The lips touched her cheek. So soft. Loving. Caring. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She rested her head against his chest. She felt the beating of his heart. So clichéd, she thought, so perfect, just like in the movies. Although she and Jackson were standing up she could feel herself falling asleep in his arms. How exhausted she was.
"Mel, let's sit down alright. I think you just about dozed off."
"If you say so," she muttered in bleak awareness of her surroundings. Perfection
They were in the airport. The rushing of people around them. The crying babies. Mellissa couldn't hear it. All she could hear was the beat of Jackson's heart. It's steady, rhythmic beat. It was the first steady thing she'd felt in her life for so long.
"I'm so glad we're finally going home," he whispered in her ear, "We don't have to worry about finding food anymore. No more worry about deadly storms. No more survival of the fittest, Mel. We're safe." Melissa finally fell asleep.
The pair was sitting in the black soft chairs in their terminal waiting for their last flight home. Her head was laid softly against his chest and his arms placed around her.
Jackson felt proud. I can finally protect her. I can let her feel safe, even though it's only an airport. I can guard her from the world around. We're safe. She's safe.
He rubbed her back lightly. I want to be the most caring guy in the world. I want her to know how much she means to me.
"Jackson, she really means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Nathan asked quietly.
"Ya, she does," Jackson responded, "She was the first to become my friend when I moved. She was the one who had the most faith in me on the island."
"You're lucky you have her. If only Daley were as easily to express her emotions as Melissa."
"Give her time," Jackson said, "She'll come around eventually. If she knew how much she means to you, she'd be the first one to do something about it."
"I hope you're right," Nathan muttered back to himself.
"NATHAN!" The cry was heard across the air port. Daley ran over in glee. "Look what I have!"
"Uh, w-what did you find?" Nathan stuttered back in a bit of shock. Speak of the devil. I thought she'd be gone longer.
"Fast food!" She held up a cheeseburger and French fries. "Want some?"
"Sure." He could smell it. It smelled good too. It was the first food he smelt in what seemed like years, that he didn't have to cook, hunt or pick himself.
"LEX! Come over here!" She yelled to her little brother, "I GOT YOU A HAMBURGER AND FRENCH FRIES!"
He darted over quickly, "He ya go," Daley handed it to the youngster. His eyes grew big and he sat down quietly and scarfed down the meal.
"Wow, that tasted good," he exclaimed, "I've missed this stuff."
"Nathan, here you go. I bought you a hamburger and fries too." The two sat down on the floor and started eating.
Nathan looked over longingly at Melissa and Jackson. If only he thought. If only Daley and I were like that.