Hey everybody, I just wanted to say thank you to all who reviewed my story. It really means a lot to me that you like it and want to read more. Just so you guys know I already have most of this story written. And I guess I should put one of those disclaimers on here so…
Disclaimer- I have never, nor will I ever, own Flight 29 down.
Thanks and enjoy the next chapter.
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Chapter 3- the awakening
By the next morning, Nathan still hadn't woken up. The others were starting to get worried. Daley hadn't left the tent yet. Lex had to bring her food, even though she rarely ate it. She couldn't. She was to sick to her stomach to be able to keep food down. She just kept her eyes glued on Nathan, hoping that he would wake up any second from now. But up until this point, nothing. She had read somewhere, perhaps a magazine, that if you talk to an unconscious person, it could bring them back into their original state. It's worth a shot.
Daley sighed and started talking.
"Hey, Nathan. Um...I don't really know what to say." Silence. "I wish you would wake up. I don't want you to be hurt anymore. It's hard to see you like this. It's basically breaking my heart." Tears were beginning to form in Daley's eyes. "Why wont you just wake up? Wake up. Please?" Daley was now in tears. She lay down next to Nathan and cried herself to sleep.
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Since Daley was watching over Nathan, Taylor was forced to take over some of her work. She was given the laundry job. Simple enough for her, right? As she was washing some of the clothes, Eric had come back from the makeshift well with two half full water jugs.
"Hey." He said to her as he set down the jugs.
"Hey." She replied without looking up from what was occupying her time.
Eric noticed that she hadn't been as chipper as she normally was. He figured she was a little worried about Nathan. Everyone was. He was a little worried about her though. The last time something bad had happened she completely shut down. He didn't want that to happen again.
"You know Taylor, it's okay to be worried about Nathan. We all are." She didn't say anything, just looked up at him. "If you want someone to talk to, just know that I'm always here."
He started to turn to walk away when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around only to feel Taylor wrap her arms around him in a giant hug. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear. He sat them both down on a log. Taylor began talking.
"I'm just a little worried that if he doesn't wake up, everyone will be so sad, they'll lose the will to keep going, and one by one they will leave, and I'll be all alone."
He looked into her eyes. He saw the sadness that tore through her. "Taylor, Nathan will be okay. No one is going to be leaving you anytime soon. And I'll always be here with you. I'll never leave you. I promise."
Suddenly Taylor leaned forward and kissed Eric. Eric was a little shocked but after a second he was kissing her back. When they broke apart he put his arm around her and she placed her head on his shoulder. They sat there for a while until it was time for lunch.
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Most of them were sitting around the fire finishing off their fruit and fish. Well, only Lex, Taylor, Eric, and Jackson. Nathan was still unconscious, and Daley of course was still in the tent with him. Lex had already brought her a plate of food. And Melissa was...well, where was Melissa. Jackson realized he hadn't seen her since he put her to sleep last night.
"Hey Lex, have you seen Mel?"
"Um yeah, she went down to sit on the beach a while ago. I asked her if she wanted something to eat, but she said she wasn't hungry." Lex stated.
Jackson put together a plate of fruit and headed off for the beach. After a few minutes of searching, he saw Melissa. He walked up to her and saw she was lying down, asleep. Sitting next to her, he saw that her cheeks were tear stained, telling him she had been crying recently. He contemplated on whether or not to wake her. He figured she wouldn't mind, so he gently shook her awake.
"Hey, Mel, wake up."
She opened her eyes and sat up, only to see Jackson staring back at her.
"I brought you some food, I figured you might not have eaten much lately." Jackson passed the plate of fruit to her. She reluctantly took it.
"Thanks, but I told Lex I wasn't really hungry." She knew he wasn't buying it. He could always read right through her. And she had never been the best liar.
"Melissa, you have to be hungry. You didn't eat last night, you didn't eat this morning. You can't just not eat. We all need energy to survive here." He was starting to get a little upset that she would put herself in such danger by not eating.
"I know, it's just that I have other things on my mind." She sighed. "I guess I can eat the fruit." She stuck a piece of banana in her mouth.
"That's all I ask." Jackson said, happy that she was finally eating. Maybe that meant she was getting better about the fact that Nathan still hadn't woken up.
"So, how's Nathan doing?" Melissa said in between bites.
"Um, I don't know much, but I do know he's not doing any worse. That's good news, right?" Jackson was trying to think of something to say that would make her feel better.
"I just wish he would wake up so that I don't have to worry so much anymore. I'm tired of being sad. I'm worried out."
Jackson scooted closer, and put his arm around her. "I know. I wish he would wake up too." After all, Jackson hated it when she was sad.
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Nathan opened his eyes. He was staring at the tent roof above him. What had happened to him? He was in so much pain. His body hurt all over, especially his head. He must have fallen out of that coconut tree. Man, how long had he been out of it? He sensed someone lying next to him. Who was it? He turned his head slightly to see who it was. To his surprise he saw that it was Daley. Had she stayed with him the entire time?
She was asleep, so he leaned over and slightly shook her awake.
"Stop it Nathan, I'm tired." Daley said groggily, wanting to sleep a little bit longer. She was so tired. Wait, was Nathan awake?
She sat up like a bolt of lightning. "Nathan!?" Daley just sat there and gaped at him. She couldn't believe it. When she went to sleep he was unconscious, now he's awake. "Oh my god, Nathan!" She pulled him into the biggest hug ever. He winced a little at this action. He was still very sore.
"I'm sorry." Daley said as she quickly let go of him. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Don't worry about it." Nathan replied. He stared at her for a second, and then he reached over for her, and pulled her into a hug of his own. When he let go he held her hand. She of course was so happy that he was okay.
She took her hand away from his and turned to look him square in the eye. All of a sudden she felt the anger in her rise. "What were you thinking, how could you climb that tree again, that was so stupid, you could have been killed. Do you know how worried I've been about you? How could you do that to me?"
"I don't know, I guess I just wanted to prove that I could do it. I'm sorry." Nathan realized that it was a stupid move to make. "Wait a minute, you were worried about me?"
"Well, yeah." Daley blushed. "I mean, what would we have done if something happened to you?" Daley was trying to decide if now was the right time to tell Nathan about her feelings for him. "Anyway, I better go tell everyone you're okay. You lay down, you need to rest."
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Jackson, Lex, and Taylor were sitting around the fire when Daley came out of the tent and over to them. By her expression they could tell that Nathan was all right. Her smile said it all.
"He's awake! If anyone wants to go see him, you can. Where's Melissa, I know she wants to see him?"
"She went to get some more firewood, I'll go get her." Jackson turned to Taylor. "Could you go get Eric? He's getting more water." With that Jackson and Taylor went to tell Melissa and Eric the good news about Nathan.
Back at camp Lex went to go pay a visit to Nathan.
He walked into the tent. "Hey, are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, I'm feeling much better. How long was I out for?" Nathan had been wondering this for a while now.
"About a day. I'm glad you're okay. Daley was really worried about you."
"She was?" Maybe Lex was going to tell him something that he didn't know?
"Oh yeah, she stayed in this tent by your side the whole time. I couldn't get her to leave this tent or eat anything, she was so worried."
Maybe Daley did like Nathan. That would be too good to be true. But why else would she have stayed by his side the whole time he was out of it? Surely she had better things to do with her time. Why had he been such a priority to her?
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"Eric." Taylor had shouted as she was walking in the direction of the well. "Eric."
"Boo." Eric came up behind her and she screamed. "Hey, sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."
"That's okay." Taylor could never stay mad at that face. But there was something Taylor came out here for. What was it? Oh yeah. "Eric, Nathan's awake."
"Really, that's great. Let's go back to camp so we can see him." They took off for the tents.
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Jackson had gone to find Melissa so he could tell her the good news. He knew she would be excited to hear what he was about to tell her. He found her in a clearing walking in his direction, her arms full of firewood.
"Mel, guess what!" She looked at him with a look of confusion.
"What?" She replied, wondering what could make him look so happy.
"Nathan woke up!"
"Are you serious?" He nodded. She dropped all the firewood. "What are we still doing here, let's go."
When they arrived back at camp Taylor and Eric had already talked to Nathan. It was Jackson and Melissa's turn now. They walked into the tent and Jackson gave him the ever-popular guy handshake. You know the one where they grab each other's hand and pull each other into that half hug, and then with their free hand they smack each other on the back.
"I'm glad you're back with us man." Jackson said, and then he turned to Melissa. "I'll be outside if you need me." Then he left the tent so Melissa and Nathan could talk alone.
Melissa turned her attention back to Nathan. She sat down in front of him and just stared at him, as if to make sure it was really him. Once she realized he truly was okay, she pulled him into a hug. He hugged her back, while he felt a few tears fall on his shoulder. Pulling away he looked at her. She must have been really worried about him.
"Mel, I'm okay. Really I'm okay." Nathan said, trying to reassure her.
"You know what you did was really stupid, right?" Melissa gave him a slight smack on the arm. "I was really scared, Nathan, that you weren't going to wake up. What would I have done if I lost you?"
"I know it was stupid. I just wanted to prove to you guys that I could get the coconuts down." Nathan hung his head, feeling ashamed.
Melissa placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nathan, you know you don't have to prove anything to us. Your life is more important."
"I know, I shouldn't have done it. But I thought if I could do it then maybe..." He let his sentence drop off.
"Maybe what, Nathan."
"Maybe, Daley would like me." At this Melissa laughed. "Thanks for your support Mel."
"Nathan. You shouldn't have to do something dangerous to make someone like you. Besides, I don't think you need to."
"What do you mean?" Nathan looked surprised at her statement. Melissa contemplated on whether or not to tell him her thoughts. She always guessed that Daley liked Nathan, and she knew Nathan liked Daley. She just didn't know whether or not to tell him, and get his hopes up.
"Oh nothing. I'm just glad you're back. I'm gonna go now and let you rest. I'll see you in the morning." She gave him another hug, and got up to leave the tent.
As she left, Nathan sat thinking about what Melissa had said. "I don't think you need to." What did that mean? Nathan sighed and laid down. He continued to think about what Melissa had said, and before he knew it, he was asleep.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think. I will probably post the next chapter within a day or two. I'm trying to drag it out, but it's just so tempting to post another chapter.
AOSFYC