Mathias suspects most people feel freer on the island in the long run, away from the lives they had back home, away from stress and, too often, danger. And he doesn't want her to leave just yet, but he also knows he can't ask her to stay without sounding perhaps a little too pushy, a little too eager.

"You won't be the only one trying to figure out how to prepare," he answers, knowing he's going to spend the next several days wondering exactly how it's going to go or what he should do. It isn't that he's particularly nervous, but he wants the date to go well. He likes Sookie, which is a simple emotion, but one he hasn't experienced in some time. He likes her and he wants to impress her.

"Are you going now?" Sam asks, looking up at Sookie. "Will you come back to colour more?"