Smoke floats its way up into the air as I approach the camp, dusk falling around us, the crackling of the fire Jason is poking away at brightening the area.

I ignore his eyes on me, finding him sitting with a few pieces of fruit in his lap, a small fish cooking over the fire.

It's not much. But it's something.

The air around the fire feels heavy with unspoken tension as I take a seat across from him, letting the burning embers distance us more; yet every time I look up, I can see his eyes through the flames before he looks away.

Jason had been avoiding me most of the day, and his lack of presence was hitting me hard.

But I had come to one conclusion, I was falling in love with Jason.

And it was the stupidest most reckless decision I'd ever made.

Even if it hadn't been a decision, really. I had no say in it at all.

I pick at the small meal Jason managed to scavenge, nodding my head in thanks as he passes it over.

"Where did you go?" His voice is quiet, almost too intense in its delivery with the accompanying silence around us and I shrug, avoiding his eyes.

"Just for a walk."

"You were gone for hours."

So were you, I want to say but I don't. "I needed it, I guess." I still won't look at him and I can tell he's getting frustrated, a small growl exiting his mouth.

"So, you went exploring, alone?" He sounds fed up, "on an island where we don't know if we're the only predators?"

"So did you." I utter, looking at him with a raised brow. He left first, he was the one that walked away, not me. He was the one that was gone when I woke up, not me.

"That's different." He mutters, shaking his head.

"How?" I push, "How is it different, we're both stuck on the same island."

He doesn't answer, looking away. "Anything could have happened, Arden."

Arden, not kitten. He hadn't called me kitten since last night, I don't even know why I missed the stupid nickname, I hated it.

I can feel his eyes on me, a weight that lingers and unsettles, but I refuse to meet his gaze. Instead, I focus on the food in front of me, picking at it without much appetite.

"Arden," he says, his voice soft.

I hesitate before raising my eyes to meet his, a mix of weariness and anticipation swirling within me.

"What, Jason?" I look up at him over the dying fire, not realizing how much time had passed while we sat in relative silence.

I see anger flit over his eyes before he shakes his head and sighs. "Nothing, never mind."

I should ask him to say it, to tell me whatever is on his mind, but I don't. Happy to avoid the root of the issue a bit longer.

I don't know why I do this to myself, I'm my own worst enemy.

He doesn't say anything else before quickly finishing his meagre dinner and then getting up. I watch as he begins walking for the dark forest around us and a small sigh exits my mouth.

His shoulders tense for a few seconds but when I don't say anything he continues on, "I'm going for a walk, don't wait up."

I look away and back at my dinner, eating what I can stomach before moving for the shelter and forcing sleep to claim me. And for the first time in a few days, I wish I could leave this island, wish we could finally be rescued so I wouldn't have to deal with this awkwardness that I've expertly placed between us.

The sound of the night grows in volume, the crackling fire outside the only thing I focus on, hoping it will lull me to sleep yet nothing happens, my mind and body still too wired to rest, listening out for every noise.

Twisting, I turn my body to the entrance, staring out the small gap, seeing only darkness until sleep claims me.

• • •

Jason is asleep beside me when I wake, his back turned, the warmth of him only lingering faintly. I hadn't felt that space between us in a while. A quiet sigh slips out as I shift, careful not to wake him. Sliding out of the makeshift tent, I step out, breathing in the salty air. The early morning is quiet, just the faint sound of waves lapping against the shore and the soft whisper of a breeze stirring through the trees.

I make my way toward the lagoon, feeling the familiar path beneath my feet, still damp from the night air. The water shimmers under the soft morning light, calm and inviting, and I strip, leaving me in my bra and undies, stepping in without a second thought, letting the coolness rise up around my ankles, my calves, until I'm waist deep. The silence is heavy, but it's a kind I welcome—the type that lets me breathe a little easier.

As I float on my back, eyes closed, I let my mind wander. I don't think about Jason, or the weight that seemed to settle between us last night. Instead, I let the water hold me, drifting aimlessly, my body weightless and free.

It's minutes later I hear him approach, the sound of his footfalls heavy.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

The water surrounding me moves as he walks further in, the sounds of rustling erupting behind me.

"I'm not avoiding you." The words are muttered low, but all I can hear is the pounding of my heart in my chest as I shift from floating to standing, keeping my back to Jason. "Aren't you the one avoiding me?" I shoot back, breathing in and cursing myself for saying the words.

I can feel him staring at me, the almost tangible feel of his eyes caressing the slope of my neck. "I needed space, to think." He hushes, "Now tell me, why are you avoiding me?" I don't say anything for a second and he steps closer, close enough he could reach out and touch me if he wanted to. He doesn't. "Why?" He whispers quietly, his words low.

I turn, facing Jason and cross my arms over my chest, fingernails digging into the fleshy part of my arm. He's wearing shorts, the fabric drenched with water, but he doesn't seem to care. It seems like an odd thing to notice when he's staring at me like that, waiting for an answer.

"I-" I pause, not knowing what to say.

He looks so lost standing across from me and I straighten my spine. "Arden?"

You're a woman, Arden, start acting like one.

I swallow and just say it, "Because -" I look past his shoulder, trying to find the right words, the right way to say it - cmon Arden, just say it. Tell him you love him.

But instead those words don't leave my lips.

"The night of the wedding wasn't the first time."

His brow furrows in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

I can't stop now, even though my heart is racing. "There was a party," I say quietly. "In high school, at your grad party. We were both drunk, and it just...happened. I used to think you just ignored me afterwards but . . ." I look up at him. "You don't even remember, do you?"

Jason's expression shifts, his confusion giving way to realization. "Wait—" His voice falters. "That night? That was you?"

I nod, my throat tight. "Yeah."

He steps back slightly, his hand running through his hair as he processes my words. "Why didn't you say anything?"

I laugh bitterly, the sound raw. "Oh, sure. Let me just bring that up casually. 'Hey, Jason, remember that random hookup in high school? That was me.' That would've gone over great."

"Arden—" He starts, but I cut him off.

"You didn't even care enough to find out who it was, Jason," I say, my voice rising. "You just...went off the University. Like it didn't matter."

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he's going to argue. But then he sighs, his shoulders slumping. "I didn't know it was you," he says softly. "I swear, if I had—"

"It doesn't matter," I interrupt, shaking my head. "It's ancient history, right? Another notch on the great Jason Wilde scoreboard."

"Stop," he says, his voice firm. "Is that really what you think of me?" He steps closer, his gaze locking onto mine. "You think I don't regret that night? That I didn't spend weeks wondering who she was—who you were?"

I falter, the anger and hurt I've held onto for so long clashing with the vulnerability in his eyes. "Why would you care who it was after all this time?" I shake my head, "you had so many girls in high school-"

"No I didn't."

I blink, staring up at him in confusion. "I saw the girls, heard the locker room talk."

He shakes his head, "that was stupid teenage shit. I never slept with any of the girls, they just claimed I did."

"But-"

"I was a virgin." He mutters lowly. "That night of the party was the first time I had sex." He laughs sardonically and shakes his head. "I cared who the girl was because it was my first time and I never went looking for who it was because I didn't want to learn that it was her worst experience since I had none. So I went off to University and did my best to push it to the back of my mind. If I'd known-"

"It was fine." I mumble back, cutting him off, "I had nothing to compare it to."

He blinks, "What?"

"It was fine." I repeat, not meeting his eyes.

"You said you had nothing to compare it to." He prompts, stepping forward. "Was I your first?"

Amidst my own silence, a distant sound cuts through the air, stirring us from our standoff.

Propellers.

"Is that?" Jason doesn't finish before we're both scrambling up and racing for the hut, adrenaline surging through our veins.

Jason takes the lead, but he reaches back for me, fingers twining around mine as he pulls us along and ignore the deep ache in my heart, my focus on the sound of the helicopter in the distance.

Our feet pound against the unforgiving terrain. Sticks and rocks cut into our skin, drawing lines of pain and leaving trails of blood, but we continue, the sound of the helicopter growing nearer. Branches whip against our faces, leaving stinging reminders of our frantic passage.

Jason slams through a canopy, pulling me along as if I was an extension of him and not another person.

I follow, my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of hope and unease swirling within me.

The trees smack against each other with the force of the helicopter's propellers.

We burst through the final thicket of trees, our feet sinking into the scorching sand.

The open expanse greets us, the sight of the hovering helicopter filling me with equal parts relief and trepidation. Jason drops my hand, waving his arms at the helicopter to gain their attention.

I do the same, running further down the beach so I'm not covered by the trees.

The helicopter spins back, practically staring straight at us and my heart drops, relief flooding me.

My heart pounds so much I can practically feel it thumping through my ribs, begging to break free, screaming for release.

The helicopter descends, swirling sand and creating a whirlwind of chaos. I lift a hand, shielding my eyes as the sand whips at us like small shards of glass. The deafening roar of the blades fills the air, drowning out my thoughts. And then, the sand settles, and we see the figures emerging from the aircraft.

Rescue. Help has finally arrived.

A surge of emotions floods my being, a mixture of overwhelming relief and a bittersweet ache. We're safe, going home, leaving the island behind.

Jason's steps next to me, his voice filled with wonder. "We're going home."

As we're led onto the helicopter, I can't help but look back at the island that had become our home the last few weeks, can't help but feel an ache in my chest.

Home.