Day 33

As noon hit, the air around the island was thick. Something was off, and everybody knew it. Melissa and Jackson still spoke to each other, but it seemed strained and fake. It was as if they were putting on some kind of show for the others.

Eric came from the well with two jugs of water and sat them down next to Taylor, who was boiling.

"So," Eric started as he sat next to Taylor, "What's up with Melissa and Jackson?"

"What?" Taylor asked him.

"Come on, you must see what's going on here. Jackson and Melissa have been out of it since we started working. Something happened. Do you have any idea what it was?"

"Melissa was gone for a while last night" Taylor thought, "Well Melissa wasn't around when I was awake in the tent last night. I don't know where she was."

"Jackson was gone too." Eric wondered if they were gone during the same periods of time.

"Well, something's not right." Eric stood and shook out his legs, "Jackson's been acting pretty weird."

"I wonder what's going on with Jackson" Taylor sighed, "I'm going to go find Jackson, okay? Keep lugging the water and I'll boil it when I get back."

Eric groaned as Taylor got up and walked away.

- - - - -

Video Diary, Jackson.

"I've never been more confused. I mean, I had strong feelings for Mel at the beginning. And I don't think they've gone away. But I have a different feeling for Taylor. Or, at least I think I do. I mean, Mel's wonderful and I think that I could fall in love with her, but it would be so complicated here on the island. I just want…Someone. I hate to admit it, but I just want someone. I feel like I need someone to be closer to. But I don't want obligation. So…Am I saying that I only want to be with Taylor cause she's easy? That's not like me at all. I wonder if it's just the island that makes me feel this way or if I'm really changing…"

- - - - -

Taylor approached Jackson just as he was turning off the video camera. He turned and smiled at her.

"Hi Taylor, don't you have some work to do?" Jackson asked her.

"I should've seen that coming" Taylor smiled, "Yeah, but I decided to take a bit of a break. I was just wondering if everything is okay with you."

Jackson stopped in his tracks. He wasn't sure what to say to her. His immediate instinct was to lie, but he knew that wouldn't work. Not in this situation.

"No." Jackson told her.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Do something. You have to know for sure." Jackson looked Taylor right in the eye before asking, "Taylor, can I…Can I kiss you?"

"What's he thinking?!" Taylor screamed in her mind, "Jackson, I know we sort of had something, and…But I don't know if…I don't think that this is – "

Taylor didn't get the chance to finish as Jackson pressed himself against her, closing the gap between them. She responded immediately, she couldn't help it. He was aggressive with her, he poured out all of his frustration, all of his sadness and confusion into that kiss. At some point, their hands moved and Taylor's hands were in Jackson's hair while his arms roamed her back.

"This isn't love" Jackson thought as he kissed Taylor, "I'm sure of it. So why can't I stop? Has this need to let out my emotions taken over in this form of lust?"

Just as Jackson was thinking these thoughts, Melissa was walking through the brush on her way to pick some more fruit. She was walking towards some of the banana trees when she heard a light moan from someone. Curious, she walked to her left when she spotted Jackson and Taylor kissing, and Jackson making all the moves.

Melissa felt tears prick her eyes. She broke away from the sight and ran back towards camp.

- - - - -

So there you go, I think that in the end, I'm going to revise chapters for sure. Just because I don't feel like they're suspenseful enough. The story's going awfully fast right now, but it'll start slowing down soon. Anyhow, thanks to the two people that reviewed, and thanks to anyone that even gave this story a glance cause I know my summary's lame.

Happy T[ofurkey day to everyone who celebrates!

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