"I was doing just fine before you showed up." Tim grumbles as he sits down on the sand.

"Sorry." Austin shrugs as he sit down beside Tim. "It's not like I planned it."

"I know, I'm sorry." Tim sighs as he brushes his hair back and stares out across the ocean. "I just don't understand what's going on. You've only been here a couple of days, we shouldn't even be having these feelings. Then you'll be rescued, and where will that leave us?"

"So, you think they're looking for me?" Austin asks as he looks up at the cloudless sky.

"Oh, I'm sure of it." Tim answers with a touch of sadness in his voice.

"What will happen if the guy stops sending you stuff?" Austin asks as he draws in the sand.

"I'll still survive." Tim shrugs. "There's a smorgasbord of seafood right in front of you. Fish, shrimp, crab. There are fruit trees on the island. I have pots and pans to cook with. It's just when I run out of toilet paper, I'll have to figure out which leaves I can use." He smiles and looks around at Austin.

"I don't know if I want to be found or not." Austin answers as he examines a small shell he found in the sand.

"Yes, you do." Tim replies. "You're family is probably worried sick about you."

"What about your family? Your mom and your sister?" Austin asks, looking up to meet Tim's eyes.

"Austin, it's been 5 years since I went missing. I'm sure they searched for me, came up with no leads and finally gave up. They probably had some kind of funeral for closure." Tim says sadly. "But knowing my mom, she still hasn't given up hope. If she's even still alive."

"It just dawned on me that I don't even know your last name." Austin chuckles.

"Foust." Tim answers.

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you, Tim Foust." Austin holds out his hand. "I'm Austin Brown from Tifton, Georgia."

"Tim Foust, Nederland, Texas." Tim chuckles as he shakes Austin's hand.

"Imagine that, two country boys stuck on a deserted island together." Austin laughs.

They sit in a comfortable silence just looking out at the horizon.

"Uh, how are you with storms?" Tim asks.

"I've never really been a fan." Austin chuckles. "And after being caught out in one, I don't think I like them at all. Why?"

"Well, there's quite a few hurricanes that hit the island." Tim says.

"And you're telling me this because...." Austin stares at Tim with huge eyes.

"I don't mean to scare you or anything, but those black clouds looks pretty threatening." Tim says as he points to some dark clouds on the horizon.  "And the air is beginning to feel strange."

"Wait. What? You think that's a hurricane? What are we suppose to do? Where are we suppose to go?" Austin asks as he begins to panic.

"The cave is safe. Might get a little windy. I've got food and water." Tim says as he stands up and knocks the sand off the seat of his pants. "Probably wouldn't hurt to grab some fruit for breakfast."

He reaches down to help the smaller man up. "But don't worry your pretty head about it. We'll be fine."

Austin nods quickly and takes Tim by the hand.

As they got back to the path leading to the cave, Tim turned loose of his hand.

"Wait here." Tim says as he runs up the path and into the cave.

Austin turns around and looks at the dangerous looking clouds that were moving closer.

Tim came back carrying a basket made from vines. He takes Austin by the hand and quickly leads him into the jungle.

They begin to gather fruits and coconuts until the basket was full. Tim kept a close watch on the skies.

"We need to head back. The wind will be picking up soon." Tim says as they begin to make their way out of the jungle.

Tim sets the basket on the sand and ties a rope to it. The rope led up the cliff and was connected to a tree outside of the cave.

He took Austin by the hand and helps him up the steep path to the cave. 

The wind was beginning to pick up, causing the waves to crash loudly on the beach.

"You sure the waves won't reach the cave?" Austin asks nervously.

"Positive." Tim answers as he takes the rope that was tied to the tree and begins hoisting the basket of fruit up the cliff.

Austin shields his eyes from the blowing sand, though it stung his body.

"Go on inside!" Tim shouts over the roaring wind.

Austin nods and runs inside the cave.

Tim unties the basket and sets it aside. He reties the rope around the tree then throws the loose end back down the cliff.

He grabs up the basket and hurries inside the cave.

"Now what? Do we just wait it out?" Austin says, wrapping his arms around himself.

"No, the wind will be picking up a whole lot more and this cave will be like a wind tunnel." Tim says as he begins to place large rocks on some of his supplies. "We have to anchor everything down, get what we really need and get somewhere where the wind won't be so rough."

Austin nods as he starts to help anchor down the supplies. 

After saving their supplies, they gather up the blankets, food and Austin's clothes.

"It's gonna get worse that this?" Austin shouts over the wind as it howls through the cave.

"The storm hasn't even got here yet." Tim says as he leads Austin out of the main room of the cave.

He carries everything behind a huge boulder and sets it down.

"This will block most of the wind." Tim says as he begins to spread out the blankets.

"I take it that you've done this before?" Austin asks as he sets down his suitcases and the basket of fruit.

"After the first time, yes, I learned very quickly to find somewhere safe." Tim says as he sits down on the blanket and leans against the wall of the cave. "Like I said before, a lot of hurricanes hit the island."

"So what do we do now?" Austin says, looking down at Tim, with a somewhat frightened look on his face.

"We wait." Tim says as he pats the blanket beside him for Austin to have a seat.

*************

PLEASE VOTE & LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS!!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

*~*  AUSTIM  *~*