Time To Dance
Summary: (Sequel to As the Storm Blows) The storm has passed, leaving junky beach where a camp used to be. A pile of wire replaces what used to be a radio. In the hearts of 7, hope has been replaced with love. NathanDaley JacksonMelissa EricTaylor
Ch. 1 Aftermath
"Well everyone," Jackson yawned as he stood up in front of the disheartened gang, "we have work to do. Melissa, start looking for a container we could use for water. Eric, go is if the water hole hasn't been filled up. If it has, re-dig it," Jackson handed him the shovel, "Nathan and Daley, go look for food and dry firewood. Lex, see if you can find any working technology besides the MP3 player. Taylor, you collect debris. I shall gather debris as well. Everyone got the plan?"
All nodded.
"But what about the latrine?" Daley yawned a little, "Taylor should check it."
"Good idea. Taylor, go check the latrine."
Taylor shivered but nodded.
"Got it, everyone? Okay, get to work!"
Everyone went their separate ways then. Daley and Nathan walked off together; Eric went off to the well while Taylor went in the opposite direction to the latrine. Lex, Jackson, and Melissa went into the wreckage.
And the started from scratch.
Nathan, after he saw that they were out of sight from the camp and the others, held Daley's hand and laced his fingers through hers. Daley blushed immediately.
"So you do remember last night?" she smiled happily.
"Yeah, how could I even try to forget? I was just playing it cool back there. In truth, I wanted to wake up, whisper something cute in your ear, and kiss you."
Daley giggled.
"I love you, Day," Nathan laughed.
"Nathan, you know I love you too, but our situation is even more serious now. I mean… we probably don't even have a radio now. This isn't good. I'm ton between two causes of fainting- one is good and one, on the contrary, is bad. One is our love; the other is our new situation. It is not good."
"We're all in deep do-do," Nathan agreed while nodding.
"But… I think this," Daley smiled shyly, "provides a rather thick silver lining to this cloud, don't you agree?"
"You know I do, Daley. I want to show you a particular clip on my video diary, if it's okay."
"Sure," Daley couldn't help but smile as Nathan took out the camera, loaded with his tape.
It turned on, showing Nathan just after the pig chase.
"But I realized something kinda huge after we chased around Herbert. By kinda, I mean it will probably change things… a lot, but I hope for the better as well. I realized something when Day and I wore working together and acting friendly in the bargain. We are friends now, I think. I hope. I pray. We always hang out, anyways, and… well… I mean, it's hard to admit this, especially since Jackson told Melissa today that dating wasn't a good idea till we all finally got home, but… I mean, it's weird saying this, but I mean it with all my heart… but… I love Daley. Not like, love. But… if she ever saw this, she'd laugh her head off. But it's true, I love her. I love her bright, curly hair, her now-softened personality, her laugh, her smile, and her eyes. They're like… the ocean, but unlike the real ocean behind me I could gaze into her eyes forever. And she's smart, funny, athletic… sure, sometimes and ego-case, but I don't really care anymore… and… oh, God, I'm really rambling here. Shows how much I love her, eh?" Tape-Nathan laughed nervously, "I love her, that's all I really need to say. This is serious, really serious… uh oh, someone's coming, I'll talk later," and then there was static as off the camera and put it back into the pack.
Daley just stared at him for the briefest moment before kissing him passionately.
Nathan staggered backward for a second before wrapping his arms around Daley's waist and pulled her close to him- quite close, so that she had to wrap her arms around his neck. She pulled herself as close as she could.
They continued kissing, and the really honorable thing was that neither thought one sexual thought. They were thinking love pledges, and that they felt protected in his arms or wonderful protecting her, and how it was amazing that a fire hadn't gone off in both their hearts from all the fireworks, but nothing else.
They broke apart reluctantly for air, their foreheads and noses touching.
"Stare into my eyes all you want, Nathan," Daley murmured.
"Sorry I called you an ego case," Nathan whispered.
"Its fine, Nathan. Oh God, I love you," Daley bit her lip.
"I love you so much, Day," Nathan moaned. They had not shifted position, still closer than close, but it wasn't like they were grotesquely plastered against each other. Just holding each other tightly and lovingly.
Daley was fighting back tears as her heart pounded madly.
"Why are you crying?" Nathan said soothingly.
"I don't know. I'm so happy, I guess. Like I've said, I've never had a real boyfriend before. After they've had a taste of me, they leave. It's like when you're fishing, and a small fish puts up a big struggle, and then you reel her in and find out that it was all a show, so you throw it back in. I'm the little fish, and the boys I've dated are the fishermen."
"How many fishermen have there been?" Nathan said with a pang of jealously in his voice.
"Not counting you, 2. But with you… its… you haven't thrown me back yet."
"And I won't. Ever. To me, you're a huge fish, figuratively speaking of course. You're a tuna. A shark. A whale!"
Daley giggled as Nathan wiped the tears off her cheeks.
"See? I love you, Day. And according to you, none of the other guys said that."
"No, they hadn't. Not even close to saying that.
Nathan then pulled Daley in for another kiss.
Unfortunately, someone had been watching them from behind a bush in the jungle. Uncomfortable in the dense undergrowth, Eric and Taylor, back from their chores finding they had nothing to do, decided to investigate the voices they heard a little ways off of the beach.
What they had found was Nathan and Daley kissing. Taylor had been wide-eyed in shock the entire time, Eric stifling a laugh.
"Oh this is so RICH. I mean, who would of thought: the two always-fighting. Wow. This is… ugg, how long are they going to keep kissing? Taylor?" Taylor was just staring at them in shock.
"Taay-loor," Eric said in a singsong voice, waving his hand in front of her face, "Taay-loor!"
"Wha?" she said dumbly.
"Are you even comprehending this?" Eric looked amazingly giddy.
"Yeah. Nathan and Daley are in love. I'm just in shock," Taylor shook her head to clear it a few times. (Not that it needed clearing!)
"Ah, yes, in love. But being in love is against the rules!" Eric wore an evil grin, "after all, Jackson and Melissa are holding back because it would be weird. Ooh, they are in trouble!"
Taylor sniggered as well, "let's go tell everyone!"
The two tattle-tails (they preferred to think of themselves as spies) ran off in the direction of the camp.
Jackson picked up a water bottle, crushed, out from underneath a chair.
"Hey Melissa, you could use this!" he called to Melissa, who was over on the other side of the beach.
"Thanks Jackson!" Melissa walked over, took the water bottle from Jackson, and un-crushed it.
"By the way," Melissa began, "you really took command back there."
"Thanks," Jackson smiled at her. Melissa blushed, grinned back, and walked back over to where she had been searching.
Jackson smiled to himself, I feel so guilty and so… regretful of my decision not to date her until we got home. She's… but his dreamy thoughts were cut off by Lex walking over.
"Hey Jackson?"
"Yeah Lex?" Jackson said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"This is all that remains of the radio," Lex held up a jumbled pile of wire.
"Uh oh," Jackson grimaced.
"Yep. I can't even find the controls. Or the speakers. Just the guts of the radio."
"Well, we're really stranded now," Jackson shivered a little.
"At least you're safe, eh?" Lex smiled sadly, "small silver lining."
Jackson patted his shoulder, "don't make me feel guilty for being a little happy about all this… what the…?"
Eric and Taylor, wearing malevolent grins on their faces, ran over to Jackson and Lex.
"We have just seen the most… unbelievable… thing!" Taylor panted as Melissa walked over curiously.
"What?" Melissa asked cheerfully.
"Nathan and Daley are in love!" Eric laughed as everyone stared at him.
(1,434 Words) Oooh, cliffhanger! Mwa ha ha ha!"