Paradise Calling

Chapter 3

Caroline was lying by the boat, where Andy was. Asleep? Caroline couldn't tell, but she could hear his breathing. The Grahams were the other side, but she was sure they were asleep. Suddenly, she heard Andy's voice, whispering:

"Caroline, Caroline!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Are you cold?"

"A bit."

"Well, I'm bloody freezing!  Look, there's plenty of room in this boat. Why don't you join me? Then we'll both be warmer!"

"I don't know that I should," worried Caroline.

"Why not? No one would know," protested Andrew.

"The Grahams would," Caroline pointed out primly."

"Who bloody cares? Please!" begged Andrews.

"Ok!"

Caroline climbed in beside Andrew, and snuggled down, She was glad she had, it was much warmer there than before. Caroline's closeness arouses strange new feelings in Andy that he had not experienced before, causing him to move nearer to her. Caroline sensed this, but instead of drawing away she put her head against his shoulder, tentatively. But she was reassured by Andrew resting his head on hers. Caroline soon fell asleep, safe in the knowledge that Andrew was there, everything would be alright, and he was all that she would ever need or want.

"Wake up, I insist, Mr Grant, that you awaken!" Derek Graham, like an angry bull, bellowed out furiously. "Wake up! Immediately! Wake up!"

Awoken from her jumbled dream, Caroline could not at first remember where she was. Then, with a start, she realised: shipwrecked! Coming to her senses she awoke Andrew, who was a fairly heavy sleeper.

"What is it?" he yawned, stretching and rubbing his eyes.

"I'll tell you what it is!" stormed Mr Graham, "it is an outrage! An insult! How dare you disobey me, and," he shuddered slightly, "and sleep with this young lady."

"I can't help noticing that you were also abed with a 'female'." Andrew Grant smiled calmly.

"Mr Grant!" White with fury, Derek Graham could hardly speak. "The headmaster will certainly hear of this when we..."

"When we get back?" Caroline interrupted suddenly. "Surely you mean if we get back? How are they to know our motor broke? They probably think we drowned!"

Mrs Graham looked as though she was going to faint.

"Stupid child!" cried Derek Graham. "My wife's nerves are easily unsettled, and she can be terribly upset. Just see what you've done now, you..."

Andrew and Caroline glanced at one another, then by instinct they didn't know they possessed, they ran into the forest behind the beach. When safely inside they stopped, out of breath, to rest. Caroline leant against the trunk of a tall tree. The place was beautiful. Sunlight was scattered down through the high foliage of the enormous trees. The undergrowth was thick and leafy, and the ground was of dead leaves and soft rich earth. It was like a large green tent, big enough to be shared by hundreds of people. But there were only two: Caroline and Andrew...

Caroline buried her hands in her face, crying softly, thinking of her home. So distant, yet it seemed like a dream, as though she would wake up, and be safe.

"What's the matter, Caro," asked Andy gently. It was the first time he had called her that, but although she liked it, it disturbed her.

"I was thinking of - of home," whispered Caroline.

"It's alright," said Andrew. He put his arm round her, comforting. She turned towards him and he held her close - so close. Andrew's senses disappeared in the green shadows - all he cared about was Caroline. Caroline felt safe and protected next to his manly chest. When she at last broke away there was a new bond between them, but it wasn't friendship. No, this time it was something else.