complain about carrying fruit. Imagine what you'd do if you had to carry me back to camp.
Sawyer: Well I don't know about that, sounds like a pretty good idea to me.
( And with that Sawyer grabs Kate from behind with one arm, looping one arm around her waist, and scooping up her legs with the other lifting her clean off the floor and into this arms. )
( Kate, squealing in delight and surprise - )
Kate: Sawyer, what are you doing?!
( Sawyer, like it's the most obvious thing in the world - )
Sawyer: Carrying you. Like you said. Special care.
Kate: What about the fruit?
Sawyer: Forget the damn fruit. People get hungry, they can go picking themselves.
( Kate just smiles and relaxes into Sawyer. Happy to enjoy this ride while it lasts. )
( But - )
Kate: Sawyer, where are you going? This isn't the way to the beach.
Sawyer: Oh we're not going to the beach Freckles. We're going to the waterfall.
TBC in Chapter 3
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