Sailing Away

Chapter 2

"Good. Now," Melissa straightened up. "Where are the other bags? Abby and I are almost ready to go." Jackson pointed to the corner of the room.

"Right there,"

"How did I not see that?" Melissa muttered, crossing the room and picking them up. Cringing as she heard Abby yell her name, "I'm coming, I'm coming!" She shouted, as soon as she was out of earshot, Jory and Ian looked up at Jackson, "you're in love with her, aren't you?" Jory asked, she took his silence as a yes, "thought so."

"Does she know?" Ian asked, propping himself up on the blankets.

Jory rolled her eyes, "OF COURSE NOT!" She nearly shrieked exasperatedly, she then turned to Jackson once again, "Look." She said, "I don't know you really well, but I can tell you one thing, you don't know when you will see her again." She met his angry gaze at that statement, "Face it Jackson, it's true! You don't when you will see her again. But it's better that she knows how you truly feel before she goes sailing off to an unknown fate.

Jory stood up, "You know I'm right." She finished quietly. She left to help Abby and Melissa. Jackson just stared after her.

Ian looked taken-aback as well. He looked at Jackson, "So...what are you going to do."

Jackson sighed and looked at Ian, "I really don't know."

"Well if I were you, I would follow Jory's advice, Melissa leaves tomorrow, and as Jory said, you don't know when you'll see her again."

"You're right." Jackson whispered.

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That evening, Melissa was sketching the horizon, Jackson was standing a ways behind her...she didn't know that, but Jackson couldn't help but stare in awe at her beauty. When he thouht he had stood there long enough, he walked up to her and sat down next to her, startling her.

"What the-!?! Whoa! Jackson! Don't scare me like that!" She said indignantly.

"Can I see it?" He asked, pointing to the drawing in her hand.

"I suppose," Melissa handed over her sketchbook, Jackson looked at the half-finished picture, then started flipping through the rest of the book, ignoring her cries of protests, he looked of pictures of Nathan, Daley, Lex, Taylor, Eric...and himself.

"Mel..." He breathed, "These are...really good."

Melissa took back the sketchbook, embarrassed, "Thanks."

"Look Mel, I-"

"HEY, MELISSA!! GET TO BED!! WE'VE AN EARLY START TOMORROW!!! Abby yelled.

"One minute!" Melissa answered, she looked back at Jackson and opened her mouth again but Abby interrupted her.

"NO!!!NOW!!!"

Melissa looked back at Jackson with a look of defeat on her face, "can it wait?" She asked, "Abby's about to go a wall on me." She smiled apologetically.

"Uh...sure." Jackson said, disappointed.

"Thanks" She smiled her bright smile at him, he could feel his heartbeat speeding up.

"MELISSA!!!"

"ALRIGHT!!God!" Melissa stood up and bade Jackson good night, then walked towards the infuriated Abby. Jackson cursed Abby silently, and stared out at the sunset.

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The next day, the teenaged castaways got up early to see Melissa and Abby off. They were ready to leave when Jackson spoke, "Uh...Mel? Can I talk to you for a sec.?"

"Sure." Melissa answered, looking a little confused. As she followed him into the forest, Jory and
Ian shared a smile.

"Yeah Jackson? What is i-" she was cut off by Jackson's lips, which he pressed firmly against her own, she gasped, but then gave into him.

They broke apart when they heard Abby calling her name, Melissa looked at Jackson and crossed her arms, waiting for an explanation.

Jackson ran his hand through his hair, and then looked at her, "Look Mel. I've always had feelings for you...it just took me awhile to realize it," she raised her eyebrows at this, "Mel...you just don't realize how dense us guys can be." he laughed bitterly. "I only wish that I had told you earlier-"

Melissa kissed him again, "it's OK," she whispered against his lips, he grinned. She hugged him tightly and kissed him once again. "Come on, I have to leave." her smile fell a little.

Jackson stroked her long black hair, "It won't take that long for you to find help." He pulled away and grabbed her hand, he lead her back to the beach, ignoring the raised eyebrows and smirks. Abby got into the boat without so much as a word to anyone. Melissa hugged everyone and then kissed Jackson's cheek.

"Don't forget me." She whispered, her voice trembling.

Jackson held her tight, "Don't be silly."He then reluctantly let her go.

Melissa got into the sail boat, and with one last sad look at everyone, they cast off.

The remaining castaways watched the boat get smaller and smaller, not knowing when they would see their friends again...

Sorry it's taken so long to update, I've been busy working on 'Missing Someone'