Chapter 57- White Flag

Technos had arrived one day at high noon on two boats much bigger than Trader's trawler. It was then reality began to sink in for everybody especially for Rayne who would not only be losing another battle to Patsy, but losing her best friend. Aside from her sister, Rayne had never had a friend like Cloe. They were alike in several aspects; resilient and headstrong, but kind and wise. If it weren't for Cloe the relationship with Darryl may have never taken flight like it had. Cloe felt like a sister to her and now the Technos were taking her away.

"Hello, Rayne? Did you zone out?"

Rayne shook her head of her thoughts. She was helping Cloe pack. Unfortunately so was Patsy. "I guess I must have, I'm sorry."

"I, for one, am not surprised," came the cheeky tone of Patsy.

"Patsy…" Cloe warned, giving her a scolding look.

Rayne threw down the shirt she was in the midst of folding. "That's it! I have had enough of you Patsy! What is your problem?"

"You! You are my problem! You are...mean and stuck up and you've stolen my best friend!"

"Stolen?" Rayne erupted, " you have not only stolen my best friend but you keep lurking around Darryl, and you want to talk about stuck up? You walk around here like you're superior to me just because I wasn't there in the mall!"

Cloe, jaw clenched, knew this day was coming. It had been prevalent since the weddings that these two just weren't going to get along. "Oh stop it you two! I've had just about enough of the tension! You're both my best friends, nobody said I ever had to choose one!"

Patsy snarled, "She's been on my case since I arrived!"

" Me? On your case? Unbelievable! You just couldn't stand the fact that I have everything you want! Well congratulations Patsy, you win! You got it!" Rayne turned on her heel to leave. She stopped at the door as the weight of her words dawned on her. "Except Darryl," she looked at the other girl with a dark glare, "you stay the hell away from him."

She avoided looking in Cloe's direction as she shut the door gently behind her, afraid to see the sadness and worse, the disappointment in her friend's eyes.

~0~

Cloe turned to face Patsy, fury written in the way her brows were furrowed. She was madder at herself than her friends, but she was especially upset with Patsy.

"Don't give me that look," Patsy bit her bottom lip.

"Why shouldn't I?" Cloe crossed her arms across her chest, "You've given her nothing but grief since you landed on the island."

"Me give her grief? She has KC swooning after me like a love sick puppy and I'm the guilty party?"

"She was just trying to get you off Darryl's trail; Ved and I warned you. Why couldn't you just listen? And KC isn't so bad. He's quite handsome now, well toned and he's been through a lot!"

"And I haven't? Besides I was hanging around Darryl to tick off Rayne…" the girl let her voice trail off. It was an admission of guilt.

"Exactly. You're just as cruel as…as Trudy was that time…"

Patsy didn't let her finish. It was the truth and it stung. There was a time where Trudy had nearly turned the girls against one another, during her crazed days. "Stop! I'm sorry okay? I just wanted things to be the way they used to be when it was just me, you, and Paul…then KC, being silly and having a good time."

Cloe let some silence pass between them. It seemed just like yesterday she and Cloe were just frightened kids in the Mall. But they were older now and Cloe was certain she was wiser.

"Things will never be the way they used to be. There's time and distance between those times and now. It's time to grow up."

Patsy huffed. She knew that. She was older and wiser too. Reuniting with her old tribe had just brought back so many memories. And Cloe, after all was her best friend, her only friend next to Dragon and more recently Danni.

"I said I was sorry okay?" she said, already to the door.

"It's not me you owe the apology."

She knew that too.

~0~

Trudy knew she had been hard on Salene at the news of the woman's pregnancy. She couldn't fathom why except that all those old feelings from the past, her earliest days in the mall had dredged themselves up. She and Salene had vied for the same prize and it eventually lead to their friendship. Salene had never been the enemy and she wasn't a threat now. Trudy never really loved Bray, not in the way she was falling in love with Ram. She had just been infatuated, enraptured by a silly school girl crush. It was time to let bygones be bygones for certain.

"It smells good in here," Ram entered the café kitchen, startling Trudy out of her thoughts. She swatted his hand as he went to pick up one of the muffins she'd just taken out of the oven.

"No, no, no. This is a special batch for Salene."

Ram looked alarmed, "Wait a minute…you aren't going to poison her are you? Bray told me you've been kind of hostile towards the woman…"

"No…no, no it's a peace offering…Wait? Bray told you that? I have been terrible haven't I?"

"Just a little, you didn't exactly take the news of her pregnancy light even Amber isn't as mad as you."

"Well thanks to your old buddies bringing a great supply of food stock for the island, I intend to make it up to Salene, starting with these berry muffins."

"What's the history?"

"You already know I was in love with Bray once upon a time, well he took a liking to Salene during our early days at the mall…"

"You aren't thinking of trying to get back to him?" Ram said interrupting her. He looked a little alarmed.

"No, not at all. I'm in love with someone else now. You might know him, he's funny and clever."

"Don't forget handsome," he smirked.

"Yeah, he's not that bad looking. But he's going to be in heaps of trouble if he touches one of these muffins," she smacked his hand again as he inched a finger towards the pan once more.

"Oh fine, what can I do to help?"

"Dishes," she said grinning as she placed the muffins in a basket Éowyn had weaved of banana leaves.

Pouting, Ram kissed her cheek, "Fine, but don't tell my mates, I've got a reputation to uphold."

Trudy shook her head leaving the kitchen. That man was more than a notion, but she loved him for it.

~0~

Bray was silently going insane, not being able to connect with Salene. Every time they were together he felt like they had so much to say to one another but she would brush him off or he'd freeze up. They were going to be parents to a beautiful baby boy or girl in five or six months and they didn't even communicate. How were they supposed to have a child together if they didn't even communicate?

Somewhere along the way, since meeting her at the mall, Salene had morphed into a wise, strong, and beautiful young woman. It was becoming. Bray found himself wanting to spend more time with her, to hold her in his arms and reassure her he was in this, not just for their child, but also for her.

But there were some things that hadn't changed about Salene. She was still just as stubborn and distant as ever. And that was why he wanted to talk to Amber.

If anyone could provide him with some good advice, it was Amber. After all before they were lovers they were friends. She understood him and she gave good advice. Yes, she was the right person to talk to.

As he left the coolness of the hotel out into the sun to seek her out he took in the view. The landscape had transformed now that market stalls covered the boardwalk and the pier was loaded with Techno boats and crates of supplies. Even still there was sereneness about the island and he spotted Amber lying in the sand enjoying the serenity as she watched Trader build a sandcastle with the kids.

"You're blocking my sun," she said once Bray had approached, "I was working on a killer tan."

He chuckled, "I'm sorry."

She smiled up at him, "Nah don't be, I was only kidding. It's just something Gel would say, I kind of miss her incessant beauty talk."

"There have been a lot less headaches, but I do suppose it's been a little quiet around here."

"Yeah…" Amber sighed looking at Lottie, who was helping Bray Jr. tote water from the water's edge back up to where Trader and Brady were hard at work constructing what looked like a Maiden's tower.

"He seems great with the kids."

"Who Trader? Yeah, I guess he is. Something tells me you didn't come out here to talk about how great my boyfriend is with kids though."

He smiled, "How'd you know?"

"I have an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. It's about Salene, isn't it?" When he nods she laughs, "Remember those early days in the mall?"

He nods and takes a seat beside her in the sand. He did remember. He remembered being confused by his feelings for Salene when Trudy was chasing him, and how he slowly began falling for Amber, after Salene rejected him. "What am I doing wrong?"

"You're suffocating her. Salene is at a huge…" she paused to think what she could call it, "…crossroads. Yes she's at a turning point in her life and she just needs breathing room. I mean, think about it. Look at the history you two have. You just sort of…gave up on her the last time you two had a go at a relationship."

"I didn't give up! You told me she didn't want to be my girlfriend. And when I tried to persuade her otherwise, she just kept giving me the cold shoulder. What was a man to do, but to move on?"

"Of course she wanted to be your girlfriend Bray, but there was just all that stuff with Trudy and you were disappearing all the time, foraging. And no offense, but you were kind of moody."

He chuckled then, "Me? Moody? That was more your department."

"Well everyone kept coming to me with their problems; I had problems of my own."

"I know," he sighs. They did put a lot on Amber, they still did. He wandered why she never stepped down. Well he had heard she did once and Salene stepped in, but it wasn't by choice of course. Amber was a natural born leader.

He let some silence pass between them, just watching the kids and Trader. It was going to be hard to leave all this peace behind.

"I can't believe we leave in a few days."

Amber sighed, "Me either, but I'm glad. I don't know what Techno Island will be like, but there will be more structure for the little ones and don't get me wrong, I love Fleur Isle, but Techno Island sounds more like home."

"It does. And there will be more to keep us busy, we'll actually have jobs."

That was one thing that had surprised them when the Technos arrived to Fleur Isle this week. Everyone leaving the island had to fill out an entire packet of information that would be processed once on Techno Island for records and employment.

It sounded a lot like the old world, the one preceding the virus, but that didn't worry Bray. They all needed to keep busy. And according to Kyra, there was a lot more to Techno Island than technological business. There were a variety of tribes.

Just then Bray jr. came bounding towards them, his blond locks sticky and wet, clinging to his sweat laden forehead. "Dada, look," he pointed towards the sandcastle. He took Bray's hand as if willing him to follow him.

"Alright son, I'm coming to see your castle," Bray smiled as he stood. He looked back at Amber, "I hate to leave you here to tan alone, but I'm wanted to oversee renovations.

"Oh don't worry about it, and Bray," she waited for him to pause and look at her, "I'm sure she'll come around."

He nodded his thanks and picked up his son, joining Trader and the others at the site of the sandcastle.

Amber smiled and followed. These were the moments she lived for now. Simple days in the sun, just enjoying watching her son grow and flourish. She hoped, with all her heart, she had made the right decision to leave Fleur Isle.

~0~

Trudy found Salene in the lobby reading a book to Thunder.

"Babysitting?" she asked, "You always were good with the little ones."

"Oh, hi," Salene looked up at Trudy, her eyes lingering on the basket for a moment, "Yes, Slade is busy with Josh and Ebony wanted to take a nap. I don't mind the company. "

Trudy saw her eyes linger on the muffins, "I baked these for you. Their my peace offering. I know I haven't exactly been nice to you since finding out about the baby."

"No you haven't, but I guess I deserve it."

"No, no you don't. I've been awful, and what for? Because a part of me still held on to those early days in the mall and well…we've only just got him back. I guess I thought you would be taking him away from Brady and Bray Junior."

"Well you don't have to worry about that. Bray and I…we aren't a couple."

Trudy looked at her incredulously, setting down the basket of muffins and taking a seat beside her and the baby.

"You two aren't…dating?"

"It's…complicated."

"It always was between you two…this isn't because I've been so mean…is it?"

Salene shook her head, "No. I mean, none of this was supposed to happen. I can't tell if Bray is genuine because he wants to give us a try or if he cares so much because I'm pregnant with his child."

Trudy definitely understood the woman's concerns. She didn't want to end up another, Trudy. Infatuated with a man who only cared so much because of the baby he felt responsible for.

"You two seem pretty cozy to the rest of us. I mean Bray, he seems to genuinely care."

"I know…" Salene sighed, putting Thunder down on the floor to play with his toys, "It's just…relationships are one thing I can't count on in my life. I mean Bray and I never even took flight and then Ryan was taken away and Pride was killed. I just don't want to get hurt again. And what if…what if I can't carry this baby to term? Will he still love me then?"

There, she had said it. She was afraid; afraid of losing everything, again.

"Oh Salene!" Trudy exclaimed, wrapping an arm around her. She immediately empathized with the woman, remembering how scared and alone she had felt when she was pregnant with Brady. Sure, she had Bray, but she was still lonely. She had longed for companionship deeper than what Bray offered. But she knew what Salene didn't know, or rather the other woman knew, but didn't want to acknowledge because of her fear.

"Believe me when I say, his feelings are genuine. I know things are a bit mixed up right now, but you'll see. Bray isn't going anywhere and neither is this baby. Don't you see…this is destiny."

'Destiny?' Salene thought to herself. This was Destiny? She wasn't sure of that and she wasn't sure of Bray's sincerity, but she knew of one thing. Those muffins were smelling mighty good right about now.

"I don't know about all the Bray business, but I can tell you one thing I'm sure of? These muffins were destined to be eaten," she plucked one from the basket.

Trudy laughed. It was good to see Salene smiling again.

~0~

Patsy grumbled as she entered the Fleur Café. She had waited all day to wait for the feeling of sheer guilt to go away, but her conscience was eating her alive. She had to apologize to Rayne.

She spotted the other girl sitting with her sister and little nephew.

"Aw Rayne, just the person I've been looking for…"

Rayne looked up at her sourly, "What do you want?"

"Do you think that we could talk…alone? Don't worry I come waving a white flag," Patsy said blushing a bit.

Mikhail rose, "Come on Rylan, let's say we go find daddy."

"Khail don't leave me…" but her sister was already crossing the café, "…alone with her…" she huffed turning to Patsy, "What do you want?"

"I came to…apologize."

The other young woman raised a brow, "Really?"

"Yes, really. I haven't exactly been pleasant have I?"

"No, no you haven't."

"I guess I was just…jealous. I mean, Cloe and I, we were like sisters before The Chosen sent me away to the mines. And I guess I…I just couldn't handle sharing her with you because I wanted things to be like they were before."

Rayne clicked her tongue in her mouth as soon as Patsy began speaking, intending to interrupt, but then she began to hear what Patsy had to say. And she understood where the girl was coming from. She was jealous of the girl too.

"You…were jealous of me?"

"Uh hello, did you just hear what I said?"

"I did. I just didn't think it was possible you could be jealous of me? You're the one with all the great memories of Sector Ten and the mall. I was jealous of you. So I can only accept your apology if you can forgive me too."

"Say no more, apology accepted."

"Oh thank goodness!" Rayne exclaimed, "My conscience was eating me alive!"

"Yours too? I guess we have more in common than we thought. But don't go thinking we're friends just because we have something in common."

Rayne laughed, "Of course not. But we have a mutual friend and I think she's eavesdropping."

Patsy looked towards the entrance to see Cloe standing there beaming from ear to ear.

"Now see you two, was that so hard to do?"

Rayne nodded, "Like nails on a chalkboard."

Patsy giggled, "I agree."

Cloe just shook her head. Glad to have her friends on the same page for once. It was too bad Rayne wasn't coming along to Techno Island. She really thought the two could've been good friends now that there was no bad blood between them.

She was going to miss Rayne.