[Charlotte Kendall]
I tucked my knees up into my chest and listened to nothing but the low sound of the waves bellow my body. I found the far off cliffs and they were a lot closer to the fields than anyone had thought. I was up higher, along the side of the mountain and tucked into the crevice of the earth. Benson had mentioned that the fields were the best view of the entire island and of course he was wrong because he hasn't made it to the stop where I am now. Looking down it was a short drop to the grass side but if I were to walk farther along the rock side I would easily fall off into the ocean farther below.
My eyes never left the spot where everyone had Michael tied up. I could literally see everything from up here and it didn't scare me. The massive size of this deserted island is what scared me, not the heights or any of that. But for a place this big, it was unfathomable to believe that we were the only ones here. But now we have found Michael.
Michael was tied up against a tree after everyone returned from the jungle. I was up here all along and just watched hopelessly.
I saw him move his head sheepishly every so often but he never looked up from his lap. Benson stood guard like he was some kind of prisoner. It was all a mess in my mind, everything could have turned out differently if it was just me, Emma and Tyson. Now everyone was involved which won't get us anywhere if we don't all gain Michael's trust.
"Hey!"
I flinched at a sudden outburst and skidded down the slope slightly. When I caught myself I quickly noticed Ashton standing there below my feet and looking up with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!" He shouted with concern. There was no need to yell really I wasn't even that high up. I shook it off and scooted backwards, grabbing the rocks behind me for support. "How'd you get up there anyways?"
"I climbed." As if it wasn't obvious.
Ashton flicked his head to the side, beckoning me to come down, "Can we talk?"
"I want to be alone Ashton." I say, holding my head up while still looking off towards the smoky camp fire. I wasn't in the mood for pep talks.
"And I gave you four hours babe. I need to talk to you." I looked at him once he called me babe and raised an eyebrow up at him. I loved the way that word came out of his mouth but hated the feeling it gave me. His hand stuck out in front of him, "Please."
I rolled my eyes, no longer feeling so sorry for myself as I scooted off the side of the cliff. I had put my pink t-shirt back on since it had cooled down this afternoon and the ocean breeze beside me was cold. There was dust and dirt sticking to my thighs but I didn't care until I reached the bottom where Ashton held his hand out for me still. I took his palm into mine and jumped down beside him. When I stumbled only a little he reacted quickly to catch me at my sides.
"Still think you trust him more than me?" He smirked once nodding his head over into the other's direction.
"I am not talking to you about this." I say, not amused.
"Okay, alright I'm sorry." He couldn't help but chuckle under his breath. Ashton's hands were still planted at my sides. He didn't move until I slipped away from him to sit down over in the thicker grass.
It was taller grass than were we set up camp and also stickier. The tall stems dripped in sap and small green bugs. Ashton immediately started itching once he sat done beside me in the grass. I flattened the area around us and laid out my arms to hold the stems away from our bodies. Soon a semi-circle was formed and we were submerged into the grass.
I looked forward and couldn't help but whisper, "What did you want to talk about?"
"Me." I look at him and laugh. There's nothing new. "I'm serious. I was such a dick to you today Charlotte,"
"Are you trying to apologize?" I continue to giggle under my breath.
Ashton brushed it off with a short giggle to himself, "Yeah- Yes I am." His head bent forward as he played with the loose flap of cloth from his sneakers. Those old things were trashed by now. When he looked up from the ground my heart plummeted. "If you let me, that is."
I took in a deep breath while nodding my head.
"I didn't mean to come off as so rude today honestly, I was just angry." He began, "I was angry about what you had said yesterday and how you acted last night Charlotte."
My heart sank and I immediately felt regret for everything. Our arguments all started once I told him that we needed to step away from each other, I never imagined how much it already hurt not having him with me in that way. "Ashton. . ."
"But I do understand what you want and I respect that but Charlotte. . . you're nothing like a distraction. You are someone I want to keep happy and safe." He kept going. His words made me blush intensely and I tried smiling to keep from making it obvious.
I sat very still just watching him play with his lower lip. When he thinks it is the most mesmerizing thing to witness. His body is always hunched over a little more than usual. Then his long torso would be crouched over with bad posture as he rests his elbows to his knees. Both hands rested underneath his chin and knitted together. I licked my bottom lip shyly as he peered his eyes back up at me. By now, he was done thinking and his apology meant everything to me.
I wasn't thinking when I leaned in promptly, grabbing the side of his jaw and smashing my lips to his soft and pouted ones. Obviously Ashton wasn't expecting me to kiss him at all so when he pulled away shocked I allowed him to think one last time. Our lips unlatched and I let him process what he wanted. I was stupid to force myself away from a guy like Ashton, so gentle but also intimidating. I knew what was unacceptable yet I decided against it. If Ashton let me, I'm all his. Then his upper lips curled very slightly before he leaned in and connected the pieces a final time.
My hand was still cupped around his scratchy jaw and cheek. I bent my fingers against his skin and slid my hand back behind his ear where the roots of his light hair was. His larger hands tugged me forward forcefully and I dragged my knees across the grass to sit in between his legs. Ashton never pulled away from our kiss as he adjusted the position of his legs to lay out around me. I could feel him struggle underneath me once I crawled my knees up into his lap. Finally he pulled away and leaned backwards all the way to the ground.
I laughed as I rocked down to the ground on top of him. He was breathing heavily as his hands caressed my waist. His fingers picked at the hem of my t-shirt but I batted him away. Soon he just slid his palms up and down my thighs temptingly. I smiled and adjusted my position across his waistline before bending down and kissing his pink lips again. I was cradled around his torso and practically laying out on top of him as we kissed unexpectedly against the ground. Ashton's hands ran up through my long hair, tossing it to one side of my neck so he could reach up and kiss my chin. I struggle for breath once his lips left mine. My mouth felt lost in the open air while Ashton worked his tongue down my neck.
Then I started thinking; How do we always manage to end up here? There's no obvious answer. . . right?
Soon he was back up at my lips, kissing the corner of my mouth. I kissed him back and shut my eyes as my hands began sliding up his shirt as well starting at his waistline. I felt each and every divot in his muscles, feeling my insides flip multiple times. When Ashton groaned I released from his lips and pulled my hands from his body.
I looked at him with the dilemma swirling in my mind. I couldn't imagine what he thought about us suddenly making out like this. But I for sure knew that this was something special between us that I had never experienced with anyone else ever.
He struggled to sit up so I crawled from his lap and sat down beside him. I was about to get up but his hand grabbed my thigh and slowed me down.
"Don't go," He mumbled. I pursed my lips feeling his absent wetness on them, "You're right where I want you." That was all he whispered as his lips pecked mine before they lingered there for another time.
[Tyson Croke]
I grimaced once Charlotte dove into his lips. I hadn't seen it coming and I'm sure he hadn't either. I felt disgusted watching them kiss from a distance so I looked away with an empty pit in my stomach. I had no way in winning Charlotte back. I was so utterly whipped for this girl and I have no idea how to get her out of my mind. I hated having feelings for her but ever since that night she kissed me in the tent I hadn't been able to stop thinking about her and how I have hurt her so much in such little time. Yet seeing her fall for Ashton hurt me just as much.
Now my thoughts of her will always be of them together. I scan the area and notice Benson walking towards me with the large stick held out in front of him. I glance over my shoulder and notice Ashton and Charlotte had disappeared. Everything was boiled up inside of me all of the sudden.
"I have a job for you." Benson called for me and I turned with green cheeks. For some reason I was going to be sick. "Do you know interrogation?" He asked.
"Well sure. You've all done it to me." I remind him of the day on the beach as we buried Williams.
Robert Benson chuckled. His tiny blue eyes crinkled together as he gave me a weak smile. "Right, so you should be a pro at this."
He tosses me the stick and nods towards Michael who was up against the tree. "Wait I don't want to do this." I panic and toss him back the stick, "I'm not interrogating the poor guy."
Benson caught the stick and patted the wood in his palm. He clicked his tongue together like a clock passing time. "Well you had no problem tying him up."
"That's because you told me to."
Benson gave me a creepy crooked smile suddenly, "And now I'm telling you to do this Tyson, c'mon son don't be dumb."
I was now pissed off over everything. Maybe that was Benson's plan to get me to follow along with it. He walked up to me and slammed the wood into my chest. I coughed as he brought the back of my head up to his lips. I felt his hot breath threaten into my ear.
"Get answers." His severe tone had me shaking in more anger. As he walked off I was tossed forward towards Michael. My teeth were clenched with embarrassment.
I looked over my shoulder again and saw Ashton pulling Charlotte's arms upward. They were in the grass this whole time? She was laughing and smiling up at him as she came out and wrapped her arms around his waist. As they walked off together all I felt was jealousy boil inside of me. And my hatred for that dick was thickening. Unfortunately for Michael, he is about to take the wrath.
I marched over to the corner and gripped the stick between my palms. Michael's head was hung low with long dirty blonde roots growing out from under the dark black tips. I hunched my shoulders and readied my stick before coming up beside him and smashing the branch into his side. He jolted in impact and groaned loudly.
"Why are you here?!" I shouted once, bringing the stick back up.
Michael looked up and coughed out spit. It was a little bloody from his dried nose bleed. "Go to hell." He spat up at me.
I pulled back disgusted as some spit landed on my cheek. When I clocked him again in the side I got more of a reaction from him. "Why were you trying to hurt Emma?"
"I wasn't." He coughed. I watched him lean forward to loosen the pain, "It was a defense. I never planned on hurting her." I hit him again and he screamed. "Why are you doing this!" His accent was familiar.
I tossed the stick and crouched down to his level. He looked me in the eyes and squinted with dense pupils. I didn't want to hurt him but something had just thrown me over the edge.
"How did you get to this island?" I ignore him and prepared to strangle him if I had too. My flesh was fire and unless someone stopped me, Michael was in danger of my wrath.
"Croke's services."
"What did you say?" I suddenly lost my last bit of calm as Michael glared at me.
"The plane was mine. I was on a delivery for Captain Croke, possibly months prior to today. He set me up for failure and lead me. . . and my co-pilot onto a incoherent path across the pacific-"
"Stop," I hold my hand up.
His bottom lip started shivering. Blood trickled from his nose to his lips and down his chin. I stood up and backed away.
I knew this man.
An Australian pilot ordered by my father to scavenge an area of sea that no one has searched before. My father had kept secrets from me plenty of times but Officer Michael Gordon Clifford wasn't one of them. I went to his funeral and I apologized to his coffin for my father's reckless orders. That day, at this man's funeral, my father never shed a tear. He had practically murdered Michael in his mind.
Suddenly I felt even more sick. I quickly got up and jogged away from Michael holding my mouth as vomit came rushing up my throat.
[A/N]
I loved Tyson. . . past tense. Things are about to get out of control. -Rae
Chapter Songs:
"Naked"- X ambassadors
"Stockholm Syndrome vs latch [Latch Syndrome] Mashup"- One Direction vs Disclosure
"Bloodstream"- Ed Sheeran