Page 52 of Dance Practice, Marooned: Part 2

“I have raided every single fruit tree I can find,” Tatiana says, appearing out of the trees with an armful of papayas. Kaylee is following behind with some green bananas and coconuts. “It’s not much, but at least we have something extra.”

“Did you take stock of the ship and work out how much food is on there?” I ask, tying a blanket by the corner so I can hang it up.

“There is actually quite a supply,” she nods. “Kaylee said they just restocked. If we are careful, and ensure we aren’t eating it all quickly, we should have four to six weeks’ worth of dry supplies and tinned food. There is a freezer full of meat, frozen vegetables and bread. Some fresh fruit and vegetables in the fridge, plus condiments, milk, cheese, things like that. Hell, it’s more food than we have survived on out here so far.”

My stomach rumbles and Kaylee smiles, tiny, but a smile. “Stella, the woman who was on the ship, was only good for one thing and that was making sure we had enough supplies for a few months on the ocean.”

I’m glad to know that, because it is apparent she was good for absolutely nothing else.

“There is also a shit tonne of weed and alcohol,” Tati points out and my eyes widen.

“No shit,” I grin. “At least we can enjoy ourselves a little.”

“I hope so,” she nods, then turns to Kaylee. “Come on, let’s put all of this on the ship and see if we can catch some fish for the freezer.”

“I am returning to the ship to prepare lunch now,” Adrian says, but there is an empty tone to his voice that is worrying. “Once you’re done, come and have some.”

Tati nods, smiling at him before disappearing back into the trees towards the shoreline.

“You good?” I say, turning to Adrian. “You don’t seem that happy for someone who could be going home?”

He pauses, scrunching a heap of water out of some towels. “Home. I don’t even know what that is. Being out here, it made me realise I have nothing, no family, few friends...”

That actually hurts my heart, mostly because I have never sat and actually asked Adrian about his life. None of us have. He has always just been so odd, such a loner, but we have done him a disservice not finding out who he is as a person.

“You have no family?” I go on, casually, trying to push the conversation further.

“My parents died a few years ago. Both of them, cancer.”

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I say. “That’s a lot.”

“They were horrible,” he shrugs. “After I burned the house down when I was eight, they really didn’t like me much.”

Oh boy.

“Well, you were just a kid.”

“A smart kid,” he goes on. “Either way, I don’t have much at home.”

“You’re a super good tech guy, right? Isn’t that why you are here?”

He adjusts his glasses on his nose and stares at me. “That is hardly enough reason to look forward to going home, Grace.”

He has a point.

“Well, there has to be something there... a girl, maybe?”

“I’m not much into girls.”

“Oh,” I say, nodding. “A guy, then?”

“Not into them, either.”

Awkward.

“Ummm, so you don’t, ah, like anyone?”

He shrugs. “Nope.”