Jesse

I laughed a little "Yeah, I know." I reached up and patted his shoulder "You do good with everyone, we're all happy. Or...as happy as we can be considering the circumstances."

I nodded and smiled a bit. "I'm glad. I've done my best, tried to make their life as decent as possible. I mean, not like there's much here, but... I think we've done okay."

"So do I, I'm not sure if I could handle society now that I've been here so long."

"I don't either. And Anna Maria's been here as long as she can remember, she was only three when we shipwrecked. I don't know... if we had a chance to get rescued if... if I'd even take it. This is all she knows."

"It would be an adjustment for her that's for sure. I mean, at least we know what to expect. Anna has no idea."

"I know. The hustle and bustle, the cars, the noise... the people... might be too much for her, you know? She loves it here, she's a jungle girl at heart. Just like her mother. That trip we took to Africa, you remember, she didn't wanna leave."

I smiled "I remember, I wish I knew then what I know now and I would have gladly lived there with her."

"So would I. I wish we never would have left. She was so happy there."

"There isn't anything we can do now." I sighed "I guess I worked on accepting that a long time ago, don't beat yourself up Jesse."

"It's hard not to. I just... there's so many things I regret, so many times I've thought, well what if I did this instead."

Two months later

I had just returned from a walk on the beach with Hunter, Jesse had been giving me the cold shoulder for a few days and I wanted to know why. I went to his hut and knocked.

I went to the door and answered it, seeing Natalia I tried to shut the door but she put her hand on it, stopping me. "Can I help you?" I asked, hating how I'd been with her lately but unable to help it.

I growled some and pushed the door open more, letting myself in "What is wrong with you?" I asked him, I knew I was glaring but I couldn't help it, I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for an anwser.

"Nothing's wrong with me, I don't know what you're talking about," I said, and turned my back to her.

"Don't feed me bullshit like I'm going to believe it Jesse!" I said, raising my voice "You've been ignoring me, you've been a smart ass and you just tried to shut your door in my face."

"Well you have so many other people to keep you company, what the fuck are you worrying about me for?" I said, trying and failing to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

I narrowed my eyes at him and shook my head "I can't believe you. This is about Hunter isn't it? I don't even like him in that way Jesse! Not that it's any of your damn business anyway, it's just walks on the beach and nothing more."

"Did I say anything about him? I didn't say a damn word about Hunter. And why... why should I give a shit who you walk on the beach with, or do anything with for... for that matter, I'm not nosing in your business, your the one that came knocking on my fucking door."

"You said I had other people to keep me company and you've been acting like an ass since I started spending time with him!" I rolled my eyes "I cam knocking because something is wrong, I hate it when you're upset about something, don't you get that?"

"Why? Why do you even care? Since you've been spending time with him you've barely given me the time of day either, you spend your evenings with him and have dinner with him and... fuck!" I ran a hand through my hair with a growl. "Maybe... maybe I fucking... miss you okay?"

"I can't give you any time when you're going out of your way to dodge and ignore me!" I yelled, not just raising my voice anymore "I care because I obviously care about you! The whole village sees that except for you, Jesse! I'm trying to spread out a little because I know it's wrong and I'll never have a chance. Excuse me for not wanting to be lonely anymore!" I took a breath "Just fuck this, it isn't worth it. Don't worry about me knocking on your door anytime soon!" I yelled again and started to stormed out of his hut.

"Damnit Nat don't go," I said and caught her hand, pulling her to me. I wrapped my arms around her and without even thinking about it I kissed her.

I was so mad at him and wanted to resist but my heart wouldn't let me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and very willingly, I kissed him back.

I growled and brought her closer to me, deepening the kiss as my hands went to her hair. "I've wanted to do that for awhile now," I said quietly when the kiss broke."

"So have I." I admitted in a whisper "I'm sorry for making you so upset, I didn't know how to tell you so I thought it would be best if I tried to move on."