Title: Whoever Said Love Doesn't Hurt
Author: Tatiana20
Summary: A young girl is saved, and a new love blossoms. But will it last?
Disclaimer: Sad to say I don't own The Lost World...damn. I'm just borrowing the characters for my own sadistic mind. hehehe :)
Note: First off I want to say, I'M SO SORRY taking so long in posting up the remainder of the story. I had some things going on and was unable to write *boohoo* L. I want to thank everyone who reviewed my story, your responses uplifted my spirits. Hopefully you all will still wish to continue reading the fan fiction. Here's to hoping you'll enjoy yourself.
Note 2: I just wanted to warn you ahead of time that the final chapter will be angsty and though it's not to the point of being rated R, I just wanted to be precautious so no one would be surprised. And if anyone finds the ending a bit cheesy, let me know. Okay, I think that's about it. Enjoy!! R&R! J
Chapter 5: Young Love and Broken Hearts
The next morning, Marguerite was the first to rise. Feeling starved, she changed and headed for the kitchen when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she let out a surprised yelp at the sight of Malone and Lanina stretched out on the long couch, together!
Lanina was pressed up against the back of the sofa with Malone's arms around her. The person the arms belonged to had a idiotic grin plastered to his face. Getting over her slight astonishment at finding the two lovebirds sleeping together, she set her hands on her hips and ambled over, one eyebrow cocked and a slight smile on her face. Bending down and putting her face right next to Malone's, she said, "Sorry lover boy, but you better get up before Veronica finds you with your arms wrapped around another woman."
Malone woke with a start, his eyes wide. Blinking several times before his vision finally cleared, he looked first at Marguerite and then at Lanina . Recognizing what she said was true, Malone disengaged himself from soft arms very slowly then gestured for Marguerite to follow him into the kitchen.
Glancing around to make sure no one else was up, Malone whispered, "Thank you for waking me. I wouldn't have wanted Veronica to find out about Lanina and me in that way."
"My pleasure lover boy, but you'd better tell jungle girl soon or else it's going to get messy. Trust me, I know." She smiled cryptically and turned to get some breakfast.
Malone stood there for a few seconds before walking back to the sofa. Kneeling down on one knee, he swept back a strand of hair that had fallen over Lanina's closed lashes. She sighed in her sleep, her mouth curving up into a sleepy grin. His heart squeezed with emotion. This girl was special and for now, she was his. With a wistful smile on his lips he stood and went to help Marguerite with breakfast.
* * *
Three Weeks Later...
Something was going on. Veronica was sitting on a thick limb of a monstrous tree, chewing over disturbing thoughts. Her back rested against the broad moss covered bark and her legs dangled a hundred or so feet over dense foliage. The frown that marred her features belied the serenity that the surrounding jungle exuded.
As she sat there she had come to the conclusion that something was going on between Malone and Lanina. It was nothing ultimately significant that had brought her attention to the two, but little things that she had started to notice. A smile between the them that seemed to carry something hidden, the brushing of hands or legs--whether they be accidental or not remains to be seen--and the easy way they talked and kidded with one another.
Her suspicions had begun to grow and fester for weeks and now she was coming to realize that they were probably true. Her hands fisted at the thought, her nails digging into her palms. Forcing herself to relax she tried to think rationally. Maybe nothing was going on. Maybe it was just her imagination. Couldn't they be acting like that because they were only friends? Could her fears be unfounded?
Just as she was forging her ideas along that path, a noise brought her to attention. Sitting up straight, her hand traveled down the length of her thigh to her calf, where her knife was secured. Gripping the hilt, she gazed down the height of the tree, trying to see through the mass of leaves. Though she was unable to make out anything, there was no other sound to indicate that whatever was down there was there any longer.
Deciding to be cautious, she stayed perfectly still, listening for any movement. Then she heard it. The sound of twigs breaking and bushes being swept aside reached her ears. Slipping her knife from its sheath, she slowly climbed down from the limb inch by inch, until she found secure footing on another one a few feet down. Just then something that sounded like a laugh echoed into the sky. Veronica froze. Lanina? Then a laugh belonging to a male rang up, creating a harmony of mirth.
Slinking down onto her stomach, she shuffled along the branch far enough to almost see straight down to the ground. Moving aside some pesky leaves, she could finally observe the happenings below. What she saw made her wish she had stayed where she was.
Malone had Lanina shoved up against another tree trunk and was tickling her mercilessly. She was begging for relief, her laughs preventing her from forming any coherent sentences. Malone finally relented and Lanina sagged against him, a giggle erupting from her mouth sporadically.
Though Veronica's initial reaction had been dismay, she now tried to convince herself that they were just fooling around, having fun. But what she saw next dissuaded her of that notion. Malone tilted Lanina's head back to gaze into her eyes before lowering his head and passionately kissing the still breathless girl. It went on for what seemed like hours, with Lanina's arms clinging tightly around Malone's neck and his own wrapped about her waist. When they finally did pull apart, they stood there breathing hard, apparently needing to get their composure back. She saw them smile at each other with intense emotion in their eyes. Then they clasped hands and strolled away and out of Veronica's hurt and angry eyes.
Sliding back along the branch, she sat in shocked silence, the blood that pounded in her ears making it hard to think clearly. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. Ned, the one man she had truly come to love in this plateau was now with another. What she had only suspected was actually true. All of her doubts were true.
All of a sudden, anger replaced her distress and caused her eyes to flash with cold fire. How could he do this to her? How could he tell her that he cared for her when he was fooling around with Lanina. All the times he had made her laugh, all the times she had saved him from harm (and vice- versa), and the constant loneliness that he had pushed away with his smiles and comforting words melted away into a corner of her mind, now overshadowed by her resentment.
But some part of her psyche tried to remain rational and was attempting to figure out why she was reacting this way, why she felt so betrayed when her entire personality had never allowed her to feel anything more than extreme annoyance or disappointment when she was slighted by friends. Though that part of her was endeavoring to lessen the upset, the action was only slightly acknowledged by the dominant emotion coursing through her mentality.
The image of the two kissing kept playing over and over, like bad pictures running together, one after another. It hurt, it really did. And even though she had pushed him away time and again, it had only been because she was afraid. Afraid that the feelings she were having would lead her to having her heart broken. She had known what it was like to lose people you love, if her parents were any example. To love Ned and lose him would leave her broken. And now it seemed that she had lost him anyway, and she was already feeling the sting of shattered love. She had never thought he would give up on her.
Sudden rage lifted her armed hand and caused it to plunge the dagger into the branch with such force that cracks appeared in the strong wood. Releasing the hilt, she leaned back, breathing in and out. She turned her head to rest her cheek against the jagged bark. Her eyes closed against the pain, a tear slipping out from beneath her lashes to trickle down the length of her face.
* * *
Walking hand in hand with Ned, Lanina sighed her contentment. The jungle was alive with the sounds of birds and other animals moving about, making the most of the day. Squeezing Ned's hand, she was feeling just as alive, alive with excitement and newfound love. She thought about the amazing time she had experienced with the wonderful journalist, learning about his past, his likes, what made him laugh and what made him turn somber enough to have a thoughtful conversation. Over three weeks she had fallen madly in love with the man. She knew it was uncommon to fall so quickly for someone when you only knew them for a short time but for some reason it was different with him. He made her feel special, needed, and cared for. He made her laugh like no other and when he kissed her she felt like she was going to just yell with joy and hang on to him for life. But whatever it was, it seemed that he was afflicted too. Whenever no one was around he would come up behind her and hug her until she was out of breath, his warm hands soft and strong on her stomach.
As much as she loved him though, she never let it get as far as some very heated kisses. And as always he was a perfect gentlemen, backing off even as a groan of disappointment would escape his lips. That's the price of love she thought, smiling to herself. Respecting each others needs. Except his need wouldn't be satisfied for a long time coming. Grinning fully now, she turned to look at him. He kept his gaze straight ahead, oblivious to the fact that she was studying him.
Lanina searched Ned's face and saw the slight worry lines that kept his face was becoming totally relaxed. She had noticed lately that as each and every day passed, something was pressing down on him, causing even his most jovial expressions to be a little strained. She knew what that something was. Unbeknownst to Ned, she had talked to Marguerite about their relationship. Marguerite was the only one who actually knew what was going on between them, the others seeming to be unaware of the happenings. She had asked Marguerite about the connection between Veronica and Ned. Marguerite had been honest and had told her that there had once been a romantic bond that had apparently been broken because Malone's need for a deep connection caused Veronica to want to level their feelings down to friendship.
When Lanina had heard about what had happened, she felt a regret that things had not worked out for them. Even if she wouldn't have ended up with Ned, a thought that saddened her, she had not relished the feeling of creating excess friction in an already tense situation. But her feelings had not listened to her head and she had fallen for the blue eyed journalist.
But the biggest reason why Ned seemed so stressed was because he had refused to tell anyone, most especially Veronica, about their relationship. They had been keeping it a secret for a few weeks now and it was starting to wear him down. The constant sneaking out at night when no one was awake, stealing a few moments when no one was looking, and making excuses about gathering food or exploring the jungle to be with one another in the daytime took too much effort and too much energy to keep up for a long amount of time. Even the excitement that she had felt at first, with the covertness and playacting, was waning and the need to finally tell all was beating down on their heads. She had never been really good at keeping things about herself secret from family and friends for more than a few days, let alone a few weeks.
She was not worried about how Challenger and Roxton would take it, considering they treated her like family and would not be disappointed if she was in a relationship with Ned. The one she was really worried about was Veronica. Because though the blonde jungle girl seemed tough as nails and confident as anyone she had ever come in contact with, she also seemed to be one that would be severely hurt by something like this. Lanina could tell from the way Veronica would look at Ned from beneath her lashes, the small flame of repressed affection flashing in her hazel eyes. And albeit the fact that Lanina was not very close to Veronica and that they rarely talked with each other, she still didn't want to cause her any pain. She now knew what it was like to care deeply for someone and understood that losing that person to another could devastate the heart.
Considering all that, she would have to talk to Ned about speaking with Veronica first, alone, so that they could try to make things easier to handle. She just hoped that they would be able to tell everyone in their own way in their own time.
Author: Tatiana20
Summary: A young girl is saved, and a new love blossoms. But will it last?
Disclaimer: Sad to say I don't own The Lost World...damn. I'm just borrowing the characters for my own sadistic mind. hehehe :)
Note: First off I want to say, I'M SO SORRY taking so long in posting up the remainder of the story. I had some things going on and was unable to write *boohoo* L. I want to thank everyone who reviewed my story, your responses uplifted my spirits. Hopefully you all will still wish to continue reading the fan fiction. Here's to hoping you'll enjoy yourself.
Note 2: I just wanted to warn you ahead of time that the final chapter will be angsty and though it's not to the point of being rated R, I just wanted to be precautious so no one would be surprised. And if anyone finds the ending a bit cheesy, let me know. Okay, I think that's about it. Enjoy!! R&R! J
Chapter 5: Young Love and Broken Hearts
The next morning, Marguerite was the first to rise. Feeling starved, she changed and headed for the kitchen when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she let out a surprised yelp at the sight of Malone and Lanina stretched out on the long couch, together!
Lanina was pressed up against the back of the sofa with Malone's arms around her. The person the arms belonged to had a idiotic grin plastered to his face. Getting over her slight astonishment at finding the two lovebirds sleeping together, she set her hands on her hips and ambled over, one eyebrow cocked and a slight smile on her face. Bending down and putting her face right next to Malone's, she said, "Sorry lover boy, but you better get up before Veronica finds you with your arms wrapped around another woman."
Malone woke with a start, his eyes wide. Blinking several times before his vision finally cleared, he looked first at Marguerite and then at Lanina . Recognizing what she said was true, Malone disengaged himself from soft arms very slowly then gestured for Marguerite to follow him into the kitchen.
Glancing around to make sure no one else was up, Malone whispered, "Thank you for waking me. I wouldn't have wanted Veronica to find out about Lanina and me in that way."
"My pleasure lover boy, but you'd better tell jungle girl soon or else it's going to get messy. Trust me, I know." She smiled cryptically and turned to get some breakfast.
Malone stood there for a few seconds before walking back to the sofa. Kneeling down on one knee, he swept back a strand of hair that had fallen over Lanina's closed lashes. She sighed in her sleep, her mouth curving up into a sleepy grin. His heart squeezed with emotion. This girl was special and for now, she was his. With a wistful smile on his lips he stood and went to help Marguerite with breakfast.
* * *
Three Weeks Later...
Something was going on. Veronica was sitting on a thick limb of a monstrous tree, chewing over disturbing thoughts. Her back rested against the broad moss covered bark and her legs dangled a hundred or so feet over dense foliage. The frown that marred her features belied the serenity that the surrounding jungle exuded.
As she sat there she had come to the conclusion that something was going on between Malone and Lanina. It was nothing ultimately significant that had brought her attention to the two, but little things that she had started to notice. A smile between the them that seemed to carry something hidden, the brushing of hands or legs--whether they be accidental or not remains to be seen--and the easy way they talked and kidded with one another.
Her suspicions had begun to grow and fester for weeks and now she was coming to realize that they were probably true. Her hands fisted at the thought, her nails digging into her palms. Forcing herself to relax she tried to think rationally. Maybe nothing was going on. Maybe it was just her imagination. Couldn't they be acting like that because they were only friends? Could her fears be unfounded?
Just as she was forging her ideas along that path, a noise brought her to attention. Sitting up straight, her hand traveled down the length of her thigh to her calf, where her knife was secured. Gripping the hilt, she gazed down the height of the tree, trying to see through the mass of leaves. Though she was unable to make out anything, there was no other sound to indicate that whatever was down there was there any longer.
Deciding to be cautious, she stayed perfectly still, listening for any movement. Then she heard it. The sound of twigs breaking and bushes being swept aside reached her ears. Slipping her knife from its sheath, she slowly climbed down from the limb inch by inch, until she found secure footing on another one a few feet down. Just then something that sounded like a laugh echoed into the sky. Veronica froze. Lanina? Then a laugh belonging to a male rang up, creating a harmony of mirth.
Slinking down onto her stomach, she shuffled along the branch far enough to almost see straight down to the ground. Moving aside some pesky leaves, she could finally observe the happenings below. What she saw made her wish she had stayed where she was.
Malone had Lanina shoved up against another tree trunk and was tickling her mercilessly. She was begging for relief, her laughs preventing her from forming any coherent sentences. Malone finally relented and Lanina sagged against him, a giggle erupting from her mouth sporadically.
Though Veronica's initial reaction had been dismay, she now tried to convince herself that they were just fooling around, having fun. But what she saw next dissuaded her of that notion. Malone tilted Lanina's head back to gaze into her eyes before lowering his head and passionately kissing the still breathless girl. It went on for what seemed like hours, with Lanina's arms clinging tightly around Malone's neck and his own wrapped about her waist. When they finally did pull apart, they stood there breathing hard, apparently needing to get their composure back. She saw them smile at each other with intense emotion in their eyes. Then they clasped hands and strolled away and out of Veronica's hurt and angry eyes.
Sliding back along the branch, she sat in shocked silence, the blood that pounded in her ears making it hard to think clearly. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. Ned, the one man she had truly come to love in this plateau was now with another. What she had only suspected was actually true. All of her doubts were true.
All of a sudden, anger replaced her distress and caused her eyes to flash with cold fire. How could he do this to her? How could he tell her that he cared for her when he was fooling around with Lanina. All the times he had made her laugh, all the times she had saved him from harm (and vice- versa), and the constant loneliness that he had pushed away with his smiles and comforting words melted away into a corner of her mind, now overshadowed by her resentment.
But some part of her psyche tried to remain rational and was attempting to figure out why she was reacting this way, why she felt so betrayed when her entire personality had never allowed her to feel anything more than extreme annoyance or disappointment when she was slighted by friends. Though that part of her was endeavoring to lessen the upset, the action was only slightly acknowledged by the dominant emotion coursing through her mentality.
The image of the two kissing kept playing over and over, like bad pictures running together, one after another. It hurt, it really did. And even though she had pushed him away time and again, it had only been because she was afraid. Afraid that the feelings she were having would lead her to having her heart broken. She had known what it was like to lose people you love, if her parents were any example. To love Ned and lose him would leave her broken. And now it seemed that she had lost him anyway, and she was already feeling the sting of shattered love. She had never thought he would give up on her.
Sudden rage lifted her armed hand and caused it to plunge the dagger into the branch with such force that cracks appeared in the strong wood. Releasing the hilt, she leaned back, breathing in and out. She turned her head to rest her cheek against the jagged bark. Her eyes closed against the pain, a tear slipping out from beneath her lashes to trickle down the length of her face.
* * *
Walking hand in hand with Ned, Lanina sighed her contentment. The jungle was alive with the sounds of birds and other animals moving about, making the most of the day. Squeezing Ned's hand, she was feeling just as alive, alive with excitement and newfound love. She thought about the amazing time she had experienced with the wonderful journalist, learning about his past, his likes, what made him laugh and what made him turn somber enough to have a thoughtful conversation. Over three weeks she had fallen madly in love with the man. She knew it was uncommon to fall so quickly for someone when you only knew them for a short time but for some reason it was different with him. He made her feel special, needed, and cared for. He made her laugh like no other and when he kissed her she felt like she was going to just yell with joy and hang on to him for life. But whatever it was, it seemed that he was afflicted too. Whenever no one was around he would come up behind her and hug her until she was out of breath, his warm hands soft and strong on her stomach.
As much as she loved him though, she never let it get as far as some very heated kisses. And as always he was a perfect gentlemen, backing off even as a groan of disappointment would escape his lips. That's the price of love she thought, smiling to herself. Respecting each others needs. Except his need wouldn't be satisfied for a long time coming. Grinning fully now, she turned to look at him. He kept his gaze straight ahead, oblivious to the fact that she was studying him.
Lanina searched Ned's face and saw the slight worry lines that kept his face was becoming totally relaxed. She had noticed lately that as each and every day passed, something was pressing down on him, causing even his most jovial expressions to be a little strained. She knew what that something was. Unbeknownst to Ned, she had talked to Marguerite about their relationship. Marguerite was the only one who actually knew what was going on between them, the others seeming to be unaware of the happenings. She had asked Marguerite about the connection between Veronica and Ned. Marguerite had been honest and had told her that there had once been a romantic bond that had apparently been broken because Malone's need for a deep connection caused Veronica to want to level their feelings down to friendship.
When Lanina had heard about what had happened, she felt a regret that things had not worked out for them. Even if she wouldn't have ended up with Ned, a thought that saddened her, she had not relished the feeling of creating excess friction in an already tense situation. But her feelings had not listened to her head and she had fallen for the blue eyed journalist.
But the biggest reason why Ned seemed so stressed was because he had refused to tell anyone, most especially Veronica, about their relationship. They had been keeping it a secret for a few weeks now and it was starting to wear him down. The constant sneaking out at night when no one was awake, stealing a few moments when no one was looking, and making excuses about gathering food or exploring the jungle to be with one another in the daytime took too much effort and too much energy to keep up for a long amount of time. Even the excitement that she had felt at first, with the covertness and playacting, was waning and the need to finally tell all was beating down on their heads. She had never been really good at keeping things about herself secret from family and friends for more than a few days, let alone a few weeks.
She was not worried about how Challenger and Roxton would take it, considering they treated her like family and would not be disappointed if she was in a relationship with Ned. The one she was really worried about was Veronica. Because though the blonde jungle girl seemed tough as nails and confident as anyone she had ever come in contact with, she also seemed to be one that would be severely hurt by something like this. Lanina could tell from the way Veronica would look at Ned from beneath her lashes, the small flame of repressed affection flashing in her hazel eyes. And albeit the fact that Lanina was not very close to Veronica and that they rarely talked with each other, she still didn't want to cause her any pain. She now knew what it was like to care deeply for someone and understood that losing that person to another could devastate the heart.
Considering all that, she would have to talk to Ned about speaking with Veronica first, alone, so that they could try to make things easier to handle. She just hoped that they would be able to tell everyone in their own way in their own time.
