Disclaimer: I really don't own it. Why the hell won't you believe me??

Author's Note: I know you were probably really freaked out by the last chapter, but don't worry- the rest of the story will hopefully not be so drown down with seriousness and whatnot.

jasminegurl: Right before you upload a story, "save as" the document as html/htm and upload it like that. That should preserve all your italicized and bold text. You don't even have to use codes or anything.

Thank you once again for reviewing (and reading in the first place). I really appreciate it.

The Island Diaries

Chapter Seven: No One Died! YAY!!!

Michael woke up to a pounding headache in what looked like a small grass hut. He suddenly remembered Lars and sat up quickly, reassured by seeing the large man sitting on the other side of the hut, preoccupied with picking at his fingernails.

"So you're awake," Lars said in a sluggish voice. "That's good."

"Where the hell are we?" Michael asked, bewildered. He'd never used a bad word in front of Lars, but he definitely thought it was suited to the occasion.

"A village- either Mocumba or Barutu," Lars looked up at Michael to see him rubbing his eyes, trying to listen but failing. "I really can't be sure, but the construction of the huts tells a little bit."

"Oh," the teenager responded flatly. He didn't really care where they were- he simply new that where they were could not mean anything very good for either of them… And where exactly was Mia anyway?? "Lars?"

"Yes?"

"Wha-what do you think happened back there?…" Michael asked, regaining most of his consciousness. "I mean, it was just one minute I was just… and the next, you were on the ground and… It was so…"

"A sleeping dart of some kind," Lars said, picking up a small, pointed object on the ground which he had apparently pulled out of himself after he woke up. Michael squinted his eyes shut in pain as he pulled one of the same darts out of his right shoulder.

"God, they just had to use these, didn't they?" he complained as he looked at his now bleeding puncture wound. "What happened to, you know, ether or something like that?"

"Actually, the darts were my idea," a familiar female voice by the bamboo door chuckled. The two men looked up, their faces immediately glazed over with shock. "They said it wouldn't be necessary to get you to cooperate, but I insisted." The corners of her mouth curled up mischievously.

"Lily?!" Michael sputtered. Lars just stared, dumbfounded. "What the?- What the hell is going on here??… Who's they?" He felt cautious about it at first, but decided to add, "And where's Mia?"

Lily laughed, an action Michael thought was quite inappropriate at the moment. "Whoa, settle down," she smiled. "Mia's fine, and I'll explain everything later. C'mon, let's go eat."

Not settling for that explanation, Michael chased after Lily as she headed out the door. "Lily," he pleaded. "Where is she?"

"Where is whom?" she asked still walking on, obviously delighting in his curiosity.

"Lily!" he growled. "Tell me!" She turned around to look at his pathetically desperate expression.

"Oh, please, Michael," she said. "That is all too typical of you. If you must know, Mia can be found in that hut right over there, the one with the green curtain." She pointed to a building with natives in little clothing rushing in and out, carrying various trays and blankets.

"Thank you!" he smiled at his sister, quickly running in the direction she was pointing.

Lily looked back into the hut, seeing Lars dusting himself off. He looked up to meet her eyes.

"He's hopeless, isn't he?" she sighed.

"Hopelessly in love, it seems." he replied.

"Well at least this is better than before. You know, when they were drooling over each other secretly." Lily said, recalling her various attempts to get Michael and Mia to realize their mutual attraction to one another. "Hey Lars, what say we go see what people in the Tarungu tribe have for dinner." Lars's ears suddenly perked up at the name.

"What… what tribe did you say?" he slowly asked, his heart steadily beating faster.

"Tarungu?" she repeated, not knowing the significance of the inquiry. Lars's eyes were wide with interest as he ran out of the hut, stopping momentarily outside the doorway to marvel at the complexities that were taking place in the village beyond his previous confinement.

________________________________________________________________

After finally convincing the natives outside Mia's hut that he meant no harm to the girl inside, he walked through the green curtain, finding the blonde smiling and laughing with the natives surrounding her on all sides of her cot. As soon as Mia saw Michael, her face lit up even more than it already was.

"Michael!" she gasped, smiling largely. Michael couldn't help but smile back, relieved that she was alright, relieved that she was in such great spirits, relieved that the beaming, beautiful girl in front of him was actually his girlfriend and not just the best friend of his little sister. He squeezed through the crowd encircling her to place a firm, thankful kiss on her mouth. "I was so worried. I mean, I passed out and when I woke up… I just. But then there are all these wonderful people here, and now you're here and… Ohmygosh I'm rambling, aren't I?"

Michael couldn't help but notice the natives staring at him, obviously wondering why he was here and the gorgeous creature they were attending to was actually speaking to him, let alone letting him kiss her. Sometimes he wondered too. Mia recognized the awkwardness and introduced him in a very princess-like manor.

"Everyone, this is Michael," she said, adding with a smile, "He's my boyfriend, and the greatest guy in the world." The sunburnt, shaggy brunette boy blushed a deep red, the corners of his mouth curling into an unconscious smile. Mia's entourage repeated Michael's name in greeting and smiled widely in his direction. They quickly turned to gather around him, hugging his arms and offering generous amounts of all sorts of food and drink. He reminded Mia of Indiana Jones, politely and respectfully answering the peoples' questions asked to him in uneasy English, occasionally making jokes about his stay on the island thus far. She smiled.

A/N: I really was going to add more, but I'm kind of at a loss at the moment. I just wanted to get this part out so that you all can rest soundly, knowing that no one is dead. Heh. Right.

Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter and I would love if you could take a little of your time to review. (Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.)

I'm starting another PD story (check it out!). Hope that I will update it more frequently than this one, started two whole years ago, I believe. Damn!

momento mori,

jacki