Holiday In Cambodia

Some mornings, you just wake up in a bad mood. Often, there doesn't seem to be any particular reason for the growl of irritation in your guts, and you know that the first person you see that day probably doesn't deserve to have it all unleashed upon them, but right then, you don't give a shit.

Billie Joe woke up in the mother of bad moods. From the moment he opened his eyes, he was pissed off with the beach. With the hot weather, with the lack of water and, most of all, with the empty packet of cigarettes that was lying next to him on the sand.

"Motherfucker!" he growled, throwing the offending packet on top of the charred remnants of last night's campfire.
"What's up" Maggie asked him, in a voice that was at once irritatingly cheerful.
"I'm out of fucking cigarettes."
"Oh," she said, sympathetically, "Well... I guess that had to happen some time."
"I know it had to happen some fucking time. That doesn't make it any easier to deal with."
"Okay, okay. Give it a day or so, you'll be all right. It'll be good for you."

Billie Joe squeezed his eyes shut, like he was struggling to keep a hold on his temper.
"Yes, it'll be wonderful for me, Maggie. That is such a fucking typical non-smoker response. And I'm not going to be okay in a day or so. I'm a fucking addict. I'm going to be a gibbering wreck."

Maggie scowled, screwing the cap back on the bottle of water she had been drinking from.
"Look, Billie, what crawled up your ass and died this morning?"
Billie Joe hissed in frustration, kicking at the sand as he turned away.
"Who the fuck knows," he muttered, as he stalked away.

Maggie sighed as he left, turning to Amber, who raised her eyebrows.
"Ignore him," she said, reassuringly, "He didn't mean to take it out on you, you were just the nearest, that's all, Hon."
Maggie nodded, swallowing. She knew Amber was right, but she couldn't help but feel hurt all the same.

Breakfast was the remainder of last night's rice. It was cold now, and stuck together in clumps, but everyone was too hungry to care. Afterwards, Mike and Jason volunteered themselves, mainly out of boredom, to go to the rice field, while the others went about their usual business of sitting around, searching for something to pass the time.

Returning from the water with Rick, Billie Joe felt a flicker of irritation when he sat down next to Lara and was forced to endure Jack and Amber, who were making out under a tree a few feet away. That morning, it was the last thing he felt like watching.

"Can't you guys get a fucking... bush or something?" he muttered, "Unless you wanna see my breakfast again. And it was shitty enough first time around."
Amber smiled a little as she released herself from Jack, and Rick spoke up.
"I'd rather not see anyone else throw up this morning."
Amber frowned.
"Why, who's been throwing up?" she asked.
"Tre," he replied, "He's still crook. Dunno what's up with him, but he didn't look good earlier."

Amber bit her lip, and exchanged a glance with Jack. They couldn't afford for anyone to get sick on the island.

Tre was sitting under the shade of a nearby palm tree when amber approached him, with a concerned Mia by his side, apparently creating more headaches than she was relieving with her dramatic fussing.

"You alright, mate?" Amber asked, stooping down to his level.
"Yep," he said, with more enthusiasm than he felt, "It's probably just a twenty four hour thing, is all."
"Hope so," Amber smiled, reaching out and covering his forehead with her hand, and prompting a possessive glance from Mia. His skin felt hot against hers.
"Stay in the shade today, alright?"
He nodded.
"Oh... " he said, suddenly, "... Hey, check out my caterpillar bite."

Tre held up his finger and Amber frowned. It was red and swollen, definitely worse than it had been the day before. She felt nerves twisting in her stomach, but she covered them.
"Wait... " she said, "I think I have some antiseptic in my backpack."
"Great," sighed Tre, gratefully.

Returning with it, she put the tube in Tre's hand, and sat down next to him, watching him smear it onto his finger.
"Don't let yourself get too thirsty today... okay?"
"How can we do that?" Mia frowned, "We barely have any water."
"I know," Amber sighed, worriedly, "But... Tre can't hold back on drinking it like the rest of us are. He can't get dehydrated. You taken a malaria pill yet today, Tre?"
He shook his head. Amber rubbed her forehead.
"Look," she said, "I know we're all on one a day instead of three, but I think maybe you should be taking more than your fair share. Your immune system is low if you're sick like this."
"You think I have malaria?" Tre asked, his eyes wide and his voice carrying his panic.
"No, no, no," Amber assured him, quickly, "I think you have a stomach bug. I think it could be something to do with your caterpillar. But I don't want you to get malaria, so we have to be careful. You get malaria, you need to see a doctor straight away and... well, we can't get you to one."
"So what will we do?" Mia asked, worriedly.
"Tre takes two a day, the rest of us take what's left."
"What if we get malaria?" Mia asked, incredulously, "There will not be enough!"
Amber shrugged.
"We don't have any options," she said, "Tre's more at risk. If he's sick, he's vulnerable. Especially since the pills don't guarantee you won't catch it anyway."

"Woah, woah, woah... " Jason interrupted, overhearing, "No one told me that. Maggie, pass the bug spray."

Tre let out a sigh, and Amber smiled, reassuringly.
"Mike and I are heading to the plantation," she said, "Give someone a yell if you need anything, okay?"
He nodded.
"Thanks, babe."
"No probs," Amber smiled, standing up and yelling across the beach for Mike, who was idly dribbling the ball around on the sand.

After they had gone, Mia moved closer to Tre and stroked her fingers through his hair, which was already damp with sweat.
"I wish you weren't sick," she said, her sugary voice dripping into his ear.
"Me too... " he smiled, earnestly.
She moved closer, draping one arm around his broad shoulders, and placing her other hand against his bare chest.
"You know... maybe there are some ways I can help you to feel better."
Tre let out a breath at the undertone to her voice.
"You know Mia... any other time that would be incredible...but right now... I just don't feel like doing anything at all."
Shit. He must be sick.

Mia removed her hand from Tre's chest.
"It might help," she said, with a frown.
"Or I might just puke on you."

It wasn't the sexiest of mental images for Mia, who's frown deepened into a scowl before she stood up.
"Well, whatever," she said, dismissively, "I am going to go and swim now."
"Okay," said Tre, with a sigh, rubbing his forehead as he watched her leave. That damn caterpillar had fucked up everything.

"I'm worried about Tre."

Rick looked up at Jason as he passed the ball back to him with his foot, but Jason's eyes were cast downwards as he caught it with his own.
"Tre," Rick replied, "Don't worry about Tre. Shoulda seen some of the travel bugs I've had since I left Oz. Part and parcel of the whole experience, y'know?"
Jason looked dubious.
"Really?" he asked, raising his eyes to Rick's. "I mean, what if he needs medication... a doctor... we can't get him anything."
"He won't need a doc," Rick answered, confidently, "I'm serious. When I was in Laos, I got a stomach bug and I swear, I had no idea there was that much liquid in the human body."
Jason laughed, making a face.
"Thanks, man," he said.
Rick grinned.
"Point is, few days later I was back on my feet, no problems. Tre'll be the same. Don't worry about it, and he'll be a happy little vegemite again in no time."
Jason raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"... Okay," he said, giving the ball another kick, "I hope you're right."

The pair looked up as Jack jogged across the sand towards them, instantly tackling the ball from Rick with ease. He grinned as he passed it back to him.
"You guys seen Billie Joe around?"
"He went off in a strop," Rick replied, And I haven't seen him since."
Jason sighed.
"Don't be too hard on him," he said, "He's finding it tough."
"Yeah... I know," said Rick, a little guiltily, "But he was being a pain in the arse this morning."
"He's worried about his family," Jason reminded him.
"Well," said Jack, "He said he'd come and get some more coconuts with me."
Jason shrugged.
"He went that way," he said, pointing down the beach to the rocks that separated it from the small cove further around the island.
"Cool," said Jack, before breaking into a jog again, as he headed in the direction of Jason's finger, "Thanks guys."

Jack didn't see him right away. He walked around the rocks, splashing through the warm pools of sea water left behind by the tide, and out into the empty cove, where he put his hands on his hips and looked around him. It was only when he looked up, noticing a flash of skin against the dark rocks, that he felt a flicker of relief.

"How the fuck did you get all the way up there?"

Billie Joe looked down at him, and for a moment Jack thought he might be about to tell him to get lost, but then he saw a smile ghost across his lips and he spoke.
"Other side of the rocks," he said, "Go that way, there are plenty of footholds."

After a moment's hesitation, Jack decided to take that as an invitation and followed Billie Joe's advice. As he climbed, he noticed how much more difficult he was suddenly finding it to pull his own weight and it made him realise for the first time, that the lack of food was taking its toll.

"Shit," he panted, as he hauled himself up and collapsed onto the ledge next to Billie Joe. "That was hard work..."
Billie Joe smiled a little.
"Pussy," he muttered.
Jack grinned.
"Great view though," he said, approvingly, looking out to sea.
"Yeah..."

The pair were silent for a few minutes as they took in the view, listening to the sounds of the waves, which almost drowned out the voices drifting over from the beach on the other side of the rocks.

"Someone send you up here to give me a talking to?"
Jack glanced at him, eyebrows raised.
"No," he said, lightly, "I just... thought I'd make sure you were alright."
Billie Joe looked down, before resting his chin on his arms, which were folded over his knees.
"Thanks," he swallowed.
Jack shrugged.
"I just... think we have to look out for each other and... well, we have to be tolerant of each other. It's tough. I'm not a particularly tolerant person..."
Billie Joe smirked a little.
"... but I have to be here, because this is shit for everyone."
Billie Joe nodded.
"I know you're right," he sighed, "Sorry I snapped at you this morning... and all the other times..."
Jack smiled in amusement.
"It's okay," he said, "I know myself that I can act like a cocky little shit at times."
Billie Joe laughed.
"You said it, not me."
Jack grinned, then Billie Joe sighed again.
"I was a bit of a prick to Maggie earlier too. And she's probably more likely to take it to heart than you."
"Ah, don't worry. She'll be fine. What got you in such a nark this morning anyway?"
Billie Joe raised an eyebrow.
"What in fuck's name is a nark?"
"Like, a bad mood. Get with it, America."
Billie Joe smiled.
"Ah... I don't know," he said, wistfully, "I rolled outta the sand on the wrong side I guess."
"Missing the family?"
He nodded, then bit his lip.
"It's weird," he said, "But I... this is gonna sound terrible."
"I'll have heard worse."
"... It's not that I miss them any more than usual. I mean, I'm used to being away from them. But... what's getting to me is... it's almost like..."
He paused, struggling to find the words he needed.
"I'm having trouble remembering them," he whispered, his eyes closing with the weight of the guilt of his words.
Jack smiled, knowingly.
"Billie," he said, "That doesn't sound terrible. It doesn't sound surprising either."
Billie Joe looked dubious.
"It's like... being here... this island... it's like I'm trapped in this whole other world. And I feel like if I don't get out soon, I'll lose what's on the other side. Adrienne and I... man, I love her, Jack. And we've been married eleven years now. Eleven years, and I'm having trouble picturing her face."
"Eleven years..." Jack repeated, thoughtfully, "That's fucking admirable."
Billie Joe nodded.
"And I'm proud of it," he said, "But we have our problems..."
"Every couple has it's problems," Jack told him, "Amber threw a potato at me once. And I still love her more than life itself."
Billie Joe laughed.
"I know, I know," he said, with a sigh, "But... I don't wanna be away from her right now, Jack. We need to be together. We need to work through our problems. I know we can, we always can, but... we can't while I'm thousands of miles away... stuck on an island where I can't even call her to let her know I'm okay. This island... it's like a whole other world. And it's difficult to believe that life is going on as normal, and time is passing elsewhere... you know? Home has never felt so far away. And Adie and I have never felt so distanced."

Jack ran a hand through his wavy hair, which felt tangled from the seawater.
"Billie," he said, "We're talking a few more days, mate. I'm sure of it. There are crops on this island. They need maintaining. A boat will come. You can call Adrienne and be on the first plane home."

Billie Joe nodded, biting his lip. He was quiet for a moment, before he spoke again.
"My kids have a pet rat," he said.
Jack looked at him.
"Yeah?"
He nodded.
"We got him a few months back, and they love it. Anyway, this morning, i was lying on the sand... and I realised I couldn't remember the rat's name. It's been three fucking days, Jack, and details like that are slipping away from me. And they shouldn't. Joey and Jake... they picked out this name and it's important to them. It should be important to me too."
Jack sighed.
"And they obviously are, or you wouldn't be worrying about it... look, man... this is is something that happens when you travel. It's weird but... the world... it's a pretty big place. But it's easy to get caught up in the mundane shit. When you come out somewhere like this... I guess you see the bigger picture. Things at home lose their significance. The memories get watered down... and they start to fade. That's backpacker syndrome, I guess."
Billie Joe looked down.
"I'm talking about my children, Jack," he said, "They shouldn't fade."
"Billie Joe, trust me," Jack said, earnestly, "This doesn't mean anything. Amber and I left England six months ago. I haven't spoken to my friends since, but I know the ones that matter will still be there when I get back. Hell, I haven't even called my mum since July. It's a week, Billie. You can't worry. Relationships don't fall apart in a week."
"Relationships can fall apart in a minute."
"Eleven year ones?"
Billie Joe sighed.
"Fuck, Jack. I don't know."

He wearily rubbed his hand over his face. His black hair, more dishevelled than ever, flopped into his eyes.
"Billie," sighed Jack, "I know this is tough. But we're going to be alright. We're all going to be alright."
Billie Joe nodded.
"Okay," he breathed, quietly. "... Hey, you know what the date is?"
Jack laughed.
"Are you joking? I haven't a clue. Mid November some time."
Billie Joe looked thoughtful.
"I don't suppose it matters," he said, "But I think this week is Thanksgiving... I guess we don't have an awful lot to be thankful for, though..."
"Don't be so fucking over dramatic," Jack told him, "You're a rock star, for Chrissake. You just happen to be stuck on an island for a few days. Plus... you aren't alone. You have that to be thankful for... right?"

Billie Joe couldn't help but smile. He looked up, before playfully pushing Jack's head to the side.
"You're right," he said, "I guess you aren't as much of a pain in the ass as I thought."
Jack grinned.
"Likewise, L'Oreal boy."

After leaving the rocks, Jack and Billie Joe headed further around the perimeter of the island, to where Jack had discovered the coconut trees. After managing to knock down a few more, they took their harvest back to the beach, where Amber and Mike had also returned from their trip to the plantation.
"Hey, good haul," said Mike, with a smile, as Billie Joe dropped his coconuts onto the sand, suddenly exhausted.
"Not bad," agreed Billie Joe, "How's Tre doing?"
"Ah, he's okay. He's The Cool. He's always okay."

Billie Joe smiled, before heading over to where Tre was still sitting, under his tree.
"Are you doing okay, man?"
Tre nodded.
"Yep. I'll be fine," he said, bravely, taking a sip of water.
"Remember that time when we were like... twenty-one or so... and we had that drinking contest with those guys at 924 Gilman, and you got alcohol poisoning and threw up so much you pulled a muscle?"
Tre grinned.
"Yeah," he replied, with a fondness that would probably have surprised a lot of people, but didn't surprise Billie Joe.
"Well... this can't feel as bad as that."
Tre nodded.
"You're right. I'll remember that. Thanks Bill."
"No problem, dude. You seen Maggie?"
"She and Rick went paddling."

Billie Joe looked over his shoulder, where he could see the two of them at the water's edge. He took a breath.
"I think have some apologising to do."

Maggie looked up when she saw Billie Joe striding down the sand, feeling a flicker of nerves rush through her. She tried to gage from his appearance, whether his mood had improved, but it was difficult to tell.

He walked with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his long shorts, which were starting to look a little raggedy from the constant wear, and his head was bowed down at his feet, watching the sand kick up as he walked.

"Hey guys..." he said, when he was near enough for them to hear him.
Maggie and Rick looked up and greeted him, and then Maggie avoided his eyes as Rick splashed out of the water.
"Great, you guys are all back," he said, "I could eat a fucking horse."
Billie Joe smiled.
"Well... you can eat a coconut if you can smash your way into one."

Accepting the challenge, Rick grinned, before skipping off up the beach towards the others, leaving Maggie and Billie Joe alone, facing each other in the shallow water.

"Um... listen, Maggie..." Billie Joe began, awkwardly, after a moment's uncomfortable silence, "I kinda wanted to talk to you... I was feeling shitty this morning and I took it out on you. It wasn't fair, because you hadn't said or done anything to deserve it. Sometimes I can be an asshole like that. But not so much that I can't see when I'm wrong and apologise... so, I'm sorry."

Maggie looked down at her toes, which she had been curling into the wet sand.
"It's okay," she said, honestly, "We all have our bad days, right?"
He smiled.
"Yeah."
"Are you... feeling any better now?"
He nodded.
"I talked to Jack and took some time out. He basically made me realise I was being a bit of a drama queen and I know it wasn't helping the situation for anyone else."
Maggie smiled.
"You've made a career out of being a drama queen, right? Hard to stop now."
Billie Joe laughed.
"Right," he smiled, "So... are we cool, then?"
Maggie nodded.
"Course."

Billie Joe let out a small breath of relief, before leaning over and wrapping Maggie up in a small hug. Maggie was taken by surprise at the warm flutter that swept through her, before he pulled away and offered her a lop-sided smile.
"Wanna help the guys cook up a feast?" he asked.
She grinned.
"Sure..." she replied, as they turned and began slowly walking back up the sand, "Hey, I wonder what the Dominos delivery limit is..."

Billie Joe wasn't the only one who's emotions had gotten the better of them that day. Lara, typically straightforward and open, had been uncharacteristically quiet and Amber had become concerned. She sat down next to her as they watched Rick and Jack poke at the campfire much more than seemed to be needed, and asked her if she was feeling alright.

Lara looked down, picking up a handful of white sand and watching as she let it run through her fingers.
"I'm getting worried, Amber," she said, quietly, "I mean... it's been a long time now and... I'm not sure we have the resources to get through the week. If I say anything, people tell me to stop worrying... that it'll all be okay... but I can tell we're all thinking the same thing. We're going to run out of water. Tre is a lot sicker than he's letting on. We don't have any guarantee that a boat will come."
She swallowed.
"I'm worried. And I feel so fucking stupid for getting myself into this. If I hadn't been so damn adventurous, I wouldn't have left the wedding party, and I could be lying on a beach in Koh Samui sipping Pina Colada right now."
Amber sighed.
"Lara," she said, keeping her voice low, "I'm not gonna pretend to you that I'm not worried. I am worried."

Hearing the words come out of Amber's mouth made Lara's stomach twist. Amber, who was always so reassuring, wasn't supposed to get scared. She felt almost angry with herself when she felt tears prickle her eyes. Amber noticed, and took her hand.
"Lara..." she whispered, "I'm not pretending we aren't in danger, Hon. But I'm confident we can make it through. The water is going to run out... and it's going to be uncomfortable. But... we can make it a few days without water if we absolutely have to."
"In this heat?"
"We have to. We are getting off this island, Lara. I promise. Okay?"
Lara nodded, and wiped at her eyes.

On the other side of the campfire, Jason watched her closely. He drew in a breath as he noticed her tears and felt completely unsettled. When she raised her eyes to meet his, he felt a sudden pang of nerves, before she quickly looked back at the campfire again, and he did the same. He ran a hand through his messy hair. Things on this island were starting to feel seriously fucked up.

Tre kept his eyes focussed on the flames, and tried to ignore the pains in his abdomen. He knew if he ate anything, he would only bring it back up again, and he didn't want the others to bear witness to that anymore than he wanted to waste their food.

Jack noticed the discomfort on his face and gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Hang in there, mate," he said, "You'll start feeling better soon. Couple more days, you'll be right as rain and stepping off a plane in California."

"Californiaaaa!" sang Maggie, overhearing, as she poked her rice around her coconut shell bowl. When the other's looked at her, she smiled, sheepishly. "Sorry. It's like a kind of reflex."
Rick let out a dramatic sigh.
"If Seth Cohen was here now, everything would be just fine," he said, confidently, and Maggie nodded in agreement.
"Well," she said, "I'm really more of a Ryan girl, but right now I would take either. Shit, I've missed so much since I've been traveling."
"Me too," said Rick, ruefully.
"I'll have to download the whole season when I get back home."

Off Mike's raised eyebrow, Maggie grinned and bit her lip.
"Legally... of course," she explained, quickly, "Like every other download I have on my laptop... including any Green Day songs..."
"Hey," Tre smiled, lazily, "Better an illegal Green Day song than none at all."
Billie Joe looked up with an amused smile.
"Yeah..." he said, "Maybe you could try not to advertise that point of view too much, Tre."
Tre grinned, as Jack smirked.
"Billster's right," he said, "Heaven forbid you only go platinum once next time... cheeky fuckers..."

They all found it difficult to sleep that night. The severity of their situation was beginning to dawn, and each individual lay in silence, their worries playing on their minds, not wanting to let on how much their insides were churning as they considered their predicament.

Billie Joe felt another insect land on his leg, and sat up quickly to waft it away, scratching nervously the place where it had tickled his skin, unable to tell whether it had managed to bite him or not. He let out a sigh as he lay back down, closing his eyes, trying to block out the night's sounds and let sleep take him.

Maggie listened to his restless tossing and turning and when she heard him swear at a third six-legged visitor, she sat up a little and squinted at him through the darkness.
"Hey," she whispered, "Are you okay?"
"No... I'm getting fucking mauled," he complained, "And Jason's gone to sleep hugging the repellent to his chest like it's a fucking shotgun."
Maggie laughed, quietly, glancing over at him, before returning her gaze to Billie Joe. She watched as he wearily rubbed his eyes, before tangling his fingers in his hair, which felt stiff from the salt in the ocean. She heard him release a tired sigh.

"Hey Bill," she whispered, nervously, "You can have my mosquito net if you like. I've had it every night so far and I think it's my turn to suffer now."
Billie Joe looked over at her and smiled, warmly.
"That's really sweet," he told her, "But it's yours... and I'll be okay."
"Sure?"

Billie was about to answer, when he stopped to slap at his arm for what felt like the fiftieth time that night, and then sighed in frustration.
"On second thoughts," he said, "You reckon there's room for another one under there?"

Maggie smiled a little as Billie Joe moved closer, and they lifted the edge of the net up, pulling it over both their heads. She was surprised how fluttery she got, having him in such close proximity. Her breath became a little shaky as he rolled onto his side and she breathed in the salty scent of his skin. She made a mental note to get a grip.
"Night," she whispered.
"Mind the bugs don't bite," he whispered back, with a smile.

For Billie Joe, the relief of getting some peace from the wildlife was overwhelming. At first, it felt a little strange sleeping so close to another woman, but he didn't feel any guilt. Why should he? He wasn't doing anything wrong. He liked Maggie a lot, and she was a friend to him now. Besides, it wasn't as if she was interested in him. Closing his eyes and resting his head on his palm, he cleared his mind of the worries that had been surging through his mind, as the slow rhythm of Maggie's warm breath against his inky shoulder lulled him into his first peaceful sleep.