Juliet sat in the kitchen area of the camp, eating some left over oatmeal for breakfast. Nobody else seemed to be awake yet, and she was enjoying the peace and quiet, the only sounds were the waves softly lapping up on the beach. Just as she had closed her eyes and begun to relax, she was interrupted by someone coming up behind her.
"Hey there, Blondie."
She turned around to see Sawyer. He had come back to the beach yesterday, with Miles and Aaron, and the news that something might have happened to Claire was terrorizing the beach.
"Hi James," she replied, pleasantly enough so that he felt welcome to join her.
After quite a long awkward silence, Sawyer finally spoke.
"So, uh... what's up with you and the doc?"
Juliet smiled. It was obvious this wasn't just a random question.
"Sorry to disappoint you James, but nothing's happening. In fact nothing was ever happening."
Sawyer looked at her in disbelief.
"It was all just a plan to make Kate jealous," Juliet clarified, a pitying look in her eye, knowing that this would be as hurtful to Sawyer as it was to her.
"And, uh, what makes you say that?" Sawyer asked, scared for her response.
"I've always been very good at reading people, James."
Sawyer chuckled. "Well, the doc ain't exactly a closed book either, is he?"
Juliet giggled. "No, he's not."
As she continued with her oatmeal, Sawyer stared at her.
"You love him?" He finally asked.
Juliet looked up in disbelief. "I'm sorry?"
"You heard me."
Juliet sighed. Did she love him? Or was she supposed to love him. Was this all some plan of Ben's? "Yes, James, I do. I love him more than words can say."
Sawyer had never seen her show any emotion before, she had always been a closed door to him, but even he could see she was upset. "I'm sorry," he said, and he patted her comfortingly on the shoulder.
Juliet smiled, touched that he took time away from his sarcastic ways to be nice to her. "Do you love Kate?"
"Of course I do," Sawyer responded sadly, not needing to think.
"I'm sorry too," Juliet said, and she delicately touched his hand.
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Not romantically, but with a sense of understanding.
"You know, Blondie, you and I are pretty tough cookies. Maybe if we work together we can take back what is ours."
Juliet laughed. "Yeah, maybe."