Gabi didn't move as she spoke.

"Okay, even if you didn't cheat on me there's still the fact that you've been using me this entire time," she was shaking, tears pouring down her cheeks. Jake reached down, and even though she fought him off, he succeeded in wrapping her in his arms, tucked into his jacket.

"Stop," she shook her head, but he knew she was too tired and devastated and weak to really get away.

"Please listen," he said with his accent thick and his voice low. "Do you remember the day we met? I told you I loved you."

"Don't do this to me," she begged. She couldn't do it, she couldn't be wrapped in Jake's arms with his jacket warming her and his crystal eyes intensely staring into her, trying so hard to melt her. He was absolutely breaking her heart, he already had. But under all of that pain, she really truly loved him. "Please just don't."

"Don't what?" he asked gently, holding her even closer.

"Don't touch me, don't look at me like that, don't try and get me back," she squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in his chest, simply so she didn't have to look at him. But the only thing that that accomplished was that she heard the sound of his pounding heart against her ear, listening to the sound she had for so many nights sleeping next to him.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm stupid," she said, desperately. "And I'll forgive you for cheating on me and for using me and for starting fights and for-"

"I never cheated on you," he interrupted. "I think if you look deep into your heart, you'll realize that. Again, if you don't trust me enough not to its Sydney. Your very best friend. You've known her for years, you trust her, you-"

"Okay," Gabi interrupted. "Fine, I believe she wouldn't do that to me. But what about you using me?"

"I was trying to get to that," he said patiently. The rain poured even harder, sopping wet on both their heads, just like the first time that had come to this waterfall. "Do you remember the first time I told you I loved you?"

"Yes," she said, feeling her chin tremble. "Why do you have to remind me?"

"Well, that night you said to me "There's no way you could mean possibly mean that", do you remember?"

"I was so much smarter then," she said, her voice breaking. Jake reached out to tilt her chin up with the hand that wasn't holding his jacket tight around her.

"I didn't mean it."

She met his eyes for the first time, feeling her heart ache.

"Wh-what?"

"You were right," he repeated. "I did not mean it. But then, we came to this very spot and you refused to kiss me about a million times. Then finally, when I least expected it, you did. And then you jumped right into that waterfall, and I followed you. We kissed some more, and by the end of that night, I started to develop actual feelings."

"Why would you tell me that you loved me if you didn't?"

"Because I thought you were pretty," Jake said, looking a little ashamed. "I admit that at first when Cody first introduced us, I was looking at you as just another girl."

"Oh so that changed after we kissed?" she rolled her eyes.

"Not exactly," he said again, and she looked a little hurt. "I'm being so honest with you right now, that changed when we kissed again on those rocks and you said "Jake, I think I love you too." Then, if that wasn't enough, every little thing you did made it even more real. The way you let me kiss you goodnight, the way you trusted me to keep you safe, the way it felt with you sleeping next to me all night long, the way you hugged me covered in all that pancake batter-"

Gabi felt the strange urge to let herself laugh, but she held it in, wondering exactly what was wrong with her.

"-and the way you took care of me when I was sick, the way you-"

"Okay, okay," she cut him off. "What's your point?"

"My point is that I couldn't have faked that if I tried. And I know our relationship isn't perfect, but neither is love. And I love you, so much, even if you don't want me back."

"Jake," she reached up and tangled her hand in her sopping hair. "I don't know. I have no idea if I should believe you, I don't know what-"

"You don't have to know now, we've got time."

"Fine," Gabi said, and she took a deep breath. "I seriously don't know, though. What if I'm being stupid, starting to trust you again?"

"Then I'd be the luckiest guy in the world," Jake leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, and she only wiggled away half-heartedly. Then she pulled away, glancing around at the place where it was possible that her first and last kiss with Jake would ever take place.

oOo

"I. Love. You."

Cody spoke in between kisses as his lips traveled from Sydney's down to her neck and then along her shoulder to her arm. He found his way all along her forearm and stopped at her hand.

"You do?" Sydney whispered back, her heart pounding.

"I do," he whispered back. This was the first time he'd said this-actually, really said this. Of course, he had texted her 143 or told her "love you" when she went home or whatever, but he had to Gabi too. They had all said it, as friends who knew each other for years. But this was different; this was real, true, romantic love.

"I love you too," she said instantly, because she did. Even when he was a jerk, even when he was breaking her heart, she still loved him.

"You know what?" Cody's voice was soft and sweet in her ear as he lay back down, his arms enclosing her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sound of his heart beating and the warmth of his skin.

"Hmm?"

"We've been here over a month already…"

Sydney felt her stomach plummet, and she opened her eyes.

"Oh my God, you're right!"

"Time passed so fast, right?"

She nodded against him, and he squeezed her a little tighter.

"We'll have to leave soon, you know…"

She nodded again, wishing they could start the trip all over. The Bahamas were beautiful, with the oceans and the soft sand and Cody's hand in hers. Gabi had found Jake, and Sydney grew closer to Cody in a different way than she'd ever thought she could. It was heartbreaking to know that this magical trip, this journey they had all taken together, was almost done.

"We've still got a little time," Cody said, sensing her sadness. "Three more days, we planned for."

She nodded again, too tired to talk. Cody's lips were soft against her temple as they lay together, listening to the rain pound. From downstairs, they heard the door open and then close.

"Jake found Gabi," Cody mumbled into her. Sydney's eyes flew open, and she suddenly stood up.

"What is it?" Cody asked, alarmed.

"I need to talk to her," Sydney rubbed her eyes. "She thinks her boyfriend cheated on her with me, I need to-"

"Shh," Cody's fingers brushed her wrist gently. "Just lie back down, I'm sure Jake explained."

"Still," Sydney gazed into Cody's eyes, finding herself too drawn in to pull away.

"Just lie back down," he whispered again with a small, beautiful smile floating around his lips. She was about to when a knock came at the door, and Jake walked in sopping wet with Gabi behind him.

"Gabi," Sydney stood up, all thoughts of Cody forgotten.

"Hey," Gabi was just as wet as Jake, if not more so, and had his jacket on. Her hair was stringy and wet, her clothes drenched and her makeup smeared.

"I didn't…" Sydney struggled to find her words. "With Jake, we-"

"I know," Gabi nodded.

"I'm sorry though," Sydney said with a weak smile, and Gabi gave her a small one in return. They hugged, and Cody and Jake watched on both looking relieved.

"I'm sorry too," Gabi said, pulling away as to not get Sydney too wet.

"So are you two alright?" Cody asked, looking from Jake to Gabi.

They were silent for a moment.

"What do you mean by alright?" Jake asked slowly.

"You know, are you together? Is it finally back to paradise-happy-land? Do you want to go so you can kiss in private? Are you-"

"Cody," Sydney fit herself into her boyfriend's arms. "Maybe you shouldn't…"

"Oh," Cody said, noticing how Gabi's face crumpled and Jake looked at his shoes.

There was a brief moment of awkward silence before Jake cleared his throat.

"We're going to uh, work it out…"

"Maybe," Gabi looked up at him, and he frowned at her.

"I said I'm sorry, baby."
"Please don't call me that."

Jake met Cody's eyes, and for the first time he looked like he felt some real emotion, real sadness, real despair.

"Jake, want to talk?" Cody said at the same time Sydney said:

"Gabi, let's go to your room for a sec."

Cody squeezed his girlfriend's hand in support, and then dropped it as they separated; Sydney and Gabi out the door.

"Okay, mate," Cody said as the door closed by Gabi's gentle hand. "What is it?"

Jake was silent for a moment, and then Cody watched stunned as Jake's eyes moistened and a single teat dripped down as Jake reached up, making like he was brushing his hair out of his eyes, clearly ashamed.

"Jake, are you-are you crying?" Cody asked, disbelievingly.

"I messed up big time," Jake said back, his voice breaking as he sank down on the bed next to Cody.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you put the idea in her head that I was using her?" Jake looked up, his crystal eyes with none of their usual sheen.

"I thought you were," Cody said a little alarmed. "But I can see that you're not, I'll tell her, Jake, I'll do anything-"

"It's too late," Jake shook his head. "I know her, there's nothing you can say that'll make her trust me again."

"I've never seen you get like this for a girl," Cody said, still having a hard time comprehending. "Are you okay?"

"No," Jake said, his voice rising. "Can't you see that?"

"It'll all work out," Cody stood up and opened the bedroom door. "If she see's you like this."

"I-don't-want-," Jake muttered thickly, trying hard to get Cody away as Cody dragged him to the room next door. Without knocking, he walked in to where Gabi and Sydney were sitting cross legged on the bed, talking. They stopped as Jake and Cody walked in.

"Look," Cody said desperately to Gabi. "The only time I've ever seen him cry in the twelve years that I've known him other than tonight was when our swimming team in Australia won second in the final round of the championship."

Gabi looked into Jake's face, and she frowned.

"Jake," she said, looking back down away from his eyes. "I think we're better off as friends."

Note: Review, 143!