Fan Choice POV 1 is...Charlie! Thanks for all the comments! I've been meaning to do this scene for a while now but got caught up in Skye's story. Remember, I need you to vote for Fan Choice 2!1 Read and comment (never gets old)!

-MuseGoddess

OUTSKIRTS OF ALPHA ISLAND

PINK SAND BEACH

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

4: 49 PM

Charlie's POV

Charlie smoothed back an errant strand of mahogany-brown hair, blown stray by the wind. She shivered, although the breeze coming off the picturesque sea was anything but cold. Her current situation, however, was not as perfect.

She walked down the beach slowly. She was only had a minute until the palms came into sight, which is why she treaded sand as if her life depended on it. Which it might, if you took happiness and stress into account.

Charlie took a deep breath. And then another. Plus one more still. She was bordering on hyperventilation now, but as the dune that hid the cluster of three palms came into view, she couldn't help it.

Might as well get it over with flashed in her mind, followed by a confusing swirl of emotions and random thoughts. Breathe.

As she crested the dune, her first sight was candles. Lots of them. At least three hundred deep blue ones covered the sand in intricate swirls, flickering erratically. But more important was Jess, wearing a light blue polo and dark skinny jeans, almost as dark as his eyes—which never left Charlie's face.

"Hi," he said softly, gently and caring, which made her feel worse—as if she didn't already. She could feel all her explanations on the tip of her tongue, and it took so much willpower to keep them safe.

"Hello," Charlie squeaked. However, Jess didn't seem to notice, and asked, a bit nervously, "Do you want to sit?" He motioned to a padded park bench Charlie hadn't noticed yet.

Nodding her head, not trusting herself to speak, Charlie moved toward the park bench, eyes roving the ground for candles she might step on. As she stumbled, a hand gently caught her and guided her to the bench.

When they were both seated and Charlie didn't say anything, Jess took his cue. "I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, but there was Darwin, and I couldn't come to the island…until now." He gazed straight at her, and at that moment, Charlie felt something inside her come free. The bolt securing the door. The lock holding the chain. As Jess looked at her, the block on her tongue came free, and everything came pouring out.

Everything.