A/N: So sorry for the delay! My second semester of college took off and I always have some kind of homework, test, or project to prepare for. But anyway, here is the next chapter! Please do keep in mind that I did as much research as I could to make Jade's situation as real as possible, but don't hate me if I'm not 100% accurate!

The line for security is long and crowded with people trying to get to their designated flight. Jade watches as the passengers around her pull out their boarding passes and passports, and hesitates to pull out her own. She knows she needs them, but there's just one document she's not in the mood to flash around. Just as the line is about to move forward, a voice from behind startles the teenage girl.

"Miss West, I do believe you need my assistance to get past that guard."

Jade rolls her eyes at his heavy British accent. "Hello to you, too, Mr. Mayfield."

The so-called Mr. Mayfield shows a badge to the passengers behind Jade and ducks under the black straps that form the line. He smirks at the glare that Jade sends his way, and bends down to whisper in her ear, "You really think you were going to be able to get on a plane without me?"

"Who called you?" Jade demands, flinching from the man's hot breath on her neck.

Mr. Mayfield shrugs nonchalantly. "Obviously your father, since he is the only one who knew you were leaving."

Jade scowls angrily, wishing that she hadn't been so stupid to leave her passport and other travel documents within her father's reach. "I wasn't planning on showing the guard my documentation…" she admits.

"Then you would've been in some serious trouble when you got back to America, hmm?" Mr. Mayfield folds his hands and rests them on the handle of Jade's small suitcase, in which she just registered as a carry on. "So I suggest that you do show them so you don't get thrown into jail like you were supposed to in the first place."

Jade hates the fact that this man is even crueler than she is, and also that he is right. "I thought probation officers were here to 'help me with my place in society' and 'better me for the good of myself and others,'" she says using air quotes. "Isn't that what you told me?"

The probation officer nods while letting out a snort. "Yes, it is. And I'm doing that by being here, Miss West. If you had gotten on that plane without showing your documentation, you would've been greeted in America with a squad car and a pair of handcuffs; you and I both know that."

Jade exhales deeply, grabbing the handle of her suitcase and rolling it forward to advance in line. "You don't have to go with me, do you?"

"Of course I do, Miss West, and Mr. Lewis will meet us at the baggage claim when we get there so we can sign you off to him. You should know how the drill works, Jade. Mr. Lewis flew with you to London and then signed you off to me when you moved here with your father." Mr. Mayfield digs a cough drop from the depths of his pocket and pops it into his mouth.

"Yeah, don't remind me," she snarls, not wanting to recall that huge ordeal. If not for all the police officers around, Jade swears her step-mother would've killed her for making the move so unbearable.

When it is Jade's turn to meet the guard, she hands over the boarding pass, passport, and probation certificate. The security guard looks to Mr. Mayfield, who in return shows his badge of authenticity, and states that the court has ruled Jade able to enter another country. The guard seems skeptical, but the pair is allowed to move on.

Realizing that it's getting late, Jade glances at her PearPhone to check the time. She drops the phone into the bucket along with her combat boots, belt, and purse. Mr. Mayfield follows suit, knowing that even a man of the law must go through these procedures. They pass without a problem – even with the pair of scissors in Jade's suitcase – and make their way to the appropriate terminal.

As they approach, they notice that the waiting area is packed full with anticipating passengers. Jade groans in frustration when a running child knocks into her legs and doesn't even bother to apologize. Mr. Mayfield scavenges for two open seats, but there are none available. The probation officer and teenage girl take a seat against a pillar in the middle of the crowd, minding their own business.

Once again looking at her phone, Jade comes to the conclusion that they should be boarding soon. However, as soon as she locks the PearPhone, a voice booms over the intercom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we're sorry for the inconvenience, but flight number 157 has been delayed with a possible departure of midnight. Inspection is currently taking place and we will keep you updated, thank you."

Jade West looks at Beck with wide eyes, not exactly sure of how to start her story. Instead, she decides to take the defensive approach, "You can't judge somebody by a piece of paper, Beck."

"Jade, this isn't just a piece of paper!" he exclaims incredulously. "It's a document that states you're on probation for a felony! Were you even going to tell any of us?!"

She watches as Beck runs a hand through his hair nervously. Jade twirls her thumbs around one another and explains, "I didn't kill anyone, if that's what you're thinking. If I had, I would be in prison, not on some deserted island."

Beck nods his head in understanding. "I get that, but still… This isn't something you should take lightly, Jade!"

"You think I take it lightly?" Jade barks icily. "I can't take it lightly, Beck; I'm not allowed to. I have to keep that fucking piece of paper on me at all times, and if I don't, then I risk breaking probation and going to jail! I agree with you with the fact that it is a big deal, but it's not something I bring up in normal conversation, ya know? Oh, and I don't appreciate being judged or you assuming that it's the worst because you don't even know the whole story."

"Care to explain, then?"

And Jade does – all the way from the beginning to the moment the cops arrived, handcuffing her and shoving her into a cop car.

"The trial was something else," she says, picking at her black fingernail polish. "They didn't know how to properly handle my situation."

Beck cocks his head to the side. "And Ryder?"

Jade smiles and shakes her head in thought. "He was easy to blame, obviously. He was convicted with first degree robbery, armed robbery, or whatever you want to call it. He was whisked off to prison with a minimum of three years and no chance for parole. I, on the other hand, was difficult to figure out."

"But you never touched to family or meant to harm them in anyway…" Beck states, trying to follow along with the story.

"True," she agrees. "But they found the bullets in my boot, and I was there in the first place – which has to mean something. There was arguing and debating between me and the family's lawyer, but for some reason, the man who's house we were at went against his lawyer's accuses and witnessed in my favor. He told the judge that I seemed like I had never meant to be part of the robbery in the first place, and the only bodily injury I ensured was that of Ryder's."

"What about the bullets in the boot?"

Jade's face lit up in surprise. "That's the best part, actually. The man pleaded that when he picked up the gun off the floor, he knew there were no bullets in it, but he kept it pointing at Ryder to seize control over the situation. So, he concluded that the bullets must've been extracted before the invasion, because he had only seen the gun when Ryder was pointing it at his family. He, again, witnessed in my favor by saying he believed me when I said I emptied the magazine for their safety."

Beck breathed heavily in concentration. "So, you were forced into robbing this family by your boyfriend, and were found guilty by what means?"

"That's why the jury took nearly four hours to come up with a verdict, I think. When they came back, they pleaded me guilty, but that I shouldn't be charged for first degree murder with Ryder. I was then charged with aggravated robbery – which is being an accomplice. But again, we were in a pickle because the accomplice tends to have the same sentence as the main robber, and the jury did not feel that I should spend time in prison since I did not attempt do any harm to the victims…but they still didn't want to see me walk away untouched. So, I was charged with the same length of probation as Ryder is in prison. So, however long he serves behind bars, I'm stuck with that stupid document and an officer."

"That doesn't seem like your typical sentence," Beck ponders, still slightly confused.

Jade pops her knuckles one by one. "The judge said he had never seen anything so bizarre when it came to robbery – that one of the robbers attacks the other. I could tell he was in my favor, but he still had to give me a kind of harsh sentencing to please the jury."

"But if you both didn't actually hurt the family and take anything, wouldn't that be attempted robbery?" Beck wrinkles his nose.

"Technically, yes, but I know Ryder… and he would've blown the shit out of the family had there been bullets in the gun. He'll do anything to get what he wants," she finishes by trailing off quietly. "I knew he was capable of murder because he almost killed me once."

"Jade, we don't have to –"

She stops him by raising her hand. "No, it's fine. I testified this in court so he would go to prison. He sent me to the hospital once for beating me so much that it caused internal bleeding. I had told the doctors I fell down two flights of stairs so Ryder wouldn't backlash and do it again. He hit and kicked and yelled for the majority of our relationship, and I was just afraid to get out… So to finally show him that I was done playing by his rules felt great; it's just sad that it took a robbery to do it."

"So your testimony and the family's was enough to send him away?"

"Yup."

Beck closes his eyes and places his head in his hands. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Jade replies solemnly. "I judge, too, but it's different when it's something so major that people look at you differently. That's why I didn't want to tell anyone, because it's a title that doesn't match my description."

"I believe that you're a good person, Jade; you just have an interesting way of showing it. So, is you being cruel to everyone just an act?" Beck asks, smiling goofily when she scoffs.

"No, people really do get on my nerves, and I like to write and speak what I feel…but I would never intentionally hurt someone. The pig, on the other hand, was a threat and I wasn't about to let that be the reason we die. We survived a fucking plane crash, so no boar is gonna take us down without a fight!" Jade threatens playfully, yet seriously at the same time.

Beck chuckles whole-heartedly, and is surprised to see her smile too. He can't help but notice that her smile is genuine and beautiful beneath the glow of the dying fire.

She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear shyly, noticing the way Beck is staring at her. "Listen, Beck – "

But she doesn't have time to finish, because Beck's lips have captured her words in a kiss. And she succumbs to the gentleness of Beck and wonders why she ever let Ryder's rough mouth kiss her in the first place. He cups her chin lovingly, deepening the kiss, as his mind is telling him to screw the fact that you only met her this morning and to kiss the crap out of her before she realizes what she's doing.

And if it had not been for a sudden wave of pain from Jade's ribs, they probably would continue. But they smile at each other timidly as Beck wraps an arm around her waist and helps her over to the little hut Tori is currently sleeping in. Beck leans in slightly, beckoning Jade to meet him halfway, but she only places a finger on his lips and whispers, "Goodnight, Beck."

She pulls back the blankets of the tent and enters, finding that Tori had placed a pillow near a tree for Jade to sleep against. After making herself as comfortable as possible, she surrenders to sleep, knowing there won't be any nightmares tonight.

The next morning is a windy one, waking Robbie Shapiro when a blanket wall from his tent whacks him in the face. He blinks rapidly before grabbing his glasses from their position on a rock behind him. He cleans the sand from the lenses and notices that his girlfriend of a year is sleeping soundly beside him. Robbie smiles and places a kiss on top of her bright red hair, wrapping her up in his blanket too. After doing so, he exits the hut and makes his way to the shore where he sees Tori admiring the waves.

"A bit early to be up, don't you think?" he asks as he takes a seat next to the brunette.

"I could ask you the same question," Tori teases. "It's so peaceful, though. You know, the quiet?"

Robbie watches as the sun rises before them, clearing his throat for what he's about to say. "Hey, Tori?"

"Yeah?"

"I know you're not a doctor or anything, but I feel like I should tell you something important," he responds fearfully.

Tori shifts herself to look at the curly-haired boy. "Are you okay; is it your leg?"

Robbie shakes his head in negativity. "No, it's something much worse. You see Cat has a condition, and I feel like you should know about it before it gets out of hand…"

A/N: There you go! An updated chapter for Survival of the Fittest! :D I hope I did all the legal stuff right, and if not…shhhh! :P Just go with it! And we got BADE, whoo!

I wrote a oneshot called "Are You Ready?" a few weeks ago, and if you review that oneshot with the phrase "Cat's Condition" at the end of your review, you'll receive a hint for the next chapter of Survival of the Fittest! But please say something about the story before saying "Cat's Condition" because I love feedback! :)

Also, thanks so much for the 28 reviewson the last chapter! Holy-freaking-cow. I'm seriously lucky as cheese to have you all as my readers! Please review this chapter with at least 13 reviews before the next update, but more is always welcome!

Thanks so much, guys!

XxLadyStrengthxX