Part 138: Baring of Souls PT 1

Taylor and Mandy sat by themselves on the beach near their camp. McKay was starting to feel the effects of the beating he had to take. Tony gave him some of his Advil and let him sleep it off. Taylor stared at her lover; upset over the minor scaring that Sawyer gave him. “I want off this island.” She whispered.

“I know, Taylor.” Mandy whispered.

“Most of these people have been nice but now, they throw this crap at us? How are they supposed to trust us now?”

“We just have to work through it. I have faith McKay, John and Tony will get us through this just like they have before.” The young blonde sighed.

“If it wasn’t for them . . .we probably would not have made it this far,” Taylor sighed.

Then a shadow blocking out the sun came by them. Mandy looked up, smiling seeing as for once, Boone came to see her. The young man looked at McKay with his bright blue eyes, noticing his face. “What happened to him?” he asked.

“He got in a fight with that bastard Sawyer.” Taylor grunted.

“I know the feeling,” the young man sighed, kneeling down, “I thought for a while he has horded the inhalers for my sister Shannon. When I tried to find them, he beat me up for invading his private stash.”

“How could Jack let this lunatic run around uncontrolled?” The young blonde coughed.

“He was punished for what he did. Don’t worry about him, Taylor. He’s stupid. He’ll get what is coming to him.” Boone assured.

“How are things going with you?” Mandy said, touching his leg.

“I came to see you, beautiful,” he smiled back at her, “Can we take a walk on the beach?”

Mandy looked to her friend for approval. Taylor smiled and shook her head, saying that she would watch over McKay. The blonde then took Boone’s hand and let him help her up. The two lovers began their gentle walk down to the watery sand. Taylor watched her best friend walk away with the young suitor. She couldn’t have been more happy that she found someone.

The water soaked up the bottom of Boone’s pants legs, as he walked. Mandy stood close to him, sliding her arm around his waist. The young man replied by placing his arm around her shoulders, holding her close. A few of the survivors pointed at them, commenting on their closeness. Boone didn’t care; he wasn’t afraid to hide his love for Mandy. The blonde looked at them, and their curious stares. “People are wondering how we feel in love so easily.” She whispered.

“Let them wonder,” Boone said, “None of them would get it.”

“Like Shannon?” Mandy commented.

“Yeah,” he sighed, “Just like Shannon.”

The young woman noticed the sadness in his tone about his sister. “Did I say something wrong?” she asked.

“No, you didn’t,” Boone kissed her on the forehead, “Its because of Shannon I wanted to talk to you.”

“Has she said something hurtful about me again?” she asked.

“No. I wanted to tell you about our past. I don’t want their to be any secrets between us.”

“What . . .past?” Mandy was getting a little concerned.

“I call Shannon my sister but she isn’t really. Not in the true sense of the word. She’s my step-sister, related by Marriage not blood.”

“Oh, . .wow,” she responded, then realizing why they bicker.

“Which is why . . .I fell into her trap. I was . . in love with her. And it wasn’t just brotherly/sisterly love. It was sexual attraction.”

“Sexual?” Mandy stopped walking.

Boone turned and faced her. The blonde stared up at him, then gently rubbed his cheek. He closed his eyes, sighing at her touch. “Boone . . .did you . ..have sex with Shannon?” she asked.

“I did.” He immediately said, “It was one of the biggest mistakes I had made in my life. Because I was deluded enough to believe it go somewhere. She makes it a habit of using men, and spitting them out. I was one of those men. I was . . .too blind to see it.”

Mandy started to get teary eyed, “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I wanted you to know. In case Shannon tried to use it against me. I . . .would die, Mandy. I would die if I knew you hated me.”

“How could I hate you?” the blonde sniffed, “You . .you have your big mistake. I have mine too.”

“What do you mean?” Boone asked.

Mandy lowered her head. She didn’t want to tell him; EVER but she realized she had to. He proved his love to her by revealing a mistake from his past. He had to know at that moment; he had earned the right, even by accident. “I was in . . .a porn video at the age of 18.” She whispered.

Boone looked at her in sadness. A tear slowly went down his left cheek.

“I was stupid, and naïve,” Mandy continued, “I thought it would make me cool. Make me famous. But then I got harassed by every jock-deuce bag who wanted to have sex with me. No . .no man has been able to trust me.”

Boone closed his eyes, sighing. Another tear came out his other eye. “These men that . . .you made the video with . . did they hurt you?”

“No,” she whispered.

“And you never made another one again, right?” he asked.

“No, and I never will. I wish . .I wish I could take it all back.”

“I know the feeling,” he said, opening his eyes, “Thank you, Mandy. For being so brave.”

Boone embraced her, kissing her on the cheek. Mandy held onto him, crying into his shoulder. The two lovers held each other in the ocean breeze. They felt almost naked and exposed. But in their love was the comfort that would stay with them for a long as it could. “I love you, Mandy,” he whispered, “I wanted you to know that.”

“I love you too.” She sighed.

“Hey, Romeo and Juliet!” Seth called to them.

The two lovers gently parted but held onto each other. The young bookstore worker jogged up to them. Mandy smiled, giggling at what Seth called her and Boone. She wiped her tears, smiling. “Hey, Seth.” she laughed.

“Well, it looks like you two are having a moment, so I will be brief,” Seth said, catching his breath, “have either of you seen Kate?”

“Yeah, I saw her a few minutes ago,” Boone pointed down the beach, “She was heading to the section of the beach next to the to big rock wall.”

“Thanks, man.” Seth patted him on the arm.

Seth ran a few feet, while Mandy and Boone watched him run. Then the young singer wannabe turned and offered up a thumbs up to them, especially Mandy. “GOOD CATCH, MANDY!” he laughed, “I APPROVE!!”

Mandy giggled, waving to him as he continued to jog away. Boone chuckled, hearing what Seth was implying. “He’s a good guy.” He whispered.

“He’s the best.” Mandy smiled.


Seth continued running toward the giant rock wall down at the edge of the mainline for the beach. He didn’t want to talk to Kate; but he knew he had to. Otherwise Mia wouldn’t let him live it down. The young bookstore working didn’t believe in fate nor destiny.

But he would see if his conversation with the lovely brunette would change his mind.