Okay. So this chapter's going to be a little from the others I've written. But in a good way (hopefully). It'll change a lot of the rest of the story (kind of). I really hope you like it! Oh, and the poem is "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The next few days are a lot of the same. Every morning I go fishing with Piggy, every night I play with the littluns and talk to Jack. Sometimes I go to the meadow with Simon, but most days I go swimming with Ralph. This was one of those days.
"Bombs away!" Ralph cries as he leaps into the water. He sinks deep into the depths until I can't see him anymore. I spin around in the water looking for him, but he's nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, I feel a yank on my ankle and I'm pulled underwater. I swim back to the surface and gasp for breath. Ralph's blonde head breaks through the water and he starts laughing his ass off.
"Jerk!" I shriek, shoving his chest hard. He makes a face of mock hurt. I cross my arms and turn away from him.
"Aw, come on Leah," he puts his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him. "don't be mad. Please?" he makes a puppy dog face. I laugh.
"That's gotta be the most pathetic puppy dog face I've ever seen. He smirks.
"But it kinda turns you on right?" I laugh again.
"Yes. That's exactly what it does." I reply sarcastically.
"So do you forgive me?" he asks hopefully. I smile.
"Yea, I guess." Ralph smiles, gets out of the water, and climbs up on a rock. He pounds his fists on his chest Tarzan-style and cannonballs in. His splash sends a massive wall of water in my direction. I'm soaked. Ralph laughs. It begins to rain, but only a little so we ignore it. But then the thunder and lightning starts.
"Shit!" Ralph shouts. We duck under a rock hanging above the water. "Well this is fun."
"Ain't life grand?" he chuckles. Suddenly, there's an especially loud clap of thunder. I leap and find myself leaning against Ralph, my hands on his bare chest. I back up a little bit. I look up at Ralph, blushing, waiting for his cocky joke. But he doesn't make one. He doesn't even smirk. He just stares into my eyes, his blue ones twinkling. Ralph moves closer. What's he doing? His lips press against mine. Oh my god! Ralph's kissing me! No no no no no! I push him away gently.
"I'm sorry Ralph. I can't. You're a great guy, but" I start.
"You don't like me that way" he finishes. The look on his face breaks my heart.
"I'm sorry." I repeat.
"It's fine. I understand. We should head back." Ralph's quietthe whole way back. I feel terrible. Why can't I like him back?
The rain stops by the time we reach camp. The hunters arrive with their kill moments later. Thank god, I don't have to sit in awkward silence with Ralph too long. Ralph distances himself from me throughout the rest of the day, but Jack and Simon sit withme while we eat. I eat as quickly as I can and take over littluns watch. It seems to last longer tonight than usual. It's finally time to put them in bed.
"Story, story!" Peter yells. The other littluns begin to chant with him. I'm about to begin a fairytale.
"But no fairytales!" Percival adds. The littluns agree. Shit! I don't know any non-fairytale stories!
"How about a poem?" I ask. They give me their consent.
"It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;-
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
"I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee-
With a love that the winged seraphs in Heaven
Coveted her and me.
"And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her high-born kinsmen came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre,
In this kingdom by the sea.
"The angels, not half so happy in Heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee." I get about halfway through before forgetting the words. Damn it!
"But our love it was stronger by far than the love" I jump in shock. How did I not see Jack walk in?
"Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in Heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:-
"For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee:-
And so, all the night-tide, Ilie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life
and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea-
In her tomb by the sounding sea" He finishes the poem, smiling at me. The boys fall asleep and Jack and I walk out.
"Edgar Allan Poe fan?" I asked, slightly shocked that he knew the poem, let alone knew the whole thing word for word. He smirks.
"Big time." I laugh. "Nah, I learned it to get girls. CHicks dig that poetic crap." I laugh again.
"We do, do we?"
"Apparently. You seemed pretty impressed." I blush and he smirks again. "Admit it, I'm right!"
"Never!" he smiles mischeviously.
"Really? We'll see about that" he dives at me and I jump away. Jack chases me down the beach, catching up quickly. I turn back in the direction of the circle of logs. I hurdle over one just in time, but Jack is too late. He trips over the log and a branch hits him. He curls up on the ground, groaning and clutching his stomach. I rush over and crouch beside him. In one fluid motion, he swings his arm out, hitting my ankle and knocking me to the ground. Jack laughs.
"Bully!" he shrugs and smiles. I roll over onto my back. He props himself up on his elbow, lying on his side inches away from me. His sapphire eyes are bright and lively. He moves closer, hesitates, then leans in and kisses me softly. A warm, excited feeling pulses throughmy veins and I kiss him back. He pulls away after a second. I blush, but smile shyly. Jack grins excitedly and pulls me onto hislap. He kisses me again, longer and harder, holding me close to him. After a while we pull away again. I begin to get off his lap, but he holds me there. I rest my head on hisshoulder. Eventually, I get off his lap. Jack's still grinning. We sit there a few minutes in silence. Suddenly, the smile fades from his face.
"I have to go to bed. Are you going to stay up and read?" he asks.
"Nah, I'm going to bed too. I don't think I could keep my eyes open another minute." He smiles again. We walk back to the shelter. He squeezes my hand quickly, then goes and lies down. That night, I feel extremely giddy as I drift to sleep.
Ralph fans, I'm sorry! Don't hate me, don't hurt me, I'm too young to die! I tried writing a version where she liked Ralph, but it just didn't feel right. I hope you liked it anyway. I hope you liked the poem too. I thought it was sweet and fits the story really well, I hope you agree. Please review with any criticism or opinions you may have about it because I'd love to hear what you think. Bye!