you could spot the other islands in the distance scattered across the ocean. unfortunately it turns out getting out of this place is a lot harder than it looks. you came to terms with everything you've been through, and with it you came to find yourself only able to fully trust one person. which is reasonable, saying you guys had similar lives back in OBX. JJ Maybank. Paradise on earth. is that what this was supposed to be? Paradise or not, it was the closest fucking thing you had to it. you had been here close to a month, a rough estimate made from tallies in the sand and Kiara's rather obscure ability to calculate the moon phases. something to do with astrology. you thought it was bullshit. it should have been a big deal that you all hadn't been rescued yet, but none of you saw it that way even with everything that's happened. maybe it was because you didn't have any of the responsibilities you would've had inland, or maybe the island gave you guys a break from your failures. regardless paradise did suit the island best even at the worst of times. JJ jokes about not ever going back, deep down you know he's somewhat serious. you found yourself focusing on him more than the other stuff these days.

you lay on your back near the where the water met the sand, feeling the tide gently lap at your feet before falling back into the ocean. the sand was itchy beneath you, sticking to your damp skin and scratching against the back of your neck. it didnt bother you, you were used to the feeling by now. you listened to the waves crash and retreat, your breathing synced up with the rise and fall of the tide. you kept your eyes closed when familiar presence interrupted the silence. you didn’t need to open your eyes to know who it was. “Not a bad view,” he said, his voice carrying that usual mix of humor and sincerity. he glanced down at you, his blue eyes bright even in the dark, he reached out to flick a strand of your hair off your forehead, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “got room for one more in paradise?”.