Chapter 6
A cold chill rolled in along with the night. Vicky and Sam returned with blankets, food, the first aid kit, tents, clothes, and many more things. Chris, Joey, Lance, and JC set up the tents. Justin was still unconscious. Vicky volunteered to stay with him until he woke up.
“When did you develop a sudden interest in Justin?” Chris asked. He walked into the tent where Vicky and Justin were. There weren’t that many things there, just the first aid kit and a couple of blankets.
“Ever since I knocked him down and he got hurt,” she answered. “I guess I don’t want him to hate me because of what I’ve done. I’m still really sorry about it. I didn’t mean to.”
“Hey, maybe you knocked some sense into him also,” he joked. Chris left the tent and went into his.
“Sam! Could you come over here for a second?” Vicky yelled as she took out the first aid kit.
Sam was in Lance’s tent talking with him and JC. She stood up and retorted, “What do you want?”
“I need your help!”
“Okay, I’m coming.” Sam really didn’t want to leave Lance. She was getting to know him a little better, and was beginning to like him. “Why do you need my help?” she asked as she walked into the tent.
“Well, I was just about to change Justin’s bandages. I need your help with the peroxide,” Vicky said. She took the bottle out of the box and poured some of the liquid onto a clean white cloth.
“You know I’m not good with all that medical stuff,” Sam complained. She hated the sight of blood, and wasn’t about to stand around to watch Vicky.
“That’s not the only reason I want you here,” Vicky revealed. “I wanted to tell you something.”
“Oh, a secret. What is it?” Sam excitedly questioned. She loved secrets. Not only were they good ways of finding out about a person’s private life, but they were great blackmail.
“Promise you won’t tell any of the guys?”
“I promise.”
Vicky hesitated before she started. She had to pick the right words to explain what was on her mind. “Um, you see, I was kinda getting the impression that Justin was trying to impress me with all that smart talk. I think it worked,” she said quietly.
“What are you saying?” Sam asked. She had no clue what Vicky was trying to tell her.
“I’m saying I think he likes me, and I kinda like him,” she finally answered.
“What?” Sam yelled.
“It’s only kinda. Don’t think I’ve fallen head over heels. I still love Chad and all, but Justin is one of those people who you meet once, and you tend to think you should have fallen in love with them,” Vicky tried to explain.
“The whole purpose of this trip was to forget about Chad and Rick. I think I see what’s happening. I have to tell you something too,” Sam confessed. “I like Lance.”
“Whoa! Then I’m not the only one who’s beginning to like someone else!” Vicky exclaimed.
“Yeah, I’m so glad I’m not alone either.”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m glad we’re friends.”
Vicky and Sam stared at each other for a few seconds and smiled. “Well, I gotta get back to Justin,” Vicky said as she looked at him.
“Yeah, you should. You don’t want him to get sick. Besides, I was having a pleasant conversation with Lance, so I’m gonna get back to that,” Sam replied. She stood up and walked out of the tent.
Vicky took the bandages off of Justin’s head and began to wipe the large gash clean with the cloth. She felt a slight tremor from his body, but then it was over. Something was happening. Justin moved his head and opened his beautiful blue eyes. He stared at Vicky for a second unable to make out her face and asked, “Brittany?”
“No, it’s Vicky,” she whispered trying not to startle him.
“Uh, you,” Justin mumbled.
“Hey, come on, cut me some slack. I’m sorry about punching you out. I really didn’t know you were gonna hit that rock. I’m also sorry about giving you such a hard time. I’m just in the middle of this really big thing, and I couldn’t help it,” she tried to explain as she wrapped a clean bandage around his head.
“Well, I guess I have to say I’m sorry too. I really didn’t mean all that stuff I told you. My ego was really controlling my head. Please, don’t give me that shit that I’m the only guy who’s ever admitted that he’s stupid, because I’m not,” Justin answered. He winced as the bandage pressed against his cut.
“I’m not gonna say that. I realize what you’re going through. My boyfriend is the same way, and we’ve been dating for about 4 years. I’ve known him for even longer, but everything’s changing. I don’t know what’s happening in our relationship, it’s just falling apart, and I don’t know what to do. It’s hopeless. I don’t love him as much as I used to. It’s more like I can’t stand him anymore,” Vicky began her chat. She had to get Chad out her life.
“I’m sorry. I guess I see what you’re going through. I’m in that deep with my girlfriend,” he said.
“Brittany?”
“Yeah.”
“Who’s she?”
“Brittany Spears.”
“Oh, I know who she is. Doesn’t she sing that annoying song ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time?’”
“Yeah, she’s the one also known as Bitchy Spears. I put up with her anyway, and I don’t know why. She is the biggest bitch I’ve ever met. I hate her, yet I love her in the strangest ways. She has this magical power once she kisses me. I don’t know what it is, but that’s probably why I’m still with her,” Justin said as he turned to his side and wrapped the blanket around himself. Vicky pulled it closer to him as she realized he was cold.
“What’s in her kiss that’s so special? Mine is probably better,” Vicky boasted. “Chad sure thinks so.”
“Why don’t I kiss you and find out if I’m missing anything?” Justin asked. He was already leaning closer to her lips. Vicky was stuck, and she couldn’t get out of the position she was in. As Justin got in range, she pulled herself to kiss him.
Their lips locked as something ran through both of their bodies. Justin and Vicky were both in heaven at that moment. As they parted, another feeling ran through Vicky. She bent down for another kiss. She couldn’t keep her lips away from Justin’s, they were just too sweet and passionate. Chad was nothing like this.
“Hey, Vi . . .” Chris said as he walked in on them kissing. His jaw dropped at the sight.
Justin and Vicky pulled apart quickly as they saw Chris. They all stared at each other for a long time before someone broke the ice.
“What the hell?” Chris asked. He was totally confused about why Vicky was kissing on Justin if she hated him so much.
“Holy shit!” Vicky yelled.
“Oh, you bet! I want the whole story. Why were you kissing Justin if you hated him so much?” he asked.
“It’s way too long of a story. I’m not about to get into it,” Justin replied. He lay back as if he weren’t about to listen to Chris.
“You’re gonna have to because she’s supposed to be engaged to Chad,” Chris answered.
“What?” Justin yelled. “You’re engaged?”
“No! I’m not! I told Chad that I was gonna consider it. He popped the question, but I said I’d sleep on it. I’m not about to get married to him. I don’t even like him. You have to believe me,” Vicky tried to explain.
“Oh, now I see. Sorry if I misunderstood. I thought you were gonna marry him once you told me he proposed,” Chris confessed. “Now, what about Justin?” He turned serious all of a sudden.
“Look, I was only kissing Justin because I wanted to get Chad off my mind. If I caused any of you any problems, then I’m sorry,” she angrily retorted and left the tent almost in tears. She went straight for the beach where it was calm and quiet.
Vicky’s eyes filled with tears as she remembered Justin’s kiss. Then she thought about Chad. He had so much less to offer, yet he always had a way to make her smile. The feelings ran through Vicky’s head in a jumbled mess. She didn’t know who she wanted, Chad or Justin. All she wanted to do was stop thinking about both of them and get off the island.
“Hey,” a soft voice came from behind her.
As Vicky turned around, she saw Chris. “Hey,” she replied in a cracked voice. A couple more tears ran down her cheeks as he sat beside her at the water’s edge.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t mean to walk in on you two and get on your case about it. I was out of line,” he apologized.
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have kissed Justin like I shouldn’t have done so many other things. I just wish all these emotions weren’t so complicated. I don’t know why I’m so cursed in love,” Vicky replied. She turned to Chris for some comfort.
“Don’t worry about it. You’re not cursed in love,” he reasoned. “You haven’t found the right person yet, and that’s your problem. Don’t think you’re cursed, because you’re not. All you need is time.” Chris wrapped his jacket around Vicky to keep her from shivering in the cold night.
She looked out at the moon as it cast its glow upon the ocean’s surface. It seemed to also light up the sky with its brightness. Vicky began to feel a little better about herself as Chris wrapped his arm around her.
“You know, this reminds me of a song. I heard it a while back ago as a friend of mine played the c.d. It went a little something like this, ‘If you should look up at the moon and wonder, just remember it’s the same one that I’m under. Closer than you know, I’m with you heart and soul. I swear, I’m there,’” he sang.
“That’s so sweet. Who sings it? Sam might have the c.d.”
“I think the group’s name is South Sixty-Five. I don’t know.”
“I’ll ask and find out tomorrow. Right now I’m really tired. Good night, Chris. Thanks for the pep talk. I really needed it,” Vicky said as she stood up and left the beach. She went into an empty tent and curled up in a blanket. She fell fast asleep a few minutes later.