Adam shook his head and smiled. He raised his com-link and contacted Brennan.

"Brennan," he called.

"Oh, Adam, you're back, huh?" Brennan's voice came in.

"Yes, we're back and I'm pretty sure you should be back, too," said Adam chuckling.

"Adam, we've got a problem."

"What is it?"

"Alex and Jesse decided to camp together and Shalimar and I camped together. We were going to meet at a decided place after the camping but they never showed up, so I contacted Jesse on his com-link ring. It worked and he was able to tell us that they had gotten lost while hiking before something went wrong with the com-link rings and our only means of communication with them was lost."

"Oh, that's bad," said Adam. "And I take it that you have not found them yet?"

"Yes, and what's worse is that I'm afraid they will run out of food and won't know how to survive in the woods."

"I'm not so sure about that," said Adam. "They're intelligent people and I'm pretty sure they won't starve and I know they won't be attacked or killed by some wild animal."

"Yeah, you're right," Brennan said. "Anyways, we'll come back and then decide the best way to find them."

"Okay."

Adam turned around after talking to Brennan and looked at us. We knew what had happened so he didn't need to tell us. We waited until Brennan and Shalimar got back. When they returned, we spread out a map of the Amazon forest. They marked the spots where they camped or went to and the direction Jesse and Alex went and where they might be.

We decided that we would use the Helix and see if we might spot them and also go in search of them on foot. We kind of cringed at the idea of having to search the forest to find them because it wasn't a small forest. It was huge and they could be anywhere in there.

Alex's Point Of View

I looked at Jesse frustrated one more time. Why couldn't it had happened some other time or some other place? Why did it have to happen here? Why now? But then……… I don't really mind because I'm here with him……………No! No! No! I shouldn't! I have a boyfriend, I told myself.

I sighed deeply and moaned. Jesse's head jerked up surprised. "Are you feeling okay? Do you feel sick? he asked.

"No," I replied miserably. "I'm just having an inner struggle right now."

"Oh," he said. "Would you like to talk about it, maybe?"

"Uh….." I turned away and blushed. He didn't know what I was being miserable about. I would just die of embarrassment if I told him. "Uh, he he, uh, well, you see. I don't think it would do any good if I talked about it."

"Okay, if that's want you want," he said.

He went back to working on the com-link rings while I went back to scowling myself. 'Why' was the only word I had in my mind right now. I was bored so I changed into Christina Aguilera just for fun. Jesse looked up and jumped a little from the shock of finding Christina Aguilera sitting on the huge rock instead of me. He realized quickly that it was me and went back to the com-links.

"Didn't I ask you not to surprise me by shape-shifting into other people?" he asked while he was working on the com-link rings.

"Yeah, you did," I said absentmindedly.

"Then why do you keep doing it?"

"Because it's fun," I replied.

"Please try not to surprise me anymore," he begged.

"I'll try."

We sat in silence for a long time. He worked on the rings while I studied the green environment around us. The trees stood tall and proud with their strong and leafy branches. Long ferns grew near the trunks of the trees and vines hung from their branches as well. Flowers bloomed in the fertile ground and the ground was grassy. It was also littered with many different colored kind of leaves and twigs. Bugs and insects crawled about. I heard birds flying around in some of the tallest of the branches. It seemed like we had entered a whole new world. This world was green and lush. The wild animals thrived in this world and I felt right at home.

As I smiled to myself contentedly and admired the beauty around us, Jesse stopped working and looked around at the forest too. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" I said in a low voice. "It feels so different here."

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean," said Jesse. "So, uh, Alex….." he said after a while.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"About Brad, do you know a lot about him?"

"Yeah, of course I do," I replied.

"Like what?"

I looked at Jesse confused. "Why do you need to know? If you're thinking what I think you are, then you're wrong! Brad's very sweet and nice. He cares for me."

"I just don't want you to get hurt," Jesse said. "Because……………"

"Because what?! Because you think I'm irresponsible?! Is that it?! Well, I can take care of myself."

Jesse nodded and started to work on the rings again. I sighed deeply again and thought miserably. I had been quite mean and loud at Jesse just now and I was feeling kind of bad about it. "Uh, Jesse?"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry about what happened a minute ago. I'm just going a little crazy here."

"Yeah, me too," smiled Jesse.

I smiled too when I saw Jesse smile at me. My face turned red. I was blushing and I didn't know. "Why are you turning red? Your cheeks are pink."

"I am………….?" I said and trailed off. "Oh."

I turned even redder when I realized I was blushing and that Jesse saw me blushing. I looked away and said," Um, oh, it must be the cold. I guess I'm not used to the cold in the forest."

"Then you better put on a sweater or get inside the tent," said Jesse concerned. "I don't want you getting sick."

I smiled at his concern. "Oh, it's nothing. I'll be fine."

"Just in case…….." he said and he got up and went inside his tent. He came out a few seconds later with a brown jacket in hand. He put it over my shoulders to keep me warm.

"Thanks," I said as I blushed a bright red.

Then Jesse suddenly said," Ah, I give up for today. I'll work on them tomorrow. Come on, Alex. Let's go to bed early. I know we're both exhausted."

"Okay," I said obediently. "Oh, and here's your jacket."

"Thanks," he said. He stood waiting until I went inside my tent and everything was okay, then he disappeared inside his own tent. I whispered 'goodnight' and fell asleep.