Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyers, my OCs belong to me
Isla Silva had her life perfectly planned out, what she hadn't counted on was the wolf. Now she has to juggle her newfound Quileute heritage with her life long dream of becoming a top chef and owning her own restaurant.
It was my first plane ride, but it felt like it took forever. Not as long as that ship ride out, so that was something. I was choke excited at first, but it soon wore off as we flew into the night and I started to feel sleepy.
"Just recline your seat and if you use the blanket make sure your belt is showing or the flight attendants will wake you up." Billie whispered to me.
"Ok." I said. "But do any of you wanna go by the window?"
"It's too dark to really see and if we need to get up we won't have to squeeze passed you." Billie replied.
"Ok." I said, and nodded my head before I pulled the blanket around me for the comfort and I put the seat back and closed my eyes.
I slept a little and that killed some time. Still it was a choke long journey, made longer with the change over at Honolulu. It felt good when we were on the Big Island, but we still had a way to go. My Grandma Susie came to pick us up at the airport and she drove us to Honomu because that's where Kekipi's boat was and we had to get the keys or something. It was from the vamps who were looking after Drogo, he still hadn't recovered fully.
I was torn. I wanted to go check in with Drogo, but I also wanted to see Mom. I couldn't see Mom until I'd been to get my bag from Wolf Island. I didn't get to choose in the end. One of the vamps came out of the apartment anyway, keeping to the shadow of the building. It was a guy, looked not much older than me, but Billie said it was her Uncle Will, and Kekipi seemed to know him too. With the keys Kekipi led us to the public dock. It wasn't his boat.
"What's going on?" I asked as Kekipi helped Billie into the speedboat that was a choke fancier than his beat up old reliable had been.
"I don't know if my boat is still at the island or if the vamps sunk it, but whatever, Will and Marlin said I can keep this one." Kekipi said with a shrug.
"Shaka." I said as I got into the boat and sat next to Billie in the much more comfortable seats than in Kekipi's old boat.
I was worried that I would freak, or Billie would freak being on the water again. This was different. We were up in the air, feeling the wind and watching the horizon. I took a deep breath as we rounded the bulk of Wolf Island. Last time I came this way I didn't know anything about the supernatural, but I knew there was a horrible smell. There wasn't a smell now and I knew all too well about the supernatural.
As soon as we docked I leapt off the boat and went running up the path to the place where I'd dropped my backpack. It wasn't on the path and I had a sudden sick gut feeling the vamps had taken it with them and it was back in the port in Mexico. Then I noticed that some of the bushes were looking a little weird. I jumped down over the edge of the path into the pile of bushes and I found my pack. I put it onto my back before I climbed back up, just as Kekipi and Billie were coming up the path.
"I need to check everything is still in there, but then I need to head back. I need to see Mom." I said.
"What are you gonna tell her?" Kekipi asked, looking worried.
"For now? That I spent an awesome week with my big brother Jimmy, but I don't know if I can keep the wolf thing from her forever. I guess I'll see how it goes first." I said, not feeling good about that.
"If you need to tell her, we'll work out the right way to do it." Billie said and gave me a smile.
"Thanks." I said and hugged her before I turned back to Kekipi. "I can row your canoe to shore."
"It's ok. I'll take you back. Need to check on the garage anyway." He said.
"I'll stay. Make a start on the clean up." Billie said.
"Are you sure?" Kekipi asked, looking worried.
"I want our house to be hale again, and that won't happen if we're not fixing and cleaning." Billie said firmly.
"I know. But half hour won't make much difference. Maybe we should go up over the cliff, see if there's anything we might need to get in town?" Kekipi suggested.
Billie looked like she was about to argue, but Kekipi had a point. So I followed them up to the little cliff top where I'd found out that the supernatural world was real almost a week ago. Someone must have cleaned up a little because there weren't any sign of our fight.
"Guess there isn't much to do." Billie said. "There might be some food we need to dump."
"Yeah. We should check on the milk and bread and dump it if we have to. Get more in town." Kekipi said.
"Yeah." Billie agreed.
I followed them inside and waited while they checked the cupboards and the fridge. They ended up with a bag full of spoiled food. Some of it could be donated to pig feed; the rest would have to be taken to the nearest dump. Then we headed back to the Big Island. I said a quick goodbye to Billie and Kekipi before I headed home.
I let myself into the obviously empty house, Mom and Dad were at the Diner, and I made my way up to my room to dump my backpack along with the suitcase I'd used as my luggage on the plane. It was full of Drogo's t-shirts and some of Billie's old jeans. I thought he might want his t-shirts before Billie sold her apartment and have it cleared out. I hid the suitcase under my bed before dumping the unused clothes from my backpack into the laundry ready to wash as soon as I went to see Mom.
I put my phone on to charge because it was completely dead, then I left the house. I don't know how I managed to not use my new found super speed I was so eager to see Mom, but I got there in human time. There was a rush on in the Diner so I cut ahead and went behind the counter.
"Excuse me?" Mom said, on automatic, before noticing me. "Isla?"
"Mom." I exclaimed and pulled her into a big hug, breathing in her scent and feeling ohana and hale all in one breath. "It's so good to see you."
"You're back early." She said, standing back a little to look up at me.
"Yeah. Well there's only so many hikes I can go on before it gets boring." I said with a grin. "You need help?"
"You want to help me?" Mom asked, sounding surprised, but then I'd never wanted to help in the Diner before, I didn't want to be accused of getting a job through nepotism.
"You got a rush on and the quicker we get these people cleared the quicker we can chat." I said with a shrug.
"Ok. Can you wait the tables over that section? Bonnie is in her own world again." Mom said warily. "If only Mina didn't have to go away."
I didn't know how to answer that, Mina had been an alias Billie was using when she worked here for a week or two, so I grabbed an apron and pad and went to wait tables. I took up most of the tables and I caught Bonnie giving me stink eye, like I was stealing her tips, but once it had settled down to just a handful of people eating in the far corner of the Diner I handed all the tips I'd made to Bonnie. Mom gave me a look, but we'd take it up later. Bonnie escaped over to the other corner of the Diner to wash tables I'd done only a minuet before, but at least it gave Mom and me time to talk.
"So how did your week go?" Mom asked.
"It was good. We went sailing for a while and then we spent time staying out, away from home. I had fun." I replied.
"Then why come home early?" Mom asked, raising her eyebrows at me.
"It's not so fun being a third wheel." I said with a chuckle, and realised too late what I'd said.
"Third wheel? You mean Jimmy has a girlfriend?" Mom demanded, using the name she'd given Kekipi at birth, before he changed it when he started turning into a giant ass wolf.
"Um…" I trailed off.
"A boyfriend?" Mom ventured.
"No. A girlfriend." I confirmed.
"And he didn't tell me?" Mom asked, looking some hurt and some annoyed that she was only finding out now.
"You know what Jimmy's like. So shy, and his GF is even worse. He thought he'd introduce her to me first. After all, if she can handle me she can handle anyone." I joked.
"You're not that bad." Mom said and stroked back my hair and frowned at me. "Something has changed about you."
"What? What could change about me?" I asked, trying to play it off in humour, but my laugh sounded forced.
"Can't put my finger on it, but you're not my little girl anymore." She said, looking thoughtful.
That actually affected me more than I would have thought. It felt like I was stabbed in the heart.
"I'll always be your little girl." I said and I couldn't stop the sob in my voice.
"Of course Isla, you will always be my little girl. It's just something has changed. Since last week when I saw you." Mom said as she looked into my eyes and I felt my throat close. I couldn't lie to her when she was looking into my soul, but this wasn't the place.
"I just had an ono week with my brah." I said with a shrug. "And now I could do with a shower. I'm gonna head home. What time are you and Dad thinking of heading in? I can cook something special."
"It won't be till late and we'll have something here as usual." Mom said.
"Ok." I said, feeling sad.
"Make me a salad for tomorrow's lunch." Mom said, and kissed my cheek. "And make sure that shower is a cold one, you're still running a high temperature."
"I will." I said. "Aloha."
"Aloha." Mom said and I smiled one last time before quickly leaving because it was hard to talk to Mom without letting something slip.
I went back home and put my laundry in to wash before I had my shower. Then I went to make something to eat for myself, along with a salad for Mom, Dad and me for tomorrow's lunch. I thought more about it and made up a salad for Kekipi and Billie too. I needed to talk to them big time.
I ate my food, made sure the kitchen was clean before I went upstairs to while away some time before Mom and Dad got back from the Diner. I took the time to send an e-mail to Magda so she'd have my address to give to Brah as promised and I caught up with my friends. They couldn't believe I'd been off the grid for almost a week, but really, I hadn't even thought about it. That's how much I was over my friends.
Mom and Dad got back around eleven. I went down to greet them and say goodnight before I got back to my room and fell into bed. I was snuggled up in a place that a few days ago I was convinced I'd never see again. My own bed, in my own hale with all the familiar scents of home around me, this was where I belonged.
Mom woke me the next morning and she'd brought me a tray of breakfast up.
"What's going on?" I asked, feeling suspicious.
"Nothing. You just seemed a little down yesterday and with that temperature you were running last week I thought my little girl could do with some cheering up." Mom said as she held the tray out to me.
"Mahalo." I said as I accepted the tray from Mom. "But I'm ono Mom, seriously."
"I don't know. There's something different about you." Mom said, looking at me. "Something you're not telling me."
Mom was looking at me in such a serious way that I almost blurted it all out there. I managed to choke back the words and shook my head firmly as I stuffed a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.
"Any plans today?" She asked.
I swallowed the cereal back as I considered what to say. I was lying enough without bringing more into it.
"I'm gonna visit Jimmy." I said, not going by the name my brother preferred in front of my mom.
"You just got back from a whole week of seeing him." Mom pointed out.
"I know. But he's back at the garage today and you know how he is about lunch. I'm gonna take him a salad so he's getting some greens. If we don't look after him right that kane would be a carnivore." I stated.
"Well, if you get the chance, why don't you ask him to come to dinner on Sunday. Maybe get his girlfriend to come too? Can you at least get me a photo of her?"
"Mom. I'm not gonna invade her privacy like that. When her and Jimmy are ready, he'll bring her to meet you." I said.
"How serious are they?" Mom asked.
I shrugged, how could I explain it to someone not in the know?
"You gotta know more?" Mom coaxed.
"Billie's nice." I said. "You'll like her. She's perfect for Jimmy."
"You're not just saying that to get me off your back?" Mom asked knowingly.
"I'm saying it to get you off my back," I admitted, "but it's true."
Mom considered this for a moment before nodding her head.
"Ok. Go see Jimmy today and send him my love. Tell him to come visit his Mom more often, there's always lunch at the Diner for him."
"I'll tell him." I promised.
"I'll go now so you can eat your breakfast in peace. Aloha."
"Aloha." I said as Mom left my room.
I finished my breakfast then went to shower and did the thing that even yesterday had been impossible. I got to pull on my own clothes. It felt ono to pull them on and have them fit, well not quite right. I hadn't really noticed in all the confusion and burning heat leading up to the big reveal, but very few of my clothes fit now. I needed to go clothes shopping, but I was ok for today. The joys of shorts I guess. It wasn't a big emergency, not like talking to Kekipi and Billie was.
I brushed out my hair, deciding to let it dry in the sun today. I was in a natural thick, wavy kind of mood. It was so much better not having to worry about hotel dress codes. I took my breakfast stuff downstairs, washed and wiped it all, then went back up to grab my backpack, stuffing my purse and phone inside, added the three boxes of salad when I got downstairs and left the house.
Since I was only heading to Kekipi's garage I didn't bother with my scooter, although I'd have to take her out for a little run later just to make sure she was still ticking over nicely after not being used for a week. I got to the garage and it was open.
I went in and Kekipi was talking to a customer about fixing up his boat. I went to wait at Kekipi's desk, pulling out his salad and setting it down. I was surprised Billie wasn't here; she knew some mechanics and could help him out some not to be out on Kekipi's island on her own.
When the guy left Kekipi came up to the desk and folded his arms at me.
"Here to bug me Sis?" he asked.
"As if I would?" I asked, affronted. "All I did was bring lunch for you and Billie, but if you're gonna insult me…" I shrugged and went to stand up.
"I'm joking." He said. "And I'm glad you're here."
"You are?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. I'm choke worried about Billie, but she didn't want to come in with me today. Said there was cleaning needed doing at home. You doing anything today?"
"No. I wanted to talk to you and Billie anyway." I replied.
"About what?" Kekipi asked, looking parts worried parts confused.
"I can't keep this all from Mom. It's really hard." I said.
"Why do you think I moved out?" Kekipi asked, looking relieved that was all I wanted to talk about. "We shouldn't talk about it here."
"Can I ask Billie what she thinks when you're not there? I'll get her view on it and we can talk about it then when you get home." I said.
"How you gonna get out to my island? I haven't got time to sail out there and come back. I'm a little backlogged after my vacation. Sometimes it's a curse being this popular." He said with a sad chuckle, he didn't like to brag, but my brother was an awesome amazing mechanic and could fix any boat put in front of him.
"You'll catch up." I assured him. "And I can use my kayak to get out there. Won't be the first time." I added with a shrug, because I knew there was no way in Hell he'd let me anywhere near the helm of a speedboat till I got my boating license.
"Ok. But be careful. Ring me as soon as you land so I know you didn't capsize and become hammerhead chow." He replied.
"I'll phone." I promised. "Here's your lunch, and I'll see you later."
I got to my feet, picked up my backpack and left Kekipi to his work. I went back to my house to grab my kayak from the top of the garage roof along with my paddles and I carried it down to the beach. I dumped my backpack safely into the backspace of the hull, kicked off my slippas and put them in the boat too, and then I pushed it out into the sea, far enough past the breaks that I could row away from shore.
I got onboard and started rowing in quick even strokes, pushing myself out over deeper water until the pull of the tide wasn't so strong. I actually made good time to Kekipi's island and I wasn't even exhausted as I rode the waves into shore and pulled my kayak up past the tide line so it would still be here whatever time I decided to go home.
"Aloha Billie!" I called; cupping my mouth with my hands so she'd know it was me.
I pulled my bag from the kayak and pulled out my phone. I rang the garage and let Kekipi know I was safe on his island before I began up the path.
"Billie! It's me, Isla! I came to visit!" I called as I climbed the path and came up on top of the ridge where the house was.
Billie was coming out of the house and she frowned at me.
"What's with all the shouting?" Billie asked.
"Just thought I'd let you know it's me." I replied as I got close to her.
"Did Kekipi ask you to check up on me?" She asked, frowning.
"No. I need to talk to you." I said.
"Oh. About what?" She asked, and then looked around. "You wanna come inside, or we could have cold drinks on the veranda?"
"Whatever. But I got us salad for lunch. I should probably put it in the fridge to keep it nice."
"Yeah. Come on in. We'll grab some drinks then sit out here."
"Sounds good." I said.
I followed Billie into the house and put the salads in the fridge as she made us up a pitcher of her homemade lemonade with a lot of ice. I grabbed two glasses and followed her out to the table outside.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked once she'd poured us a glass each.
"I can't lie to Mom about all of this." I said. "She knows something's up with me and I don't know what I can say. There's just so much to say, but I have to tell her everything to even tell her some."
"Then tell her." Billie said with a shrug.
"Just like that?" I asked.
"Well maybe not just like that. We may need to get her out here and then tell her. So you can show her too." Billie planned, and that made sense considering Mom probably wouldn't believe it without evidence.
"Ok." I said, and bit my lip, thinking it over. "How would I do that?"
"We can work something out." Billie said, as she looked thoughtful for a second before looking up at me. "How did you get here?"
"On my Kayak." I replied.
"Can it carry two?" She asked.
"Not really." I said.
"But Kekipi's got a canoe."
I nodded.
"We'll row to Hilo and then I can pillion with you to Susie's." Billie said with a nod.
"Why Susie's?" I asked.
"We'll need the help of some of your cousins." She said, which wasn't really an answer.
"For what?" I asked.
"We need to get your Mom and Dad out here right?" Billie asked.
"Dad too?" I asked feeling awkward about that.
"It'll look weird if we tell Elise and not Big Jim. For the sake of the harmony of their marriage we need it to seem like he knows nothing about it." Billie said warily.
"Ok." I said, "But can you see Dad climbing that hill?"
"You'll get him up there." Billie said confidently.
"I will?" I asked, I had to do that alone.
"Well me and Kekipi will have to be up here obviously." Billie said as she stood up and started walking toward the path. "You coming?"
I nodded and followed her, still not knowing what was happening, but I guess she had a plan. She grabbed Kekipi's canoe and we paddled back to Hilo. We left the boats at Kekipi's garage and instead of going to get my scooter, Kekipi let us use his car instead. Well as long as Billie was driving he let us use his car because it would be safer than both of us perched on my little scooter for all that way.
We drove out to my Grandma Susie's and found her in her garage, which was near the entrance to the long drive that led to the sprawling house she shared with my grandpa, the old surf champ Tuck Munroe.
"Hey girls, I didn't expect to see you so soon." She said as she wiped her oily hands in a rag. "Come in and have a coffee."
Me and Billie went into the gloom of the garage and followed Susie over to her little office area where she put the coffee machine to heat through. Then she dropped into a chair and gestured for us to take the other chairs. I waited for Billie to choose the chair she wanted before I sat down too.
"Not that I don't mind the visit, but I doubt this is just a social call." She said.
"No." Billie replied. "Well not completely. I do like to visit you Auntie Susie."
"Yeah I know." Susie said with a grin. "So, what d'ya want?"
"Are any of your clan available Friday?" Billie asked.
"I'll have to ask them. How many do you need?" Susie asked.
"Not sure yet. Any of them good at cooking? They'll have to run the Diner for a few hours." Billie replied.
"Why?" Susie asked looking curious.
"Isla wants to tell her mother about the wolf, that means telling Kimo too. So we thought it might be better to get them out to Wolf Island where it can be show as well as tell. Nothing proves a point than turning into a huge ass wolf."
"At least Dad can't deny it then." I put in.
"You think he might?" Susie asked.
"We're gonna give him an out." Billie said.
"Yeah." I confirmed, although I wasn't one hundred percent sure Dad deserved it after everything he put Kekipi through.
"It's up to him if he wants to put his foot in it with Elise." Billie said with a shrug.
"Elise? That's her name?" Susie said, looking sad. "Would love to know her."
"Well we can get her in touch with you once she knows everything." I said eagerly. "Mom always wanted a big family and she'll go crazy over our tribe."
"I hope she does." Susie said. "Always room for more at our table. Can bring your no-good half brothers too if you wanna."
"Let's just leave it at Mom first. Lim and Odell are a pain in the okole. You're better off not knowing them." I said with a snort.
"Well I can't exactly exclude them if they're your brothers." Susie said as she got to her feet and poured out three steaming mugs of coffee before plopping them on the desk.
"Um…you got milk and sugar?" I asked hopefully.
"Nope." Susie said as she picked up her cup of what had to be molten coffee and took a mouthful.
"Shaka." I said as I looked into the dark bitter liquid.
"I got a chocolate milk if you want. I got my little stash." Susie said with a wink and she reached below her desk and came out with a kiddie carton of chocolate milk. I took it from her and it was ice cold so obviously it had been in the fridge. "I like my coffee hot and bitter and my milk cold and chocolaty." She added before taking another sip of her molten coffee.
"Thanks Gran." I said as I pierced the little foil patch with the straw and began to drink.
"Ok. So I'll talk to my lot. See who's available. Anyway I can get hold of you?" Susie asked.
"I can use my cell now." Billie said as she picked up a pen from the desk and scribbled her number on the corner of the paper.
"I'll be in touch later tonight." Susie said.
"Thanks Aunt Susie." Billie said as she got to her feet.
"Thanks Gran." I said as I got up too and put my empty carton on the desk. "See you soon."
"Hopefully with your parents in tow."
I nodded and after a few goodbyes followed Billie back to the car. Once we were on the road I asked Billie what would happen next.
"Just hold tight and I'll let you know as soon as I know more." She said.
"Ok." I replied and looked out the window at the moving scenery as I wondered what would actually happen.
Thank you for reading
Reviews are welcome
Gemma x