Page 13 of Dance Practice, Marooned: Part 2

Maybe my body just doesn’t want to fight anymore.

“Hey, are you good?”

It has been three days since the pirates left the island, and we slowly moved all our things back to camp. I have helped, of course, but it has been a slow journey. I struggle to do much without getting exhausted. I just want to sleep, and that is definitely unusual for me.

“I just don’t feel good,” I admit, turning to her. “Something is off.”

Concern washes over her as she crouches next to me. “I have noticed you don’t seem right. Are you sick?”

“I think so, but I honestly can’t see how.”

“One of those pirates could have been sick, you never know just how far things can travel.”

Maybe, but it still doesn’t make a great deal of sense as I didn’t really go anywhere near them.

I don’t finish my thought, because Aggie is standing again and offering a hand. I take it, and stand, but the motion makes me sway a little.

“You’re trembling,” she says. “Do you want to lie down?”

“I’m fine, mum,” I tease, lightly.

Even though I really don’t feel fine.

She hooks an arm through mine, and we start the walk back to the camp. There’s a brief moment where I think I might just tip right over—but Aggie’s grip is steady. People talk about how girls in my world are competitive and cruel, and maybe it’s true sometimes, but in this moment, I am sure of nothing more than the fact that if I went down, Aggie would just carry me.

Even if it hurt her, she would do it.

“So, is it just you, or is everyone falling apart?” she asks, trying to lighten the mood.

“I hope not, I don’t want to be the reason we all die out here.”

Aggie sighs. “Don’t even joke about that. I’m already terrified every time I put food in my mouth, because if I get a stomach flu out here, I think I would actually die.”

I wave a hand. “That’s probably fine. The fire kills everything.”

Aggie does not look convinced. “Well, that hasn’t ever stopped anyone getting sick.”

Valid.

We go silent for a second, then she sighs. “God, I want a burger.”

“French fries,” I say. “Or a doughnut. Or... fuck, I would eat a gas station hot dog right now and probably die happy.”

“Oh gosh, me too.”

We make it back to camp, which has fully been set back up. The guys are still away from us, but a lot closer. Basically, our neighbours. They are slowly inching their way back in. Tatiana is perched on a rock, sharpening a stick and when we step out of the trees, she looks up with a smile. Her head tilts when she spots me, though. “You look like shit, Gracie.”

“She’s sick,” Aggie says, announcing to the entire group something I didn’t really want anyone making a big deal about.

Zeke, who was midway through hanging a palm frond to block out the sun against our rock, pauses and turns, staring at me. “How sick?”

“I don’t know. Just sick. Headache, tired, aches,” I say, not wanting to get into how the light hurts my eyes or how my hands won’t stop shaking, even now.

Tatiana flicks the stick away and walks over, stopping in front of me and putting her hand on my forehead. “Grace, you’re burning up.”

“I’m fine, you’re worrying too much,” I say, dismissing her.

Aggie crosses her arms. “Stop being so stubborn. You should rest. We have everything else covered.”