[George] Questions, Questions (open tag)
By mid-afternoon George had had enough of digging for roots and trying to shake fruits out of trees. She collected an armload of the stuff, told the other women she'd been working with that she was going to drop it off by the cookfire and then go check the snares. She endured some gentle ribbing about her status as a Mighty Hunter and walked away smiling, just a little. Friends. What a concept.
George dumped her cargo with the folks around the firepit and remarked to no one in particular that she was going to go check out the snares. She looked around for Tommy but didn't see him, shrugged and headed off alone. She was nearly at the treeline when Ethan intercepted her. He waved as he approached and George paused.
"Hi, G-george," Ethan said.
"Hey."
"You aren't g-going out in the j-jungle alone, a-are you? It could be d-dangerous." Oh goody, someone looking to protect her.
"I'll be fine," George said. She idly glanced back toward the camp. She'd much rather have Tommy for an escort than Ethan. But there was still no sign of Tommy. Darn. He certainly was nice to look at.
"I'll go w-with you, then," Ethan said. "Just to be s-safe."
George sighed. "Whatever," she said. She resumed walking and Ethan fell in beside her.
They walked in silence for a minute, then Ethan spoke. "Where d-do you live, George?"
"Seattle," George said.
More walking. The first snare was still set and empty. "Did you know D-Daisy before? Before the c-crash, I mean?"
George glanced at Ethan, annoyed by his presence. What was with all the questions? He hadn't said ten words to her in the last five days and now he's all-tell-me-your-life-story? He was watching her, waiting for an answer. George found herself giving him one. "Yeah. We live together--we share a house."
"Do you w-work together?"
That was it. George glared at Ethan. "What is this, Twenty Questions?"
Ethan looked surprised--shocked even--by her reaction. Then hurt. He backed away, the very picture of repentance. "I'm s-sorry, G-george. I di-didn't mean to upset you. N-never mind."
Now it was George's turn to feel bad. "No," she said. "That's alright. You didn't do anything. I'm sorry." She turned away and started walking again. "I'm just...touchy, I guess." After a moment, Ethan followed.
They walked in silence for a bit. The second snare was empty. And the third. The last had been tripped but it was empty. "Fuck," George said. She got down on her knees and struggled to reset it.
"So?" Ethan asked while she worked.
"So what?" George asked, distractedly. Setting the trigger had seemed a lot eaier with Tommy watching and giving her advice.
"So do you work with Daisy?" Something in Ethan's tone caught George's attention. She glanced up and saw him watching her...avidly. Just for an instant. Then the look was gone and he was simply watching curiously. George gave him a tentative smile and then focused on the snare again.
That look had creeped her out. It was so...possessive. Almost sexual, like he was lusting after her. Which--eeew! Ethan was so not Tommy. Only it didn't really seem like lust. Greed? But that didn't make any sense. What was there to be greedy about? George wrestled with the thought for a few moments, then gave up.
She concentrated on the snare and eventually got it set again. Then she stood up and looked at Ethan and it came to her. (Of course!) She felt relief flood through her as she worked out what was going on. "You know Daisy's taken, right?" If Ethan thought pumping George for info on Daisy was going to let him pry her away from Locke, he was sadly mistaken.
Ethan looked at her in surprise for a moment. (Busted!) George thought. Then he gave her an embarrassed grin. "Yeah, I know."
"Yeah, well, if you know, give it a rest," George said. "She's got her man and she's not giving him up. You're just wasting your time."
Ethan looked away, nodding slowly. George felt sorry for him. Her experience with Tommy was all too recent. She knew how he felt. "C'mon," she said, "let's get back to camp."
Ethan looked at her again and George sensed wheels turning behind his eyes. She wondered what he was thinking. Then he nodded and smiled. "Sure."