They sat huddled in opposite corners of the small hut with no sense of the time that had passed. Their bodies were exhausted and hungry and weak. Their minds were engulfed in a tailspin of emotional confusion…

Nathan's Thoughts:

I can't believe this shit! None of it! It's crazy! It's a nightmare I keep expecting to wake up from but every time I open my eyes, nothing has changed. I'm still in this tiny little shack thing and there is water as far as I can see. I feel like I'm trapped and that's the worse. I swear to God, if I ever get out of here, I will have so much more appreciation for the simple things. Man, I really want to brush my teeth right now. And a shower would be nice. And food! I am fucking starved! I want real food, not damned coconuts! The coconuts are killing me. God, if You save me this one time, I give You my word that I will never, for the rest of my natural life, eat another coconut anything!

Yeah, I want real food. Chicken, no wait…pizza. Or a nice, big, juicy steak! That's what I'm talking about. That would definitely hit the spot right about now. Oh and some of Karen's cheesecake from the café. The chocolate kind. And an ice cold Pepsi to wash it down with. Megan hates when I have pop to drink but I think she'd be willing to make an exceptions this one time.

Meg. That's my girl. My heart. She's been on my mind lately. I miss the hell out of her. Her laugh and her smile and just the way she looks at me. I honestly love her. Yeah, I can say that. I do. I'm marrying her, aren't I? Right…then why did I spend a day and a half having sex with Haley?

God, I'm trying not to look at her now. She knows it and she's playing the same game. She thinks I hate her and in a way, she's right. I know I hate what she did. I can't and won't get over it…ever. And I'm not buying those crocodile tears and sob story that she loves me. Yeah right! If she loved me, she never would have left me. Music was more important than me. Chris Keller was more important than me. In my life and my heart, Haley was always number one. Nothing came before her. Not basketball or my family even.

Now we're stuck. All of places, of all things to happen. Hell, it would take a natural disaster to bring us together like this. God, where is everyone? Don't they know we're missing? Aren't they looking for us? I don't want to die. Not here. Not now. I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to go yet. I feel like I have a whole lot of living left in me. There's so much I want to do. I'm young. I'm just 23. There's so much ahead. I'm about to marry Meg for God's sake!

Meg! Yikes! I'm torn between being torn up about possibly never seeing her again. The only thing more frightening is…well, seeing her again. I don't know if I could face her after what I did. With Haley. It's cheating. It's wrong. I've never cheated on Megan. Never. Until now. Until a few hours ago. Not once, not twice but God forgive me, three times!

I totally couldn't help it. Lame excuse, huh? But Haley makes me so goddamn mad! Never in my life have I hit a woman but boy did she make me come close. I wanted to pound her head in the ground, choke her, grab her and literally shake the shit out of her. And she had the nerve to cry? Hell, I should be the one crying! She fucked up my life.

I couldn't help myself. I always thought she was beautiful…irresistible almost. She's so sexy even now in that torn, tattered dress. I remember the first time I ever made love to her. She made me wait until our wedding night. I was so ready to get it on but she looked so sweet and innocent at that moment. All I wanted was to be gentle and tender. I wanted to hold her and protect her from everything. Man, she was so scared that first time, her legs were shaking. I went real slow and I kept telling her that I loved her.

Even after that, sex with us was always about lovemaking. Slow and romantic and soft. It was beautiful. She would say it was a magical expression of our love. I used to think she was right but uh…things have changed! She practically raped me here! It was good, she felt good! It was a turn on watching her. She's so comfortable with her body now and she knows how to use it. I love it when a girl wraps her legs around me. And she was moaning and screaming and talking dirty! Damn, I'm getting another hard on right now just thinking about it. But when she touched herself…that was hot!

Wonder what happened to sweet little Haley? I bet I know. I bet Chris Keller happened. Taught her ass a few tricks or two. She expects me to believe she never bedded that loser? Yeah right! I'm not stupid! We're rotting away in this shit hole and she still can't even be honest with me.

Haley really did a number on me. She really fucked me over. Everyone thought I would be the one to break us up but big surprise, huh? Little Miss Perfect over there is the one that fucked everything up. That's the difference between her and Meg. Meg loves me. Meg will never leave me. She'd do anything in the world for me, anything I asked her to. That's love. It's respect. It's loyalty.

And look how I repay her? Nice going, asshole! I screw everything up, huh? Okay, if we get out of here alive, then I will just pretend it never happened. I'll just forget about Haley James. Forget I ever knew her. Forget the way she smiles at me. Forget the way she used to sing to me or hold my hand. Forget how patient she was. Forget how much I love, I mean, loved her. Forget how many tears I cried for her. Forget about how good we were together. Forget how much I needed her. Forget that nothing else matters…

A million thoughts raced through their brains although neither one spoke a word. Ever so often they would look outside for help. Help that never came. Then their eyes would find each other and one would look away quickly, hoping the other idn't notice…

Haley's Thoughts:

I wonder if anyone knows I'm…we're missing. As morbid as it is, on the road we used to play this game to pass the time by on the tour bus. It was something like, "If I die, who would care? Who would come to my funeral?" Now it's not a game anymore, I guess. I wonder if anyone is searching. Probably so but will they, can they find us here? Gosh, I wish there was someway to send a smoke signal or something. But we have nothing. Nothing but each other, a stack full of painful memories, a tree full of coconuts and three raunchy sex sessions.

God, I never remember it being that good with him. Or maybe I was so young and inexperienced that I didn't know how good it could get. I was a prude back then. Not that I'm a wonton slut or anything now. I've learned most from my trusty vibrator. I'd never admit it to her face but boy was Taylor right! Those things are a must have for any woman! It's gotten me through some lonely nights…weeks…months…years even. I've only been with two men since Nathan. Partly because I never got over him, I guess. Let's see…there was Tyler's bassist, Kyle. He was a hottie but we never really clicked. And there was Sean. Sweet, smart, reliable, faithful…boring Sean. That's it. I guess no man really ever compared to Nathan Scott…in my bed or my heart.

Wait! Holy shit! I just thought of something. If Nathan and I were still legally wed al these years, then I was technically married when I slept with Kyle and Sean! Oh God! Gross! I am an adulteress! A dirty, cheating Jezebel. Like I'm much better right now. I mean, if we die, then God forgive me but if we live…we have to live with the memories of what happened here between us. We live with the guilt and the consequences. Poor Megan. I wish she was a bitch so I could hate her. But she's not and I can't. She's just a nice girl who loves him very much.

I can't believe I told him I still love him. That's something it took years to admit, even to myself. That was pretty stupid but I couldn't help myself. It just came out. I do love him, though. I think about it all the time now. How could I not? I think of what might have been. What if I didn't get on that bus? We would have made it, I think. And I would have been happy. I would have eventually gotten the music and being on the road with Michelle Branch. After all, you can't really miss what you don't know. I wonder if he still loves me. Probably not.

In my final hours, this what I ponder. Did I make some horrible mistake? Was I wrong? Was I incredibly selfish? I was happy…we were happy once. Everybody has dreams? Who doesn't want to be a famous actor or musician or writer or some crap like that? And how many people does it actually happen for? Usually, it's just a stupid pipe dream, nothing more than a fantasy or wishful thinking. Most of us are put here on earth to just be normal. And what's so wrong with that?

Nathan swears out I didn't honor my vows but sadly we are keeping one…till death do us part. Who would have thought? Oh, the irony. It's like Shakespeare. Or more like Poe actually. I don't want to die like this. Who am I kidding? I don't want to die at all. I'm not ready yet. But I guess if it's God's will and it is time to go, I have lived a pretty extraordinary life. I met a lot of great people and did a lot of great things.

What will I miss most? That's a tough one, James. I'll miss the music. I love music! It's a part of my soul, of who I am. I'll miss that feeling of being on stage playing and singing for thousands of people who paid hard earned money to come see me. I'll miss that connection to the audience and that zone I go in when all of a sudden it's just me and the harmony.

I'll miss my friends. I'll miss Michelle. She's so awesome! I owe her so much! I'll miss not getting to know her little baby. I'll miss Jessica too. She is so sweet and goofy. And I'll even miss Chris. Despite the nerve racking cockiness, he's a real decent guy on the inside. And he believed in me. I'll never forget that.

I'll miss CAT. She's my baby. She loves me when it feels like no one else does. I'll miss those days chilling on the balcony, sipping lemonade, petting her while we look out at the beautiful New York skyline. I'll miss my brothers and sisters, too. Tristan, Austin, Vivian, Quinn and yes even troublemaking Taylor! And I'll miss Mom and Daddy. They were awesomely cool parents. I was blessed. And I'll miss Tree Hill and everyone there. I hadn't been around in years but I will miss it and the people forever. Tree Hill is a part of me. As much apart of me as the music.

If we're going to die, I wish Nathan and I could have one last civil conversation. Say the things we never had a chance to before. I hate the hostility and the awkwardness. I'm so tired. I just want peace. I need peace…

They sat up and looked at one another briefly but again the silence remained. Haley began to absently hum a tune. Nathan closed his eyes. He didn't know the name of the song but he knew he had heard it before.

A sound from outside earned their attention. Two hearts pounded as they scrambled for the door. Maybe it was their imagination…or maybe not. Please God…

"Anyone out there? Hello?"

They could see a small boat and people. Real people. Real people calling out to them. Nathan and Haley waved their hands and yelled, finally garnering the eyes of those sent to search for survivors. They had been rescued. It was over. Nathan grabbed the wall for support as he sighed the biggest breath of pure relief. Tears spilled down Haley's cheeks as the emotion and relief was indescribable.