Ok thanks to reviews from SassyLostie, BasketBall Babe8 and heavenly-vixen for the last chapter. They are much appreciated ( and no this isn't the last chapter by any means. )
Mucho apologies for the enormous wait between updates, and the fact that while this is an update it isn't one that focuses on Skate, but the good news is the next chapter is nearly finished ( and does have Skate in ) and should be along in 1 -2 days.
Enjoy!
Scene 6 -
The football match is currently in full throw. Charlie however isn't playing. He is standing on the sidelines of the "pitch" and imperiously blowing on a whistle every few minutes. This proves to be ineffective however, as every time Charlie blows the whistle people turn around and but as soon as Charlie tries to start yelling out instruction they start playing again.
Kate: Hey Charlie.
( Charlie turns and sees who it is. )
Charlie: Oh hey Kate, long time no see.
Kate: Yeah I know. Hey, do you think maybe I could play later?
Charlie: Play football?
Kate: Yeah, it looks fun.
Charlie: I didn't even know you knew how to play.
Kate: I don't, but I'd like to try. In your team if that's o.k.
Charlie: In my team?
( Charlie scratches behind his ear and looks towards the pitch uncertainly. )
Charlie: Oh man, I'd love to Kate but we've already picked out the players.
Kate: Oh.
( Kate puts her hand above her head to shield her eyes from the sun, directly overhead. )
Kate: Could I not swap with someone later?
Charlie: ( Charlie glances back towards the "pitch" again, forehead also creased because of the glare of the sun )Well .. I guess you could sit on the bench if you wanted to - not that we actually have a bench - and I could draft you in at half time.
( Kate smiles gratefully. )
Kate: Great, thanks Charlie.
( Kate then turns and starts to head off, intending to do go get a seat straight away. But Charlie has something else to say. )
Charlie: Wait, Kate.
( Kate turns. )
Charlie: I just wanted to say thanks, to Sawyer, for looking after Aaron the other day. I know it was pretty short notice and not really his thing -
( Kate smiles at this understatement. )
Charlie: - but it was cool of him to help me out.
Kate: Well -
( Kate hesitates, forming an idea in her head. )
Kate: - you know if you ever want someone to look after Aaron for a while all you have to do is ask. I mean, me and Sawyer would be happy to.
( Charlie is rather surprised at this offer. )
Charlie: Really?
( Kate nods. )
Charlie: Oh, wow, thanks Kate. That's great. Really great actually because -
( Charlie moves a little closer to Kate and says in a quieter voice - )
Charlie: - I just need sometime with Claire you know? I mean the other day we were talking about how great it would be if we could take a picnic into the jungle but we couldn't because Sun was busy and Claire doesn't feel comfortable leaving Aaron with anyone else. I mean there's Nicola and that guy Paul but they're a bit weird aren't they?
Kate: Yeah. So where's the bench then?
Charlie: Oh, just over there -
( Charlie points to the row of people behind them who are sat watching. Kate spots them, then looks back to Charlie - )
Kate: Thanks Charlie.
Charlie: Anytime.
( Kate wanders off and Charlie looks after her. Till a yell is heard behind him and a large smack and a fall signals a ball hitting Charlie squarely on the head. )
Scene 7 -
Paolo is notably absent. This is maybe why Nikki is sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, and her head rested on them. She stares morosely out at the game from behind the hair fallen across her face.
Kate: Hey, Nikki.
( Nikki raises her head, sees Kate and attempts a smile. )
Nikki: Hey.
( Nikki's voice sounds off, breathy and surprisingly low. )
Kate: Is this seat free?
Nikki: Yeah sure.
( In an attempt to snap Nikki out of it, because Kate somehow feels she should, Kate peers around Nikki and asks - )
Kate: Is Paolo playing?
Nikki: ( Still facing away ) No. He's probably just taking a dump in the jungle or something. He never wants to do anything like this.
( Kate tries to focus on the game, and spots Locke come into her line of vision, dribbling a ball with surprising ease. Behind him Jin tries to keep up, with a slight limp Kate notes with a smile. )
( Just as Kate is getting into the game she hears a delicate, just audible sniff to her right. Glancing slightly towards Nikki it hits Kate how quiet Nikki has been. There must be something wrong. )
Kate: What's wrong?
( Nikki doesn't reply. She doesn't even move, giving no sign she even heard Kate. )
( Kate stares at Nikki's prone form, not expecting her to be so solitary, and is just about to look back to the game when Nikki says something - )
Nikki: 27th October.
( Kate frowns. What's a date got to do with anything? )
Kate: What?
( Nikki raises her head a little, breathing in, and turns to Kate, resting her chin on her shoulder and meeting Kate's eyes sadly. )
Nikki: That's the date today.
Kate: Oh. How do you know?
( Nikki glances back toward the ocean. )
Nikki: The guy in the tent next to us made a calendar. It dates back from the day of the plane crash and he shares it with us.
Nikki: It's my birthday. Today.
( Nikki meets Kate's eyes and gives a sad little smile - )
Nikki: That's what the 27th October is.
( Kate's eyebrows pop up. Birthday? She hadn't been expecting anything as significant as that. An argument with Paolo maybe. Suddenly she doesn't know what to day, except the rather exhausted - )
Kate: Wow, I'm sorry.
Nikki: ( Contemplating outloud )Yeah, I mean, it's so weird. No presents or friends or party or anything.
Kate: Does Paolo know?
Nikki: No. Well yes, he knows when my birthday is, but I didn't tell him it was today.
( Kate is now starting to get interested - )
Kate: Why not?
( Nikki shrugs and purses her lips in a funny manner, staring out to sea again - )
Nikki: I don't know. I guess I just thought he'd make a big fuss. And there doesn't seem to be any point in celebrating anything when I'm stuck here. Besides -
( Nikki looks around the beach, looking at properly - )
Nikki: - you can't even tell it's October can you?
( Kate looks around too, and shrugs her shoulder, chipping in lightly and reasonably - )
Kate: Unless you live in Spain.
Nikki: Yeah.
( And that passing comment strikes up a memory in Nikki's head, and her whole face brightens as she remembers - )
Nikki: God, me and Paolo went to Spain once - we literally spent the entire time on the beach. The waves were so great but I forgot sun lotion, and I got the grossest sun burn. I looked, like a tomato.
( Nikki glances around the current beach they are sitting on. )
Nikki: Not really as fun now.
( Looking at Nikki now she doesn't seem so happy though. Kate, with sympathetic eyes, looks at the way Nikki rests her chin back on her knees, and breathes out through her nose despondently. )
Kate: So - if you could have a birthday present today, what would you want?
Nikki:( Decisively ) A plane.
( Kate laughs. An un-anticipated bubble of laughter popping out. )
( But Nikki changes her mind - )
Nikki: No, actually - I think I'd like a phone. One that works obviously but - it's just every year on my birthday my parents would ring me. I didn't speak to them much and I kinda dreaded it; my Mom used to try and convince me to come home or get a "real" job but - it still feels weird without it. I mean I haven't seen them in years, I sort of travel a lot -
Nikki: - but now that I'm stuck here I think I miss them the most.
( Nikki looks at the ground and picks up a loose pebble, rolling it between her fingers - )
Nikki: And they probably think I'm dead or something.
( Kate looks out toward the ocean. )
Kate: ( Sombrely )I think everyone out there thinks we're all dead.
Nikki: Yeah. Oh god.
( Nikki's head straightens as a thought strikes her - )
Nikki: Think of all the parents that think their kids are dead. That's horrible.
( Nikki glances toward Kate. )
Nikki: What about you? I mean, your parents.
( Kate swallows - )
Kate: Oh, my Mom died a few years ago.
Nikki: ( In a tragically emphatic voice ) Oh god, sorry. What about your dad?
( Kate turns to face the pitch and states in a dark, offhand manner. )
Kate: Yeah he's dead too.
Nikki: Oh.
( Nikki looks at Kate a little weirdly, then turns to face the pitch. Just as Charlie approaches. But this time, with his arm supporting a limping and wincing Jin. )
Charlie: Hey, Kate.
( Kate looks up, now in a more distracted mood than before. )
Kate: Oh hey Charlie.
Nikki: ( Piping in ) Hey Charlie.
Charlie: ( Spotting Nikki and looking panicked ) Oh, hey - you.
( Kate clears her throat and Charlie looks back to her - )
Charlie: Oh yeah, basically, Jin's bloody foot's gone so - could you play?
Kate: Yeah sure, that's great.
( Kate stands then looks back to Nikki - )
Kate: ( Gesturing toward Nikki ) Unless you -
( Nikki gives her perkiest smile yet, smiling up at Kate in a way that un-intentionally shows off all her pearly white teeth - )
Nikki: No go ahead. But I didn't know you played soccer?
Kate: ( A smile from earlier forming ) I have some idea.
Nikki: Oh, o.k.
( Kate heads towards the pitch, Nikki calls out - )
Nikki: Hey Kate.
( Kate turns, inwardly relieved to hear her own name not "Freckles" from Nikki - )
Nikki: Kick some ass.
( There's a pause. Then Kate calls back - )
Kate: Will do.
( As Kate runs off Charlie follows, around blowing on his whistle. Jin, in the meantime has, painfully, sat down in Kate's deserted spot. Turning to Nikki, Jin proffers - )
Jin: Uh - hello?
Nikki: Oh hi.
( Nikki is surprised to see Jin there, then quickly readjusts - )
Nikki: Your name's Jin right?
Jin: Yes. You?
Nikki: Oh, I'm Nikki, hi.
( Nikki holds out her hand. Jin shakes it.)
Please review. More to come soon.