‘Oh, Ozzy, you’re so strong,’ Lockie says, mocking what I’m guessing is supposed to be my voice.
‘Oh, grow up,’ I tell him. ‘At least he’s honest and decent and…’
My voice trails off as I notice Lockie subtly glance at the camera, then back to me.
Oh, right, because they’re going to keep filming us until we set off. Honestly, he’s lucky, because I’d be chewing him out if I could. However, when we’re off this island, and back to safety, I’ve decided I have nothing to say to him. This whole thing has been a disaster; everything has gone downhill since he speed-dated his way into my life. Now, I just want to move on, I want to forget about him, to forget that I let myself get caught up in his charm when I really should have known better. It’s not like he didn’t show me who he was, before we left. But I’m not going to beat myself up, it was the island that ushered me into making bad choices. The dating pool here is small and he was just the easiest option – but the one that has caused me the most heartache.
Ozzy roars like a lion when he gets the motorboat engine going – seemingly one-handed too, what a babe.
‘We’re doing it,’ he says. ‘We’re fucking doing it!’
The ladies board the boat first, then Tony, then all that’s left is for me and Lockie to board the raft.
‘After you,’ he says.
I’m hoping for aTitanic-type situation, where the raft can only hold me, and we have to leave him here. Wouldn’t that be sad, if he has to stay here, on this island? I bet he’d love it.
I don’t even look at him. I climb aboard and get balanced in the middle. Then he gets on and scoots up next to me. I suppose it makes sense, we want the weight to be as even as possible.
We’ve tested it a few times and it’s holding – Ozzy broke out all of his survival training to find the right kind of vines, to tether the two together. All that’s really left to do now is set off.
‘Right, let’s do it. Say bye-bye, island,’ he tells us all.
‘Bye-bye, island,’ we all call out.
It’s odd, knowing what I know now. I thought that this season was a write-off, that the storm hitting right away would mean time, money and resources wasted. In a way, if I have my professional hat on, I’m glad that it wasn’t. I just really, really wish I had known. I wish Lockie had told me. Maybe I would have done things differently… maybe. I definitely wouldn’t have donehim.
I grip the side of the raft so hard my knuckles ache. I just need to hang on, just a little longer, and we’ll reach the rescue boat. I’m sure the others will be so happy that they won’t even question the timing of it, and everyone will be so proud that our plan worked, I’m not going to ruin it for them. Sure, they’ll find out that everything has been aired, but that’s what they signed up for, right? They’re used to living their lives on screen, and they all came across so well. I hope they’re happy, and I’m sure they will be. I’m not used to it though, this isn’t my life. I stepped in as a favour and, yeah, okay, if I had known, maybe I would have insisted we pulled the plug, so maybe that’s why they didn’t tell me but… ugh. I hate that Lockie kept it from me, for views, even if it was what we both wanted. I just wanted the choice.
I allow myself a quick glance Lockie’s way. He’s not looking at me. He’s got his eyes on the horizon, probably looking out for Simon and co. Waiting for his big moment, his pat on the back. He got his storyline, that’s for sure. A reality TV show gone wrong, survivors trapped on an island, fending for themselves. And I couldn’t sue them if I wanted to, I know the contract, I know how flexible it is. Not only does it say showrunners can do, and film, whatever they want, but it says that they can sue any contestant who gets in the way of production. At the end of the day, I signed that contract, I’m a contestant, not an employee, and there’s nothing I can do.
I’m pulled from my thoughts by one of the vines snapping. Then another one. Lockie and I stare at one another. Well, what can we do?
Ozzy turns around.
‘Just keep going,’ Lockie tells him.
‘They’re going to snap,’ Ozzy replies.
‘It’s okay,’ Lockie insists. ‘Go, get help, we can swim back to shore. Send someone for us.’
‘We can’t leave you,’ Camilla calls out.
‘We’ll be okay,’ I reply.
They’re right. It’s not like we can board the boat, or reattach the raft out at sea. We’re not that far from the shore, and we do have the luxury of knowing that help is actually, definitely on the way.
Then another one snaps. Then another. Then the final one.
‘We’ll be back for you,’ Ozzy calls out as they speed off, his voice growing quieter and quieter by the split second.
We watch in silence as they speed off. I just need to remind myself that help is coming, help is coming – Lockie made sure of it. It’s scripted, at this point. I just need to hang in there.
The raft’s already taking on water, now that we’re not moving. Lockie looks it over for a second and then turns to me.
‘Come on. We need to swim back,’ he says.
I laugh.
