Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Despite the storm and ongoing cloud cover yesterday, we woke to clear skies and warm suns, so the girls and I decide to move our breakfast to the deck. We pull together a makeshift table and chairs of crates and sit below the helm, soaking in the sunshine.
With everything that has happened in the past few days, along with our newfound freedoms, I haven’t been able to spend much time with them. It feels odd to say that, especially since now we have nothing but time. I need this, though. With all the change, I’ve missed the companionship of my friends.
“Today’s going to be a good day,” Stassia says as she sits down on a crate on the other side of the table. “I can feel it.”
“Who are we to discredit one of Stass’ intuitions?” I say. “The last time you had one, you were right about the heat wave.”
“Lennox, you’ve been here long enough to know I’m usually right,” she jokes and snaps her teeth into a smile after popping a berry into her mouth.
Auralie shakes her head with a smirk. “Always the humble one.”
“What?” Stass says, lifting one shoulder, her tone clearly mocking. “Why be afraid to say it if it’s true?”
“I hope today is a good day. I don’t know if I can handle another bad one so soon.”
We still plan to bring the Voyagers to the mountain this morning, and despite the overwhelming excitement and shock from the Voyagers that should fuel the excursion, the memory of my unworthiness still slithers to the surface.
Some, if not all, of the Voyagers are going to experience the same letdown today, and we will be there to console them, since we’ve had longer to process those feelings.
But what if the island grants someone the waters? How are they going to feel knowing they are trapped here with them?
Would the island even grant them, knowing no one can leave?
“It’ll be fine,” Sig says, scooting her crate in before picking up her fork. “If it isn’t, we’ll do what we always do and make the best of it.”
“At least I’m happy to see that you’re all still here,” I say. “After everything settled, I didn’t know if any of you were going to stay on the ship or go back to camp. Or one of the houses, I guess.”
Stassia scoffs. “Why would we leave? This is our home.”
“I saw you throw yourself on the sand, Stass. You were so happy to be on land. I figured you might want to go back. To feel more normal.”
“This is normal. I don’t have any plans to leave. Do you, Sig?”
“Nope. I’m staying put,” Sig says, and takes another bite.
“I’m not going anywhere either,” Auralie says.
“And we’re all pretty positive that Captain won’t let you go anywhere, so it looks like you’re stuck with us,” Stassia says.
“Besides, I doubt Stassia would want to leave if Taril wasn’t.” Auralie looks down at her plate, moving the food around on her fork while trying to hide a smile.
My eyebrows raise as I snap my head toward Stassia. “Have I really been so busy that I haven’t heard anything about this?”
“Well, you and the captain have been quite scarce,” Stassia says with a knowing look. “I’m sure you had far more pressing matters to attend to.” She winks, and I feel my cheeks heat. “Maybe you should tell us more about that?”
I point my fork at her. “Stop trying to deflect the conversation. What’s going on with Taril?”
“Ugh!” she groans, dropping her head back and throwing her hands in the air before slamming them back down on her thighs. “I have no clue! Probably nothing! He doesn’t seem bothered by me. He doesn’t seem to like me either. That’s it. He’s just unbothered.”
“They’ve been spending lots of time together,” Auralie fills in.
“It’s not that he’s the new guy,” Stassia interjects, “I just…I don’t know. I like spending time with him.” Her shoulders slump slightly, and I never expected to see shy and self-conscious Stassia ever in my life.
“Have you made yourself clear?” I ask.
Stass chews on the inside of her cheek. “I mean, I don’t stop talking to him. When I’m not with all of you, I’m usually with him. I don’t know how much clearer I can get!”
“He’s kind of quiet, Stass. Maybe he’s just listening to you. Maybe that’s his way.”
She sets her elbows on the crate and rubs her temples. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to fuck this up and then have to spend eternity avoiding him. Maybe then I’d go live on the island.”
We all laugh. “I don’t think you’re going to fuck it up, Stass. If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t be around you,” I say.
“You mean he wouldn’t put up with me.” she says.
A chorus of ‘no’s’ and scowls mix together, along with Auralie’s, “Don’t talk down to yourself.”
“Hey,” Sig says, her lips tipped up in a smirk. “Lennox is the only one who can put up with Cap, and she wanted nothing to do with him at first. They couldn’t even be near each other. Be happy Taril wants to be around you.”
“Hey!” I cry and pick up a berry off my plate. I throw it, hoping to surprise her with the flying fruit, but she leans to the side and catches it in her mouth, chewing with a smile.
“How are things, by the way?” Auralie asks, turning to me. “Everyone seems happy. Much less growly.”
“If you mean Cap isn’t going to take anyone’s head off anymore, then you’re right about that.” Sig’s eyes widen and her head tilts, as I’m sure the memory of Weston’s fury when I left is fresh in her mind.
“Yeah, well, regular fucking will do that to you. Had to get all that frustration out,” Stass says with a wave of her hand.
“You know, Stass, I want Taril to get a little courage,” I say, “because I can’t wait to poke just as much fun at you.”
Stass looks at me with a half shrug. “As long as someone is getting poked, that’s what matters.
” I almost spit out my bite as laughter bursts from the four of us, and rings through the calm morning air.
Slapping my hand over my mouth, my shoulders shake with laughter, and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
How did I go my entire life without having female friends like this?
The echo of familiar footsteps sounds from behind us, just before Weston’s voice rings out in the ship’s hull.
“Collection crew! Meet on the quarterdeck!” Weston steps out onto the main deck a moment later, and I look over my shoulder at him.
He seems much more relaxed this morning.
His hair is more tousled than it normally is, and I bite my lip as my eyes drag over the rest of his body.
The buttons at the top of his shirt are undone, exposing the hard planes of his chest, and his hem is tucked unevenly into his pants.
There’s no vest today, probably because safety is no longer a concern.
He doesn’t have to be as heavily armed as he usually is.
As if he can sense it, his eyes catch mine and he smirks before turning toward the bow of the ship. His fingers flick at the group lounging at the far end of the deck, calling them over, before he steps up behind me.
“Good morning, ladies,” he grumbles and leans forward, placing a brisk kiss on the top of my head.
Stassia shoots me a look, and I narrow my eyes at her playfully before Auralie responds cheerfully, “Morning, Captain.”
“Let’s go,” he instructs, jerking his head toward the staircase leading to the quarterdeck.
The girls slide their crates back and step away from the table as Weston extends his hand out toward me.
I lay my palm on his, and he pulls me to stand before ushering me up the steps in front of him with a hand planted firmly on my waist.
The girls follow closely behind, and it is only minutes before the crew is gathered, standing in a semicircle and waiting for Weston’s next direction.
“You’re not going to tell us something went wrong again, are you, Cap?” Jorn jokes, and he’s met with a few chuckles.
“No, nothing like that,” Weston says with a smile, which is already so different from the energy that surrounds our normal collection crew gatherings.
“Good, because I’m getting a little tired of all the back and forth,” Stassia says, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “There’s too much commotion.”
“I agree, Stass. Hopefully, there are no more surprises. Not now at least,” he says and settles his hips on the railing behind him.
“But you’ll all be the first to know if there are.
Some of you already know, but we told the Voyagers about the waters yesterday morning and gave them the night to decide if they want to go into the mountain.
If anyone wants to help us guide them over, you are welcome to come. ”
There are a few nods and hand gestures, and Weston acknowledges them with a single nod. He crosses his arms over his chest before he continues.
“We don’t know if anyone will be deemed worthy, especially with the change in the situation on the island. But since we’re going to be out there, if anyone wants to go out on a shift during daylight hours, it might be different than looking at night.”
“I’ll go, Cap,” Veck calls out, and Eirlich adds, “Me too.”
Weston nods. “You can leave once we get them all inside. Report back if you find anything out of the ordinary. We’re all settling into this new normal, but I promised I wouldn’t stop trying to get you home.
Even though I want us all to be safe and happy with how things are now, I don’t want to give up hope. ”
“Aww, Cap, don’t get soft on us,” Jorn says. Weston shoots him a glare, but Jorn only laughs heartily.
“The same as we always do, I’ll be waiting for them on the beach tonight.
Anyone who wants to gather more of the crew and prep a bonfire, I figured we could all be there for them.
Support them. We know what each of them might go through, and this could be the last time we’ll see anyone come out of that mountain. I want to leave it on a good note.”
“I’d be happy to gather some of the crew and get things set up, Captain,” Auralie says.
“Good. Thank you everyone. Anyone who is coming to the mountain, we’re leaving in a few minutes.” Gripping the rail, he leans far over and looks toward the beach, then lets out a huff. “They’re already ready, and from the looks of it, every single one of them is going to try.”
Bodies clamor and footsteps shuffle as we all make our way to the railing beside Weston and peer toward the beach. My eyes fall on the group gathered there; all the Voyagers waiting patiently for us to come.
Weston straightens and gestures toward the stairs to the main deck, giving everyone the go-ahead to move.
“Let’s go see what Dawnlin decides.”