The pilot boat takes us on a bumpy ride to the island; another seven minute ride accompanied by the intense sun through the open windows and the underflow of exhilarated chatter. Harry and I exchange awkward glances throughout, and although we smile aimlessly at each other, there's something about the way he's pursed his lips that looks like he's tempted to say something.
We walk down the crowded jeti, but it is not nearly as crowded as the island itself. There are people everywhere, and it makes the intense warmth even more overwhelming. But not far from the small town, the beach is in sight, and the thought of even dipping our toes in is enough to send a refreshing chill up our spines.
Lilli is snapping photos of everything in sight that it's starting to become frustrating to hear the constant clicking of her iPhone camera going off.
"Hey, guys," she says, and we all turn to her. "We should all run along the shore later and I'll take a video as a memory."
"I'm afraid we'll have some trouble with that considering how crowded it is," Charlie replies, nodding at every section of beach we can see.
There's people sunbathing, kids running, teenagers squealing, men in Speedos, and the omnipresent buzz of lively people. Patches of yellow sand are barely visible between the colourful beach umbrellas, striped cruise towels and vibrant swimsuits, but Lilli's still looking determined anyway.
"I'm not running through that," Emily states firmly.
"Let's walk further along. Surely the entire island's beaches haven't been taken?" Charlie suggests, but he doesn't sound too sure himself.
The further we walk, the harsher the sun seems to be, but slowly we can see more and more of the beach, and the murmurings of the beachgoers are less and less. Emily snatches the camera out of Lilli's hands and starts running ahead, her back carelessly pointed towards the busy path ahead as she records us.
"You guys should run!" Emily yells. "Naruto run."
"Hell, Emily, you watch Naruto?" Charlie asks, perking up.
Emily tsks loudly. "Who doesn't watch Naruto? They can throw some rounds with me, right here, right now," she announces, obviously challenging the rest of us.
"Who would waste their time," Lilli mutters under her breath, glancing longingly at her camera out of the corner of her eyes.
"Huh?" Emily creeps back over, pushing the camera in Lilli's face. "What was that, honey? I didn't get that."
We all start laughing at the uncomfortable look plastered on Emily's victim's face, and I even hear Harry let out a chuckle. I glance his way and he looks up, but his eyes widen and he returns his attention to the ground.
I let out a silent sigh, then jog over to Emily.
"I'll race you," I say. Because clearly someone's being a party pooper. "Naruto run all the way."
"Hell yes."
And so we're off, and the warm wind catches in our hair and our clothes. Our laughter must be somewhat similar to that of hyenas after they've caught and teased a poor lizard for too long. I can almost picture Lilli's eyes rolling at the sound of us crazies. But there's a life to be lived sans the burden of dwelling on dark secrets and fatal promises.
When Emily's finally puffed out, she shoves the camera into my chest and takes a tumble onto the soft sand, and I almost join her when I remember that I would rather not have to scrub the grains of it out of my favourite beach dress. There's a lot more I could do with my time. So I do a small leap and land beside her, and start to scramble away when she notices how careful I'm being and grabs my ankle to pull me down next to her.
"Not today, Satan!" I squeal as I shake my leg away from her.
"TODAY, SATAN!" Emily squawks as she raises a handful of sand to hurtle at me and my dress. I scramble backwards, debating too late whether I should or shouldn't strip on the spot when my foot lands in a dip in the sand (and oh, God, I should be looking where I'm going) and I fall straight into a big chest, comfortable arms… and an abnormal sharpness in my lower back. My legs are bent awkwardly in front of me, buckling and threatening to let me drop, so I grab onto those arms to steady myself.
"T-Tasmin –"
Nervous but mellow voice triggers the memory of furrowed eyebrows and sad eyes in my head. I quickly straighten myself and turn around. There's that expression.
First we just stare, me rubbing at my back where I could still feel the dull corner of whatever is in Harry's pocket. Just as I'm about to ask what it is, Harry mutters, "Are you okay?"
This is more words than he's said to me in more than twelve hours, so they catch me off guard.
"Fine!" I say too loudly. "Thanks for catching me."
My eyes fall back to his pocket, but he speaks again.
"Do you wanna go for a swim?" he asks, suddenly eager.
I grin. Whatever it is, I'm confident I'll find out later. "Thought you'd never ask."
During the ordeal, the others had already taken off their outer layers and are currently begrudgingly following Lilli, who is instructing them all to "apply a thick layer of fifty S.P.F sunscreen". With a chuckle, I accept a greasy dollop of sunscreen and lather it into my skin, burning under the sun and Harry's observant eyes. The small pain in my lower back continues to throb, a constant reminder of the secrets.