Homesickness, confusion, and boredom…I know I’ve hit rock bottom because I’ve resorted to playing with bugs. I guess I’m not the only one who sees it this time because the next thing I know…Mr. C is walking over to me.
Craig: Are you okay?
I can’t even lie.
Prosperity: No. I think I want to go home.
Craig: Okay…that’s a solution for tomorrow, but how does that help you tonight?
Prosperity: It doesn’t.
Craig: Then change into your swimwear and follow me.
I don’t have anything to lose, so I do exactly what he says.
He leads me to the waterfall.
Craig: Have you been here yet?
I’d rather him not know about the time I saw him taking a shower here.
Prosperity: No
Craig: Then you’re missing one of the joys of Sulani.
He reaches down and swipes two handfuls of water into his hands and flings it my way. I lower my shoulder to avoid it. I laugh and respond by sending water back.
We laugh and play, splashing water at each other like children.
Craig: I credit this waterfall with making me fall in love with this place. When I first saw it…I knew I wanted to make a home here.
Prosperity: I can see why. It’s amazing.
He pauses with a pensive expression.
Craig: Are you unsure of what to do about college? We’ve had students in the past attend their college classes on the weekdays, then return to help on the weekends. That’s perfectly feasible.
Prosperity: It’s not that.
Craig: Are you not getting along with the other conservationists. It may be due time to hold another team meeting to resolve whatever is going on between you all.
I take a step forward.
Prosperity: It’s not that either.
Craig: Then, what is it? How can I help?
He can help in a major way, but not in the way he thinks. I lean forward and tentatively put my lips on his… answering his question with a question of my own. It’s a risk, and I have no way of knowing how he’ll respond.
He takes an alarmed step back. The rejection slaps me in the face.
Craig: We can’t…
Prosperity: Are you attracted to me?
His response comes quickly.
Craig: *breathy exhale* Of course I am. How could I not be? But we can’t do this.
Prosperity: Why not? Give me a good reason.
Craig: I’m way older than you for one…and I’m your boss.
Prosperity: I technically don’t work for you. I’m a volunteer…
Craig: Peri –
I’m not interested in hearing anymore. I step to him once again. This time he pulls me forward, takes me into his arms, and returns my kiss.
At once, I’m suffering from a lack of control…hypnotized by the white noise of the waterfall, tinted in shades of lust and longing. His eyes, his kisses, his body pressed against mine so close that we’re practically joined as one…
I can see the conflict in his eyes as he backs away once again. But I can also see the moment when he loses the internal fight. He takes me by the hand and pulls me into the waterfall. He doesn’t back away this time. We kiss as we remove and toss away what little we have on.
♫ Fire and the ice colliding, I wanna go deep and dive in
It’s heaven on Earth but hell of a night to melt into one
She’s never been afraid of sirens, head down but keep drivin’
Damn we might crash moving so fast but baby…
Don’t stop, I need it
Release me, it’s too hard for me to hold ♪ (source)
We end up doing what everyone thinks we’re doing anyway. It’s not a good excuse for what happened, but it’s there if I find myself in need of one. Shrouds of satisfaction and guilt accompany me back to camp as I avoid Craig’s eyes and walk away.
(Generation 2 Chapter Summaries)
