Melissa unzipped her back pack and dug down in until she found her journal and a pen. She situated herself under a shady tree facing the school cafeteria and started writing.
"Dear Journal,
With a blink of our eyes everything can change. Everything that we know to be true can be altered in one second, one simple moment, but yet, throughout our entire lives, or at least a large portion of them, some things never change, even if it is not apparent at first. Trials and temptations may leave us struggling for breath, but somehow the many of us still continue. Sometimes I wonder if we, the survivors or Flight 29 DWN are a part of those who will still continue and make it. I know we made it on the island alone, but can we survivor when others are around us in the real world? Can our friendships survive the storms that come to us in everyday life? Can we find the food that can help keep us going?
Everything was different on the island. It was just me, Jackson, Daley, Lex, Taylor, Eric and Nathan, and for just a short amount of time Ian, Jory, Abby and Captain Russell. We all eventually got to know each other well. There was nothing really pushing our friendship to collapse. We all needed each other to survive, but, well, back in the real world can our friendship really last? We're all in such different groups, all being pulled in different direction. Of course, Lex isn't even in high school yet. Daley has always been born for perfection. Taylor is the princess, always in the popular crowd, even now. I bet her popular 'friends' don't know that she plays cello or can fish though. As for Eric he's off hanging out with his slacker friends that he had before the trip, although like everyone else he seems kind of detached from the people he use to think he could relate to the best. Nathan is still working hard to keep his 4.0 GPA and scheming on how to become class president, although he's come to terms with the idea Daley might beat him again. He doesn't seem to mind that so much. Ian, Jory, Abby and Captain Russell we never got to know really well, but from what I've heard they're all doing fine, although Captain Russell, after trying to torch the camp, has decided to take some counseling session. And then there's Jackson. He's been the one I've been the closest to since we've gotten back. We talk a lot, but we still have yet to initiate the relationship we talking about back on the island. Things seem to be back to normal for the most part and that's what upsets me most.
The group that decided to stay behind, Lex, Jackson, Daley, Eric, Taylor, Nathan, and I should all be best friends now, and well some of us more than friends. We're all just being pushed in so many different directions that we don't know what to do. Some times I wish we could all be back on the island, without having to worry which different crowds we're a part of. I miss being close friends with everyone. Mostly though, I miss Jackson. I think I love him. It's painful to watch him walk by and know I'm not with him. I just miss him."
"Hi Mel! Wow a written journal, it's odd to see one of those instead of the camera we used when we were on the island," a voice murmured over Melissa. She knew the voice automatically. It had a sound to it that she'd never let herself forget, no matter what was going on in her life.
"Ha, ya, I kind of miss using the video camera," Melissa responded. Slowly she looked up and her eyes met the guy she'd been dreaming about for months.
"Mind if I sit down?" Jackson asked her.
"No, go ahead," she smiled, but Jackson didn't look too happy, so her smile quickly ended.
"I'm moving."