Wow you guys! Thank you so much for the supportive reviews and PM conversations that followed. I know it was a pretty big shock to see a "Kwame and Linka" relationship hinted at (I'm just as shocked as you are that I'm even attempting to write another character! Especially one that I never even liked!), but I appreciate your faith in me to make it a story you want to keep following.

As a side note, how funny is it to see "Kwame/Wheeler" in the site's story description? Makes it seem like I'm doing a slash fic! :( I just figured since their feelings were the main focus of the story, I should list them as the main characters. Too bad I couldn't have 3 characters listed because Linka is also a big part of the story.

Wheeler has been walking up and down the beach for hours ever since he and Linka had their fight. He finally realized it was time to go back to his room and get ready for his dinner with Savannah, but the whole time, he couldn't stop thinking about his earlier fight with Linka. He had hoped that Kwame or Ma-Ti would be around to talk to, but neither one of them were there. However, deep down, he already knows what they'd say. He knows what needs to be done.

An hour later, he stands outside the door to Gi and Linka's room. He hears Gi talking so he knows they're in there and is grateful for that. Things got way out of control earlier and his stomach as been in knots ever since. He needs to make things right between them and not just ignore it and act like nothing happened. He wants to resume tomorrow's mission on good terms, not spend the whole day slowly warming up to each other again before finally getting to their usual "nothing happened, all is well" place. He takes a deep breath, knocks on the door, and waits for it to open.

"Wheeler? Wow, you clean up nice!" Gi teases. "What are you doing here? I thought you had a date?"

"I cancelled it," He explains quickly, hoping to avoid further conversation on the "date" topic. "Is Linka around?"

"No."

"Look, I know she probably doesn't want to see me, but don't lie to me."

"I'm not…she's not here."

"I heard you talking to someone when I knocked on the door. You don't need to protect her; I came to apologize…things got out of hand earlier and…"

"She's not here Wheeler. I was talking to Ma-Ti…we were discussing what to do for dinner since it was just the two of us."

To prove her point, she opens the door wider to reveal Ma-Ti sitting on the couch, searching through the tourist brochures spread out in front of him on the coffee table before looking up and waving to Wheeler.

"Where's Linka and Kwame?"

"They went out," she says.

"Alone?"

"Together…for dinner."

"A DATE?"

"I wouldn't call it that…Linka never called it that…Kwame might consider it one."

Wheeler laughs to hide his shock and blurts out,

"What?"

"Ma-Ti was just saying how strange Kwame was acting…nervous…spent lots of time getting ready."

"What's he tryin' to prove?"

"I don't know…maybe that all guys aren't as frustrating and infuriating as you?" She teases. "Or maybe he was just trying to take her mind off things…restore order and peace to the Planeteers. To be honest Wheeler, we all worry when you and Linka get like this. One of these stupid fights is going to go too far and it sounds like this one did."

"She talked to you about it?"

Wheeler thought that was weird because usually Linka liked to keep things private, even with Gi.

"No, Kwame told Ma-Ti. He saw the whole thing."

"So what was he doing? Hiding out, spying on us? Waiting for the perfect opportunity to swoop in, be the hero, and make me look like the jerk?"

"I think you do a pretty good job of that yourself," she says with a raised eyebrow.

"She was just as at fault as I was! She said some pretty mean things to me and you don't see Kwame coming to check on me do you? He's supposed to be one of my best friends and instead of coming to see how I'm doing after a big fight with Linka, he goes to her? And now you're tellin' me that Ma-Ti says Kwame was takin' forever to get ready, like he's going on a date?"

"Sorry Wheeler. You can't expect us to pick sides between you and Linka and you can't expect us to take sides between you and Kwame. You and Linka have had plenty of time to get it right, and you haven't. Maybe it's just time to accept it and move on. If Kwame and Linka end up discovering that there's something there, then that's a decision Linka is going to have to make…who's better for her? Who makes her happy? Who makes her cry? This whole incident could mean the end of the Planeteers. Kwame, Ma-Ti, and I don't want that."

"I don't want it either!"

"Well, maybe Kwame is just making sure that Linka doesn't want it either."

"He's gonna scare her away! She's always been resistant to a relationship because of the affect it will have on the team…after talking to him, she's gonna believe that."

"Wheeler, we ALL believe that! I'd love it if you two could just stop this little game and be happy! But it's gone too far and taken too long. If you haven't worked it out by now, maybe you never will…maybe it's best if you both just moved on. I used to think that you two were perfect for each other, but I'm sorry to say it, I don't think it will work. You're just too different."

Wheeler sighs in sad defeat and then Gi continues,

"I'm sorry to be so blunt…but if Kwame is having this conversation with Linka, maybe it was best that I had the same conversation with you. You were right, you needed a friend too after that fight."

"Gee, thanks. What a great friend," he says sarcastically. "Telling me I really fucked up this time and that I should just give up."

"That's now what I said and you know it! A good friend tells you what you NEED to hear, not what you WANT to hear."

"I know…I'm sorry. I shouldn't take out my frustration on you."

"You're welcome to join Ma-Ti and I for dinner. We were going to walk the boardwalk and see what we can find. Get some local food."

"Nah. Thanks."

He turns to leave.

She wishes he would have accepted her offer. She doesn't think he should be alone.

"Is it too late to call Savannah and reschedule?" Gi asks.

"Probably not. She seemed pretty disappointed when I cancelled…she'll be happy to know that I'm available again."

"Well…as long as you think she's worth all the trouble she's caused."

"It's not her fault. I used her to make Linka jealous…and it worked…a little too well. I know I said things I didn't mean…but Linka…I don't know…if she meant the things she said, then maybe you're right…maybe I don't stand a chance."

He walks down the hall, back towards his room, dejected and worried that he may have blown his chances at ever having a future with Linka. But the part that hurts the most is knowing he may have lost her to his best friend. How can he live on the same island as them, watching their relationship progress? What if it gets serious? What if they get married? Can he really pretend to be happy for them? No. He would have to leave. Maybe Gi was right; this latest fight could be the end of the Planeteers, or at least his time with them. He can't sit back and watch Linka move on with Kwame. He will spend the rest of his life wishing that it was him; knowing that it could have been him; regretting all the things that happened to keep them apart. Maybe it's not too late? Maybe he can find them and interrupt their little "date." The boardwalk is a busy place, but Wheeler will walk up and down it looking for Linka all night if he has to.

To Be Continued...