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

ATTEMPT 2: FAILED LUKE

The sun beat down on my neck as | gripped the edge of the raft, muscles burning with every step as | 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 frto keep it from falling apart. | had to admit, it

looked good. If anything was going to get us out of here, it was this.

Behind me, | 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 | kept my focus on tightening the tarp, ignoring the urge to toss"

something in Josh's direction.

Finally, we were ready. | 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

Together, we lifted the raft and dragged it toward the water, both of us silent with the anticipation that maybe,

just maybe, this tit wouldn't fall apart. The tide was gentle today, soft waves lapping at our feet as we

waded in, pushing the raft ahead until it started to float. "Moment of truth," | muttered, climbing up onto the

frame. The raft shifted under my weight but held steady, bobbing in place.

Sarah clambered up beside me, her movements careful, her eyes flicking down to the raft's edges, probably half-

expecting 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. | 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 moment.

Josh, meanwhile, hadn't even lifted his head from the journal. The whole week, he'd been as detached as ever,

hiding his face behind those yellowed pages, occasionally tossing out a dry comment about how we were

"wasting energy." | was half- tempted to drag him onto the raft just to see if he'd pitch in. But | left him alone and

steadied myself, glancing back toward Sarah.

"Careful now," | warned, feeling the raft start to tip to one side as Sarah adjusted her footing. Instinctively, we

both reached out, hands grabbing each other's arms, anchoring ourselves as - the raft wobbled beneath us. For a

moment, neither of us moved.

Sarah's hand was warm, fingers digging into my forearm as she balanced herself. Her face was inches from mine,

her eyes focused onwith an intensity hadn't seen before, like she

09.071

ATTEMPT 2: FABLED

288 Vouchers

was searching for something beneath the layers of sweat and exhaustion.

My throat went dry. | wanted to pull back, drop her arm, do something to break the moment-but my hands

stayed where they were. Her eyes drifted down, and | felt her grip tighten, her breath coming a little quicker. For

a second, it felt like there was no one else around like it was just us out on that rickety raft in the middle of

nowhere.

| cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away. Josh was still lounging on his hammock, journal propped up in

front of him, completely oblivious to everything happening outside his little world.

‘Looks like we're holding steady," | said, more to myself than to her. | dropped my hands and pulled back, setting

my feet firmly on the raft to avoid any more close calls.

Sarah's hand lingered a moment before she pulled away, glancing out at the horizon as if she hadn't just been

gripping ontolike her life depended on it. Her voice was soft when she finally spoke. "It's a start, at least."

| nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. The silence felt thick, the kind that hung around like it

had something to say. | looked out to sea, 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 | steadied it,

pretending not to notice how close we were standing. Just as | was about to say something to break the awkward

silence, a voice broke through.

ATTEMPT 2. FAILED

288 (Vouchers

I" :

You two planning to actually go

somewhere, or just have a littls raft

: : i 5

bonding gessipe? \ 6S drawied,

fllodihg a page in his journal, not even

bothering to look up. The content is

on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

no; n

Right," Sarah muttered under her

breath. | saw her roll her eyes Ph

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she didnt pyshit ‘S¥etdrmed back to

the Raft, her fingers tracing the edge

of the tarp. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

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Ignoring Josh's snide comments, |

tapped the edge of the (aft with

foot, fegling it hold Sebrg beneath

AYA n f :

me. "we ve got a shot," | said, trying

to sound more confident than | felt.

Sarah looked at me, nodding slowly. "Let's just hope it lasts."

For the first tthat week, | let myself believe it might.