The morning comes fast for once; I actually fell asleep and slept for a decent amount of time. Everyone was out of the plane when I woke up which isn't anything unusual. I pack my bag again and get ready to head out for another day of searching for Austin. When I walk outside though, only Thomas and Wanda and the twins are around the fire.
I walk over to them, and they all just look at me, "Where's everyone else?" I ask.
"They're searching for Austin." Dannie says. I just look at them all in sort of shock. I guess my theory about them not caring is out the window now, huh?
I don't say anything; I just turn around and walk into the woods. I decide to go to the river and then think of my path from there. I haven't really freshened up in a few days and I mind as well grab some water too. I walk a steady pace and get to the river in no time. No one's around so they must be searching for Austin in a different spot, which is okay because I rather search for him here alone.
I set down my back pack and walk in the shallow part of the water. I feel like stripping down and taking a decent bath but I'm afraid someone will come during it and well that would be rather embarrassing. I take some water in my hands and wash my face, legs and arms. The water's cold but it frees me from the boiling sun. I splash my face with water one more time when I hear a noise. I stop and turn around, and Thomas is standing next to my backpack. He's staring at me, and his expression is weird; I can't exactly put my finger on it.
I walk out of the water slowly, but keep a good distance away from us. He hasn't said a word to me since what happened, and I don't understand why he would follow me here, unless he was just coming for a swim too. I remember I didn't tell anyone where I was heading; this must be a coincidence.
"Hello Ally." He says.
"Hi." I say cautiously while eyeing my backpack. I get this weird feeling and I suddenly want to grab it and run away, but I'm frozen in my spot.
"You know, I really thought with Austin not being around you developed feelings for me." He says while picking leaf off of a tree.
I just stare at him. What is he talking about? I've never shown any interest like that towards him. We talked more when Austin was around, and now he's thinking this? I swallow hard, suddenly even more afraid. Sure he was tall and skinny, but he wasn't weak, and I'm suddenly afraid at what he could do to me. He's not acting like himself.
"Why would you think that?" I ask him. I guess it came out wrong, because his face turns to me and it's cold.
"What, you'd never been interested in someone like me?" He asks.
Before I can answer, he continues, "Of course you wouldn't, right? Because I'm not blonde and buff, and play sports and am popular like thee Austin Moon!" He yells. I don't say anything, since I have a bad feeling anything I say may make him madder, so I stand there, dumbfounded by his sudden change of character.
"I don't know why someone like him would ever give you the time of day, oh wait, it's because we're all stuck in the middle of nowhere so he doesn't have to worry about people picking on him for talking to you." He says.
I know Thomas is going insane, and I shouldn't take what he's saying to heart, but I can't help the sudden sadness that washes over me that that could possibly be true. We never talked in school, and now we come here and he cares about me all of a sudden, why?
Thomas notices my facial expression change and a grin crosses on his face, "Oh, you didn't think that until now huh?" He asks.
I still say nothing and hope that his rant will be over soon, but I feel as though he has a lot he could say right now, and he may be purposing delaying me so I don't search for Austin. What I don't get is his sudden attraction to me, I mean we're in the same class and he's hardly talked to me, so I could ask him the same question, if I wasn't too afraid.
"Maybe Austin purposely separated from us and is searching for help on his own, or maybe he even got rescued but didn't tell them about us." He says with confidence.
I shake my head, having to reply, "He wouldn't do that to us." I say.
He laughs, "You think you know him, it's quite sad actually." He says.
My anger is starting to get to me and I'm not quite sure how long I will be able to take this and not say anything back. I clench my fists as hard as I can and try to think of other things.
"He wouldn't care for you like I would." He says, suddenly soft and quiet.
I take this opportunity to walk up to my backpack and grab it. He takes a step forward towards me and I step backward. We stare at each other like we're two predators about to attack one another, "Where do you think you're going?" He asks.
"I'm going to find Austin." I say cautiously.
He face turns cold again, "I don't think so. We should chat and spend some time together." He says.
I just shake my head at him and turn around, but a warm hard grip appears on my wrist. I turn around and Thomas is right in front of me, his grip on my good wrist tightening, "Leave me alone." I say threw gritted teeth.
I try to wiggle away but I can't get his hand off of me. He starts to smile, "Oh, angry are we?" He asks.
He pulls me close to him, our chests touching as I try to wiggle myself away from him, but it's not working. Fear rushes threw me, and I wish I hadn't even come to the river, "Don't you want to hang out with me Ally?" he asks.
"Not at the moment." I say.
"Come on." He says and uses his other hand to touch my cheek. I move my face away from his hand and look at the ground.
"You're just making me angrier." He says.
"Thomas stop this, it isn't you." I say as I turn to face him.
"Oh it's plenty me." He says.
He leans and tries to kiss me, but I move my face away so his lips hit my cheek. My stomach turns at that contact; I don't want any of him near me. His grip tightens more if that's possible and I scream out in pain, "You're hurting me!" I tell him.
"Shut up and let me kiss you and everything will be fine." He says.
I still try to wiggle away and when I don't stop he grabs my face in his hand hard and is about to press his lips to mine, when all the sudden, "Stop!" yells a voice.
Thomas stops right away, but keeps his grip on my arm, and we both turn around, and standing a few feet away from us, is thee Austin Moon.