Candi gasped in surprise and a speck of saliva went flying down her windpipe. She choked and wheezed, barely able to breathe.

Sarah started whacking her on the back, and Jonathan came over to see what was going on.

"What's wrong with her? Candi, are you okay?"

Candi looked up and saw Jonathan and Sarah both squatted down looking at her Jonathan with concern in his eyes, Sarah with a triumphant gleam in hers.

Candi waved him away, "I'm fine ... I ... just inhaled some drool."

Jonathan got a disgusted look on his face. "What'd you do that for?"

"I didn't do it on purpose! I just inhaled really sharply and down it went. Go away, I'm fine."

"Fine, I'm leaving." He shook his head and muttered as he walked away, "Girls."

"Your turn," said Sarah, smiling sweetly after Jonathan had left.

Candi rolled her eyes. What the heck. She'll find out eventually anyway. "Alright, I'll tell you, but you have to swear to keep your big mouth shut about it. I don't want you to screw it up." Candi looked from left to right, checking to see where Kevin and Jonathan were. Jonathan was back in the workshop area of the tree roots and Kevin was nowhere to be seen. Probably at the waterspout taking a shower.

Sarah mimicked zipping her lip and then throwing away the key. She forgot the locking the lock part, but Candi let it slide. She knew the chances of Sarah keeping it a secret were pretty slim anyway, but on this little island it didn't really matter. It's not like high school where it could make or break your social life.

"Kevin asked me to be his official girlfriend today." Candi watched Sarah's face to judge her reaction.

Sarah didn't say anything, she just smiled.

"So? Aren't you going to say something?"

Sarah shrugged. "There's not much to say. I knew it was something like that. So, did he seal the deal?" Sarah wiggled her eyebrows to emphasize the hidden meaning of her words.

Candi looked aghast, "No, of course not! Like I would just have s.e.x with Kevin on a whim like that because he asked me to be his girlfriend?"

"Well, there's more than one way to seal the deal ... maybe a promise of future deal sealing, perhaps?"

Candi's face got hotter than it already was. "We kissed."

"Ah-ha! I knew it." Sarah stood up and started dancing around the fire, chanting in a stage-whisper, "Candi and Kevin, sittin' in a treehouse, k-i-s-s-i-n-g ... mouse ... "

Candi couldn't help but laugh. "I think your rhyme needs a little work."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Sarah sat back down next to Candi and stared into the flames. Without looking at Candi she continued, "I'm happy for you, I really am. Honestly, I know we don't have a lot of options out here on The Peanut, but you guys make a good couple. If I could pick anyone in the world for my brother to be with, it would be you. Here or anywhere."

Candi felt tears come to her eyes. That was the nicest thing Sarah had ever said to her. She leaned over quickly and enveloped Sarah in a bear hug.

"Whoa, Sugar Lump, ease up on the P-D-A," said Sarah, trying to laugh off the seriousness of the situation.

"That's so sweet of you, Sarah. Thank you." Candi sat back down and wiped her eyes, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm herself.

"Were you crying? Man, you're a softy," teased Sarah.

"Yeah, so? When the wicked witch of the west says she loves you it's a big deal, okay? Don't you cry at happy parts in movies?"

"Sure, I cry. I'm just not sure if I should be insulted at that second wicked witch reference or not."

"Don't be. I know it's your way of expressing your affection, so I'm good with it."

Sarah smiled. "Don't tell anyone I cry at happy parts in movies or it will ruin my rep for being a hardcore b.i.t.c.h."

Candi laughed. "I think I know better than that."

Sarah looked at her thoughtfully. "Yeah, I know you do. Sisters keep secrets, though, you know that, right?"

Candi looked at her, all laughter gone from her eyes. "Yes, I do." She held out her hand. Sarah looked at it confused.

"Secret sister handshake time," responded Candi to Sarah's questioning look.

"Oh, yeah, the dorky secret sister handshake. Let's see ... " she reached out and the two of them tried to maneuver through a series of slaps, snaps and other things to come up with a secret handshake. It was pretty pitiful.

"Geez, you suck at this," said Sarah.

"I'm pretty sure it takes two to suck at this," responded Candi.

"Ok, obviously we need to work on it. I'm going to take a quick shower before dinner. I'll catch you later on this ... handshake stuff."

"Okay, see you later. Dinner will be ready in about fifteen minutes."

"K."

Candi watched Sarah walk away. She was so happy right now, she couldn't keep from grinning ear to ear. She had a boyfriend and a big sister like she had always wished for; one who didn't take any s.h.i.t and would have her back no matter what. This is so much better than trying to ingratiate myself by shopping in a gift shop for a bathing suit.

The memory of those first days with Sarah came rushing back. Candi was amazed at how much things had changed. She couldn't decide if it was her perspective that had become so different or if was just the things in her perspective that had caused this evolution. She shrugged her shoulders; it was a philosophical question for another time she just remembered she had planned to try to make a coconut guava drink, and she needed a couple more coconuts.

Candi tracked Jonathan down and had him crack open six coconuts, saving the water that was in the nut. She used several of their bamboo cups and worked on mixing the coconut water with some of the guava slices. She used a bamboo stick with a small, round, conch-like sh.e.l.l tied to the end of it to mash the guava pulp into the coconut water. When she was finished, she took a taste, immediately spitting it out. Eww, that's pretty gross. She set the cup down next to the others on the shelves Kevin had built bamboo poles lined up next to each other between two tree roots and secured together, side-by-side. Maybe after they sit for a while they'll taste better. She went back to the fire and took the fish off, completely forgetting her experiment.

"Dinner time everyone!"

The others filtered back to the campsite to join her. Kevin immediately took the s.p.a.ce next to Candi.

"h.e.l.lo, girlfriend," he said, winking at her.

Candi smiled and looked at the ground. Okay, so he isn't going to hide it. She looked up to find Sarah smiling at her. Jonathan was waiting for his piece of fish, having completely missed the import of the word 'girlfriend'. Candi sighed at his innocence. He would catch on eventually.

She pa.s.sed out portions of the steamed fish, coconut and guava to everyone. After they'd all had a taste, they agreed that the guava was a nice change. It was better than what they'd eaten every night since the fish started making up the main part of their dinner meal, and that was the goal consistent improvement.

"I think tomorrow I'd like to try smoking some fish," said Candi.

"What do you need to do that?" asked Sarah.

"Well, some sort of chamber that will hold smoke inside for as long as possible. The fire would be at the bottom. There would need to be shelves up above the fire, high enough not to burn. And we'd need lots of both dry and damp wood, and things that smoke a lot when they burn."

Jonathan and Kevin thought about it for a minute. Kevin was the first to speak. "Can we use the tarp? Because if I build a bamboo chamber in a box or teepee shape, I could drape the tarp over it and that would keep the smoke in. Or we could use palm fronds probably."

They all looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders in agreement.

"Good. I think with everyone's help, we could do this, no problem," said Kevin.

"Excellent," said Candi, smiling. "Smoked fish is really yummy. We used to get it around Christmastime every year. I hope I can make it taste okay; I think the smoke does most of the work though."

Jonathan nodded. "Yeah, I love smoked fish. I'm surprised we didn't think of this sooner."

"Actually, I've been trying to block out thoughts of home." Candi didn't want to finish her thought that she really missed their parents because she was afraid she was going to cry in front of everyone.

"I think I've been doing the same thing," said Kevin.

"Me too," said Sarah, suddenly very sober.

Jonathan raised his hand, "Guilty."

Kevin started to squirm. Candi watched him and got the distinct impression that he was uncomfortable. She reached over and touched his arm, a question in her eyes.

He looked at her briefly and then took a deep breath, letting it out in one long short burst. He looked at each of their faces in turn and then began to talk. "Listen guys, I have a little confession to make."

Candi looked at him with alarm, wondering if he was going to confess something about her. She didn't know why it suddenly made her nervous. These guys were her family; she had nothing to worry about with them. She was only a little embarra.s.sed about how she'd let that kiss get away from her earlier. But she soon found out this little confession had nothing to do with the kiss.

"Before we left on the cruise, I found out some stuff that I haven't told anyone, not even Sarah." He looked over at his sister, and Candi followed his gaze. Sarah reacted in a confused way, confirming she had no idea what he was talking about.

"It's about Mr. Buckley." He looked at Jonathan and Candi. Candi sat very still, just waiting to hear what he was going to say and trying to ignore the sick feeling that rose up from her stomach.

Kevin sighed, continuing. "My dad was making all these phone calls in the weeks before we left on the cruise. He was talking to these guys I know he used to work with, real a.s.sholes. Sarah, you know who I'm talking about ... that guy, Mr. Summers, and his buddy Mike Holder."

Sarah nodded her head. "Yep. a.s.sholes. I can confirm that part of the story."

"Anyway, I overheard some of the things he was saying, so I was kind of able to put some things together. I also read an email on his computer when he left it sitting on the dining room table one afternoon." Kevin paused and looked at Jonathan.

"Jonathan, your dad had invented some sort of software that was for telephone stuff, right? And no one had ever solved some sort of problem like this software did if I understand correctly ... "

"Well, the software is for telephone relay systems which are all completely computerized now. His software more efficiently routes the signals that go through those systems, which saves energy, time and resources. It has pretty far-reaching effects, particularly when one considers how relay traffic has steadily increased year over year for the past, I don't know, twenty years."

"Exactly. Well, my dad knew of some other uses for the program that I'm pretty sure your dad didn't some sort of military uses I think. So he had hooked in with some guys through these a-holes that he knows, and once he signed your dad to a contract, he was going to cut your dad out and work the commercialization himself ... and I got the impression it was for purposes that your dad wasn't so crazy about."

Everyone was dead silent around the campfire. Kevin looked at the ground, clearly ashamed.

Candi was the first to speak. "Is this why you asked me to be your girlfriend today? So I would be more inclined to forgive you?" Her heart had gone cold, and all she could think about was being betrayed. He had been so smooth out on that rock today.

"What girlfriend? You're his girlfriend?" Jonathan stared at them in shock. "Since when?"

"Kevin, excuse my French, but what the f.u.c.k?" said Sarah, seriously p.i.s.sed. "Why didn't you say anything to me?" She looked around the campfire. "Why didn't you say anything to us?"

Kevin started to look panicked. The looks he was getting from around the campfire were none too friendly. Candi was happy to see that everyone was supporting her dad.

"I'm so, so sorry guys. I know, I should have said something earlier. Believe me, I started to so many times; but I was just too much of a wimp. I knew it was wrong, what my dad was doing, and I wanted to tell you; but since we've been here, I don't know, it's just seemed so far away like it was a bad dream or something."

Candi gave an inelegant snort. "Sha, like that's an excuse." She shook her head silently in disappointment, letting his story and lame excuses confirm the realization that he'd asked her to be his girlfriend to try and get some sort of alliance going to cushion the impact of his treachery; and that's exactly what it felt like treachery.

"Oh, s.h.i.t, Candi, not you! Don't be mad at me! I asked you to be my girlfriend because I like you, I want you to be my girl! It has nothing at all to do with this c.r.a.p. Nothing at all, I swear."

Sarah spoke up. "Kevin, you may think you're right about that, but the truth is, we can't have secrets from one another. For now and until the foreseeable future, we're family, all four of us. We're all we have. We are totally connected by what we do and say and what we don't say. Without each other, we won't survive this island. And the s.h.i.t that happened before we came here, and the s.h.i.t that will happen when we leave, it's all real. It all matters, because it's going to impact us as a family now." She looked at all the faces around the fire; they were all listening to her intently. "I don't mean to be overly dramatic here, but really I consider you guys my family. We live together, we eat together, we sleep together, we survive together, we are building a life together ... Candi and Kevin, you are my brother and sister. Jonathan, you're my, um, I'm not exactly sure yet but whatever, we're family. And that's all I have to say."

Jonathan cleared his throat and looked at Kevin as he spoke. "I'm not sure that I can speak for Candi on this one, since she, uh, apparently has a different relationship with you than I realized, but anyway, speaking at least for myself, I can say that over the past few weeks, I have learned that you are not your father. You may look like him a little, but that's where the similarities end. I know you've got my back, and you've got my sister's back. I know you wouldn't do to us or to our parents what your dad is doing or trying to do. So I, for one, am not going to hold it against you that your dad is a douchebag." He paused before continuing, "However, I do have a problem with you keeping secrets of the type that are bad or could hurt us; so if we're going to continue to live on this island together, like a family as Sarah said, we have to have an understanding. No more secrets. Secrets are like lies as far as I'm concerned, and I need to be able to trust my family."

Candi nodded her agreement. "I have nothing to add to that. I agree with Jonathan and Sarah."

Kevin's eyes were bright with unshed tears. His voice was hoa.r.s.e when he said, "Thanks guys. Like I said, I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I should have. I know that. From now on, no more secrets. No lies. We are a family." He stood up and held out his hand over the fire.

The group knew this was Kevin's call for a team huddle, since he'd done it enough times during their morning rugby games. The others slowly stood and put their hands out, silently stacking them in the middle over the fire, looking into each other's eyes. "Family," said Kevin.

"Family," said Sarah.

"Family," said Jonathan.

Everyone looked to Candi to see if she was ready to forgive. She sighed heavily.

"Fine. Family."

"Whoot!" yelled Kevin, before turning and lifting her up, grabbing her in big bear hug and spinning her around.

"Put me down, you troll!" she yelled.

"No! You're my girlfriend, and I'm dancing with you!"

"Oh, my G.o.d, you need some serious dancing lessons if this is what you call dancing." Candi looked over at Sarah when the spinning had finally stopped to see what she thought about her brother's public display of affection. Sarah was watching them with a pleased expression on her face.

"I miss school dances," Sarah said wistfully.

Kevin put Candi down and hugged her hard, before letting her go to begin cleaning up around the fire. Candi pretended to help him, but listened carefully to the conversation Sarah and Jonathan started to have, sneaking glances over as often as she could without being too obvious.

"Not me," said Jonathan, a note of horror in his voice.

"Why don't you like school dances?" Sarah asked. "I thought everyone liked them."

"First, I can never get a date; and second, I can't dance ... so that kind of destroys the only two things that make a dance worth going to."

"Well, we could have a prom here on the island, and I could be your date. That is, if you want me to be your date." Sarah looked at Jonathan, the bait dangling between them.

Candi smiled as she looked at the expression on her brother's face hope mixed with fear.

"That doesn't solve the dancing problem," responded Jonathan, appearing neutral to her invitation.

Very cool, bro, very cool. Candi was impressed with her brother's handling of Sarah, who she knew could be intimidating as heck to any guy, let alone an inexperienced one like Jonathan.