Island Rush

by Marien Dore

  He laughed, and we started walking back towards camp. He took his hand in mine as we walked, our fits of laughter never leaving in the process. Even while we were close to being desperate for food, we still had time to laugh amongst it all. That was one thing I would always love about Casey, and it was something I never felt with anyone before.

  Chapter 47

  The days following, all we did was go out into the woods and practice. I continued throwing the knife and trying to hit the target on the tree. I had to do that before I could get where Casey is at now. Thankfully, I was starting to hit the target each time. As I did that, he practiced by laying down under the trees with his slingshot.

  Every time I checked on how he was doing, it was always the same: grunts of frustration and stones going everywhere but the birds. The important thing though was that he was aiming at something moving. Soon, I would be where he was now under the trees. It sucked for us both.

  Then came the day where I hit the target nineteen times in a row. By then, I was pretty good. So, after hours spent practicing that day, I gladly pulled the knife out of the tree and headed towards where Casey was practicing.

  The waterfall always our relaxing background music, I walked through the brush and past the trees, following the sounds of squawking birds. I caught sight of him a couple yards away through the maze of trees. He was laying against the trunk of a tree, his neck craned up along with his hand holding the slingshot. I paused, watching him as he aimed, not wanting to interrupt him.

  His fingers left the strap, and the stone shot its way up and through the air, making the squawking of birds intensify. But it hit nothing, and the birds soon settled back into the trees after he shot a few more stones up.

  When he lowered the slingshot back down, putting another stone against the vine, I decided to step out. He heard the ground crunch beneath my feet and looked up, his eyes lighting up along with his lips. He paused in his objective as I sat beside him. Sitting next to where he was laying, I then slid down to the forest floor, resting my head against his shoulder in the nice shady grass.

  He stopped what he was doing, resting the slingshot in the grass at his side and resting his head on top of mine. “Please, don’t tell me…” he sighed.

  I smiled, “Sorry… but I am ready to shoot at some birds now.”

  “This is unfair,” he whispered.

  I chuckled. “Is it my fault I am doing well, and you are not progressing?”

  “Yes, it’s completely your fault.”

  He grasped my hand in his through the strands of grass, his hand warm and sweaty with mine from what we have been doing. At least while under the shade, a slight breeze was there to comfort us.

  “So am I going to need to make a slingshot for myself, or have you realized that there is no point to keep trying and that you should just give me yours?”

  He rolled over and propped himself up on his elbow, facing me on his side, “Someone’s feeling risky today to be saying those things. First, you should see if you can even do it.”

  “Why? You can’t do it yet you’re still trying and using the slingshot.”

  “Good point,” He smirked at me and, without moving away, he grabbed the slingshot and handed it to me. Letting go of his hand, I took it and held it above my face, looking it over and trying to remember how he held it and shot it before. I raised the slingshot and held the handle with one hand, pinching the vine back with my other.

  For some reason, it didn’t feel right. “How do you do it?”

  He smirked and shrugged, “I was just being myself.”

  “What?”

  Mock realization crossed his face. “Oh, you were asking me about how you hold it? Sorry, I thought you were asking about how I managed to be so amazing.”

  I elbowed him. “You know exactly what I meant, but I can’t argue because you are pretty amazing.”

  “Don’t be a suck-up to the teacher, Miss Reeves. Now, what you do is,” he paused in his directions, leaning closer to me and grabbing the slingshot from me and the stone. “You take the stone and hold it against the outside of the vine by pinching it from the inside and through the vine.” He held it up and did what he was describing, showing me like the good teacher he was. “That way, you are holding it in place and pulling the vine back with the same fingers. When you let go, the vine goes up with the stone.”

  After showing me with a demonstration, he then handed me the slingshot and a stone with it, resting back into the grass at my side. His head rested on my shoulder and watched my hands. I raised them into my sight and above us. With one hand pinching the stone through the elastic vine, I had to squeeze it a little harder since I wasn’t directly pinching the stone.

  I raised it up higher until my eyes laid over where the stone would shoot. “Is that right?” I asked, keeping my sight nailed to the trees above me.

  He leaned up on his side again, taking both hands and placing them on each of my arms. He moved them up more, straightening my arms as he looked down to me. “Keep your arms like that and you are fine,” he rested back down to the grass, his head finding my shoulder again.

  I let the vine go between my fingers, and it shot up, hitting the leaves and making the squawking of the birds increase as they all took flight. They soon returned since I didn’t shoot any more up.

  “Good. That was good. So do you want to really try it?”

  I nodded and looked back to Casey, his face an inch from mine. “Any more stones?” I asked.

  He smiled and turned back, grabbing a handful of stones that he had on his other side. Resting back where he was before, he set the stones on my stomach and within easy reach since this required me to do it fast.

  I took one of the stones and did what I did the first time, pinching the stone through the vine and raising it over us, straightening my arms out like he said.

  “Don’t expect anything to happen. I have been doing this for days, and nothing has improved. Oh, and remember to pay attention to where the stones fall too,” he said.

  “I know I’m not going to get anything the first time. But what do you mean remember where the stones fall?”

  When he didn’t answer, I turned my head and was looking at the side of his face since he was still looking up – and with a blush. I smirked and bit my lip, “Did you get hit with the stones you shot up?” When he didn’t answer again, it was a sign that I could let out my laughter. “So, how many times did you hit yourself?”

  He turned his head and looked at me, ready to defend himself. He immediately said, “I did not hit myself.”

  I laughed. “Yeah you did. You shot the stones up that came back down and hit you. You wouldn’t have been hit if you didn’t pelt them up to begin with.”

  He chuckled close to where he was to my face. “This is what I get for warning you,” he sighed. “Nice to know I’m appreciated.”

  I smiled and closed the distance between our lips, giving him a soft kiss which he responded to softly. I felt a smile spread across his lips, then mine. When I pulled back, I looked at him with mock sympathy. “I’m sorry you hit yourself.”

  He gave me an over exaggerated sigh, “Just shoot the thing. You get hit, I will have no sympathy for you.”

  I laughed and looked back up. I shot the first stone, interrupting the flow of the birds singing and in a second, they took flight. I already had the next ready and aimed, this time, trying to place my eye on one of the departing birds. It all took place too fast, though. I quickly found a bird taking flight, I aimed, and shot the stone up. Grabbing another stone, I found another bird and flung it towards the sky.

  I did that many times. I grabbed a stone, shooting it up after aiming at a bird, and before I saw the outcome, I was already shooting after the next bird in the sky. I realized while doing this that this was much harder than trying to catch fish. But that was a good thing since it prepared us better.

  I finished and looked over at Casey with a smirk. “Well, I didn’t get hit with any stones. Ot
her than that, how did I do?” I asked.

  “Well, I’m a little mad right now.”

  “Why?”

  “I have been laying on the ground for days, shooting up and not finding the proper way to do it. Then, you’re ready to try, and within a few minutes, you are a pro. Plus, you didn’t even get hit once with a stone.”

  “Nice to know I’m appreciated,” I smirked.

  He rolled his eyes. “Okay, if you were hit by those stones around sixty times—”

  I laughed. “You hit yourself sixty times? Would have thought you would learn after the first time.”

  He smiled. “Anyway, if you were hit that many times or more and I wasn’t hit at all, wouldn’t that irritate you? It’s not like I want you to get hit but I don’t like that I am getting pelted by stones every time. Yet you come back with smooth skin, not pelted hit once.”

  “Yeah, it would make me mad if I kept getting hit, and you didn’t. I would have just thrown the stones directly at you to get even.” I went on with his other point in which made him angry – or at least bothered him. “And what do you mean you can’t find the proper way to do it?”

  “It’s not like I’m mad that I didn’t hit any birds; that probably won’t happen. I do however understand the importance in aiming and speed which is our main goal. I saw how you did that, how well you aimed and how fast you were able to get the next stone in the air. That’s what I have been struggling with.”

  I shrugged. “Keep practicing I guess. I don’t know how I did so well today. Beginners luck maybe.”

  He scoffed and took my hand in his after I set down the slingshot. “Yeah right! You need to stop trying to make me feel better about myself. It sounds like you are sucking up to me for a good grade.”

  “Well then, maybe all this is a lie for a good grade. Maybe I’m just pretending to love you since I had an awful grade in your class. If we were together, do you know the advantages I would get over the other students?”

  He laughed. “I doubt that is it. That’s not why you are with me. I think you are in it for the money since teachers make the big bucks,” he said sarcastically. “And for my good looks and dance skills, obviously.”

  “Hmm... well, the dancing was a definite turn on as was your looks. Money always helps too. But the truth is, I want you for your killer slingshot skills,” I said as dramatically as I could. “I mean, it is absolutely unreal and impossible to hit yourself sixty times - without even trying too! Not to mention you shot it away from you each time. I swear, gravity sure surprises the hell out of me-- Ah, haha, haha, haha!”

  I broke off into laughter when Casey took my hand he grasped and pinned it above my head in the grass, rolling over me, and straddling me. His hands then moved over my stomach and sides, tickling me.

  “You think you are so clever don’t you? Smartass,” he chuckled while I tried fighting him off with my weak hands. I continued laughing while his hands moved over me with success, sliding under my shirt to tease and torture my skin there.

  “Casey! Stop! Oh, ha-ha! Casey, Casey, Casey! Oh God, st-st-st-stop! Hahahahaha!” I squealed with my obnoxious laughter.

  “Nope. You asked for it! Take it back and say I didn’t hit myself. Because I didn’t hit myself!”

  I wasn’t going to surrender just because he was tickling me… plus, he was wrong! He technically was the cause why the stones hitting him. It’s not like they came out of nowhere; he shot them up himself!

  My voice squeaked even higher with my laughter. “Cas, Casey! Ah, stop! Ca-Ca-CASEY!”

  “Come on, Janice,” he said, continuing to slap my hands away from his under my shirt. “Just say it and I’ll stop.” I tried digging my hands into any open space as I jerked under him, unable to stay still.

  His hands left me for not even a second, and both of my hands were pinned above my head. He crossed my wrists so he could hold my hands back with only one hand pinning my arms, his other returning to tickle me.

  “No. Ah! Hahaha!” His hand moved over my bare stomach, sides, and hips, fingers flickering in a quick motion.

  “Say it!” he chuckled.

  “Haha! Stop, Casey! I can’t breathe,” I said, hoping he would believe that last part and feel bad for me.

  Of course, he was smart and knew not to fall for it. “You are fine! I think you want to say something else, though!”

  “Never! Eeeekk,” I squealed.

  “Are you sure you have nothing to say?” he smiled as he moved his one hand up and under my armpit, his fingers tickling me there. My arms quivered from trying to force his hand binding mine away. He was strong, and my struggling muscles didn’t have a chance.

  It came time for me to break out the big guns. I willed myself to stop squirming. Then, I forced my lips shut so they could reach up to his. Trying whatever I could to make him stop, I kissed him with as much force, love, and passion as I could. A second after I kissed him, his hands instantly stopped thanks to how much I put in that one motion. I caught him off guard.

  I held in my victory smile and for a second longer, kissing him. Then, I pushed him off me. I laughed at his shocked expression as it turned into a playful one upon realizing it was a trap, but it was too late for him. When he tried grabbing for me, I squealed and rolled in the opposite direction. I swiped the slingshot in the process.

  I rolled to my knees quickly, backing away with my victory smile. There were small stones laying all around me, buried in the grass from all the other times Casey used them. Before I got to my feet, I grabbed a couple of stones before he could do anything. I put the first stone against the vine, pulled it back, and let it fly in his direction.

  I chuckled as he tried blocking it. It hit his chest. “Ouch!” he said but with a smile.

  He looked at me with pursed lips before getting up to come after me. But by the time he was on his feet, I was ready to shoot another stone at him. When I did, it hit him in the leg before I moved out of his reach. I dodged him again as I pelted the small stones at his body.

  I moved swiftly, running in circles in the same area as he chased me between the trees. I would get another stone ready, turn while still moving, and shoot it at him. Through his shielding hands, the laughs were evident in the air and mixed with mine.

  I couldn’t have picked a better place to be at the time with him. I mean, where else could we do this? Sure, living on an island is extremely hard. It’s not exactly paradise when our stomachs are growling. Or when we get hurt all the time for stupid reasons. But at home, this wouldn’t happen with Casey. This was freedom. I loved every second of my time here with him.

  “You might as well keep running because if I catch you, you’ll be sorry. You’ll be more than sorry! You will say it!” he shouted, chasing after me.

  “We’ll see!” I shouted back. My only other reaction was to circle back around another tree before putting my last stone against the vine. I pulled it back, turning to find where he was. I squealed in surprised though at the sight of him so close. I was able to quickly shoot one more at him before I turned back around to continue running from him.

  Of course, he finally got me. I felt one strong arm swipe around my torso and stop me from running, lifting me when he pressed his chest against my back. I laughed and struggled, but he held me tightly. When I felt the ground hit my feet, I tried escaping from him, but I knew I was doomed. I purposefully dropped the slingshot to the ground, knowing it wouldn’t help anymore.

  “‘We’ll see’ you say?” he teased as his other hand swept under my legs, pulling me up into his arms so he was now holding me bridal style. Though that was wonderful in general, I was disappointed he held me now. I knew he would want revenge.

  “Yes, that’s what I say. I don’t take it back because it is true! You hit yourself sixty out of the seventy times you were pelted with stones.” I smirked. The ten after sixty were recently given to him by me. “And I’m not sorry. That was fun!”

  He shook his head. “Bad choice of words, Miss Reeves.�
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  He began to walk with me through the woods and towards the sound of the waterfall, meaning we were nearing the shelter. When it came into sight, he didn’t stop. He kept walking towards the bank of the lake, and it was then that I realized what his plan was. And according to the sky, he picked a good time for his revenge since it was nearing night soon.

  He walked towards the bank, and it was then that I gave up. “Okay! Stop, stop, stop. I’m sorry!” I chuckled.

  He slowed to a stop and looked down to me in his arms, “What was that?”

  “You win. I take it back!”

  “Hmm… I don’t think that’s what you said. You said you would never take it back.”

  “I do! You are…” I chuckled as I continued speaking my next words. “King. You are amazing and have nice hair and pretty eyes! You didn’t hit yourself sixty times with stones!”

  He considered it and finally said, “That sounds like something a suck up would say.”

  “Well, it’s very true. I said it! Now you can’t throw me in the water.”

  “If I put you down, do you promise not to pelt me to death?”

  “Yeah, yeah. I promise.”

  He put me down on the bank, and I stared up at him, a smile still solid on both of our faces. “Were you really going to throw me in?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Sure. Why wouldn’t I? Don’t you think you deserved it?”

  “Yes, but it’s nearing dark. My sweet man wouldn’t do such a thing to me.”

  He laughed, “I think I would have. Not because I wanted you to suffer exactly, but it would mean you would have to warm up. Even if it meant doing whatever, it would take to achieve that state of warmth.” I smiled up at him and couldn’t help a blush. Before I could say anything to that, he continued, “But... I don’t need an excuse to keep you close. You will be back in my arms tonight.”

  “Well, tonight is coming any second. So I think it would be best to get our ‘dinner’ for the night first before we can’t see.”