Title: Hot Child
Author: Lazuli
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Lost is owned by that glorious bastard, J.J. Abrams. Love you, sugarplum.
Summary: A mercilessly hot day on the island inspires Shannon Rutherford to "take a day off". Swims, laziness, and hanging around the men of the island seem like a perfect way to pass the time. More importantly, she wants to know why Sayid has been avoiding her…
(blows whistle) Here's a new chappie for you, kittens! Enjoy!
Looooooost……on an islaaaaaaaaaaand……faaaaaaaar from hooooooome…….
DAMN YOU, KIMMEL!
Chapter Five
"…In a Triangle"
"So, you never really told me what was going on with you and Sayid in the caves," Charlie trotted next to Shannon, who was in turn delicately following the path her upset stepbrother had made, "It looked pretty heavy to me."
Apparently, Boone had something akin to a temper tantrum while stalking off after Charlie and Sawyer poked fun at him, because the path he had formed was full of trashed trees and flattened grass. Shannon could just picture him swinging his fists around at anything that came in contact. He hated to be teased, and for a second, she felt bad.
It went away fast.
"Sayid?" Sawyer was intrigued by the new piece of information, "Now there's something I didn't see comin'….when did this exciting event occur?"
"In the caves," Charlie rushed out, gossiping like a teenage girl, "You should have SEEN the way he was staring at her, poor blighter, I was five seconds away from throwing a bloody Trojan at the two of you…"
"Could we please not talk about me and Sayid?" Shannon ground out, her eyes flashing at Charlie. He shut up at her glare, but looked as if he still had plenty more to say on the subject. If there was one thing on the island that Charlie has respect for, it was Shannon's fabulous flair for bitchiness. The blonde girl could put Paris Hilton herself to shame. Fortunately for Charlie, Sawyer lacked his conscience.
"Now hold on one second, Sticks," he halted, causing the other two to stop, "I'll admit this has got me interested. You tellin' me that Omar's got a thang for you?" Shannon huffed, her face going red.
"No one has a thing for me! Jeez! Stop talking about it!"
"Why are you so mad about it then?" He poked and prodded, knowing he had hit a sensitive spot. Shannon looked like she was going to explode.
"We're just friends. Leave it at that!" She pushed past the two of them and continued down the path at a faster pace, leaving her bewildered companions behind. Charlie looked puzzled, but Sawyer had a grin stretching slowly across his face. When Charlie noticed it, he looked at Sawyer, perplexed.
"Now what the hell are you thinking?"
At the camp...
The overwhelmingly positive response of the survivors concerning the luau surprised and thrilled Hurley. In the midst of people shouting out ideas, he threw up his hands.
"Okay, people!" he bellowed, "I totally am up for hearing whatever you want to see, but one at a time!" A darker woman who looked to be of Spanish descent pushed forward.
"In this heat…" her deep, accented voice spoke, "we will fall quickly to exhaustion. When do you propose on carrying out this event?"
Hurley nodded; it was a good question, "Definitely at night time. So as the day starts to cool off a bit, I'm thinking we should start collecting bamboo, get some tiki torches going, see what we have for food rations." The same woman raised her voice again.
"If you would like," she offered, "My husband and I could bring our guitars. We would be happy to provide music to all." Hurley liked that idea.
"Yeah, that'd be great. We've got another guitar player, Charlie, at the caves, maybe you guys could like, I don't know, start jamming or something." He pretended to hit some notes on an air guitar, causing a couple of people to laugh, "No, don't laugh! I'm serious! Our own Island Band!" Behind him, Michael started banging on rocks with some pieces of wood, twirling them as if they were drumsticks.
"Okay, so, yeah. Bamboo, start making torches, and collect food. Don't strain yourself, because if you keel over and die, you're the main course." There was another shout of laughter, and people began to slowly drift around, seeing what kinds of things they could bring to the festivities later tonight. Hurley plopped down next to Claire. She was smiling.
"You're a great guy, Hurley," she said softly, putting her hand on his. Hurley basked in the admiration.
"Someone's gotta make sure people don't go crazy," he responded, putting his hands behind his head. Michael continued beating the rocks with the sticks, and Walt joined him with his own set of "drums", concocted out of empty water bottles. The two began to wail away at a crazy tempo, and Michael's face reflected the pure joy he felt when he bonded with his son. The two then picked up their newfound instruments and went banging away towards the beach. As the sound of the drumming receded, however, a new one was made when Shannon crashed furiously through the brush.
"What's up, Shannon." Hurley said in greeting, nodding his head towards her. She flopped down next to Claire, crossing her arms, pouting. A minute later, softer rustling was heard, and Charlie and Sawyer emerged sheepishly from the same path Shannon had come storming from. Claire looked at the livid Shannon, then back at the two men.
"Dare I ask?" she said, looking at Charlie. Charlie bit his lip, and looked at Sawyer, who shook his head warningly.
"We just thought that-"
"SOME people," Shannon bit off his sentence angrily, her face still red, "…have a habit of jumping to conclusions when they're not wanted to."
"Shannon, if you're still mad at what we said about Say-" Charlie stopped when he saw the look Shannon threw him. It plainly said, 'Shut up, or I'll remove your tongue.' Hurley, sensing the negative emotions around him, tried for a different topic.
"So, you guys hear about my luau?" he asked in a bright and happy tone. Shannon was instantly distracted, her scowl disappearing, her angry face becoming curious.
"A luau?" she asked, excitedly, "When?" Hurley tried not to notice the grateful glances that Charlie was throwing him.
"Tonight," he responded, gathering some flowers near to him, and using twine to bind them, "I've got a bunch of people looking for cool stuff already. I don't know…it's just something to do. But," this time he addressed Charlie, "there's a couple of people who are bringing their guitars. It'd be cool if you guys could start rocking out." At the mere mention of music, Charlie's eyes lit up, and he nodded his head up and down vigorously.
"As much as I hate to miss the Prom," Sawyer drawled, always the one to throw a downpour on things, "I've got a lot of better things to do than waste my time shakin' my caboose in a grass skirt." Shannon's eyes went wide.
"GRASS SKIRTS?" She yelped, jumping to her feet, "If you even THINK I'm letting that nasty, disgusting crap on my legs, you're crazy. I am not doing it…I won't."
"No one's wearing a grass skirt," Hurley told her, "At least, I think they're not. But that's not to say it's a bad idea…"He never got a chance to finish, as Shannon rounded on Sawyer.
"You're going," she said in a no-bullshit tone, "If anyone is going to protect me from Boone's wrath, it's you and the druggie."
"Hey!" Charlie yelped, clearly affronted.
"I'm not going," Sawyer said in a final tone, crossing his arms, "And you can't make me." Shannon kicked him in the shin, but it had no effect, other than him rolling his eyes. Hurley shook his head in disgust, but was distracted by a person who had entered the cave area.
"Sayid!" he waved to the Iraqi, grateful the Middle Eastern man had shown up, "Come here, man!" Sayid looked up, and walked leisurely over to the group. Charlie and Sawyer tried not to look at Shannon, who had stopped kicking Sawyer, and now stood nervously behind him.
"Hurley, my friend," Sayid smiled slightly, "People are running around like mice on a day when they should be laying down in rest, and I am hearing that this is because of you."
"So you've got to come," Hurley said, "It's a good thing, really. Everybody's going, well, almost everyone…" He looked pointedly at Sawyer.
"You came just in time," Claire said teasingly to Sayid, "Maybe you can help us persuade Sawyer into making an appearance tonight. Shannon's trying her best, but I think one more opinion would help."
Sayid turned slowly to lock eyes with Shannon, who froze like a deer in headlights. The fresh memory of the two of them exchanging heated glances in the cave earlier in the day sprang to her mind. She tried not to focus on the spot on his skin where she had run her fingers along.
"Yeah," she said, licking her suddenly dry lips, "He's being a total baby about the whole thing." Sayid continued to gaze at her.
"I'm sure," he spoke slowly, his eyes taking on that intensity that drew her to him, "That you're trying your best." She just nodded, suddenly aware of how her body was slowly flushing.
Not a second of this was missed by Sawyer.
"Since you've got such faith in the Princess," he said to Sayid; that Cheshire Cat smile once again making its presence known, "How could I possibly say no?" He looked positively elated with himself. Sayid was taken aback, but quickly recovered.
"I'm pleased to hear it," he responded, both his words and tone lacking conviction. Sawyer looked delighted at that response.
"But only," he said, twisting the knife, "If Sticks will be my date." Shannon whirled around, her enraptured study of Sayid cut short.
"Hell no!" She shrieked, "You goddamn scumbag, like I'd ever let you paw me!"
"Shan," Claire tried to interrupt; throwing a disgusted look at Sawyer, but the other blonde would have none of it, and started wailing away on Sawyer with her fists. Charlie, however, held Claire back, realization dawning on him.
"No," he said, suddenly, "I think it's a great idea," Shannon stopped hitting Sawyer, and stared at Charlie.
"Ew, Charlie, I thought you'd be my backup!" she whined. Charlie looked at Sawyer, who discreetly winked at him. It strengthened the younger man's resolve, and he draped his arm around Claire.
"In fact," Charlie continued, grinning, "I think we should make this a double date! Me and Claire. You and Shan." Claire looked at him, extremely suspicious.
"You feeling alright, Char?" She asked point-blank, "I thought you didn't like Sawyer. Come to think of it, I didn't know you were best pals with her, either." Charlie shook his head, waving his hand in a dismissive fashion.
"No, no, they're good kids, I swear to you," he said, then squeezed her hand, and whispered, "I'll explain later, play along." Claire was hesitant, but obeyed.
"Okay," she said, putting a bright smile on her face, "If you say so, I'm up for it." Shannon gaped at her, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly, then finally, she closed her eyes.
"This," Hurley said, looking extremely confused"….is SO weird."
"Fine," Shannon said, stomping one perfectly pedicured foot on the ground, "If that's what it'll take to make this loser go, then I'll do it. But only," she wagged a finger at the smirking Sawyer, "because I know you'll beat the ever-living crap out of Boone if he tries to get revenge on me." He shook his head in the affirmative.
"Yes, Ma'am," he bowed slightly, then promptly turned to Sayid.
"Guess I have you to thank, Ali," his face full of mischief, "I reckon she wouldn't have said yes if you hadn't come along." Sawyer almost stopped right there, after he saw Sayid's face. He had seen that expression only once before, and Sayid had been slowly brandishing a knife while Sawyer had been tied to a tree. Though his face remained passive, his eyes were absolutely murderous.
"I don't think that is the best idea," he said in a calm, even voice, but Sawyer could hear the unbridled rage beneath it. However, since pissing people off was the name of his game, and what better way to get back at the man who had mercilessly tortured him, he bravely continued, an attempt at bravado still up.
"What's the matter, boy," he piped up, drawing Shannon closer to him, knowing he was playing with fire, "You jealous?" Sayid didn't even have to say a word, the suddenly panicked look that dawned on his face was telling enough. They could all feel it. They all knew. And what was worse was that he knew they knew. SHE knew. And she could barely even look at him.
Sayid strode away from the group, desperate to put some distance between him and Shannon. She just stared at his retreating figure, even going as far as taking a few steps in the direction she had gone in. When he disappeared into the thick underbrush, she continued to watch the bushes, both hoping and fearing his sudden return. At his failure to emerge, she turned to Sawyer, her blue eyes wide.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, her voice in a half-whisper, and finding her legs suddenly unable to support her, plopped onto a rock. Sawyer jammed his hands in his pockets.
"To prove a point to you, Princess," he said, "Since you're obviously too blind to see it for yourself."
"Dude," Hurley said, his mouth breaking into a smile, "This is like a freaking soap opera…" Claire secretly agreed, but looked at Charlie.
"And you're in on this too?" she asked him, her eyes searching his. He wagged his eyebrows playfully, the answer obvious. Shannon couldn't believe them, but at the same time….Sayid. His face had been so powerful, his eyes burning. To strike that match, to feel that heat, but by herself, where her friends weren't around to protect her….
"You guys…" her voice still retained that whispery quality, "are insane."
"And YOU," Claire lugged a still-dazed Shannon to her feet, "are going to look bloody fantastic for tonight, if I have anything to say about it."
"She might take that personal," Sawyer commented, waving his face with a palm frond, enjoying all the tension he had been responsible for, "But while you're at it, make sure she wears something short. And easy to take off." Shannon wrinkled her nose, but felt a nervous anticipation flutter in her stomach.
"You're lucky you're so charming," she said to him, her voice strengthened, "Or I really would have killed you." Sawyer snickered.
"Get going, Cinderella," he started pushing her and Claire towards the caves, "I expect nothing short o' perfection tonight." The girls nodded, Claire a little more enthusiastically than Shannon, who had reverted to blushing like a schoolgirl again, throwing sneaky little glances at the bushes Sayid had gone into, as if expecting him to pop out. They began to walk towards the caves when Shannon had suddenly screeched, "MY MAKEUP!", and took off like a deer towards the beach, forcing Claire to waddle impatiently after her.
"Hey Charlie," she called, turning to him a little ways down the path, "You weren't joking around about that double date thing, were you?" Charlie's face broke out in an enthusiastic smile.
"If she's Cinderella," he yelled back, "Then I want you to be my Sleeping Beauty!" The pregnant Australian looked touched, and blushed very much like her flustered friend had. Charlie turned to Sawyer.
"There ya go," he announced proudly, "I can be as much of a cad as you are."
"Maybe," Sawyer responded, "But you're not even close to being half the bastard I am." He chuckled with a mock evil, and tossed the palm frond to the side.
"Come on, Jabba," he punched Hurley in the arm, "What say you and me discuss exactly what's going down tonight…"
End Chapter Five
Author's Notes: "I'm about to sign you up, We can get right before the night is up, we can get riiiiiiiight, get riiiiiiiight..." (turns around sheepishly to face audience) Uh, yeah. Pretend you didn't see me singing Jennifer Lopez. PLEASE.
It's remarkable how fast a fic comes out when you play music while writing. For this particular story, my song of choice is Meredith Brooks, "What Would Happen". It just fits, and plus, the song is TEH. SEXY. So, the fic continues! Jealousy! Anger! Angst! Betrayal! Holy...shit, Hurley's right. This IS a soap opera! Cue the dramatic music! Or...not, because I'll probably look at you extremely oddly. Then again, I was just bouncing around my room singing J.Lo, and that wasn't a lie. She's just so damn infectious, I can't help myself. Arrrgh. Also, I just went on a shopping spree at Hollister, and I had to model off my new clothes, which means dancing. Never be 20 and a girl, and work at a clothing store, is my advice to you. I work at Pacific Sunwear, and do you think my paycheck goes towards bills? NO. It goes towards clothes. Clothes, Clothes, Clothes.
Dear God. I AM Shannon. A more roguish, charming Shannon ( A She-Gambit of Lostfic writers, if you will), but Shannon nonetheless. If any devestatingly sexy Iraqis pop up in my near future, you guys will be the first to know...
Read/Review! All these reviews make me happy! You're all fabulous. Be my minions. And your homework is to write a Shayid fic yourself. I'm seeing a lot pop up around here, but we need to GROW!
