The sun had returned with a vengeance, baking the soaked ground and turning the beach into a steamy sauna. Finn and Rachel spent the day repairing the damage the storm had caused. Their shelter was patched up, the supplies salvaged, and their nerves—barely—held together. By the time the sky turned shades of orange and pink, exhaustion had settled over both of them.

Finn was crouched over the firepit, coaxing a flame to life with the lighter and some dry leaves they'd found under the shelter. Rachel sat nearby, carefully peeling the skin off a strange fruit she'd picked up in the jungle earlier.

"You think this is safe to eat?" she asked, holding it up.

Finn glanced over and shrugged. "No idea. Worst case, you turn purple or something."

Rachel shot him a look. "That's not comforting, Finn."

He laughed, leaning back as the fire finally roared to life. "Well, I'll let you try it first. If you survive, I'll take a bite."

"Charming," Rachel muttered, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She sliced the fruit into pieces, cautiously taking a tiny bite. It was sweet, with a tangy aftertaste, and she chewed slowly, waiting for any signs of disaster. When nothing happened, she handed Finn a slice.

"Your turn."

Finn inspected it like a detective before popping it into his mouth. He nodded in approval. "Not bad, Berry. Guess you're good for more than Broadway trivia."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment, I suppose."

The fire crackled warmly as the sun disappeared completely, leaving the island bathed in moonlight. Rachel and Finn sat close to the flames, their tired bodies leaning slightly toward each other. For the first time since the crash, the weight of survival didn't feel so crushing.

"So," Finn said, breaking the silence, "you always this bossy, or is it just an island thing?"

Rachel shot him a mock glare. "I'm not bossy. I'm assertive. There's a difference."

Finn snorted. "Yeah, sure there is."

"I just like things to be done the right way," Rachel continued, ignoring him. "If that means I have to take charge, so be it."

Finn grinned. "Let me guess—you were the president of, like, every club in high school?"

Rachel tilted her chin up. "Actually, yes. Glee club, drama club, debate team, and the animal rights committee."

Finn shook his head, laughing. "That tracks."

"And you?" Rachel asked, raising an eyebrow. "What were you like in high school? Let me guess—football team, homecoming king, and… not much else?"

He chuckled softly. "Pretty much nailed it. I wasn't exactly an overachiever like you. Just kinda coasted through."

Rachel frowned slightly. "But you're talented, Finn. Why didn't you try harder?"

He shrugged, poking at the fire with a stick. "Didn't think I was good enough, I guess. Singing wasn't, like, a 'guy' thing where I grew up. Football was easier. People expected that from me."

Rachel's heart softened at his words. For all his confidence, there was a vulnerability to Finn she hadn't noticed before. "You're better than you think," she said quietly. "Your voice—it's raw, but it's powerful. It's what got you here."

Finn looked at her, surprised by her sincerity. "Thanks, Berry. That means a lot."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they watched the fire dance. Rachel hesitated, then spoke again. "Do you think we'll get out of here?"

Finn was quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. I don't know how or when, but we will. Someone's gotta miss us, right?"

Rachel thought of her dads, probably panicking back home, and her friends who were undoubtedly searching for answers. "I hope so."

"We just gotta keep going," Finn said, his voice steady. "One day at a time."

Rachel nodded, comforted by his certainty. As the fire crackled and the stars twinkled above, she realized something unexpected: she wasn't entirely alone in this. Finn wasn't just her partner in survival—he was becoming her friend.

And for the first time since the crash, that felt like enough.