Closed Door ? JIARA ?

- 33 -

She picked up the backpack with all the supplies and ventured off into the woods. I was going to be alone with Kie for 24 hours and she was in an awful mood.

"Let me take the backpack.." I said

"JJ, I've got it.. Okay?"

I let her stay ahead of me and I asked, "What are we even supposed to be looking for?"

"Honestly, no clue. I think this was John B's way of getting alone time with Sarah."

I laughed and said, "Probably.."

"Kie, can we talk?" I asked

She turned around and said, "No.. Let's just walk, quietly."

"Kie.." I said louder as she was walking away from me

She didn't stop or turn around. She just kept going.

I did the same and we walked another ten minutes and she dropped the backpack off her shoulders and she turned around. She had tears streaming down her face. I walked over to her and I hugged her.

"You literally almost died, JJ..." She said bawling

"I'm okay, Kie thanks to you.."

"I couldn't hold you anymore. I was going to give up...." She said and I cut her off

"You had every right to let me drown. You were alive and I was unconscious. I never would have held that against you." I said reassuring her

"No, I was never going to let go of you. I was going to drown with you." She admitted

I hugged her again and her crying slowed down and I said, "Thank you for always saving me. You're my hero, Kie."

"You've saved me a few times.." She said smiling

"Ready to keep going?" She asked

"Yeah.." I said grabbing the backpack

I walked in front of her and said, "Come on, I want to show you something.."

I lead her about another mile into the woods.

I looked back at her and she was surprised.

"J, this is beautiful..." She said admiring the waterfall with the small pond where the water was crystal clear

"This is where I stayed the night I went off on my own. I can't promise that I won't set off on my own again, but at least now you'll know where I am."

She smiled at me and asked, "Can we stay here tonight?"

"Hell yeah..." I said and Kie smiled

I put the backpack down and unpacked the hammock we had. I tied it in the trees and built a small fire so it was ready for tonight.

"Wanna go swim?" I asked her

"Yeah..." She smiled taking her clothes off so she was in her swimsuit

We got in and the water was perfect. She looked at me and said, "I like being in the water with you a lot more when you're conscious."

"Me too.." I said smiling at her

She grabbed my hand and said, "Lay down.."

I was floating on my back and she said, "Pretend to be unconscious..."

I did as she told me and I realized she was struggling to tread water and support my body weight.

I got up and looked at her and she was trying not to cry.

"I don't know how I held you up. This water is calm and the ocean was rough with waves crashing into me."

"You had lots of adrenaline.." I  said comforting her

She turned back into her playful self and we went and sat under the waterfall on the rocks in silence. It wasn't awkward, it was comfortable. Then Kie broke the silence and asked, "Why did you tell everyone we macked?"

I chuckled and said, "Because I should have a long time ago and because I wanted to win."

She laughed and said, "Pope is pissed."

"He'll get over it, it's Pope. He couldn't accept that you didn't love him the way he loved you."

"Cleo likes him. She asked me for permission to hang with him."

"No way!" I said laughing

"Yeah, so I guess that leaves us all alone. I mean John B has Sarah and Pope has Cleo. I'm all by myself on this deserted island " She said looking down and grabbing a small rock

"Hey, I've got you" I said putting my arm around her as she laid her head on my shoulder