Free Island Rush by Marien Dore Page B

slip an arm around me after dropping the suitcase. At the contact, I felt my chest jump.  But it was to help guide me down to the lake, which made more sense. 
    Approaching the lake, I could see a cut in the lake on my left, across from where the waterfall was. It was a small stream, flowing back in the direction we came from.  Back to the ocean, no doubt.
    It was beautiful, this little lake.  I stepped closer to the water with Mr. Rush and saw it was just as clear as the ocean too.  Except this water was cleaner and we could drink it. He snapped me out of my daze. “Take your clothes off.”
    I was shocked for a second, and his words made me blush.  Then I realized one of our reasons for making the trip here.  I slipped the shirt off slowly and carefully, cringing.  At this point, with the pain, heat, and my need for water, I didn’t care.  I stripped my dirty shorts off too, standing in my bra and underwear. Before I could do anything, though, besides blush with how awkward this became, he guided me into the water until it was up to our hips and stopped.
    “I’m going to take the bandage off, and it may sting a bit,” he said with a strange note in his voice. His eyes never dared to look at me.
    He reached down and untied the knot that rested on my stomach, and it went slack from its hard hold against my back.  It let the air reach my cut as the now sticky shirt came off. He grabbed it before it fell into the water.  Taking a few steps back, he flung it towards shore, which wasn’t far and it landed in the grass.
    The water wasn’t exactly cold but rather refreshing in the heat. He moved back and stopped behind me. “Stay straight and don’t move.”
    I nodded.  This reminded me of yesterday. I felt water splash up from behind me and hit my back like little needles. Of course, this was actually more relaxing than the burn salt water gave me.  When he was finished, he came back into my sight.
    “If you plan to cool off, I would do it now. I will need to patch you back up once we get out. It would be very wise to drink as well,” he said.
    I nodded as I watched him tend to himself.  He splashed water in his own sweaty face and leaned back, falling into the water until it was over his head.  I stared in curiosity at him as he resurfaced, his hair rinsed of the sand and sweat that once occupied his head.  He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the water as he stood, leaving me gawking.  It wasn’t just how gorgeous he appeared.  He looked so different.
    Before he could open his eyes, I did the same thing.  I slid down under the water so he wouldn’t see me staring at him.  More important was the wonderful and glorious feeling it gave me.
    It felt heavenly, floating all over my body as the sun’s damage was erased with the cool liquid. The sand at the bottom was soft between my feet. I took in the water when I rose up, swallowing greedy sips of water.  Then, I leaned back and relaxed in the water as did Mr. Rush. 
    “Does your back feel better?”
    I nodded. I felt no pain in the water. I did feel my stomach twist though when I saw Mr. Rush raise a hand to his forehead, running his fingers back through his hair.  It made him look like the teacher I remember him to be. It was nothing like before, but it came close.  His hair was pushed behind his ears, and his bangs were brushed back as well. 
    As I looked at him now, looked at the traits that reminded me of him being the perfect teacher, I realized he really must be hiding his hurt. He was supposed to be getting married soon.  There was a good chance that he would never see the woman he loved again. He hid it quite well.
    “That leads back to the ocean right?” I asked, pointing to the small opening in the lake where a stream started.
    “Probably.  We can follow that back to the beach when we need to.”
    “Why would go back to the beach?”
    “Food,” he stated.  “We haven’t really looked for food. We got lucky with the