Ch. 4 They Couldn't Have Survived It

Everyone gathered around Abby as Daley led them back. Nathan immediately pulled Daley close to him by her shoulder, as they sat down next to Abby. Melissa and Jackson sat down next to each other, hands intertwined. Eric, Lex, and Taylor all sat together on the third log. Abby sighed.

"Hey guys. Again," she laughed.

"You guys too. That storm was… well, you can tell," Abby laughed.

"Yeah, it totally wrecked our camp," Nathan admitted.

"I mean, the minuet it hit I was just… I actually think the wind lifted me off the ground," Abby sighed.

"That's really freaky," Taylor muttered.

"And the rain… oh God, it was freezing! I felt like I was actually going to die. I told myself, this is the end. I guess you had a good life, but you never wanted to die here! I mean, you did bring peace to the other 7, which is good… and that was like the last thing I thought before a tree just… fell, and knocked me out. I was freezing from the rain and the wind, and all I could think about was the others… if they survived the first storm, they couldn't have survived this one," Abby admitted.

"We're so sorry," Daley sighed, seeing the depressed look on Abby's face.

"Yeah, well, I won't give up hope. Maybe one of them will wander over here… but I can't risk looking for them again. It's way too dangerous."

"Which, in itself, sucks," Lex admitted.

"Yeah. I was running out of water, anyway, and I just knew I needed to go back or keep going, so I decided to keep going. And that's when the storm hit, and I… well… nearly died. It was good you found me so soon afterwards," Abby smiled gratefully at them.

"It's been a day since the storm, Abby. You're really lucky you didn't die," Eric said through clenched teeth.

"A day? Wow…" Abby gasped.

"That's what I was thinking," Melissa admitted.

"Well… I'll just rest, I guess," Abby sighed, and walked back into the tent. The rest of the group went their separate ways.

Melissa stoked the fire, her hoodie keeping her warm from the terrible winds. It was chilly that day; it was like the temperature had dropped 20 degrees. The fire and their clothes were the only things keeping the group warm. It was her job to make sure one of those things stuck around.

Jackson was out on the ocean, fishing. The ocean was no longer a tropical blue- it was a gloomy grey. Froth topped the grey to make it even more despairingly foreboding.

Lex was over by the tent, trying to fix the radio at least a little. Eric and Taylor were collecting firewood and food. Nathan and Daley… were… somewhere. Abby was getting water, her strength now restored.

Melissa sighed and shivered as another wind rolled over her. She felt another storm coming, but didn't know what to make of that. Suddenly, she felt tired and her head began to droop on her shoulders. She didn't notice, consequently, when Jackson walked over and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kiss the top of her head. She woke up when she felt his lips on the top of her head however, and smiled to herself.

"Mel?" asked Jackson soothingly.

"Yeah?" Melissa yawned. Jackson smiled.

"You doing okay?"

"Yeah, just tired. I guess I'm worn out- its been a long day."

"Yes, it has," Jackson smiled.

"Thanks for being here for me," Melissa smiled warmly and Jackson. He gave her a quick kiss.

"I like it," he smiled. Melissa giggled a bit before burying herself in his arms. Jackson wrapped his arms around her.

"I like it a lot," he whispered, mostly to himself, as Melissa rested.

Daley and Nathan were walking together, hand in hand, along the beach. The cold froze each, but luckily their "burning hearts" kept them warm.

Daley soon leaned into Nathan. Nathan smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Nathan soon became alarmed when he felt a few tears leak out of Daley's eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked soothingly.

"I don't want to die here, Nathan," she murmured, her voice muffled in Nathan's shirt.

Nathan bit his lip and pulled her in closer to him, "We won't. I won't let it happen. Especially to you. If only one of us can be rescued, I'll make sure its you."

Daley smiled, "If only one of us can go, then I'd want to stay with you."

Nathan grinned back, "Promise to stay together?"

"Definitely," Daley smiled and kissed Nathan. Nathan smiled in the kiss and deepened it. They continued kissing until Daley broke apart for air.

"I love you," she whispered. Nathan pulled her close.

"I love you too," Nathan murmured in her ear. Daley wrapped her arms around his neck, and Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist. They began swaying around, dancing, and Daley couldn't help but remember the night she realized she had a crush on Nathan. Why else had her heart pounded when Nathan had asked her to dance?

Oh yeah. Because she loved him.

Nathan kissed her neck fondly, making Daley giggle a little.

"I love you so much," he murmured in her ear. Daley just smiled.

"Ditto."

Melissa felt comforted as she tried to sleep. Jackson's arm was around her shoulder as the group huddled together in the tent. Even though it was relatively freezing outside, inside it was warm because they kept each other warm.

They kept each other safe.

They kept each other warm.

(929 Words) Drama in the next chapter!