[Neil & Danny - Second island]

[plantfood]

The small pack on his back has water, food and sunscreen, enough of the first two to sustain him for a full week if necessary. It won't be, Mathias knows this, but even with all the work he's done on going into the jungle, he can't completely shake the fear that something terrible will happen. Something will keep him there, even if Neil and Danny get to leave and it's entirely irrational, but the extra food and water make him feel better. They calm the heavy pound of his heart.

Lucy knows where they're going and how long they'll be gone for, something else he's learned the hard way. In Mexico, no one had known where they were, but he's made sure that's covered here, and he's not worried about that. If they don't return by this evening, someone will come for them.

There's no reason to think they won't return. It's a simple trip to the second island. The restlessness that has been growing in Mathias for weeks has been almost overwhelming since Veronica's disappearance. Without her, he feels less grounded, scattered, like there's nothing to keep him from disappearing himself, though he knows that isn't true. He has Sam to look after, and it's because of her that he hasn't gone sooner.

Now, though, he's standing on the west beach with Danny and Neil, early morning sunlight turning the waves pink. There are two canoes in the sand, ready for them to push off and he doesn't feel good. There's not even the smallest part of him that feels close to good, but he doesn't feel terrible either. And that's something.

"Who wants to row on their own?" he asks with a small smile, gesturing at the two canoes.

Comments

[little_moons]

It's not that I don't know what I'm doin' here, but I can't help feelin' out of place. I can't help that small part of me that feels like it's done wrong. I've run out on Tom so many fuckin' times, a handful of hours here and there, nights with no word, I'm not sure I oughta be leavin' him with the girls yet again. But it's just a day trip, and I can't deny needin' a break. I can't deny that Veronica Mars is gone, one of the first people I met on this fuckin' rock, and it feels like maybe I oughta be here, with Mathias, while he gets his head back on straight.

"You two wanna cozy up in one, I don't wanna get between you," I smirk, shifting the weight of my backpack and squinting out over the ocean toward the other island.