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The boy looked awfully insulted. It took him awhile, but eventually he answered, "Fourteen." His voice cracked a little, much to his chagrin. His body hadn't quite finished growing yet.

--

Nic stepped back, letting Wolfe get closer. Raven looked over Wolfe's shoulder worriedly. He didn't have too much medical knowledge, but he did know about heat stroke and dehydration from the farm.

Kale blinked but then shrugged, "Around Frei's age then," he mused.

--

Wolfe looked Laurel over for a moment before sorting through a compartment on the boat. He pulled out an instafreeze pack and snapped it to start the cold before tossing it to Nic. He broke two other ones before placing them around Laurel's body to help cool her down. Then he pulled some cool water from a cooler he'd brought along and handed it to Nic, expecting him to help Laurel drink it. Then he returned to the steering wheel and pushed a few buttons. The top of the boat began to close off, shielding them from the sun. Soon, cold hair was blowing from a few vents, cooling down the temperature inside the boat.

Fin said nothing, hoping that wasn't a bad thing.

--

Nic did as Wolfe expected, doing his best to cool Laurel off. After awhile Raven shivered a little and went to put his shoes and shirt back on.

Kale had seemed to run out of things to say.

--

Laurel didn't really want to drink more water so getting her to drink it was a chore. Wolfe tossed Raven a blanket, apparently it was going to get colder.

So Fin didn't say anything else either, still clutching at his shirt.

--

Raven took it and wrapped it around himself. If Nic was getting cold, he wasn't complaining.

Kale watched him, "What's that?" he asked.

--

Finally Laurel seemed to be snapping out of it a bit... only to start falling back asleep. She frowned a bit, trying to focus on Nic. She didn't understand why it was so cold on the beach...

The boy glanced at Kale, a little confused. He didn't seem to realize what he was doing.

--

Nic shook Laurel a little, trying to keep her awake.

Kale repeated himself, gesturing to the shirt.

--

Laurel looked jolted, blinking up at Nic in confusion. "Wha...?" and she yawned.

The boy suddenly clutched it tighter. "Nothing," he replied a little too quickly.

--

"Stay awake," he told Laurel.

Kale blinked before he muttered, "Don't make me strip search you," he threatened with a voice too tired to carry out the threat.

--

Laurel frowned, "Why?" she whined a little.

Kale's threat still seemed to frighten Fin. He tried to back up again. "It's nothing," he repeated as he turned away from Kale.

--

"Trust me," Nic told Laurel gently.

Kale raised an eyebrow, waiting.

--

Laurel stared back at Nic for a long moment before nodding, "... then keep me awake," she whispered.

Fin said nothing more, waiting for Kale to forget about it.

--

Nic shook Laurel a little again before pausing as if it dawned on him that he had somehow misinterpreted Laurel.

Kale didn't. The eyebrow remained raised.

--

Laurel was shaken up again, "No..." she complained loudly before grabbing Nic's head and yanking him down into a deep kiss.

Fin shifted as he waited some more.

--

Nic was a little startled, but he let her. Raven looked away, but not because he was a jealous fake boyfriend.

"Is it purely personal?" Kale asked.

--

Laurel continued, it was definitely keeping her awake. Meanwhile, Wolfe started up the boat, removing the anchor.