Chapter one

Kono looked in the mirror nervously as she straightened out her dress and teased a tangle out her hair. She pouted her lips and added a little more lip gloss before rubbing her lips together and sighing finally happy with how she looked. She had been asked out on her very first date by Reece Moore. He was a popular guy who up until a few weeks ago had never showed any interest in Kono. She was super nervous but also excited; she had never had a boyfriend before. She grabbed her clutch and left her room blushing as her parents smiled at her.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drop you down there?" Nani asked again

"Mum it's fine I'm happy to walk" Kono smiled.

"Be safe ipo" Ke'ano warned

"I will, I'll see you later"

Kono walked along the beach before heading onto the side roads, there was a warm breeze that blew through her hair and she walked with a bounce in her step. Reece had asked to meet at a local restraunt and Kono was more than happy. She arrived at seven and text Reece to say she was there. He replied saying he was on his way and Kono went inside and asked for a table under his name. She sat for a while twiddling her thumbs and tapping her nails nervously as she waited for Reece to arrive. She sipped on her coke and tried to avoid the looks from the waiters and other patrons as she sat waiting alone. She checked her phone to see the time and gave Reece another text. She was beginning to get an uneasy feeling in her stomach and sighed sadly. She looked around and was glad to see the other people in the restraunt were occupied and no longer looking at her. Thankfully she was tucked away in a corner by the window so had no one to close by. She sighed and sipped her drink once more when she was blinded by a flash of light. She looked out the window and saw Reece and all his mate taking photos of her and laughing hysterically, some of the guys calling out things and Reece saying he never wanted her. She felt tears fill her eyes and fought to hold them back and she felt a blush rise in her cheeks. The group didn't hang around long and ran off leaving her red faced, embarrassed and upset. She left some money on the table and looked up seeing a few people staring at her. She ignored them and jumped up hurriedly leaving the restraunt as the tears pricked at her eyes. She stepped outside into the now cool air and shivered. The guys had run off in the distance but she could still hear them laughing and pointing as they finally disappeared. She was so embarrassed and upset and wandered away from the front of the restraunt to a nearby wall and perched there. She wiped at her eyes tearfully as she sobbed and pulled out her phone.

"Hey keikei you okay?" Nani asked as she answered the phone.

"…C…can you come get me?" Kono hiccupped tearfully.

"Kono what's wrong darling?"

"Please just come get me"

"Baby…"

"He laughed at me…him and his mated to pictures of me sitting alone in the restraunt" Kono cried.

Nani fell silent for a moment before responding.

"Baby I'm on my way, I'll be ten minutes" Nani said firmly.

Nani drove quickly, maybe too quickly but the roads were quite. She raced down the road feeling anger grow towards the guy who left her little girl. She pulled into the parking lot of the restraunt and stopped by the wall. Kono got up and jumped in the car with tear stained eyes but sat silently and looked out the window.

"I just want to go home" Kono mumbled.

Nani didn't say anything she could tell Kono didn't want to talk right now. She squeezed her knee and drove straight home.

When they arrived home Nani opened the door and Kono swiftly went to her room furiously wiping at her eyes. Nani sighed and sat next to Ke'ano.

"What happened?"

"Reece left didn't go into the restraunt, him and his mate turned up and took photos of her alone in the restraunt"

"What!"

"I can't believe someone would stoop so low to do that"

"Is she okay?"

"No, she's embarrassed and upset" Nani sighed.

Nani gave Kono sometime before making her a hot chocolate and going to her room. She knocked softly and entered finding Kono now in her pyjamas and huddled under the duvet, her sobs wracking her body. Nani put the drink down and climbed in next to Kono, pulling her close to her and letting Kono roll over and snuggled into her arms.

"Sssshh ipo it will be okay baby…I'm here"

Kono hiccupped as she tried to calm herself down and let he mum wipe gently at her tears.

"Baby he is just an immature little boy who doesn't deserve a girl like you anyway"

"I thought he liked me"

"I know keikei, I know"

"They've put the picture online" Kono sobbed hysterically as she showed Nani her phone.

Nani looked at the pictures and felt her heartbreak for Kono. Her baby sitting alone dressed up for her date and some heartless guy shaming her and taking her photo.

"Kono he is a horrible young boy…"

"Everyone is going to know!"

"Sweetheart…"

"People are messaging me and saying stuff" Kono cried.

Nani sighed and ran her fingers through Kono's hair softly.

"You looked beautiful baby girl"

"I looked like an idiot!"

"No you looked beautiful and stunning and grown up and one day a decent guy will see that and he will sweep you off your feet and look after you"

"No one will want me when they've seen this"

"Kono I promise you this will all pass"

"No it won't, I'll forever be known as the girl who stupidly thought Reece would want me!" Kono sobbed.

"Baby your friends will stand by you…"

"No they won't, they said I shouldn't have agreed to the date"

"Kono…"

"I don't want to talk about it anymore" Kono sighed.

Nani kissed Kono's head and pulled her to sit upright.

"Hey, I made you a hot chocolate"

Kono sniffled and wiped her tears before allowing a small smile to grace her face.

"Thankyou"

"You going to be alright?" Nani asked as she went to leave.

"Will you stay for a bit?"

"Of course, shall we watch a film?"

"Yeah…do I have to go to school tomorrow?

Nani couldn't imagine how Kono must feel and she knew facing her friends would be hard but she also knew missing a day would cause more talk.

"It will be worse if you don't go…if it gets too much though you can ring me and I will come and get you, I promise"

"Okay"

Kono had dealt with the comments and stares for months now and she found she had very few people to talk to. Of course she had her mum and Chin but they couldn't be at school together. One face she never expected to help her was Adam Noshimuri. He had been charming and alluring, making himself known without forcing anything upon her. He proved over and over that he wasn't there to hurt her and was actually interested.

"Hey!" Adam called as he met Kono at the school gates.

"Hi"

"How was today?" Adam asked as he wrapped an arm around Kono.

Kono shrugged and smiled weakly.

"People are still talking about me"

"It's because they have nothing else to do…it's pathetic"

"It's not nice though"

"I know babe, just think you've only got a few months left"

"I'll defiantly be going to a different sixth form"

"What you're going to leave me" Adam laughed in mock defence

"You'll leave me, you will finish before me"

"Maybe I'll stay an extra year"

"Hmmm"

"Shall we go get dinner?"

"What?" Kono asked in shock.

Although they had been hanging out they hadn't labelled themselves in a relationship and had never been for more than shave ice.

"Dinner" Adam repeated as Kono looked confused. "You know, food…with me"

"Oh"

"You don't want to?"

"Erm…like a date?" Kono asked wishing she hadn't in case Adam didn't think like that.

"Ahm…yeah but casual so there no pressure…if you want to call it a date, if not dinner with a friend is cool with me…we don't even have to label it, just food"

Kono grinned; she really did like Adam but was scared after what happened.

"Do you like me?" Kono asked softly.

"Yeah I really do" Adam replied confidently.

"Promise?"

Adam chuckled and held Kono's face in his hands.

"I promise"

"Okay we can get food…like a date" Kono whispered.

"Cool, let's go then"

Adam walked Kono up towards her house holding her hand and proudly showing her off for anyone who cared to look.

"I had a really good night Kono"

"Me too"

"Good, I'm glad"

"Thank you…you defiantly made dating fun again"

"Hopefully will have another?"

"Yeah defiantly…you know it's still early do you want to come in?"

"Would that be okay with your parents?"

"Yeah"

Kono led Adam into the house and giggled at her parents faces.

"Who's this?" Nani asked with a smile.

"I'm Adam" Adam introduced as he shook both Kono's parents hands.

Nani and Ke'ano smiled pleased to see Adam was a gentleman.

"We went for an early dinner…we were just going to hang out" Kono said

"Okay that's fine" Nani smiled.

Nani and Ke'ano went back to the kitchen and Kono looked to Adam. She wanted to suggest a film but was unsure if her parents would allow a boy in her room.

"I'll be back in a sec" Kono whispered to Adam as she went to her mum.

Nani smiled and wrapped an arm around Kono sensing she wanting to ask something.

"Keikei?"

"Can me and Adam watch a film in my room?" Kono whispered with a slight blush.

Nani looked to Ke'ano and both didn't want to give Kono the opportunity to do anything to much with Adam but they knew they were both there.

"Keep the door ajar" Nani whispered and ushered Kono away.

Adam and Kono lay on her bed watching the film and giggling. They were having fun and just chatted animatedly with no pressure.

"I've really enjoyed today Kono"

"You said that already"

"Well I really did"

"So did I"

"Can I call you my girlfriends now?"

Kono blushed but grinned.

"Yes"

Adam smiled and leaned into Kono, giving her a brief but romantic kiss and grinning at her.

Nani hovered in the door way and saw the exchange between her daughter and Adam. She smiled and left them to it, deciding another hour or so wouldn't hurt. She was just glad Kono had found someone.