Chapter 2 - Confessions of Stranded Teenagers
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Amber walked around the plane with both of the guitar cases, to see Lex sitting just inside the plane door. She stomped over to him.
"Lex!" She looked at him with a mixture on confusion and anger.
"Sorry, I was just working on the radio, and your voice was so pretty!" He slapped a hand to his forehead. "Did I say that out loud?"
"Yeah, and I hate to break it to you, but you're only ten years old! I'm thirteen." She stomped away.
"Wait, I'm sorry!" He yelled.
"What ever."
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Melissa and Jackson found Taylor far down the beach.
"Taylor, we have work to do. You can't just sit around." Jackson said.
"Taylor?" Melissa stepped forward. "Are you…crying?"
"Jackson and Eric were right, I am annoying!" Taylor wailed. Jackson looked taken aback.
"I didn't mean for you to sit here and cry all afternoon! I just wanted you to leave me alone!" He held up his hands defensively.
"Not helping!" Melissa said. "Come on Taylor, lets go back." Mel, Jackson, and Taylor walked back in the direction of the plane.
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Daley was helping Nathan pick fruit, along the path from the plane to the tents.
Amber stomped past, carrying two guitar cases.
"What's the matter?" Nathan asked. Amber whirled around, blushing.
"Um, Lex heard me and Jackson, um, singingandplayingguitar." She rushed through the last part of the sentence.
"What's wrong with that?" Daley asked.
"The only other people who have heard us are our…parents." she ran away crying, guitars banging against her legs.
"What was that about?" Nathan looked a Daley questioningly.
"I'm not sure." She stared at the path Amber had run down, then went back to looking for fruit.
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Melissa had found her book for Taylor, and gave it to her. She walked off to the girls tent to read, and Mel and Jackson sat down at the fire.
"I've never seen Taylor like this. Maybe it's been too much, I mean, all she's ever had to do her whole life is look pretty." Melissa said.
"I think she's catching on that we don't think she's as excellent as she thinks she is." Jackson replied.
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Amber was just about to take her guitar out, when Taylor flounced in. Amber shut the case and pushed it behind her pillow.
"What was that?" Taylor looked at her accusingly.
"Just a guitar." Amber replied.
"Prove it."
Amber reluctantly opened the case and pulled the guitar out. Taylor gasped. Amber's guitar was pink, not magenta, but pastel pink. Around the sides were signatures reading Jackson, Mom, and Dad, and there were pink sparkles around the edges of the guitar. It was in perfect condition, and Amber looked at it proudly.
"I saved my money for a year for this." Amber said. Taylor secretly admired Amber's determination.
"It's so…amazing. And your family signing is cool too." Taylor said.
"It's the last connection to my dad I have." Amber slowly closed the guitar case.
"What happened to him?"
"I…don't feel like talking about it." Amber said. "So, I'm guessing your life's been perfect?"
"No. My grandpa died when I was eight." Taylor said. "You should feel lucky, I've never told anyone about that."
"I do feel lucky." Amber smiled, and came close to a laugh. "So, do YOU like anyone?" She giggled.
"Can I trust you?" Taylor asked.
"Yeah."
"I like…your brother!" Taylor said.
"Wh-What?" Amber choked.
"Just kidding. I like…" Taylor peered out the tent flap to see if anyone was around. "Eric." She whispered.
"Eric?" Amber laughed quietly.
"Yeah. You won't tell anyone, will you?"
"Of course not. Well, I'll go help 'Mel' with the fire." Amber left.
"Why did I tell her that?" Taylor said, but inside she felt like she could trust Amber.
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Jackson had left to work on something or other, and Melissa was sitting at the fire when Amber skipped up.
"Hey!" she said. "I just got hyper all the sudden, I mean, I didn't even have any chocolate-"
Melissa covered Amber's mouth with her hand, then pulled away. "Sorry." She said.
"No problem, that's what Jackson does too." Then Amber grinned mischievously. "So, do YOU like anyone?"
Melissa paused. "Well, Taylor pretty much told the world, but I like Jackson."
"I musta been on another planet." Amber giggled.
"How come you're not surprised?" Melissa glanced at Amber.
"Oh, no reason. I've always told him girls would fall over his dashing good looks if only he'd stop wearing that dreary clothing, but no, he doesn't want girls falling all over him. Blah, blah, blah. He's too unadventurous."
They both laughed.
"You really love him, don't you?" Melissa asked.
"He's all I've got." Amber got up and walked away.
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Eric was startled awake by Amber's voice in his ear.
"ERIC!" She yelled.
"WHAT?!" He yelled back.
"Who do you like?" her voice level again.
"Taylor, now go away, and if you tell anyone you're in big trouble, even if Jackson's leader."
She bounded away, a satisfied grin on her face.
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Amber found Nathan doing his food-finding job in the forest.
"Whatcha doing?" She said perkily.
"Uh, picking fruit?" he looked at her strangely.
"I'll help you!" She grabbed a banana off the ground.
"Good eye, I can't believe I missed that!" Nathan looked at her admiringly. She didn't seem like one would have thought Jackson's sister would be like. She dressed in bright colors, and always had a smile on her face.
"I've got a good eye. My mom always told us we inherited it from Dad's side." She got quite.
"I have a feeling you didn't come out here to pick fruit." Nathan said.
"What's wrong with getting to know you guys?" She asked innocently.
"Oh, you want to get to know me? Well, first, I…like Daley." He admitted. Something about Amber made him want to pour his whole heart out about the conflicts going on in his head since they had crashed.
"Really? Jackson said you always argued."
"Well, it just, happened." He shrugged.
"Nothing wrong with that. Well, TTFN!" She dumped the fruit she had gathered in his arms and skipped off in the direction of the plane.
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"Hey Daley!" Amber said.
" Oh my gosh, you scared me!" Daley said.
"Sorry, I need help. Your brother kinda likes me. I just want to be friends." Amber explained.
"Well, I know I have no chance with my crush, but I'll talk to Lex for you." Daley said.
"Who do you have a crush on?" Amber asked curiously.
"Well, this is kinda awkward, but I like…Jackson."
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A/N: Muh-Ha-Ha-Ha! I feel so evil. Must be Halloween effect. For an explanation of where I've been, see my profile page. I thought at least someone might have been reading it, but no…does anybody read my author notes at all?
pianoplayer29