Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

ATTEMPT 2: FAILED LUKE

The sun beat down on my neck as I gripped the edge of the raft, muscles burning with every step as I dragged the damn thing across the sand AGAIN. It was sturdier this time, less of a flimsy stack of bamboo and more of an actual structure-thanks to the tarp we'd tied across the frame to keep it from falling apart. I had to admit, it looked good. If anything was going to get us out of here, it was this.

Behind me, I could hear Josh in his hammock, lazily turning pages in one of those old, sun-bleached journals he'd found buried in the sand a few weeks ago. He hadn't moved much since he "hurt" his leg-

a scrape, really, but you'd think he'd lost > a limb by the way he lounged around, occasionally lifting his head to complain about the heat or demand more mangoes.

"Look at him," Sarah muttered, hauling a few extra bamboo rods. over her shoulder. Her face was flushed, either from the effort or sheer irritation, maybe both. She dropped the bamboo next to the raft with a huff, squinting at Josh. "He's milking that injury for all it's worth. I I kept my focus on tightening the tarp, ignoring the urge to toss" something in Josh's direction.

Finally, we were ready. I looked over at Sarah and gave her a nod. She wiped her brow, smearing a streak of dirt across her forehead, and smiled.

09071

ATTEMPT 2, TAILED

11 288 Wouchers

waves lapping at our feet as we waded in, pushing the raft ahead until it started to float. "Moment

careful, her eyes flicking down to

to see it split right down the middle like last time. But the tarp held strong, and even as we both balanced on it, the raft stayed together. I could feel Sarah's tension, her shoulders tight as she hovered close, looking around like the ocean was going to swallow us up at any

tossing out a dry comment about how we were "wasting energy." I was half- tempted to drag him onto the raft just to see

we both reached

Her face was inches from mine, her eyes focused on me with an intensity hadn't seen

09.071

ATTEMPT 2: FABLED

288 Vouchers

for something beneath the layers of

her arm, do something to break the moment-but my hands stayed where they were. Her eyes drifted down, and I felt her grip tighten, her breath coming a little quicker. For a second, it felt like there was no one

still lounging on his hammock, journal propped up in front of him, completely oblivious

we're holding steady," I said, more to myself than to her. I dropped my hands and pulled back, setting my feet firmly on the raft to avoid any more close

away, glancing out at the horizon as if she hadn't just been gripping onto me like her life depended on it. Her voice was soft when she finally spoke. "It's

my neck. The silence felt thick, the kind that hung

focusing on the faint outline of the island we were aiming for. If we could get this thing to hold up, it could be our shot at escape. A long one, sure, but it was better than rotting away here with nothing but mangoes. The raft tilted slightly as Sarah shifted her weight again, and I steadied it, pretending not to notice how close we were standing. Just