A/N: Hello everyone. I want to say this is the first story I have done in a few years and I know I am suppose to update the other ones instead but I just cannot seem to get to them. I will try my hardest to write more for those stories. I think I am in a bit of a slump and cannot figure out what to write for them. Nonetheless I am sorry about that. This is my first shot at a heterosexual relationship so bare with me please. I had to rate this M, actually in some of the chapters to come it will be MA because of sexual content but for now there is absolutely no touching going on, which I also apologize for. There might be in the next chapter if this chapter goes over well enough.
Please if you have time to spare comment. I love hearing feedback on my stories, good or bad. As long as you are not viscous about it. I take all critiques to heart so please if you have some time I would greatly appreciate that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tarzan, any of the characters part of the Tarzan world, nor do I profit from any of the stories I post. All the characters and the Tarzan world are owned by Disney and Disney only. I am simply writing for fun, not profit.
Dishes clanking as the sound of water running filled the kitchen. The room was not particularly big so the noise carried throughout and in to the living room as a girl had her hands hidden in the pill of dishes in the sink. Her coffee colored hair tied in a bun and an apron around her jeans and shirt.
The living room led straight to the entrance door where the lock turned as a couple entered and slowly shut the door behind them. Their faces filled with sorrow as they glanced at one another and took a deep sigh before calling for her.
"Jane dear, would you join us in here?" The woman asked softly as she made her way over to the couch parallel with the entry way to the kitchen. The man followed as they sat down awaiting Jane. Jane entered in to the room wiping her hands dry from the water.
"Aunt Meredith how was the office, any news on that promotion?" Aunt Meredith was a secretary at a dental office where for 20 years she awaited a promotion. Her job was hectic and strenuous but she hoped her promotion from a secretary to personal assistant for the head dentist meant better pay for the work she was doing now. Bosses came and went and still no word on any raise.
"Um, now's not the time," Aunt Meredith said as she lowered her head down to look at the envelope in her hand, squeezing it gently, creasing the middle slightly.
"Oh, I see. I am sorry auntie," Jane looked with remorse as she glanced over at the item in aunt's hand.
"Jane, sweetie, sit down please. We must discuss something with you," Uncle Charlie spoke gently as he motioned her over to sit. Uncle Charlie was a gentle soul and a great man. He worked long hours at the factory for very little pay but enough to have food on the table and heat in the winter months. Everyone who met him instantly loved him. His personality seemed to rub off on people and everyone came to him for advice, never refusing a single person.
Jane slowly moved towards the chair and sat down, hands on her lap and looking confused as Aunt Meredith took a deep breath in and said, "We received this today," she picked up the envelope to eye level as she placed it on the coffee table in front of her. Jane stared at it briefly, eyes fixed on the object as her eyes ascended to her aunt and uncle's faces only to see them look gloomy and troubled.
"What is it?" Jane asked. She did not know what was going on but for the two of them to act this way it was obviously bad news.
"It's for you. Open it," Uncle Charlie said pointing to the envelope before cupping his hands and letting them fall on his lap.
Jane slowly lifted herself off the chair. Walking towards the table she reached over for the envelope. She had no idea what could be in there, what they knew. She almost didn't want to know. It was as if her life could come crashing down in the next few moments. She made her way back to the chair. Sitting down, she slowly reached over and opened the envelope. There was a single sheet of paper in there. Nervously, she put the envelope between her leg and the arm of the chair and unfolded the paper.
She glanced over at the return address Beira, Mozambique, Africa. Her eyes widened as she kept on reading.
Dear Ms. Jane Porter,
Hello. My name is Bongani Ndiaye, the head of African Wilderness Preservation and Studies Foundation, AWPSF, and I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected among the lucky few who will join us for our reopening of the internship program. You have been selected to participate in a yearlong study and exploration of the Jungles of Africa with the fore-most leaders in the AWPSF. In the next week expect a package with your plane ticket and a list of all the essentials you will need to supply to have a comfortable and safe time in Africa. If there are any further…
Jane stopped reading as she dropped the paper to her lap and stared straight in to her Aunt's eyes.
"I, this is, I can't…" Jane could not speak as she just kept her eyes locked on her Aunt. This was the moment she had been dreaming about since she was a little girl. Night after night her Aunt would read to her books about the African jungle, encyclopedias filled with nothing but African wildlife, and fictional stories of the jungle life. Jane inherited all her fascination of the jungle life from her father, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter who wrote many papers on the subject of the African jungle, but never got a chance to go there in person. Complications arose when Jane's mother was pregnant and ultimately died at childbirth, leaving the widowed professor to take care of a baby girl on his own. The strain was too much for him to bear and when Jane turned 3 years old, he died unexpectedly. His will entrusted his brother Charles Porter with his daughter and the couple raised her as their own, never once allowing her to forget who her real parents were.
Both of them understood that one of these days she would walk in her father's footsteps and live in the African jungle; studying and learning all there is to know. What they did not expect was that it would come so soon. Jane had recently entered her second year of college and now she would leave to one of the most secluded parts of the world, on her own, surrounded by wildlife that would sooner tear her flesh in two. This was too much for her aunt to handle and tears began to stream down her face. Jane quickly rushed to her aunt's side and swung her arms around her neck.
"Aunt Meredith, Uncle Charlie," She began to speak as she took her hands away and knelt before them, holding on to their hands, "I love both of you with all my heart. There is not a day I do not think I am the luckiest girl in the world to have two amazing parents who love me as much as you two do. Please understand this is my dream. I have waited for the day I would have an opportunity like this and here it is, staring me straight in the face. I am not asking for money, I am asking for your support," Jane stared at the two; tears began to well in her eyes as she waited for them to speak.
"We just want you to be happy," Uncle Charlie spoke before grabbing Jane and hugging her tightly. Aunt Meredith joined along as they embrace and she cupped Jane's face gently.
"Well, I guess we need to get all those supplies then," she said quickly as Jane lunged forward embracing her aunt again before releasing her and running to the kitchen to finish her chores.
The next week was hectic. Jane had paperwork to fill out for her school and the foundation. Aunt Meredith went shopping with Jane for the supplies in her spare time, and Uncle Charlie dusted off the boxes in the attic to find some things to give to Jane.
Jane barely slept that week as her departure neared. She was nervous, excited, overwhelmed, fearful, so many emotions at once that kept her mind going all hours of the night. Finally the day of her flight, her suitcase packed and her nerves kicking in at full speed. She exited her room, pulling her suitcase on its wheels with her backpack hanging off one shoulder as she walked towards the door. Walking out the doorway she saw a taxi was parked in front of the house, trunk open ready for her to leave. The driver took her things in to the car and shut the door, waiting for her to say her goodbyes. Jane stood at the stoop looking up at her Aunt and Uncle. Her eyes began to water as she quickly brushed them off and ran up for one last hug.
Placing one hand on her shoulder, Uncle Charlie handed her a journal.
"This was your father's journal. He bought it especially for you to begin writing down your adventures and this was his compass. It was his most prized possession and is willed to you," he handed the book to Jane and placed the compass on top. She could not hold back the flow of tears as she gave them both one last embrace.
"I love you both so much," Those were her last words as she sprinted down the stairs and in to the taxi to avoid from changing her mind and staying. She took one last glance back as she saw them waving and hear them saying "We love you so much Jane," as they watched the taxi turn and disappear.
Jane was terrified. This would be the first time she was away from her aunt and uncle, and to add more fear, this was her first plane ride. They never could afford a vacation so they always would just drive down to the beach or the countryside for a weekend.
As she left the taxi and entered the airport she froze.
This was it, no turning back after this moment. She began to think about everything at once, getting dizzy and nearly falling backwards. Her grip on the suitcase is what kept her upright.
I can do this. I am old enough to make my own decisions, and this is my dream.
Dream. That word put a smile on her face and tears to her eyes as she proceeded through the airport. She finally made it to her gate and saw the airplane she would board. She expected something bigger. This plane seemed to be able to hold no more than 40 passengers. Making her way through the gate she entered the plane, finding her seat she sat and opened her bag. She took out the journal and marked the date and began to write.
April 10.
Left home for the first time. Waiting in the plane for lift off. Am so terrified but so happy all at once.
She closed her book and placed it between her and the arm of the seat, buckling her seatbelt.
The plane lifted off without complications and in several hours would land in the Beira National Airport. Jane's eyes were fixed on the outside of the plane. From lift off to landing she stared at the scenery, watching the clouds roll by. The plane arrived at Beira in the afternoon and the scenery was nothing she had ever seen. The city looked different from what she was used to and the temperature was so high, she had a hard time focusing on anything for the first few minutes after she got off the plane. Once she got her luggage and was ready to leave a man stood there by the exit with her name written on a piece of paper. Jane approached the man slowly and smiled cautiously as she spoke.
"Hello sir. I am Jane Porter."
"Welcome to Beira Miss. I am Jack O'Riley, one of the field researchers at the AWPSF. It is a pleasure to meet you," He smiled as he held out his right hand towards her. She shook his hand nervously.
The man smiled and gestured her to follow him as he took her luggage and wheeled it out in to an uncovered Jeep. He opened the passenger's door for her and she sat in and they were off. She attempted to speak but was cut off by the driver.
"You are dressed very appropriately for the African jungle miss," He smiled continuing," Many of the interns do not understand how hot and humid the jungle can be and end up stripping down layers in hopes of not getting heat stroke," He laughed and brought a bottle to his mouth and drank quickly.
"I read about the heat and thought these clothes would be the most suitable," Jane was wearing cotton cropped pants, beige with 6 pockets to hold any materials or tools she would need for the trip. Her boots were black, laced up to the tip just covering her ankles and her shirt was a white button up sleeveless and she wore a tank underneath. She was still very hot nonetheless but this is the best she could do without stripping to her intimates.
Her focus was on the scenery around them as they drove for hours to get to their location. Arriving after the sunset she saw bright lights around as they drove through a dirt road for another hour before arriving at the location.
This area was massive. It had 15 small huts arranged in a circle and a huge building on the left side of the entrance. Each hut had its own light and was situated roughly 10 feet from the next. She got out of the car and Jack ran out to the first building. He came back and took her luggage and asked her to follow him. They were heading in the direction of the second to last hut towards the right and he opened the door and turned on the lights.
"This will be your place. You have your own bathroom and the main eating area is in the first building. Here is your key. Get some sleep because tomorrow is the seminar and they will explain everything. Goodnight," Jack placed her suitcase near the bed and left. Jane walked towards the door and locked it, turning around to see her home for the next year. It was bigger than she would have expected. On the left was a twin sized bed with a window in the center and a small end table with a lamp against the wall. Towards the right there was a desk with a small work station on its right where there were beakers and burners. Towards the back was the door to the bathroom. A smile went upon her face as she walked towards the bed and fell back first looking up at the ceiling. She was surprised to see a skylight that took up half the ceiling. She ran over to shut the lights and sat in bed, looking up at the night sky. The glass was so clean she was able to see the millions of stars that filled the African night. She slowly sank to the bed and fell asleep instantly.
A loud bell rang as Jane quickly opened her eyes and sat up from her bed. She uncovered the blinds to her window and watched as people began to walk about the site. She stumbled out of bed and ran to the bathroom quickly getting ready and leaping out of her hut, grinning as she saw all the people walking around. A voice on the intercom began to speak in a very distinct African accent.
"Good mornin' everyone. Please join us all in the seminar hall at 7 a.m. sharp," Jane looked at her watch, 6:30. She had a little time to roam around and perhaps meet some of the other interns. She turned her head towards her right to see if anyone was exiting the hut next to hers. A young girl with short black hair and tan skin stepped out wearing shorts and a tank that had 'USA' printed on the chest. Jane slowly walked over and began to greet the stranger.
"Hello there. My name is Jane. It is a pleasure to meet you," Jane smiled widely and extended her arm to shake. The girl reciprocated speaking in an American accent.
"Hi there! I'm Vivian. Great to meet you. I am guessing from your accent you're British," She smiled and shook Jane's hand vigorously.
"Why yes. And you are American correct? What a thrill to meet you. I am looking forward to meeting all the others. There must be students from all over the world here," Jane could not control her enthusiasm. She would be surrounded by people who share a love for the jungle like her, comparing notes and knowledge. She knew she would learn so much from everyone.
"I bet. This program is extended to all the countries in the world," Vivian spoke as she turned her attention to the huts on the other side of the site. "Shoot! I have to go wake up my boyfriend. I will meet you in the hall. Save a seat for the both of us will you," Vivian smirked as she ran to the other side of the camp to her boyfriend's hut. Jane almost skipped to the hall from all this excitement. She had made a friend and was about to make more. She entered the hall and her mouth fell open. That building was enormous. Walking in there was an entry way to the kitchen on your right and in front of her was a massive hall with only about four rows of ten chairs each that filled 10% of the space. She walked over to the second row on the left side and saved the seats for her new friend and her boyfriend.
Vivian came in and found Jane, nearly running to her.
"Jane, this is Dex, my boyfriend," Dex was extremely tall, pale skin and short curly brown hair. He smiled and shook Jane's hand softly as he introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you Jane."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Dex," Jane sat back and Vivian joined her with Dex at the edge. Everyone gathered in the hall and as Jane looked around there was only ten other chairs filled as she turned her attention back towards the stage. A man in beige shorts, a vest with a white shirt underneath and an explorer's hat walked on the stage. He had chocolate colored skin and a bird perched on his left shoulder. Jane stared at the bird until she realized what it was, a red-necked falcon. Her eyes widened as she got so excited she nearly jumped out of her skin. This is her first encounter with an animal from Africa and it was breathtaking. The man motioned his hands for everyone to be seated and began to speak.
"Hello everyone. My name is Bongani Ndiaye. I am so thrilled to see so many young faces hear. I welcome you on behalf of the AWPSF. Today I will talk about the journey you will be taking for the next year here in Africa. There are many things you need to know about the jungle. You must respect the land and the animals for we are strangers to them. We are all here to protect the animals and land and learn from them," he walked over to the wall and hit a button making a screen slowly roll down the wall. The lights went out as a projector lit up the screen and a map of the location appeared in front of the audience. "This is our location. We are over 200 miles from any port. We will be traveling within about a 100 mile radius from this campsite over the course of your stay. This is one of 5 locations we have built in Northern Mozambique. This year you will mostly spend your time around this area. We will tour the jungles of Mozambique and you will become familiar with the land and the creatures. We will leave every morning at 6 a.m. and travel up the river a few miles before setting up camp and we will spend two days there before heading up again another few miles. This is a process we will do for approximately 2 weeks before returning back to camp so everything you need to pack is on the list," he gestured for a man in the back to change the slide and there was a list displayed of all the supplies the students needed to pack. "We will head out first thing tomorrow so pack your bags and relax today. We have a very difficult travel the next few days," He smiled and left the stage as the lights went back on and everyone began walking out of the hall.
Jane was so excited for the upcoming days that she quickly said goodbye to Vivian and Dex and ran in to the hut to start packing.
"I will definitely need these, and this, oh and I can't forget these," She spoke to herself as she rummaged through her suitcase packing up all her supplies in to her backpack. As soon as she thought she had finished packing she remembered something very important. "My journal," she walked towards the end table and grabbed her journal and with a tight squeeze managed to close her backpack. There was a knock on the door. As she opened it Vivian and Dex stood in front of her smiling.
"Hey Jane! You finished packing? Because Dex and I were gonna go eat. Join us!" Vivian said as she pulled Jane out of the hut and they all walked over to the Hall. As they ate they shared their knowledge on the African jungle, their conversations lasting for hours until they heard the intercom voice say, "Curfew at 9 p.m. Please return to your huts." The three of them left and each headed their separate ways, waving goodbye to each other.
That night Jane barely slept. Her excitement was overwhelming and it was hard to contain a smile. She had been ecstatic since the moment she got off the plane. She missed her family dreadfully but this was where she belongs. This would be her life now. The jungle her new home.
