HELLO LOVELIES!

Rangerapprentice: OMG! You do violin? I am so jealous...hehehe...well, good luck for all your fture endeavours. Have to hear you sometime though:) Yeah, Max/Mariam is kind of weird right now so I am glad you didn't dislike it. I promise, it will get awesomer.

Barbara: Hi! Welcome to the Matchmaking Family. I know the Ray part worries me a lot. I'll do something about it. Don't worry. The Diana part...she is supposed to be misunderstood as I am trying to write the stories from the guys' points of view (yeah, something like that) but I'll surely make it look better. Thanks for your views. I love your appreciation by the way. it made me sky high :)

Fiora-Mieko: a puppy? God, you are so lucky. I have always wanted one. How did your results come out? I personnaly feel you would be great at writing and I for one would surely read whatevr you would like. So, please write(whenever you get time)!

Some stuff: Thanks a lot. More to come!

StarryKnight: I blush at what you say about Diana. Thanks for liking her so much and yeah, as I said it will get awesomer! after all I suck at angst!

Kiray Himawari: Its fine. I feel I am in debt with you. About Diana? Well, you just gave me an awesome idea as well as helped me to think what to write further. Thanks such a lot for your support. There are some people out there who just hate OCs.

i am awsum: nice name! n Thanks a lot! x

si: I guessed, dear! Wish granted.

susan sewell: OHMYGAWD! NONO NO! I mean YES YES YES...my 200th review. *faints*

Chapter 26

Diana was the first wake up or so she thought until she reached the living room where Kai lay half-sprawled half-sitting on the largest sofa drinking coffee, seeing TV and making some sort of report on his laptop.

"Good morning," she smiled and sat down on the sofa. He hn-ed a response. "Busy?" she asked.

"Hn."

Diana took a deep breath and took the remote to change the channel. Who watches news early in the morning?

"You seeing?"she asked, mischievously thinking off taking his next Hn as a No but it seemed like Kai had other ideas.

"Yes."

Diana hmphd. She took the newspaper from the table and opened the sports column. She scanned over the page till her eyes came to rest on the handsome face of Cristiano Ronaldo. She read the article, which showed Ronaldo getting ahead of Messi with two goals and jumped for joy.

In her joyous jumping she heard a "What the-?" from the monotonous Kai. She gaped when she turned towards him. He seemed to have been raising the coffee mug for a sip when her jumping had somehow caused the cup to fall from his fingers and spill the dark, hot liquid all over his t-shirt.

He cursed and quickly took off his shirt. "Oh my! I am so sorry, Kai. Sorry, man. Are you burnt?" She looked at his muscled torso and perfect abs in concern.

He scowled at her, "You should be and no I am n-" He stopped to what she was staring at with such agapeness.

The news channel was showing a video clip of yesterday's evening. "It seems like Mariam has a lot to answer to her boyfriend Max who obviously has no idea about her engagement to a John Clay. What seemed like a star-studded, perfect after-party was spoiled over an ugly spate between the members of this fiery love triangle. For more gossip, be tuned in to StarGossipCentral 8."

A flurry of photos which showed Max trying to beat the hell out of a helpless John while Mariam stood with a look of damsel in distress.

"What was that?" gulped Diana looking at Kai whose silence for once was justified. "Should I tell her?"

It turned out there was no need as Tyson who was having indigestion and horrible stomach cramps after over eating at the party yesterday chose the exact moment to enter into the living room. He looked and his mouth seemed to fall to the ground. "What the hell is happening here?"

Diana blushed whereas Kai gave a huge scowl.

Tyson winked, "Trying to impress her with your muscles?"

Diana answered, hurriedly, "Coffee spilt over him. You know him. Butterfingers!"

"Hey you-"

Diana overrode Kai's retort, "But, Ty, you must see this." She pointed to the TV.

Tyson's yell of 'Oh Shit' was enough to wake up the dead. Needless to say all the occupants of the flat came running to the living room, some with hilarious groggy expressions.

"Whose dead?" Max asked with a worried expression.

"-Max's eyes showed the hurt he felt at Mariam's betrayal-"

"What is that?" a dozen voices enquired as they heard the over-dressed gossip reporter on TV shout out that sentence as if calling their attention over her.

-A Few Minutes Later.

After Mariam had had her hysterics and had been consoled by John and nearly every member of the room except Max who was throwing murderous glancea at John which seemed to unnerve him more and more by the second.

"C'mon, dear, calm down. How is a rational person like you behaving in such a way? Believe me, all your beauty will be lost if you take so much mental strain," Mariah was obviously very worried about looks.

Mariam sniffed, "Its the village elders. You don't know my people. They are awfully conservative. They'll put all the blame on me and John. Its going to be aw-awful."

"I'll tell them it was me," Max said in a small voice.

Everybody stood statue-like waiting for Mariam's wrath to pounce on the blonde man. Mariam looked at him and then, in a surprised voice, said, "Thanks."

The expression on Max's face was so funny that everybody would have laughed bit Nature likes it ironical. The phone rang shrilly. "I'll get it," said Ray. "Hello? Yes, Elder Chihan?" He looked at his friends with a worried expression and there was a sharp intake of breath from John and Mariam which was succeeded by a whispered, "This is bad." from Mariam.

Ray continued talking after switching to loudspeaker."Mariam or John? No, I am sorry. They aren't home right now."

They are home and you will let me talk to them right NOW.

Everybody winced at the loud tone before John walked over to the phone, "Greeting, Elder Chihan. I hope you are in good health."

Do not try to distract me. Do you know why I have phoned you?

John sighed, "Yes, elder."

Then, I will waste no more te. HOW DARE YOU BLACKEN THE NAME OF OUR TRIBE? You amd Mariam, our most trusted youths. This is shameful. Everywhere people are gossiping.

Max quickly intervened, "But, sir, it was purely my fault."

Is this that shameful boy who ruined are pearly white reputation in a matter of seconds. John, how dare you keep him near you?

Max tried a different manouver, "Sir, please forgive. I was drunk and had no idea."

John, now you and Mariam are in the company of drunkards and alcoholics? Where are your morals? Have all that we taught been a waste? I will think of a punishment but let me tell you people alll around us and even in our village are talking and thinking the worst about Mariam just now. Nobody is going to believe it was that drunkard's fault-unless-they have absulute proof. By Lord! I HAVE IT! Go arrange a wedding for tonight and make alll the necessary arrangements. Your family, Chiyo and i are coming by the next flight. Yes, the marriage will take place today and by tomorrow the honour of our tribe will be restored.

With a click, the conversation ended.

With a deep sigh, John turned to face everybody with a grim smile, "They are a conservative lot."

So in case it was confusing the italics was the Elder speaking. I know what you all are thinking while reading this, "Zak has gone crazy!" Bear with me. Oh the drama! Sorry for mistakes! REVIEW coz you know REVIEWS=ME STARSTRUCK=INSPIRED=UPDATE!

Anybody a ONE DIRECTION fan?

-ZAK