Jackson's Video Diary:
What the hell is going on here? Since when did Melissa and Eric become best friends? What was all that going on in the tent anyways? I just keep getting the feeling that someone more is up. I don't know how, but I need to find out what's going on.
Jackson's POV:
Nathan and Daley were fruit hunting. Taylor was charging the batteries. Lex was at the plane and Eric was on water duty. That left Melissa all one at the fire. "Time to talk," I said to myself as I walked over to her. I walked over and casually grabbed a water bottle. "How's your ankle?" I asked showing no real emotion.
"It hurts, but I'll live," she replied with a slight smile. I drank water, slowly, and calmly, causing awkward silence. She finally broke it by saying, "So . . . about, you know." She looked at her dirty tennis shoes. "Yeah," I replied, "You know, it's going to be hard to just forget it . . ."
"I've been acting totally idiotic the few days. I'm really sorry about that." she took a breath, "And if you like Taylor . . ."
"Mel, we aren't," I interfered.
"Just please let me finish," she pleaded, "If you and Taylor are like . . . I mean if you have feeling for her . . . it's ok." She said the last two words so quietly I barely heard them. I walked over to her, crouched down in front of her, and stared into her eyes. "Melissa. We. Are. Not. Together," I said, clearing announcing every word.
"Yeah right," she muttered, "Oops. I mean . . . ok."
"Melissa. I don't like Taylor!" I reassured her.
"Well . . . why not?" she suddenly exclaimed, "She's pretty and funny and you two connected! I've seen the two of you together. I'm not BLIND, Jackson." I looked at her, in shock really. How come every time I talk with Melissa, I'm left speechless? Her eyes were begging for an answer, a reply. Unfortunately, I didn't have one. I opened my mouth and a few words attempted to come out, but nothing audible did. She turned her head away for a minute then limped away. "Shit!" I cussed as I chucked a rock into an unknown destination.
Jackson's Video Diary:
I don't get it. I don't understand Melissa at all. She's been born and raised uptown, yet she's so concerned about me? I mean, what do I have to offer? I'm just another "problem child".
I can't decide between Taylor and Melissa. It's harder than you'd think. Melissa is genuine, sweet, caring, and tries hard in all that she does. But Taylor is funny and spunky. But if I choose Taylor, Melissa is going to be destroyed. Or maybe she'll just run to Eric. That damn rat. What right does he have to smile at Melissa all the freaking time? Damn rat.
Melissa's POV:
Well, it's official. Jackson likes Taylor. "He never said he did!" exclaimed sweet Mel.
"Well, he never said he didn't!" retorted mean Mel.
"MELISSA!" yelled Taylor, getting my attention, "Why are you mad at me?" I was so caught up in my discovery that I didn't notice her standing there. "What?" I replied.
"Why are you mad at me?" she exclaimed.
"Taylor . . ." I collected myself, "just go charge batteries."
"Melissa!" she was standing over me now, "Look, I'm sorry me and Jackson like . . . connected, but it's not like you were with him! Come on, Mel, this is STUPID!" I didn't look at her. I placed my cold, unwavering stare on the clump of dirt a couple inches away from me. "MELISSA!" she yelled, "It's not like this is the first time this happened!" I turned to her and her eyeballs nearly fell out of her sockets. "Oh, my gosh," she shook her head, "I didn't mean that."
"You're right, Taylor," I said, standing up, "This ISN'T the first time. Taylor, this has happened, what? 5 times already? Maybe more? Yet every time, I just forget and forgive." I was glaring at her, but then my stare softened. Mean Mel wanted to slug her pretty little face right then and there, but that's not what I wanted to do. "Fine, Taylor," I surrendered, "You want him? You got him." She looked at me with eyes the size of a dinner plate and then gasped. "What?" she breathed out.
"Take Jackson, he's yours." I said, raising my hands in surrender.
"No, Melissa . . ." she begged, "I didn't mean it like that! It came out all wrong!" I had half of me want to go up to her and hug her because her eyes languished for forgiveness. But Mean Mel held me back. I walked to her, and stared in the eye but not with anger but with submissiveness. "Taylor," I said, comfortingly, "I really think we both know you always get the guy. And really, we also both know why." Her blue eyes were still pleading with mine, but I couldn't crumble and give in this time. I laid my hand on her shoulder and looked at her with realization. "Jackson's yours," I said, and began limping away, "Congratulations."
Melissa's Video Diary:
Did I just say that? Did I just admit defeat?
(Mean Mel and Sweet Mel: Yeah . . .)
Melissa's POV:
"How can you just GIVE her Jackson?" yelled Mean Mel, "How in this crazy mind of yours, does THAT fit into the puzzle?"
"Well, maybe she doesn't want anymore drama," defended sweet Mel.
"But she GAVE Taylor JACKSON!" Now we have to watch them flirt and cuddle and other crappy stuff like that."
"She's right! How could you give her Jackson?" yelled sweet Mel.
"Ugh! Just SHUT UP!" I thought and hit my head with my firsts. I laid my head against the coconut tree near the cliff. Maybe . . . I was wrong to do that. What did I do?!?! Taylor has Jackson now! But he doesn't like me. I saw them together. So, it was the right thing to do. "Why must I be so dang nice!?!" I yelled.
"I don't know, you tell me," said Eric as he approached me.
"Oh! Eric!" I exclaimed, getting up, "Where you spying on me?"
"Chill, I heard you yelling as I was doing my job fit for a pack mule," he remarked.
"Oh," I said, sitting back down.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he knelt beside me.
"Everything," I sighed.
"Well that really narrows it down . . ." he muttered.
"Taylor." I began.
"Ah! Detective McGorril was right!" he exclaimed in the accent. I let out an exasperated breath. "What did she do now?" he asked, a little annoyed. Should I tell him? Well, he's probably going to find out one way or another. "Jackson likes her," I confessed. He seemed to be taken back at this and asked how I knew. So, I explained to him what I saw when Daley and Nathan sailed off to find a current along with everything else. After I was finished ranting, he pulled me up and led me to edge of the cliff. "Eric, what are you doing?" I asked, worriedly.
"Here," he said, as he stopped about a foot away from the ledge. I stared at the majestic mountains and the glorious view for a while until I gave Eric a confused gaze. Suddenly Eric's hat was placed inches away from my face. I took the hat and stared at it turning it over. "Go ahead, you know what to do," he said, gesturing to the open air in front of me. Does he want me to hit the hat? No, that'd be stupid. What am I supposed to do? Then, it dawned on me. I stood there for a minute until my lungs filled with enough air. I pulled the hat over my mouth to act as a muffler. Then I yelled as loud as I could into it, took a breath, and repeated it again. I handed it back to Eric and thanked him. His pinky was in his ear, trying to clear it up and replied, "I didn't know you could yell so freaking loud!"
"We should get back," I said, slowly walking away.
"WHAT?" he yelled. I nudged him on the shoulder again and told him to hurry up. He smiled at me and we headed back. Nathan and Daley were cleaning the plane's window while Jackson and Taylor were sitting side by side on a log. "Beat that!" said Jackson, triumphantly laying down a hand of cards.
"Ok," she laid her hand down and laughed. Jackson groaned and tossed his cards aside, causing Taylor to release more giggles. Then, she saw me. I left her gaze and sat down on the opposite log. Then I felt something on my shoulder. I turned around and was face to face with a banana. I looked up and saw it was Eric's hand, holding the banana. I took it and smiled back at him. "Ok guys," announced Daley, "Lex's shelter is coming along really well."
"I still don't understand why we need to make that, even though we already lugged this bad boy up here," remarked Eric, gesturing to the plane.
"We're going to use it to hang our laundry. That way we'll be able to dry out more clothes, and it'll be a cool place on hot days," replied Lex.
"I think it's a good idea," complemented Taylor.
"She's right, it's going to be really useful," I agreed. I turned to see everyone's widen eyes fixated on me. I just kept my gaze on them and smiled. "So . . .," Lex began, "If we want to finish this, we should really give everyone a job. Nathan will hunt get vines and untangle the fishing net. Eric will get the water, since we'll be working really hard."
"Of course . . ." exclaimed Eric, "I'm not a camel you know!"
"But you do smell like one," retorted Taylor.
"Ok, now that we have fully established that," interfered Lex, after everyone recovered from laughing, "Daley will help me get the design worked in and Taylor will braid the rope plus boil the water. Because Jackson and Melissa will be too busy cutting wood and getting sticks for the fire." WHAT?!?! I was now not in the campfire scene anymore. Instead, I was in my own little world. How can I do that? How can I work with Jackson after I gave all rights to Taylor? I'm supposed to be trying to get OVER him! CRAP! "Ok," I replied meekly.
~NEXT DAY~
I just go to the spot where Jackson was sawing off a branch. I looked behind him, picking up nearby sticks and taking a few vines. I heard the saw accelerating and turned to see Jackson's intense face on. "Say something!" urged sweet Mel.
"Saw any harder and you might cut off your finger," I casually remarked. He stopped quickly and his gaze was fixated on the log. I faced him and said, "Jackson?" He turned around and his grey-blue eyes were now a piercing, darkening grey. "Melissa," he said, gruffly, "I'm only going to ask this once. Are . . ."
(A/N: Ok, this is where I really establish Jackson's jealousy. I always thought Jackson needed to get jealous in the show. Too bad they didn't make another season. Darn McHale. Anyways, Read and Review please. All comments are welcomed.)
