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Chapter Three
Mark Twain
If they weren’t asking me if they could wash my hair or wash my back they were hovering anxiously over my head wound. Then when I tried to put some distance between me and them, they would immediately become agitated and drag me back to the “safe” or shallow area.
I felt like a ten year old with two incredibly twitchy mother hens. But as much as I wanted to tell them to get lost, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Their eyes held an anxious but protective gleam that I just couldn’t understand. I mean, I know we went through a horrible experience together and I was a big part of why they were still alive, but it wasn’t that big of a deal, was it?
It was driving me insane.
To add salt to injury, I had a hunch on what the guys had found so amusing. One of the twins had found a mirror in a suitcase and had dragged it along with her. When I caught a glimpse of myself I had nearly keeled over.
I was a mess.
My copper curls puffed out in a messy tangle around my head and the part of my face that had lain on the forest floor was covered in mud. I looked ridiculous; no wonder the guys had grinned like idiots.
Let’s just say that I couldn’t get my hands on the apple scented shampoo fast enough.
After finally convincing the twins that I was clean and fully capable of drying my own hair, I threw a tank top over my head and dragged on a pair of jeans. Thank God these clothes fit; I wouldn’t have looked forward to wearing my smelly clothes for another day.
By the time we made it back to our little camp I was about ready to chuck my clothes at the two chattering blondes and make a run for it. Anything would be better than this constant touching and fretting, even the company of the two guys would be more agreeable. At least with them I wouldn’t have to worry about talking or being suffocated.
As if answering my silent wish, the guy who bumped into me at the airport appeared from the trees carrying a first aid kit.
“I found some first aid kits and meds from the crash site; you want me to take a look at that head wound and those burns?” He looked extremely amused when I quickly slipped from the twin’s grasp and made my way over to him.
He led me to a bunch of giant roots and spread the contents of the first aid kit across a particularly fat root. When he lifted his head and found me eyeing him doubtfully at a safe distance, he grinned.
“I can’t bandage that head wound if you’re way over there.” I narrowed my eyes, but if anything, his grin just got bigger.
He patted the root in front of him. “Sit, I promise I won’t bite.”
He went back to shuffling through his first aid kit and I slowly made my way over to him. I was grateful that he had provided an escape from the twins, but that didn’t mean I trusted him. I hoisted myself up onto the root and kept myself ready.
Ready for what though? I wasn’t sure, all I knew was I had broken his nose and from my experience, guys didn’t take kindly to getting their noses broken by girls. Not that I had broken a lot of guy’s noses. Only three: my brother’s on my tenth birthday, Jared Doughlinger’s my junior year, and this guy made lucky number three.
And all three weren’t without reason. I was just hoping this guy wouldn’t react the way my brother and Jared did. My brother had burst into tears and Jared had taken a swing at me, neither sounded too appealing.
He placed something over my cut and I jerked back, hissing.
“Woo there, its peroxide, so it’s going to sting a little.” His voice was soothing and calm. “We need to make sure it doesn’t get infected, I don’t have the medicine to treat anything bigger than a cut.”
I looked from the black bottle of peroxide to his face then back again. There were no signs of malice, only concern.
I brought my head forward, silently consenting to his treatment.
He expertly finished cleaning the cut then moved to the various cuts and bruises on my arms. His movements were quick and sure, like he had done this many times.
“Have you felt any dizziness or nausea?” When I shook my head he nodded thoughtfully. “You were pretty out of it last night, but we kept you awake for awhile just in case you had a concussion.”
“Last night? I don’t remember anything after throwing up.” My voice was still a bit scratchy but it didn’t hurt so much to talk anymore.
“Yeah, we figured you wouldn’t.” He grinned. “You were pretty vocal about your opinion on flying.”
I grimaced. I didn’t want to know, but judging by the amount of amusement I saw sketched across his face, I must have said a lot.
“You kept muttering about how you were going to write a long letter to the airlines about dumb ass pilots who didn’t know how to avoid storms.” I felt my face heat up. How embarrassing, I vaguely remember my little rant, but it was like it had happened in a dream.
By the time he had finished with the last bandage I was looking anywhere but at him. I wasn’t in the habit of talking to people I didn’t know, and having him witness my little lapse of sanity made me want to turn tail and run.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it.” He chuckled. “If anything it just made us more worried about you. Jasmine and Jasper refused to leave your side even after you fell asleep.”
So that explained the clinginess.
“I’m Brian McClure, just in case you wanted to know who was treating your battle wounds.”
That got my attention, up until then I was willing to let him yammer on until he ran out of breath, but now I eyed him with a critical eye. Was he hinting at my crazy stunt in the plane? My charge into “battle.”
“Don’t look at me like that; I’m trying to apologize without having to recall my coward ness.” His jaw clenched and I watched in fascination as a pained look came over his face.
“You’d think I’d be use to death by now, but even med school couldn’t prepare me for the possibility of my own death. For once in my life I panicked and nothing mattered but getting out of that plane.” He took a deep breath and continued. “If you hadn’t knocked some sense into me, I really might have left them there.”
“What I really want to say is thank you.” He looked miserable and I felt myself cave a little. I wasn’t one to hold a grudge forever and this guy was one of the reasons I was still alive right now. In the end he had come back for us, and that’s all I needed to know.
“I’m Faelyn Morgan.” I held out my hand as a peace offering. It was better to make friends than enemies when you’re stuck on an island with the person.
He stared at my hand for a second, like he couldn’t believe it was in front of him, then a wide grin spread across his lips and his hand was in mine. His grin was infectious and I couldn’t help myself, I grinned back.
“Sorry about the--.” I pointed at my nose.
“Its fine.”
This guy was full of surprises.
“So am I going to live Doc?” My joke was weak, I usually wasn’t much of a talker, but he looked so strained. I couldn’t help myself.
“As long as you don’t fall and land on your head you should be fine.”
I laughed softly and hopped off the root. The snap of twigs and hushed voices snapped me out of my comfort zone. A second later the twins and the guy I saved emerged from the jungle.
Brian glanced over and once again a grin over took his face.
“Did you find anything Michael?” He addressed the dark haired guy. “You were gone for a while.”
“The plane’s communication equipment didn’t survive the crash, it’s all fried.” He held up the duffle bag he was carrying. “I found food and medical supplies though.”
He dropped the bag at our feet and glanced over at me, an amused glint in his eyes.
I glared back, not sure what he found so funny, but not liking the barely concealed smirk that twitched across his lips.
Before I could open my mouth to tell him to take a picture, it would last longer; the twins teetered over to me and led me away by my elbows. Their motherly instincts kicked in, and once more, I found myself the center of their attention.
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