Castaways {Jariana}

Almost caught

There may or may not be one more chapter after this. I'm not sure yet. Originally there was only one chapter left but.. Idk. What do you guys think? Please comment.

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Ariana awoke to many strange and varied sensations.

First was the feeling of bliss at waking back where she knew she belonged, safely in Jai's arms.

Second was the feeling of warmth and she belatedly remembered when Jai had pulled the quilt over them both so they were cocooned within like a sleeping bag.

Finally, third was the soreness that she was feeling in various parts of her body, a soreness that left her feeling closer to Jai than she had ever felt to anyone ever before.

She stretched to try and work out some of that soreness. Unfortunately, the achiest parts were internal so stretching wouldn't help that. Suddenly, a hand was clapped over her mouth and she stared up wide-eyed at Jai. He held a finger to his lips, indicating for her to be quiet and then pointed out in the direction of his house. That's when she heard her father's voice, Gina's and Luke's becoming louder as they neared the tree house.

"Well, what makes you think she's here?", Gina asked. "She could be anywhere."

"Because we found my Aston Martin parked three houses from here, Gina. And besides, since Jai is also missing, I'm just putting two and two together."

"You own an Aston Martin?" Luke was clearly in awe.

David stood up taller and a huge smile played on his lips. "Oh, yeeaah. She's a beaut too: a DB9 coupe, candy-apple red, 300 horse power, six liter, V-", he paused for dramatic effect and finally said slowly, dragging out the word, "twelve."

"V-12?", Luke gulped. "And it's just three houses away?"

"Yeah, want to take a look? I brought the spare keys."

Luke nodded excitedly and the two turned towards the side gate of the backyard when Joan came walking through it. Luke looked crestfallen, David irritated.

Seeing their faces, the woman became instantly worried. "What's wrong? Do you have news?", Joan asked in concern.

"Oh, no. It's nothing. We haven't found anything."

"She must have been here at some point." Thinking aloud, Joan tried to work out the possible scenarios. "Maybe they left again ... together. How long has it been since you last saw Jai?"

"His friends left around eleven and he went to bed right after that", Gina told her. Then, feeling extremely awkward, standing in her backyard wearing a bathrobe and house slippers, she asked, "Would you like some coffee?" At least she'd be able to slip away and get dressed.

"Yes", David answered quickly.

When Joan had discovered Ariana missing an hour ago, they'd activated the LoJack theft system on the missing Aston Martin and quickly decided to pay the Brooks a visit when the car's location was determined to be so close to their house. Unfortunately, he hadn't had time for his standard morning cup of coffee. And David Efron was a bear without his coffee.

"I'll have tea, if that's not a bother", Joan announced as the four started to head into the house through the rear kitchen door.

"Oh, no bother at all. Is Lipton, okay? I only have the bagged kind."

Ariana couldn't hear her response, but she was sure it was polite. Her mother was nothing if not polite. Notwithstanding, she was also completely sure that packaged leaves from a tea bag hadn't passed Joan's lips in over twenty years. If it weren't for the current situation, she would love to see how her mother managed to appear to be enjoying the tea without actually tasting it. Maybe she'd be lucky and there would be a defenseless plant on the table which wouldn't mind having hot tea poured on it.