Something Stronger Than Love

ZAYN'S POV

Everything's fine. We have food, water, shelter, clothing, and a way to leave. The only thing that isn't right is Toni.

Since the day she woke up, both her and Harry have been weird. Something happened, and I don't know what to think. Harry must've heard the thought of something.

We were packing up everything that we need for the trip back, a few things to eat. That was all we needed.

Gemma and Harry started the boats. Well, tried. It turned on for half a second, then sputtered and stopped.

"What's wrong?!" Violet, the worry bug, asked.

"Gas tanks empty on both." Harry announced.

Okay, maybe two things aren't right.

"Well, now what?" Jenna asked, a little scared.

"One option: Built rafts like motherfuckers again." Liam sighed, putting his head in his hands.

I don't understand why everyone's sad... it's fun on the island. Great memories, great scenery, just great.

"Why do we have to leave so soon? We have anything we need. Food, shelter, clothing. And each other." I spoke.

Danielle giggled, "Most cliche speech ever, Zayn."

I pouted jokingly, "But seriously!"

"Okay, fine, but I want to start building rafts early, so we can be ready to leave when we want to." Liam let out a small smile.

I counted heads. Perrie, Danielle, Jenna, Eleanor, Gemma, Violet, Toni, Paige, Melissa, Alexis, Louis, Liam, Niall, Mike, Kyle, Harry, and me. 17 motherfucking people.

We need 9 rafts, but someone's alone. And this time, we need to make sure we stay together." I said.

Everyone nodded, then went to find wood.

*

Soon enough, we all had a pile of wood together on the sand, hopefully enough. We all split into teams of two to work. El and Danielle, Perrie and Toni, Jenna and Gemma, Kyle and Mike, Liam, Louis, and Harry, Violet and Paige, Alexis and Melissa, and me with Niall.

We did what we did last time, layed the planks down one way, then pounded a nail in with a huge rock, then started working on the sides.

My thoughts consumed my previously empty mind...

Why is Toni so quiet? What could've happened that made her like this? And Harry...

That thought repeated in my mind, until I realized that all the rafts were damn near done. Niall nailed in the last piece, then clapped his hands.

"Done!" He said loudly, at the same time as El, Perrie, Louis, Mike, Violet, Alexis, and Jenna.

"Wow..." Jenna awkwardly mumbled.

I made the 'not bad' face, and we stacked the rafts in the woods so they wouldn't get ruined. Then we all headed to the little house.

*

We sat in a circle, around the fire, eating bananas. No one spoke, no one dared to make a sound.

I really wanted to ask Toni or Harry what happened, and I'm sure I'm not alone on that, but no one did.

Toni stared into the fire, not a word coming from her mouth, just tears from her eyes. Wait, she's crying?

"Toni?" I asked. She looked up, then back down quickly. I could tell she had pain in her eyes, even with the glasses.

"Yea?" Her voice was hoarse, scratchy. She hadn't even made sound for so long.

"What's wrong?"

She sniffled, "Just sick a little. Why?"

"You're crying, love." Lou said, draping his large arm around her.

"It's nothing. Just miss my parents." She shrugged, adding another single sniffle.

By the smug look on everyone's face, none of us believed it. No one knee what the truth was, but it wasn't that. I don't think Harry knows either.

But like I said last night, I will find out before I leave this island.

HARRY'S POV

Zayn asked what was wrong with Toni. To be honest, I'm quite curious as well. She doesn't speak, only stares at random objects until she blinks, then stares at something else.

And I've noticed a pattern since we got here. Every night, before wd go to sleep, she goes outside, for about ten minutes, then walks back in with wet sand on her knees.

Her thoughts stopped coming through, though we can still talk through mind. I guess she finally found out how to stop me from hearing thoughts. Good for her, at least I won't constantly know what's on her mind.

But still, at the current moment, I wish she wouldn't block out her mind. She hasn't been right since before the first live shows.

The group was at an awkward silence, no one dared to breathe through their noses, the only sound being the wind and sound of creatures that roamed the wilderness. But the silence was becoming unbearable.

"Singing time?" Alexis asked. Zayn nodded.

I heard the clearing of a throat, then Paige's voice saying,

"Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
I'm begging of you
Please don't take my man
Jolene
Jolene."

Then Violet and Alexis joined in with her.

"Jolene
Jolene
Please don't take him
Just because you can."

Alexis sang the first part of the first verse.

"Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin
And eyes of emerald green."

Violet then sounded the next lines.

"Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you
Jolene."

Paige picked up the end of the first verse.

"He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying, when he calls your name
Jolene."

Toni quickly joined the song, singing the Mari part of the chorus.

"Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
I'm begging of you please
Don't take my man

Jolene
Jolene,"

All four girls sang,

"Jolene
Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can."

They let Toni keep going.

"You can have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me
Jolene

I had to have this talk with you

My happiness depends on you
And whatever you decide to do
Jolene."

They finished the song all together.

"Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
I'm begging of you please
Don't take my man

Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
Jolene
Please don't take him even though you can. "

Like it always did before, everyone bursted with applause.

"You guys really sound good together. We're all fucked in this contest." Kyle laughed.

Violet shook her head, "You guys are great too."

He smiled, looking over at Toni. Dafuq?

I've noticed them becoming closer, but now it's freaky. I don't like it.

No matter what though, Toni will always be my best friend, and no one can change that.

Notes

HEY, I'M BACK! You may have seen that I made a sequel for TCATB, called The Creep Down The Road. Check it out!

Q: What's going on in that head of Toni's?

Comment, rate, all dat. Bhai!