Castaways {Jariana}

The One Required Filler Chapter

Ariana stared down at Zac's borrowed cell phone with a perplexed expression on her face.

Zac looked at her curiously. "What's the problem?"

Her lips curled in annoyance. "I-I don't know his number. I've never called him before", she admitted reluctantly. "I mean I was crushing on him, not stalking him."

"Well...we could look up his home number in the phone book", he suggested as he began digging through the copious cabinets searching for the seldom referenced book.

"The phone book? Why didn't I think of that?", Ariana exclaimed. "I haven't used a phone book in years."

Zac hefted the large book onto the counter and quickly found the listing.

"Here it is: Brooks comma G; 555-0019."

She smiled as she started punching in the numbers. "Wow, what a coincidence, that's his jersey number", she commented when she got to the '19' in the number.

"How do you know that?"

"How do you not know that? He's like the most famous jock at our school. They plastered his picture all over the building. Besides ... I know a lot more about him than you know."

"Than I want to know", Zac corrected. "I think I'll make myself scarce so I don't hear something that'll make me puke."

Ariana wondered into her father's study to find some privacy. The ringing phone was finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"H-hi, Ms. Brooks?", she asked in unaccustomed nervousness. "This is Ariana Grande." She took a deep breath. "May I, please, speak to Jai?"

"Of course, Ariana, but first... how are you?"

"I'm fine, got a great night's sleep in my own bed." Ariana laughed nervously and wondered why Gina's innocent question sounded so loaded.

"Everything fine with the doctor's visit?"

"Sure." Ariana's heard what sounded like a sigh of relief from Jai's mom which immediately worried her. "Why? Is there something wrong with Jai?"

"No, no. Jai's fine. Everyone's fine ... I'll go get him for you."

The phone was silent for an unusually long time until, "Ari? Is that you?"

She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding and sighed audibly as she sank into the worn leather recliner. Her father's private study was expertly decorated, like the rest of the house, but she loved the way it smelled of old leather and pipe tobacco that her father swore he'd given up.

"Yeah, it's me." There was a long moment of silence which they both broke simultaneously when they said, "Missed you." They both laughed at this and tried again, only to both say, "Sorry", at the same time.

Finally, Jai said, "You go first."

"I missed you." There was far more meaning in those three words than anyone besides them could imagine.

"Yeah."

Ariana decided to break the somber mood. "Toulouse doesn't keep my feet warm like you do."

"Ha, ha. So what are you doing today?" And then, without waiting for her answer, he continued, "Mom's taking me out to get a new phone soon. Apparently, Luke broke my old one."

"My dad's bringing me mine home tonight. Mom has her heart set on a day at the spa. She wants to spend alone time with me.. I don't mind.. Plus she thinks I need major renovations. It could take all day."