The following morning I woke up early and decided to go and take a walk to the glow worm room. I was surprised to find Jared there. He turned when he heard my footsteps and I whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb…" He shook his head, "You didn't. Come and sit with me." I bit my lip nervously but did as he asked. When I sat beside him he said softly, "I'm sorry for saying what I said the other day-about my feelings for you." I sighed in relief, "Good. I've been feeling…awkward about it ever since." He raised his eyebrow, "Awkward? Why?" I shrugged, "Maybe because I don't feel that way anymore…" I hinted. He raised his eyebrow even higher, "Is that the only reason?" I swallowed and stared at the glow worms, "I think it's enough of a reason." Jared nodded, "I agree. But I think you're missing out another reason on purpose." I wrapped a strand of hair around my finger and sighed, "Jared. I can't-don't put me in the position where I might hurt Mel. I hurt her enough before. I gave myself up so that she could be happy. By feeling what you feel for me, it will only hurt her more."

I felt like I was on the brink of tears. Having to keep this secret to myself was torture. I was glad I could finally speak to him. He sighed, "I understand, like I said. I just…I'm worried that you still don't want to be…here. On earth. Alive." I stared at the wall ahead of me, entirely lit up. I sighed too and shrugged, "I'm taking a lot of time adjusting to this body. It's all new for me. It's like starting afresh but even weirder. I just…need some time to get used to it." Jared shook his head before I was done, "I don't buy any of that. Not after what you said to me."

I stared ahead, not seeing anything except the glowworms. I whispered, "Jared…I want to pretend like you never said that to me. I want to pretend like I don't know you said it. I just want to love Ian for the rest of my life. And you should feel the same about Mel." He nodded and swallowed, "I know. And I'm being unfair to you by putting all of this on your shoulders. I know all of this." He paused and swallowed again, "But with the sacrifice you were making for Mel…and for everyone else, it kind of put things into perspective of how kind a person you are. I find that vey attractive." I grimaced and whispered, "I'm an it, to use your wording, not a person." He tensed and scowled at his own words.

I sighed again, "You're going to have to keep those feelings to yourself and contain those feelings because there's nothing I can do about them for you. I had to try and contain my feelings the best I could under the most difficult circumstances. So you can do it too." Jared nodded and finally looked at me, "I can try." I smiled and sighed in relief, "Thank you. I appreciate it."

We were quiet for a while before he asked, "So how do we be…friends after all of this?" I shrugged, "I don't know. We just have to figure it out as we go along." He nodded and held out his hand, "Friends?" I grinned, took it, and shook it and replied, "Friends." I yawned and he smiled, "You're tired. We should head back before they wake up."

I nodded and we walked back in silence to our rooms. As we approached our caves, Mel's voice echoed, "Jared?" I froze as she saw us. I blushed, thinking how suspicious this would look. She raised her eyebrow and I was about to speak when Jared said, "I headed towards the glow room when I found Wanda there. She couldn't sleep. So I offered to bring her back here so she didn't have to walk alone." I frowned and I knew he was lying for me so it didn't seem like I had followed him or anything-which I hadn't, but it would sound suspicious. Mel's suspicious frown died just a little bit as she seemed to accept this story and whispered sleepily, "Come back to bed, Jared." He nodded and followed her back in, avoiding my stare. Now I felt even worse that he was lying to Mel on my behalf. I hadn't done anything wrong of course, but I knew it would look suspicious if he told the truth.

I wish I could have thanked him then, but instead I just went back to my room. I climbed onto the bed and found that I couldn't settle myself down enough to sleep. My mind was whirring and so overwhelmed about how Jared felt for me that it made sleep impossible. I had been so right about me only liking Jared because of Mel's body. Of course I cared for him, but I didn't feel for him in the way Mel did. The only thing I could compare Mel's feelings of Jared to were my feelings for Ian. I felt so strongly for Ian that I never wanted to hurt him. But with the feelings for Jared vanishing so suddenly, I did feel a bit of a hole there. Those feelings had always overwhelmed me in Mel's body. Now it was like…they were missing and underwhelming in mine.

I shook my head at the weird and unwanted feeling. There was no reason to feel…guilty for having these thoughts. I wasn't obligated to Jared in anyway. Eventually I saw that Ian's alarm clock read 4:00am after I'd tossed and turned for hours. I decided to go and sleep next to Ian on the mattress on the floor. If I was going to get any sort of sleep, it would be next to him. I smiled at his relaxed features and how he almost smiled in his sleep. It was so cute. I cuddled closer to him until my leg was virtually wrapped around his.

He slept like a drugged person. He would barely wake at any noise. The only times he woke was when he had nightmares that something had happened to me. He would twitch in his sleep and then I would try and comfort him. I closed my eyes tiredly and drifted off in his arms.

I woke up to Ian nudging me awake. I suddenly jolted and I murmured, "What's the matter?" as I opened my blurry eyes. He sighed, "You slept through the alarm. It's nearly ten a.m. We have work in an hour." I sat bolt upright then and found Jamie staring at me concernedly. I frowned, "Jamie? What's wrong?" My mind whizzed ahead and thought of the worst thing possible as I gasped, "You've hurt yourself again?!" Jamie smiled, "No. If I had hurt myself I'd be at Doc. Do you mind if I speak to you alone?" He looked awkward as he asked and I nodded, "Sure…" I smiled at Ian as I pulled the covers around me.
Jamie sighed and said uncomfortably as Ian walked out the cave and waited a second until we couldn't hear his footsteps anymore. Jamie inhaled slowly, "Because Mel and Jared are fighting." I swallowed hard and whispered, "Do you have any idea why?" He shook his head sadly, "Do you think I'd be here if I did?"

I sighed, wishing I had Mel's thoughts in my head right now. I whispered to him, "How do you know?" He rolled his eyes, "At breakfast they barely spoke a word to one another." I winced as if injured and he raised his eyebrows sky high, "You know something, don't you?" I bit my lip, "Jamie…I can guess what it is. Only guess. I can't do more than that. But I'm sure they'll work it out." He sighed irritably, "So you won't ask Mel for me?" I grimaced, "Put it this way. If she wants to tell me, she will tell me. Plain and simple."
Jamie stuck his tongue out, "You're not help at all!" he said in exasperation as he began to walk away and then I held out my arms to him, "Jamie? Hug?" I asked. He appraised me for a moment before hurling himself at me and nearly knocking me over. He chuckled, "You're tiny! It sucks that I can't do that with you anymore." I laughed and pulled him close, "You still can, Jamie. Even if you are stronger than me." He beamed broadly and yelled as Ian came from behind sneakily and attacked him to the floor. Ian chuckled, "I surprised you there, Jamie!" He shoved Ian off with surprising force and I laughed. I felt so happy surrounded by my little family. I could almost forget that not too long ago, I didn't want to exist anymore.

A/N: Hey guys! So sorry for taking this long to update! Even though I'm on holiday, life has been hectic! Thanks to my two amazing reviewers: jjreid, and Gl02, for the support!