Author's Note: Apparently, I lied. Not only did I take FOREVER to update, but I will have the energy to make this more than 10 chapters (although probably not 30!). So. Here you go: evidence that I'm a liar and a horrible updater. :P I will have the energy, but I'll have slower updates than usual. Disclaimer and another apology thing on profile if you actually care. ;) Review? Also: if you're a blonde, no I'm not a hater. Stereotypes are wrong. Really, I don't think blondes are unintelligent at all. For the purpose of this story, I (Mel) calls Eric a stereotypical blonde. I don't mean offense to anyone out there,'kay?

Did you know that a line, by its geometric definition, extends in both directions infinitely? It does. It's constant and straight, no twists or turns, no random dips. It's not a rollercoaster. It's a line.

Love?

I mean, like. As in attraction. Because, I can't love.

Right?

Right. That's completely and totally right. Technically, a teenager is still developing the part of the brain that is crucial for making long-term decisions. Like loving. Right? Because love is completely constant and dependent.

Love has no twists.

It's a line.

"Eric?"

"Hmm?"

Eric lay on the sandy floor inside our tent, painstakingly drawing a line in the sand with a stick that he claimed divided the tent exactly in half. Claimed. As in, it didn't.

"Your line… "

"You got a problem with my line?" he asked defensively, adjusting his hat from falling over his face.

"Um, you're not dividing it in half."

"There are more guys than girls; it's fair!"

"No, Lex sleeps next to Daley. On the girls' side."

We stared each other down. Technically, he stared up, but he gave up after his hat fell off.

There actually was a pretty good reason why I was arguing pointlessly with someone who didn't listen to logic. See, it involves another illogical being: a certain bossy redhead who was appalled at her companion in the Land of Illogical-ness.

Around 5 minutes ago, Daley ordered me to "go fight for our land! Show them who's boss! We will not take this lying down!" She didn't even listen to me try to convince her that it wasn't a huge mutiny concocted by the guys. After being filled with such righteous indignation, she decided she'd send a mercenary to fight this injustice.

Lex refused point blank.

This was the reason that I, Melissa On-The-Student-Council-For-Three-Years-Straight-But-Too-Shy-Too-Go-For-An-Actual-Office Wu, was arguing pointlessly with Eric.

Eric looked away from our stare down.

"Ha! I won."

"Congratulations, you won a staring contest. Have a piece of candy- oh wait, there isn't any!" Eric answered sarcastically.

"Well, I guess I'll take the next best thing," I said nonchalantly.

"What, a coconu- hey!"

With a fast-as-something-slower-than-lighting kick, I sent Eric's hard work into dust… which floated in a violent manner (yes, it's possible- ask Eric!) into Eric's face.

Oops.

"Um, are you okay?"

"No! Do you think it's okay for me to be blind?" he sputtered angrily, rubbing furiously at his face.

"Um, I-"

"'Um,' you blinded me! You know, I could sue you for this. When we get home, I mean. So do what I say!"

"Huh?"

"Melissa Wu, do you want the McGorrills to take this to court? I could add the whole border-jumping story, too."

"You're crazy," I informed him, sitting directly on the remains of his line.

"No," he retorted, "you are."

"Eric," I sighed, rolling my eyes, "what exactly do you want?"

"I want?"

"Yes. Want. Eric want something?" I asked him slowly. "Does Big Bad McGorrill want?"

"I'm not an idiot."

"I know. You're just a freakishly stereotypical blonde."

"Ouch. That hurts, man. In here," he said, pounding his fist over his heart. That was when he decided to pull out the big guns. Slowly turning his head to look up at me, he gave me the best puppy-dog face I'd ever seen. By best, I mean there were little crystal tears wavering in his baby blues.

"Um… I…" I began intelligently.

"Mel? My eyes- they really sting," he said softly.

"Um… I…"

"Really, really sting," he pushed.

"Um… I…"

"They sting so bad, I think my eyes are pink," he whimpered piteously.

"Um… I…"

"Dangit, Mel! Don't you have anything more intelligent to say?" he snapped.

Spell over.

"I mean," he coughed, "I think I have dust in my throat." He coughed again, making sure to look up at me with that stupid puppy-dog face.

"Nope," I said, crossing my arms and looking away. "Not buying it."

"Fine," he retorted, flopping on his back before snapping straight up again. "Stupid sand!" He tried to dust the pesky particles off.

"Wait… where are the sleeping bags?" I asked slowly, mentally slapping myself for not noticing sooner. His eyes suddenly widened and he looked away from me quickly.

"Eric? What do you know?" In an instant, I stood over his slightly cowering form.

"Mel, geez. Just… just, chill, okay? And why do you have to accuse me anyway?" he pouted.

"Eric. Still not buying it."

He blew a puff of air and pretended not to notice me.

"Eric! Where are the sleeping bags!"

"Um," he coughed nervously, fixing his hat, "they might be in that jungle."

"Oh? And why might they be there?"

"Uh… there may have been an incident."

"What kind of incident, Eric?"

"What were you thinking?" Daley exploded minutes later.

"We-"

"No, I'll tell you what you were thinking. Nothing! That's what you were thinking!" she interrupted angrily, pacing back and forth. Three very ashamed boys (and one calm, tall, strong, brave- focus!) stood before her. Taylor watched, slightly concerned for her boyfriend.

"How long do you think this'll be?" she asked me, her eyes never leaving Eric. I flinched slightly, surprised. We hadn't exactly talked much.

"Um… Taylor… I really don't know," I answered helplessly.

"Too bad."

"Yeah."

"But, really. The guys went a little far this time. Lex should've been smarter."

"Yeah, I guess."

"I mean, really? What the heck!"

"Uh, yeah."

Daley continued on her tirade, oblivious to our little conversation.

"You just don't do stuff like that! Think of the consequences! I mean, Lex, you're smart and all, but you could've died! You all could have died!" She bit her lip worriedly. I patted her on the shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay. I mean, they're fine, aren't they?"

"That's not the point!" Daley interrupted, glaring at me for talking during her rant. "I mean, I'm glad that you're safe and all," she amended, leveling a stern glance at her brother, "but you could've destroyed a whole lot more than the sleeping bags! The tent could've burned, the camp could've burned, the jungle- maybe the whole freakin' island!"

Jackson gazed at her impassively, before sliding his gaze over to me.

Help, he silently pleaded.

"Um, Daley, I don't think it would've burned down the jungle…" I tried pathetically. Jackson hid a grin at my attempt.

"The camp! Them!" She glared at Nathan. "What were you thinking?"

"Um… I was thinking that Lex is a genius and that he knew what he was doing," he tried. Daley averted her gaze to Lex.

"Gee, thanks, Nathan. Glad you're such a loyal friend," Lex muttered.

"Yeah, Lex, what exactly were you thinking?" Taylor asked.

"For your information, it wasn't my idea," he declared. Eric's eyes widened to the size of saucers and motioned frantically for Lex to shut up.

"Hey," Lex shrugged, "if Nathan can bail, so can I. I declare this trust broken."

"… Daley?" I asked in the briefly quiet spell that followed. "You okay?" She was in hysterics.

"T-trust?" she asked belatedly. "As in… alliance?"

A second later, a cacophony of noise erupted as Nathan, Eric, and occasionally Lex frantically tried to defend themselves.

"OK, shut up!" Daley exclaimed. No one listened.

Help, I pleaded silently to Jackson as he stood apart from the others.

He shrugged and swiftly moved behind the three boys, sliding his hands between them to effortlessly separate them.

"Calm down. We've got all the time in the world."

Daley looked slightly miffed at his laidback tone, but took advantage of the effect he made on the others.

"Go. One of you. Ummm… Lex, you go first," she commanded, her eyes glinting dangerously.

"Hey! That's nepotism!" Eric protested.

"Would you rather have me pick Nathan?"

Nathan looked up hopefully.

"… Well, no. That's still kind of nepotism," Eric muttered stubbornly.

"We're not family."

"You're going out. You act like an old couple that hasn't learned to switch off the PDA. Ugh."

Daley's nostrils flared as her cheeks flushed.

"Eric, you lousy, hypocritical, lazy- lazy… lazy swine!"

"Whoa. I don't eat that much, 'kay? Why can't you chill Daley? Like your boyfriend."

"I can chill. I can be very chill. I can be so chill- chill enough to freeze your butt off until you run into a volcano crying!" she exploded. Her hair flew around wildly, and for a moment, she really did look like a volcano.

"Um, Daley, you- "

She turned her wild eyes on me.

"Shut up, Mel, I'm busy. Unless you actually have something important and useful to add to this conversation, stay quiet!"

Jackson turned on her. That whole scary aura (which was supposed to have vanished by now) suddenly reappeared. I gulped. Daley gulped. Eric smirked and nudged a wary Lex. Taylor studied her nails, bored.

Nathan seemed a bit torn as to whether he should take the opportunity to run or be a loyal boyfriend.

"Daley? Could you repeat that?" Jackson asked in a deceivingly calm voice.

"R-right. I said, um… hehe… I was joking. Joking! Really. Sorry, Mel," she said, turning to me with a forced laugh. "Hehe… I have no idea what I was thinking! Just a joke. Jackson? Just a joke."

"Yeah," he grunted noncommittally.

"Just a joke," she repeated meekly. I had to keep myself from smiling.

"You know, Jackson," I said softly, walking over to him, "it really wasn't that big a deal. She was just exploding. I'm used to it. We're all used to it."

He subtly slid his arm around me, and I knew that anyone else would just think he was leaning against the tree.

"Yeah. I know. It's just funny to see the exploding volcano melt."

"Evil," I muttered.

"Sweet," he murmured, turning slightly to touch his nose to my hair and inhale deeply. "What did you do, steal Taylor's shampoo stash?" he asked.

"Uh, no. I would be dead, then."

"Hmm, yeah. I've heard dead people don't smell very good."

"… Ew." I wrinkled my nose in disgust. He laughed at my expression.

"So what did you do?" he repeated.

"I stole Taylor's shampoo stash," I said with a grin.

"I guess I was wrong. Dead people do smell nice."

"Ugh, gross. I was joking. All I did was try to wash these annoying, prickly berry-things out of my hair."

"What prickly berry-things?"

"Eric," I explained.

"Eric?"

"He may have 'accidentally' spilled crushed red berries onto my hair to show me what you had done to the sleeping bags." Eric and Lex had brainstormed together and were inspired to make some sort of chemical concoction involving the juice of red berries and certain plants that Lex had claimed were medicinal. Lex wasn't actually going to develop it, but Eric (who had been tempted when he found out what a perfect prank dying Jackson's hair pinkish-red would be) talked him into it. Nathan got involved (of course), and soon they were hiding the whole experiment inside our tent. Lex had mentioned something about needing an environment with less air flow, or something like that. Personally, I think he'd wanted to find out if Nathan's hair really did frizz in humidity. Unfortunately, the chemicals, the flammable sleeping bags, and the heat of the fire (which a certain blonde haired someone was supposed to have been tending) made a chemical fire. Yeah. I know.

"When?" Jackson asked me after a moment.

"Before I told Daley. It's not like I wanted her to accuse me of trying to imitate a redhead."

"Why would she do that?"

"She's very sensitive about her hair and how redheads seem to be left out."

"Really? I didn't think she cared about that type of stuff."

"Well, she cared when the school newspaper sent a blonde journalist to interview Nathan after his big win in some game, and one of the questions was 'Blondes or brunettes?'"

"I thought she hated Nathan."

"I think she's always liked him. As competition, or something. It probably has to do with the fact that he's the only person she knows who isn't afraid to compete against her."

"Huh. So then what happened?"

"Do you really want to know or are you trying to distract me so I don't notice you smelling my hair?" He inhaled before peering down at me in surprise.

"Both." I smiled up at him.

"Well, she sent in a 'scathing review to let that blonde brat know that redheads are also equal among the ranks of blondes and brunettes, only more vivid'. Her words, not mine."

He laughed. "Sounds like something Daley would do," he said, a half smile brightening up his face. I grew warm at the sight.

"You're totally in, like, love!" Taylor squealed. I stared at her, feeling an uncomfortably familiar blush creep up my face.

"Not true," I managed.

"Totally! You're in denial, Melissa!"

"Oh, no, you're just not looking at the real world," I said. Voice of reason- that's my role.

"Oh, please. What did you just say? 'Whenever Jackson smiles, I smile too! It makes me feel so… warm inside. Like he's becoming more open with me, you know?' Wasn't that you, Melissa Wu?" Daley asked me in a challenging voice.

"That doesn't mean I love him. Love's a line."

They frowned at me.

"What the heck are you talking about? Love's a rollercoaster!" Taylor stated matter-of-factly.

"No, definitely not! I'm scared of heights!" I cried.

"Did you just… whimper?" Daley asked, one eyebrow raised. I swallowed, embarrassed.

"Well… maybe I did… but that's not what matters! It's just… love's constant, okay? I can't be constant! I'm always changing and stuff. It doesn't even make sense anymore. I just want… for me and Jackson to stay here for a while. Isn't that fine?"

"Where exactly is 'here'?" Taylor asked slowly.

"I don't know. Here. Comfortable. Just for a while, I want to be comfortable. I don't want to force myself to say that I love him, or-"

"Ha! You admitted it!" Daley cheered, pointing at me.

"I didn't admit anything. Why would I force him into something like that? Why would I force myself? 'Here' is a very nice place to be in. Besides, we shouldn't get too serious. We've got to focus on getting saved. I mean, have you seen the clouds lately?"

"Oh, I know," Taylor nodded importantly. "I haven't been getting much of a tan."

"Oh… that sucks…" I tried. I really did try. But sometimes, Tay-tay was from the past, not in my present.

"Well, anyway, love may not necessarily be a rollercoaster, but it's definitely not a line," Daley declared, stalking past me to put her idle hands to work.

"Well, it's not a point, is it? Wait… oh my gosh! You're a genius, Daley! It's a ray!" I exclaimed delightedly.

"You're hopeless," Taylor said flatly, looking me over as if I was a disgrace.

"Not everything is math, Mel," Daley said.

Whatever. Math is logical and safe, and to every problem, there's a good answer.

Except for pi. Pi is just a weird, never ending decimal, but no one cares about that. Love isn't pi, anyway.

"Whoa, guys. I think… get over to camp! All of you!"

We heard Nathan's panicked voice slicing through the comfortable. We ran. Someone stumbled. We kept running.

Short staccato steps. Little sentences. In moments of terror, that's all you remember, right? Terror isn't logical, but it's clearer than day. Nothing about it is vague.

That's what I was thinking when I looked over to the horizon for the first time that day.

"Oh, my-"

"What is that?"

"What the-"

"-don't. Let's not look at it anymore, okay?"

Jackson looked at the horizon grimly. "Looks like a bad storm."

That was an understatement. The clouds were black and puffy, and even though they were far away, we could make out flashes of lightning between the clouds. Although we were standing in a picture-perfect island paradise, we could see the distinction where the calm blue waters morphed into angry, roiling waves, crashing and smashing. I shuddered as the wind suddenly picked up.

I wouldn't mind going on a rollercoaster if it meant I could escape from that storm.

From the looks on everyone else's faces, we were all terrified.

Where was my logic, now?

Author's Note: Review? I'll do my best to update again. I looked at the entire story and decided it could use more plot. So, uh, yeaahhh... review? :D