Missing someone

Chapter 1

Melissa exited the tent and stretched, day 22, shethought dully, surveying the beautiful island around her. She sighed and started the fire up. A figure approached her and she looked up to see Jackson looking at her, "good morning",she said, giving him a tight smile, ignoring the usual frown on his face.

Jackson looked at her, surprised. Whats up with her? He thought in concern, usually she grinned at him and babbled nonstop. Today, today was different, he watched her wondering if he should say something to her but he wasn't sure what.

Melissa abruptly looked up at him, "why are you staring at me?" she demanded harshly.

Taken aback, all Jackson could do was stare at her, " I...um..", was the best he could come up with. He couldn't honestly remember the last time that someone had actually rendered him speechless, but for some reason, Melissa had accomplished just that.

"Well!? Care to elaborate on why you can't form actual words!?" she was screaming now and there were tears running down her face.

"Mel, wha-"

"Forget it, just, forget it," she muttered, her voice dropping, and as soon as the screaming had begun, it stopped. But the tears didn't, they forced their way down her face. Her glare frightened Jackson but he didn't let it show. She finally turned heel and stomped into the jungle.

Jackson just stared after her, "what was that about?" he murmured.

"I know", a voice said from behind Jackson, he turned in surprise to see Nathan standing there with a sad expression on his face, "maybe it's time you did too."

Jackson looked back and forth from Nathan to the place where Melissa had been. "What do you mean by that? He asked in confusion.

Nathan hesitated, knowing that Melissa would kill him for what he was about to tell Jackson. He knew she didn't like people worrying about her and her problems. But Jackson deserved to know what was wrong with her, deep down, she knew that, but she was just to darn stubborn to let other people worry about her.

Chapter 2

"Well?" Jackson demanded, glaring at Nathan, "what's wrong with Mel?"

Nathan nervously ran his fingers through his hair and fidgeted nervously, "sit down," he sighed, "it's long story."

Jackson sat, and then Nathan began, " Melissa was born in China."

"I thought she 'd lived her-" Jackson cut in.

"No. She was born in China. She lived in China until she was 13, the-"

Jackson cut in again, "her parents found a better job in America so that she could go to school with a bunch of-"

"WHAT DO YOU TRULY KNOW ABOUT MELISSA!?" Nathan started yelling, letting his temper get the better of him, he was sick of Jackson thinking he could read everyone like a book, "YOU THINK SHE'S JUST A SPOILED LITTLE PREPPY, WHEN IN FACT, SHE HAS SUFFERED MORE THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE!!"

And with that, Nathan turned heel and stormed off, leaving Jackson (yet again) bewildered and confused. What is with everyone today?Maybe Melissa will tell me. He thought and set off to find her.

Four years, four fricken years and yet I still can't get over it, oh, dad what would you say? Melissa thought, still desperately trying to stop the tears that were still emptying out of her eyes.

"Mel?" A voice sounded behind her, Melissa turned her head away from Jackson as he sat down next to her and looked at her with concern, "are you ok?"

"I 'm fine", she replied, still avoiding his gaze