While Charlie continued searching the suitcase he could feel Sayid's gaze. Charlie wasn't sure there was anything more than friendship between him and Claire, but he knew she was feeling bad lately. Like people were avoiding her, like she couldn't do anything to help. Maybe she was right. Charlie frowned to himself. He knew what it was like to feel useless, unwanted. He didn't want Claire to feel that way.
"Why did you stop me to ask about Sawyer?"
"Yes!" exclaimed Charlie as he pulled what he was looking for out of the suitcase. He turned back to Sayid.
"Uh sorry, what?"
"Why did you stop me to ask about Sawyer?" Sayid repeted.
"Oh. Uh." Charlie shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Well it just seems like you've taken an interest in him lately. That's all." Charlie inspected the ground to avoid meeting Sayid's eyes.
"An interest?"
"Uh, yea. Hey, listen mate, if you don't want to tell me what's up, that's cool. I just let curiousity get the better of me for a tick. You know what I mean?"
"Curiousity about what?"
"Uh, well." Charlie raised his gaze to meet Sayid's. "Well you know, about what's up between you and Saywer. I mean if you don't want to say, than that's fine too."
"What are you trying to say Charlie."
"Uh, well. It just seems like you kinda like him. You know what I mean."
Charlie refused to drop his gaze as much as he wanted to. He was decidedly uncomforable being in a staring contest with Sayid, especially talking about something like this with him. Still, if he was going to discuss this with Sayid he would respect him enough to meet his eyes while he did so.
"Like him." Sayid repeted flatly.
"Uh, well, you know. Like you like him, like him."
"Are you accusing me of something Charlie?"
"No. It's not like that. Look mate, I couldn't care if you liked him like that. I just let curiousity get the better of me, like I said."
"So my actions have made you think I like to be other men?"
"Uh, well... Well, no, not exactly. Listen, a lot of people like that kinda stuff. If you do then it's not that big a deal." Charlie feverently wished he'd kept his mouth shut.
Sayid sighed and turned away. He stood with his back to Charlie breifly. When he turned back he locked his eyes on Charlie. Charlie felt the urge to run and shoved it away as best as he could. Head on, he thought to himself. I've got to meet this head on now that I've opened my mouth about it.
"Look. If you like him, you like him. If you don't, you don't. Ain't none of my business is it?"
"Sometimes you see too much Charlie."
"Uh, excuse me?" Charlie was confused by that statement.
"Yes, Charlie. I like him."
"Uh, like him, like him?"
Sayid glared at Charlie and Charlie promptly shut his mouth.
"Yes Charlie." Sayid turned his head so he was no longer meeting Charlie's gaze.
"Well did you tell him?" Charlie asked.
"No Charlie. It is more complicated than that."
"If you'll pardon me for saying this, how? I mean we're on a deserted island, yea? There is only us here. It's not like there's some corner bar you can go to and pick up some one else. It's not you can just pop down to to the local spank shop and pick up some vid to take home and take care of your problem there. I mean, yea, he might not like it, but something tells me he won't be to opposed to the idea." Sayid jerked his head back and his eyes met Charlies. For a second Charlie thought he was dead.
"What do you mean by that? What do you mean you don't think he would be too opposed to the idea?"
"Well, he's been checking you out too, hasn't he?"
"Has he?"
Sayid was surprised. Was Sawyer checking him out? He hadn't noticed. All the time he spent watching Sawyer, he would have thought he'd have noticed. Still, if what Charlie was saying was true...
"Well yea. I just didn't think much of it until you came and asked why I was talking with him. Then it just kinda fell together. You watching him and looking away when he turned your direction. Him watching you and turning away when you look at him. The way you asked me about talking to him. It just kinda fell together."
Sayid stared at Charlie unsure what to make of what he had just said. Sawyer watched him too? Really?
"Then there's Kate, isn't there?"
"What do you mean?" Sayid narrowed his eyes.
"Well Kate's been spending lots of time between Jack and Sawyer both, right? So it seemed to me that if Sawyer was going to go after anyone, it'd have been her. Like I said though, that was before I started putting things together about you and him."
"Kate." Sayid crossed his arms and eye'd Charlie.
"Uh..." Charlie reallized it might not have been a good idea to mention Kate.
Sayid turned and walked off without another word.
"Sayid! Hey, wait. I didn't mean it like that!"
Sayid ignored Charlie and continued walking. If Sawyer wanted to be with Kate then so be it. It was his decision. He wasn't going to stand in Sawyer's way. He should have left last night, he knew it. No matter, he'd leave today.