Castaways {Jariana}

A New Start

Ariana went about her daily chores as if it was any other normal day. Well, except for the fact that until she became stranded on this island, her only chores were her own personal care regime - hair care, skin care, and rigorous daily exercise. Now, she gathered water, cracked coconuts, and cooked her "breakfast" of an oatmeal-like grain which had to be good for you because it tasted like bark. Their cooking pan was one half of a volcanic geode that Jai split open. It was almost completely hollow inside and made the perfect container because they could cook in it.

Of course, as Ariana completed all of these daily tasks, she made sure that she only made enough food for one.

"Ugh", she groaned as she jabbed at the oatmeal with her stirring stick.

It had been three days since their fight and even though she was still royally pissed at Jai, she also had to admit, albeit reluctantly, that she missed him too. The hardest time was at night - oh, she wasn't cold or anything since she had his hoodie, but she'd really become accustomed to sleeping next to him. Every morning she woke up with her head lying on his chest because his heartbeat had lulled her into a peaceful sleep the night before. And living with him day in and day out, Ariana found that Jai Brooks was quickly becoming her best friend. He was laid-back and easy to talk to and he treated her like a real person, not like some untouchable popular goddess. And yes, she did realize that she was the one who projected that imagine to the world, so what did she expect?

She sighed deeply and added a second serving of oats to the pan.

"I know you're there, Jai, so you can come out now."

Small ferns rustled off to the left and Jai stood up slowly and stepped out into the open. Ariana didn't even look up, but instead continued to tend her meal.

"I was just here to see if you found the fish I left."

"I found it ... and the one before that ... and the one before that." Her voice had an amused edge to it.

"You know I'm really sorry about everything that happened, right?"

"And how would I know that, since this is the first time we've talked in three days? You've just been stalking me, not talking to me."

Jai looked aghast. "I haven't been stalking you. I've been ... looking out after you. You know, making sure that you're okay and all. You were really sick, you know. I-I was ... worried."

She smiled, almost to herself, and looked up at the him for the first time. "That's so sw... Oh, God! Jai, what happened to your face?"

Jai's right eye was dark purple with a sickly yellow color around the edges. He touched it self-consciously and looked embarrassed.

"You ... um ... pack quite a punch."

"I did that?", she asked in disbelief. He nodded and looked away.

She rushed over to him and reached up to gently touch the injured eye. Ariana quickly withdrew her hand, embarrassed, when he flinched away in pain.

"I'm sorry", she said quickly. "I had no idea that I'd hurt you."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's okay. If I was in the same situation... if I was a girl, that is. I would have reacted the same way. Look Ariana, I know it looked bad when you woke up, especially considering what happened the day before, but I was just trying to help..."

"I know."

"I mean you were in bad shape. You'd spent the whole night out in that storm and you were shivering uncontrollably..."

"I said I know. I understand now. I remembered enough of that night and you finding me to figure out what happened. Besides, now that I'm thinking more rationally, I realize that you're not the kind of guy who would take advantage of a girl like that."