Wet: Part 2

by Rivera, S. Jackson

  “Yes, I understand that.” They both laughed for at least a whole minute.

  “She’s like, from a different planet.”

  “I know, Paul, but the two of you—”

  “To be honest,” he interrupted, “the reason I look away—she’s the one with magic eyes. When I try using my eye powers, she gazes right back. It scares the hell out of me. It’s like she can see right into my soul, and—” He paused, surprised at his confession. “I’ll lose her if she sees too much.”

  “She doesn’t see things the way we do.” Claire sounded motherly and serious again. “Rhees has a real problem with her eyesight. What you think she’s going to see—the side of you that you think is ugly—Paul . . . she only sees butterflies and rainbows. She’s helped you find some of those missing pieces and get a few of those wrong ones back into the right places. Now go get her. Apologize. Flash those magic eyes. Change her mind. You will change her mind! Do you hear me?” Claire sounded so confident in his abilities.

  “She’s not tired of you. She’s just . . . making a point. Remember her stupid, stubborn objectives. What point is she trying to make? Think Paul. Think!”

  Paul squeezed his eyes shut. “I have to go. I need to catch her before she reaches the bottom.” He paused, thoughtfully. “I still don’t know how it’s going to work out, but I’m glad she has you. Thank you, Claire.”

  “Paul, I’d do anything for her, but she doesn’t need me. She has you.”

  oOo

  Paul caught his first glimpse of Rhees when he landed at the fifth station, one station ahead of him. He suddenly felt nervous. He’d been so preoccupied with catching up to her—he didn’t have a chance to think about what he would do when he did.

  It hadn’t been easy to gain on her. The zip line was strung from one tiny platform, built high in the treetops, to another. You left one, landed on another, and waited your turn with your harness tethered to the lifeline designed to save you from falling to your death if you lost your balance or got knocked off by the other patrons crammed onto the platform. The footings were so narrow, there wasn’t much room to maneuver around the other people in line, but Paul had managed so far, in spite of the attendants’ harsh reprimands.

  As usual, he found it easy to convince the women to let him shimmy around them, but the men were a different story. Fortunately, there were more women on the line that day than he’d noticed in previous years. He used the truth, his most brilliant smile, his eye power, and an occasional wink as he divulged his sob story over and over until he’d finally worked his way to within one station from Rhees.

  “I simply forgot, for a moment, to treat my girl the way she deserves to be treated. I have to catch her—I don’t know what I’ll do—I’ll die if she won’t take me back.”

  They were eager to help a man in the name of romance, at least a man who looked like Paul, even in the face of danger, knowing he could knock them all off the platform. Maneuvering tightly, he had to unclip himself from the safety line and re-clip it on the other side of each person after sliding by. The closeness made it necessary to make intimate body contact and some of the older women took advantage of the situation by helping him—holding his body to theirs as he slipped past on the narrow planks. He grinned, playing the good sport. “Girlfriend,” he would say. “Remember?”

  There were a few men who weren’t so eager to let him pass, but even most of the men were with women who nagged their husbands or boyfriends to let him by.

  The seventh station landed on the hillside instead of another tree platform. A narrow trail to the next station required a half-mile hike. He landed, helped the attendants unhook him so he could be free faster, and took off.

  Rhees walked slowly just ahead, her head down, but he didn’t call after her. The last thing he wanted was for her to run again. He quietly loped until he could maneuver around her, and stand to block her path.

  “I’m sorry,” he blurted, wrapping his hands around her arms to have a grip, in case she tried to get away.

  She stopped just before running into his solid chest and tossed her head back as if asking why the heavens were against her.

  “No.” She sighed. “I’m the one who’s sorry. You have to believe me. I never intended to ruin your vacation with your friends.” She stopped talking and they both positioned their bodies on the path to let people on the trail pass. They winked at Paul and patted him on the back. When they were by, she continued. “I didn’t know the zip company would ruin everything. I purposely picked a different time slot than you when I booked this last night. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

  “Don’t be too hard on him, Sweetie,” an older woman said as she walked by. Rhees gave Paul the bug-eyed look, bewildered by the way every woman on the line seemed to be so invested in him. She shook her head, remembering how, back on the island, he used to get this kind of female attention everywhere he went. The other girls, most of them, eventually began to understand he truly wasn’t interested anymore. They finally stopped acting so obnoxiously flirtatious, at least while she was in his company.

  “If it weren’t for the driver’s big mouth, you wouldn’t be angry with me. I could have come, checked this off my list, and made it back to the beach house before you ever knew. I would be happy, and you would be blissfully ignorant.”

  Paul stood stunned, his plan to smooth things over derailed by the new revelation. “That’s your defense?” He returned the bug eye back to her. “Do you sneak around behind my back often?” His voice went up a few octaves, infuriated.

  “No—and I don’t need a fucking defense!” She folded her arms and they glared at each other. Her choice of words surprised him, and then she surprised him again when she didn’t stop there. “You don’t control me. I know you’re protective—and most of the time, I appreciate that you care, but you don’t own me—I don’t have to obey you. If . . .”

  She pinched her lips together and paused while another group of girls passed. Paul and Rhees overheard the girls commenting how Rhees wasn’t pretty enough to be with a man who looked like Paul. Rhees looked away, staring at nothing in particular. She exhaled loudly.

  Paul glanced down, irritated at how annoying all the interruptions were. His own lips narrowed, and when he looked up at her again, he didn’t raise his head, emphasizing how unhappy he was with her at the moment.

  Once the girls were by, she resumed, “If it looks like I’m obeying you, it’s because I want to. Do you hear me? Not because I have to. It’s my choice. I’m a big girl. You. Are. Not. My. Da . . . d.” The last word caught in her throat. She glanced down and threw her hand over her mouth. Tears filled her eyes. She closed them quickly but it only squeezed the tears out and they rolled down her face.

  “Oh my God!” she whispered. Her breathing became unsteady as she looked around, desperately searching for a place to run. Paul’s anger visibly fell from his face, replaced instantly with alarm.

  “Aw shit!” He didn’t know why she’d switched so suddenly from fierce temper tantrum to, the world is falling apart, but he immediately picked her up. “Let’s get off the trail.”

  She didn’t stop sobbing and barely noticed how he carried her down the slope to a level spot twenty feet off the public path. He leaned against a tree with her still in his arms and tried to soothe her.

  “What’s wrong, Baby?” He braced his leg against the tree to help hold her while he brushed the hair away from her face, but his question made her wail even louder and wriggle for him to put her down. He tightened his grip and refused to release her. She used both hands to cover her face, and he realized she felt the need to escape.

  “Listen to me. I’ll put you down if you promise not to run away from me again.” She didn’t respond. “Rhees, Baby? Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Stop calling me Baby!” she blubbered. “Do
n’t you see? That’s the problem. Put me down.”

  He complied, but he hooked two of his fingers in the waistband of her shorts. As soon as her feet were on the ground, she turned and tried to put some distance between them, but he pulled her back. He considered himself lucky she didn’t fight him. She wiped her face, but continued to snivel, unladylike for Rhees.

  “No . . . Rhees.” He sighed. He had to think, hoping he wouldn’t choose the wrong name to call her again, not understanding why she suddenly hated him calling her Baby. He felt helpless, almost panicked because he had no idea what bothered her.

  “I don’t see anything. I’m trying—I’m really trying, but I don’t know what’s wrong. I thought you were upset with me for trying to protect you—this isn’t about the zip line, right?”

  She shook her head and then covered her face with her hands. She sniffed again.

  “I’m so stupid—all this time.” She dropped her hands to her side, dejectedly. “I seriously thought I was growing up. I’ve been so proud of myself. I thought, ‘Look at me. I’m all grown up, overcoming fears—taking care of myself’. Ha!” She raised her hands in the air and made a duh face. Her tone changed to scorn herself. “But I’m right back where I started. No, wait! I never left. Different country, same big baby—I’m still just the stupid, helpless idiot I ever was. I have nothing to be proud about.

  “I didn’t grow up. I’m not taking care of myself, you are—I just found myself a new daddy!” Tears spilled from her eyes again and she looked at him with a haunting expression before she sank to the ground to weep.

  “Don’t say that.” Paul covered his own eyes as he squatted down next to her. He outlined his eyebrows with his thumb and index finger and massaged his temples.

  “Why not,” she shrieked, snapping her head around to look at him. “It’s true.”

  “No. Calm down, please? Let’s just think this through, okay?” he begged as he sat next to her. She wept quietly while he took a minute to collect his thoughts. “I only call you Baby—it’s not a description. It’s a term of . . . affection.”

  “Pretend affection. Don’t forget that,” she sobbed. “I know I embarrass you.”

  “What?”

  “The other guys, your friends, they all brought beautiful girls. I don’t compare. You’re embarrassed, ashamed to be stuck with me. You could have brought anyone else, someone beautiful like Liz, Jeannie, and Ashley, but you’re stuck with me because you can’t let me out of your sight for five minutes, because I’m a baby who can’t take care of herself.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. Since we arrived here, you’ve been trying to distance yourself from me. When you’re with the guys, you’re happy and carefree, but you get in the same room with me, and suddenly you’re sullen, standoffish—grouchy even. You cringe or recoil every time I try to touch you.”

  “Shit.” Paul massaged the back of his own neck. “That’s not it. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed, not by you.”

  “It’s all right, I understand. This whole thing that we have—it’s just pretend.” She sounded so practical, spitting the words out in spite of how hard she was actually crying, talking over his attempt to explain what had been going on with him all week. “We decided to pretend to be together because you knew a long time ago that I’m not capable of taking care of myself. Taylor said you were protective. You felt the need to protect me, and I, apparently, will always need a babysitter.” She tried to wipe the tears from her face with her arm.

  “I’m never going to grow up. I’m always going to be a big, fat, hopeless baby, and you’re nothing but my new daddy.”

  “Not only no,” he finally yelled, “but hell no! That is nawt what I am.” He looked out over the jungle, shaking his head at how she could say such a thing. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself so he could bring the tension down to a normal level. “Rhees.” He shook his head again.

  “Somewhere along the line . . . I stopped pretending. I know we started out that way, but maybe—” He paused, struggling to say what he needed to say—he’d never said anything like it before. “Maybe I never was pretending. I don’t know.” He licked his lips and ran his mouth through a few of its nervous contortions. “I only know that now, I’m not pretending anything when it comes to you.”

  She stopped crying and held perfectly still, but didn’t turn to look at him yet.

  “I don’t want to be your babysitter—and I sure as hell don’t think of you as a daughter.” He rolled his eyes. “Pfft! I have thoughts about you. I assure you, they are nawt the kind of thoughts a dad should have about his—that’s just—really sick.” She finally turned to see him, trying not to smile.

  “And it really bothers me to think—shit, Rhees, I’m nawt that old.” She laughed a quick breathy laugh and followed with a smile as she let the humor begin to heal her. It was all he needed to know they’d made it through the worst, but he didn’t want to take any chances. He kept her smiling by launching into one of his quick-witted rants about being only six years older than she was, and how, even though he’d started young, the math didn’t add up.

  “You look nothing like me, and I’m pretty sure I never even met your mother. Yeah, I’m sure of it, at least, reasonably sure.”

  They both laughed quietly for a few seconds.

  “Rhees?” He leaned over and rested his chin on her shoulder, serious again. “You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

  “I don’t know about that,” she said softly, dropping her head.

  “I do.” He leaned even farther so that his face was right in front of hers. “There’s got to be a way you can still by my baby, and not be A baby. Do you think we can work on that?”

  She nodded, and then threw her arms around his neck. He welcomed the embrace with a relieved sigh.

  “My feelings for you aren’t pretend either,” she said, and it surprised him how good it sounded to hear her say it.

  oOo

  They returned to the path and made their way to the next station.

  “So, I need to be clear on something.” Paul sounded cautious about bringing up the subject. “When you said you were going home, you meant the island, not Utah, right?”

  “Of course. Why would I go back to Utah? There’s nothing there for me anymore.”

  “Your note.” He pulled it out of his pocket and unfolded it so she could see it.

  I’M GOING HOME. I’M DONE. RHEES

  “I worried you were done with me, and you were going back to Utah.”

  She stared at the note for a few seconds. “I knew that girl didn’t understand what I said. There was a definite language barrier when I asked her if I could get a message to you. I wanted her to let me write it, but she didn’t understand that either. It’s supposed to say, ‘I’m going home when I’m done’. And I meant the island. The island is my home now. How many times do I have to say that?”

  “I’ve heard you. I just felt the need to make sure.” He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

  oOo

  They finished the last station, eighteen in all. They’d taken turns going first so they could get pictures of each other leaving and arriving. Paul wanted to make sure she had proof she’d crossed another goal off of her list. The attendants were surprised she’d never rode a zip line before, calling her a natural. She didn’t brake until the last moment and gave a little bounce at the end to right herself, landing on her feet every time. Paul tried to copy her moves but never mastered it.

  When they reached the bottom, they made their way to the cafeteria to wait for the others to finish. Paul had only eaten a couple bites of his breakfast and was starved. They were in line at the lunch buffet and didn’t see their friends come in.

  Taylor sneaked up behind them and enthusiastically threw his arms
around Rhees, lifted her up, and planted a big kiss on her mouth, unleashing the mother of all panic attacks. She screamed and thrashed against him irrationally as if someone had grabbed her on a dark night and was attempting to drag her into the bushes.

  Taken by surprise, Taylor froze, with her still in his arms, not knowing what to do.

  “What the fuck, Taylor! Get your hands off her!” Paul yelled several other choice words as he pawed at Taylor, trying to get him to let go of her. Taylor finally regained enough of his senses to set her down and back away, while Paul stepped between them, his arms outstretched as if barricading everyone from her.

  Taylor, as well as everyone in the cafeteria, stood and watched in shock as Rhees fell apart. She clutched at herself, and swatted the air, screaming and begging, “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me.”

  “Rhees?” Paul whispered. He reached toward her but drew his hand back when she shied away. He turned on Taylor. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

  “I wanted to thank her for making this the best zip line trip we’ve ever made,” Taylor said quietly. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “She doesn’t like to be touched. Could you guys just get some lunch? Leave us alone for a minute. She needs some space.”

  “You touch her all the time—and since when do you call me Taylor?”

  Paul gave him a dirty look, but ignored his questions, too worried about Rhees to argue.

  “It’s all right. No one’s going to hurt you.” Paul slowly moved a little closer. “It’s me.” He held his hands where Rhees could see them.

  “I’m sorry. I—it—he just surprised me.” She stepped back. Her voice sounded as shaky as her body. She turned away from him, not wanting him to see her that way.

  “Rhees? I’ve never seen you react this severely before. I’m really worried. Have you ever seen anyone about this?” He stood behind her, not knowing what to do. He still didn’t dare touch her.