Naked and Defiant (6 page)

Griffon handed her some vines. "Yeah it does.
Your life is in danger. Knowing that you are guarded from the
elements and are warm and well-fed will give anyone a feeling of
security. Especially since these are things you never had to worry
about before."

"I don't like being left alone for so long.
Why can't I go with you when you look for water?" she asked
outright.

"I like alone-time. I'm not accustomed to
being around someone twenty-four-seven."

"Or do you just want to avoid me? Have I done
something to make you not want me around?"

"Jade, listen up." He looked at her
patiently. "You've been moody and sour. I know you are depressed,
but nothing I do or say will change your disposition. That is your
decision and your choice to make, but you need to be prepared to
accept that I don't want to be around you when you are like
this."

"This is just how I am. I have feelings, you
know."

"Yes, you have feelings, but there is nowhere
that says that I am required to feel the same or that I have to
allow you to impose those feelings onto me."

"I don't do that."

"You certainly do. You decide you don't like
something and then expect me not to like it as well, as a show of
support and encouragement. That is a form of manipulation, and it
does not sit well with me."

"I disagree. I have a right to express
myself."

"Yes, you do. And I have the right to remove
myself from the situation, when expressing yourself means making me
as miserable as you are. Try an attitude adjustment, girl. Make
yourself do and say everything opposite of what you are used to.
You might find out that people will like being around you
more."

"Plenty of people like being around me!" Jade
snapped.

"Really? That isn't what you shared earlier
about how all your friends are superficial and competitive. Did you
ever consider that you were the problem in the relationship—not
them?"

"You are wrong. I have never done anything to
make them not like me."

"That's good to know—that you are not
demanding, rude, inconsiderate, selfish or self-serving with all
your friends—or that you don't try to force them to accept your
attitude or embrace your thoughts and feelings. They must all miss
you so much," he said, with a sarcastic tone.

Jade's face reddened, when she realized he
had used her words against her. She changed the subject. "You
mentioned you were poor growing up. What was it like?" Jade asked
casually, weaving the basket like he had shown her.

"You are doing an excellent job," he
commented, ignoring her question. "We can use that as a drag. Put
some poles on either side, and ..."

"Talk to me. Please? I want to get to know
the bunny behind the badger." Jade forced a playful grin in his
direction.

"There is no bunny."

"Seriously? I saw a soft side of you when I
fell. And," she pointed at him, "if you really didn't care, you
would have left me in the ocean."

"I was being a decent human being," Griffon
huffed. "Nothing more."

"Griffon, I need you to talk to me. I'm
teetering on the edge right now." Her voice choked, "I need
something to hang onto, before I fall into this pit of
despair."

"You're quite the drama queen, aren't
you?"

"I have my moments. I know I've been cranky
lately. I'm sorry. I'm just, well, at a loss as to what to do or
how to think."

"I'm not much of a talker, kid. Sorry."

Jade tried a different tactic, "You were
married, right? That means there had to have been something decent
and caring about you, right?"

The answer was harsh and bitter: "You are
very naïve if you believe that." Griffon shifted uncomfortably;
this conversation was not one he wished to have, and Jade was not
about to let it go.

"I am just making conversation. You don't
have to be snarky about it."

"How about you tell me why that douche bag
dumped you?" Griffon directed at her.

Jade sighed. "You are one stubborn piece of
work, aren't you? He was my fiancé. That is, until my daddy said he
would cut me off, if I married him. Simon was pissed because I
chose money over him."

"I would think that, given his behavior, you
made the right decision," Griffon commented as he handed her a
roasted banana.

She peeled the skin back and bit into the
hot, gooey fruit. "This is soooo good! Yeah, hindsight, right? He
convinced me to give him a chance and promised that love would
prevail. He wanted me to tell Daddy that we broke up. I assumed it
was so he could buy some time to prove himself. I told Daddy that I
was going fly out to Tongatapu to recover from the split. We own a
condo on the island, and it is one of my favorite places to go
clubbing, so Daddy wasn't surprised. Of course, Simon and I were
secretly meeting, so that we could spend a few weeks alone to
figure things out. I told him that I would learn to live without
Daddy's money, and that I believed love would keep us happy."

"It sounds like he didn't agree."

"Nope. That was when he said he would take me
out on the speedboat to sight-see. Next thing I know, we were at
this atoll. That was when he informed me that I would not marry
him, but instead I was to give him money as payment for the
bullshit I put him through. I was appalled, of course, and told him
to shove his head up his ass. That was when he hit me."

"Bastard."

"He went a bit ballistic, saying that if he
couldn't have the money, neither could I. I told him to fuck
himself and that it would be a cold day in hell before he touched a
penny. He got angry, shoved me overboard, and took off."

"Won't your father notice you are missing?
Witnesses ..."

"Simon planned this well. If you read the
tabloid, you know that I have a bit of a reputation of being a
party girl. I have a habit of taking long vacations and my father
is accustomed to not hearing from me for several weeks on end, and
usually then because I need more money. Anyway, Simon and I arrived
at Tongatapu separately. He took a cab to a nightclub where I
picked him up outside. No one would have recognized me in the
car."

"What about tracing your spending? Won't your
dad notice that you are not shopping?"

"My dad keeps my private account nice and
fat. He would have no reason to look, unless I ran out of
dough."

"Does that scumbag have access to your
account?"

"Nope. He wanted it, though. That was the
only smart thing I did, huh?"

Griffon sighed, placing the finished basket
outside the shelter. "We all make mistakes. We just need to learn
from them and be careful never to repeat them."

"I guess I've made quite a few," Jade said,
quietly. "What was your biggest mistake?"

"Falling in love.

"Will it ever stop?" Jade asked, after two
solid days of rain. "I am bored to death and am getting really
hungry. What I would do for a hamburger and fries … or two big
scoops of coffee ice cream, with Oreos packed in a
chocolate-covered waffle cone …"

"Yes, I know," Griffon grumbled, "you have
been telling me that every hour for the past two days and reminding
me exactly how poor your diet is. It's starting to let up a bit.
Once I think we are safe from the lightning, we can go out."

"Do you know how to make a bow?"

"Yeah. Do you know how to shoot one?"

"Yeah!" Jade sounded excited. She slapped
Griffon's arm at his disbelieving expression. "I really do! I used
to compete in longbow archery when I was a teenager. Our safari
guide was a bushmaster and taught me how to shoot. Stop looking at
me like that; I'm telling the truth!"

"I don't believe in doing safari," Griffon
frowned, deeply.

"It was a rainforest photo safari! Geesh. We
didn't hunt anything. He taught me, so I would keep out of
everyone's hair. And to kill a snake, if I needed to. I hate
snakes," she shuddered.

"I'll make you a bow and some arrows and you
can show me. Personally," he held up another spear, "I prefer a
Woomera spear-thrower."

"Just like a man ... Favoring a long
harpoon," Jade teased. "You don't know how to use a bow, do you?"
she asked mischievously.

"Don't need to know," Griffon grunted.

"You are so damn stubborn. Hey, it's down to
a drizzle, and it's really warm. Can I go out? Please? I'll wear a
trash bag," Jade begged, sticking her head out the shelter.

"You will stay put until I decide it's safe
to go," Griffon said, taking the sharpening stone to the edge of
his knife. A distant clap of thunder emphasized his point. "Trash
bags are too much like clothing, and it isn't cold enough to worry
about hypothermia."

"It will keep me dry, that's all. I've been
so good, haven't I?"

"We both know that will change very soon," he
sighed, shaking his head as she offered her wide, puppy-dog eyes.
"Go on, get out of here. And if you see any lightning, you are to
get your ass back right away. Make sure you stay within the sound
of my voice, and do
not
forget to mark your trail."

"Yes, sir!" Jade offered a mock salute,
quickly slipping out of the shelter before he changed his mind. She
twirled in the light sprinkle of the rain, grateful that the
temperature had once again changed to balmy warmth. Venturing down
to the beach, Jade paused to take in the eerie beauty. Pockets of
heavy mist followed the bright green tree line, and the wet,
sun-bleached sand sparkled under the rivulets of water than ran
down towards the surf line. She checked the fish wall and grinned;
two large parrot fish were swimming around in the 'hole'. They
would remain there until Griffon speared them for dinner.

In the distance, she saw a billowing column
of steam and decided to investigate. They had not had the
opportunity to explore the island fully because of the
unpredictable weather, and Griffon mentioned the strong possibility
of a freshwater source based on the foliage. Jade simply hoped that
her discovery meant a volcano-heated pool of water. She would give
up her Mercedes for a hot bath! She carefully stepped her way
through the dense trees and between rocky ledges, making her way
around tall, rocky shelves and heavily-vined thickets. The beach
was out of view within minutes, but she maintained her focus on the
column of steam, without paying attention to direction. She lost
track of time as she sought her way towards her goal, weaving in
and out of the jungle, not realizing that she had become hopelessly
lost in the process.

Jade came upon an edge of a short cliff that
overlooked a narrow channel lined with protruding reef mounts.
Grunting, she turned around to attempt to find another way towards
the steam column, her frustration growing as it began to dissipate
with the breaking of the cloud cover. She paused only to yank a
small thorn from her foot and to grab a ripe papaya, which she
slurped hungrily as she continued in the direction of the hopeful
hot bath.

Her efforts were rewarded several hours later
when the sound of water caught her attention. She picked her way
around another tall rock mound and was greeted with the splattering
heat of a small sulfur pool fed by a tiny trickling waterfall.
Squealing with delight, Jade slowly lowered herself into the steamy
water, ignoring the rancid odor as she sunk shoulder deep with a
happy sigh. People paid good money for sulfur spas and here she
was, getting it for free! She submerged her head, washing away the
salt and sand from her hair and enjoying the feel of her skin as it
was cleansed and rehydrated in the mineral bath. She sighed as the
heat penetrated her aching muscles and she closed her eyes, nestled
in the natural contour that served as a lounger. Never again would
she take a spa experience for granted.

She slept so deeply that the sound of
Griffon's call failed to wake her. It was not until he abruptly
jerked her out of the pool and smacked the back of her thigh with
one very large hand that she fully awakened.

"OW! Why the hell did you do that?" she
demanded, trying to pull her wrist from his grip.

He smacked her bottom this time, his hand
imprint white against the pink skin that was still warm from the
pool. "Didn't I tell you to stay close by? Didn't I tell you that
if there was lightning, you were to get your ass back to camp?"

"Yeah. Ow! Stop it! I just ..." her words
were interrupted by the sound of thunder.

"You are in trouble once again, young
lady."

"But I found fresh water! Look!"

"That is wonderful. But it does not negate
the fact that you disappeared on me. Damn it!" Griffon shouted, as
the rain began to pour upon them. "Move your rump before we get
ourselves electrocuted!"

"Which way?" Jade asked, confused.

Griffon's face reddened with anger, "You
didn't even bother to mark your trail, did you? How many times do I
need to tell you that it is dangerous out here? How many times?!"
he demanded, the rain running down his face.

"I forgot," Jade said, biting her lip.

"You 'forgot'," he repeated, "For the last
week, while you were sitting warm and dry, feasting on lobster and
clams, I have been trying to teach you about this environment, to
keep you safe," he lectured, yanking her behind him as he made his
way through the thick jungle and between the rocky ravines. "I gave
you a chance to show me that you could be responsible and use your
brain. I specifically told you to stay within calling distance,
didn't I? I have been looking for you for hours, straining my voice
calling for you, and where do I find you? Sound asleep while
soaking in a thermal pool! Did it ever cross your mind that maybe I
would be worried sick about you? Consider yourself lucky that I am
one hell of a tracker."

"I just wanted a hot bath. It felt sooooo
good, and …"