Part 24 (1/2)

”What? I told you the island is shaped like a peanut, you can totally see it up on the rocks.”

They all looked at each other and made the decision, nodding their heads.

Jonathan slapped himself on the knee as if banging a gavel. ”Peanut Island it is.”

”And today, Jonathan is the king of Peanut Island because he found the water!” said Sarah.

”Hey!” said Kevin, in mock injury.

”Don't worry,” Sarah a.s.sured him, ”a new king will be crowned each day, depending on his contribution.” She smiled sweetly at him and then at them all.

”And I suppose you're the queen of the island?” asked Candi.

”Of course.”

”And what does that make me?”

The question hung in the air above their heads. There was a challenge in her eyes; there was an answering challenge in Sarah's.

They all knew this was a game changing moment here on Peanut Island. Even though it was going to pa.s.s in a mere second or two and seemed kind of silly, the answer Sarah chose to give would have far-reaching consequences. Would she answer as the old Sarah the Sarah that never deigned to even acknowledge Candi's existence at school? Or the new Sarah the one who had started to let her guard down? The one who had begun to form a delicate connection with Jonathan ...

”Well, you are the other queen, of course. There are two queens on this island permanent queens. The kings.h.i.+p, on the other hand, is a rotating crown.” She smiled serenely out at her subjects.

Candi grinned, satisfied with the outcome. Something had changed in her too. She wasn't going to take the back seat anymore. Going to this faraway place at the ends of the earth had shown her that reality was not the reality created for her by other people at high school; it was what she created for herself. There was something much bigger at play here, and she was going to be a player. No more getting played for Candi Buckley.

As they finished dinner, talk turned to their parents, a subject they had all deliberately avoided discussing. There were plenty of tears all around as they wondered aloud what had happened to them, wondered if they had gotten off the s.h.i.+p okay. They a.s.sumed they had they had to in order to avoid the pain of the alternative. Even Sarah, who wasn't her father's biggest fan, didn't like the idea of losing him to the depths of the ocean. They had seen firsthand those swarming sharks, and the idea of people they loved in the midst of something like that was too much.

As they were talking about their parents, Kevin started to feel uncomfortable. He couldn't help but think about what his father had been planning to do with the Buckleys' dad. He wasn't sure that it would have hurt them, but if it had been entirely on the up and up, his dad wouldn't have been such a jerk about it when the subject came up or tried hiding what he was really doing.

He knew his dad was under a lot of pressure, and he wasn't the nicest or fairest of guys in those circ.u.mstances. Kevin wanted to share his thoughts with the group, but he was ashamed. He was embarra.s.sed for his dad and didn't want to hurt the relations.h.i.+p they had all started to build together here on Peanut Island. Besides, he thought to himself, who knows if we'll ever get off this island? Maybe they wouldn't, then it would never matter what his father did or didn't do over in the real world.

Kevin's reverie was broken up by Sarah calling out to Candi across the fire Jonathan had made.

”Candi, so what are your plans for your hair?” she asked, innocently.

”What do you mean, 'plans'?”

”I mean, it kinda looks like a giant knot on your head, and I was thinking I might have some thoughts on what we can do with it.”

Candi eyed her suspiciously. ”Like what?”

”Like dreads.”

”Are you serious? No way.”

”Why not? We're on an island. You have frizzy hair, which is nearly impossible to keep combed with no conditioner. Besides, it would look good on you.”

”You're nuts.” She shook off the comments. ”I'm more worried about clothes.”

Sarah thought about that for a second. ”That is a problem.” She looked down at her leopard print dress that had definitely seen better days. ”I think you and I should see what we can find out there in the jungle that might be useable as a cloth or something that can be woven. We don't need it yet, but eventually we will if our rescuers take their sweet time getting here.”

”You guys should see if there is any hemp growing here,” suggested Jonathan.

”What's hemp?” asked Candi.

”It's a member of the cannabis family a very fibrous plant that makes excellent cloth, rope and other useful things. I saw a special on it on TV once.”

”Of course you did,” responded Sarah with only a little sarcasm in her voice this time. ”Do you remember what it looks like?”

”I think so. I could probably draw it in the sand tomorrow when we have light.”

”Perfect. The Queens of Peanut Island will forage for clothing and rope material on the morrow. And now, I'm off to bed.” She dipped her head towards Candi. ”Your Highness.”

Candi dipped her head in return. ”Your Highness.”

Jonathan and Kevin just shook their heads but were smart enough to stay quiet.

Candi joined Sarah over on the sheet that was their makes.h.i.+ft bed for one more night. Both of them fell asleep instantly.

CHAPTER NINE.

A New Home ”Okay, everybody up! Let's go! Rise and s.h.i.+ne! Time to get the lead out and get the dead out! Time for our morning workout!”

Candi was having a nightmare; a nightmare where her life's biggest crush had turned into a drill sergeant and was planning to make her do jumping jacks until she died of exhaustion.

She felt something touching her ear. She reached up to brush it off and her hand b.u.mped into a face.

She opened her eyes to see Kevin's face about an inch away. He was staring at her, unblinking. She didn't move a muscle she just closed her eyes and wished him away, groaning.

”Wake uuuup sleepy head, time to exercise!” He snuck a kiss onto her forehead, making her mad and happy at the same time.

Then from above her head she heard, ”Okay, crew, you have exactly one minute to meet me on the beach for sunrise calisthenics. After that, if you don't show, better be prepared to take a bath in the very cold and very sharky morning ocean! Come on, team, up you go!”

And then the sound of retreating footsteps could be heard.

”Is he frigging kidding me?” asked a sleepy Sarah.

”He sounded serious,” said Jonathan.

Candi peeked her eyes open and watched him sitting up and wiping the sleep out of his eyes.

”Actually, this is probably a good idea. We should stay in good physical condition, it'll keep us from getting bored and going nuts.”

”Speak for yourself,” said Candi. ”I'm perfectly happy being unhealthy and bored. Good night.”