CHAPTER 7: EN ROUTE TO KAHUKU

Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight


We were back in our room, too wound up, anticipating seeing Rebecca and Kapono tomorrow—that and gettin' on a surfboard. Anyway, I was hoggin' the remote, for all the good it did. Even the movie channel had nothing we, wolfboys were interested in.

There was a knock on the door, and Embry answered it, expecting to see Leah. It wasn't. It was the maid, Lani … I think her name was. She and another maid, Malia were assigned to clean our rooms, and we got on friendly terms this morning—but not that friendly.

Lani was a loo ker, that was for sure, with big brown eyes, long dark hair, a nice tan, and a curvy bod. The girl glanced around Embry, waving at me. "Hi, Jake. I just wondered if you guys needed anything. I'd be glad to get it for you, whatever it is. Towels, soap, shampoo, snacks from the gift shop …"

Man, she certainly had the aloha spirit. This was definitely above and beyond the call of her duty. I walked up next to Embry. "Aren't you done with your shift by now?"

"Yeah, but I just finished rehearsal, and I was in the vicinity anyway, so I thought I'd drop by."

Embry asked, "Rehearsal?"

"Yeah, Malia and I are in the Polynesian Review ... you know, the Luau our hotel puts on every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Are you guys going to come see us?"

"Sure, sure." Now, don't be pointin' fingers at me. Besides, no use in hurting the girl's feelings.

"So did you need anything? I'm serious. It's no problem."

"Nah, we're good."

"Okay, maybe next time." She handed me her professional card, promoting her dance group, "The Malihini Meles", letting her fingers brush against mine. On the back she had written her phone number. "Don't hesitate to call me. I'd love to hear from you, really." She smiled brightly and said, "Aloha, Jake. See ya. You too, Embry. Too bad you've already got a girl. Malia thinks you're cute."

Lani sashayed down the hall, and we craned our necks around the door jamb watching her progress. Yeah, I know, but we're guys who appreciate beauty, anywhere we find it.


"Whaddya make of that?"

"I think she has a thing for you, Jake. I also think that she doesn't see you and Bella as a couple. I mean … let's face it. Anyone here would mistake her for your cousin or somethin'."

"Sh**, this could mean disaster."

Embry rolled his tongue around in his mouth. "Or, it could bring out the green monster in little Miss Swan."

My synapses fired. "Hey, maybe you're right."


I kicked around the idea that Embry planted in my head. I couldn't consciously flirt with Lani, even if I wanted to, and I definitely didn't want to. That'd be like playin' with a stick of dynamite. No thanks. I'd let her be the perpetrator. Besides, I wouldn't want Bella to think I was cheating on her, even tho' we weren't actually—I cringed at the thought—a couple. I'd go with the flow, riding the wave, and whatever happened … happened.

The telephone rang, wakin' me from a sound sleep. It was the front desk giving us a wake-up call. We needed to get an early start today. Rebecca was waitin' for us, and the waves would be pumpin', ready for our surfboards. I was totally stoked. I couldn't help it. Me and Bella on a board, ridin' the waves. Heaven … pure heaven.

Embry and I hurried to get dressed, sailed out the door, and across to room 617. Leah pushed the door aside, and she and Bella stood there just as Lani and Malia walked by. Lani stopped and winked at me. "Hi, Jake. You're up early."

The girl had purposely left the utility cart in front of a room at the end of the hall and sauntered up to me with Malia in her wake. She blatantly fingered my collar. "What a naughty boy you are. You didn't call me. Are you and Embry coming tonight?"

I shrugged, looking at Embry to bail me out. "Can't. We'll be in Laie, at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Maybe Friday."

Backing away, she cocked an eyebrow and said, "See ya then, haole boy."

I waved to her, smiling, and noticed Bella glaring at me with fire in her eyes.

Pointing at the girl in question, Bella asked, "Who was that?"

"She's one of the maids."

"And you're already on a first name basis with her?"

Extending my arms out on either side, I explained, "Hey, I was only being polite. You know me, Bells. I'm a friendly guy. I can't help it if the females naturally gravitate toward me. It must be my animal magnetism."

Embry butt in, "Guys … this can wait. We gotta get going. The car rental will be brought around front any minute now."

Leah nudged Embry in the ribs. "You're just lucky those girls didn't fawn all over you, or you'd be dealing with my wrath."

With his hands raised in surrender, Embry joked, "I wasn't their type; besides they knew I was taken."

"Smart girls. They get to keep their teeth ... this time."


# # # # #

Jacob looked like a male model, in his tropical shirt and white jeans. There was no denying how attractive he was, and those two hussies confirmed my opinion. The nerve of that Lani, putting her hands on my Jacob. And how did she get that familiar with him so fast? I mean … gosh, we'd only been here two days for Pete's sake. I suppose it's true what they say about the Hawaiians. They are so friendly—hmphm, too friendly if you ask me.

I choked down my whatever it was. It couldn't be jealousy; I didn't feel that way about him, did I? Sometimes it felt like it, but then that icy-cold always gripped my heart, chasing it away.

We stopped along the route to Kahuku to grab some donuts for breakfast and ate them in the car. Jacob devoured each one of his in three quick mouthfuls so he could drive without the distraction of eating. Embry restrained himself, and instead, finished his in four bites. Did they even taste them, I wondered?

With our stomachs full, we traveled the Kamehameha highway until the sign read Kahuku, then turned at Anapuni Street. Rebecca's home was at the end of the road, and set back against a tree covered hill. The house itself stood upon wooden stilts, I guess to avoid flooding onto the floors when it stormed. There were chickens in back, clucking about, and a goat tied to breadfruit tree, a good distance from their vegetable patch.

The front door flew open when we pulled up, and Rebecca shot out like a bolt of lightning. My gosh, she was so exuberant. She was shrieking in ecstasy at spotting us. Latching onto Jacob, she kissed his cheek, and squeezed the life out of him. "It's so good to see you, little brother." She leaned back slightly, tipping her head to take in all of him. "Not so little anymore, though, huh?"

Glancing at me, she tapped my shoulder and spouted, "And this must be the notorious Bella. I remember you. We played together before your mom shipped you off to Phoenix for good. I hear you made it back to Forks finally. Was Jake a factor in that decision?"

Jacob cut her off with, "Hey, Becca …"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, butt out."

Her eyes swept to Leah, next. "Lee, how ya doing? I'll give you a hug too, as soon as I get enough of Jake here."

She squealed, kissing him again. "I can't believe you're here."

Rebecca let go of Jacob and approached Leah. "And who's this handsome devil hanging off your arm, Lee?"

Poor Embry's cheeks flushed at her words.

Leah turned her head toward her wolf boy, in a show of pride. "This is my man, Embry."

Jacob's sister wrinkled her face in confusion, then all at once brightened, "Oh, right, Tiffany's kid. Oh, lord—he's shy. Look at that blush! Okay, sorry. I'm just so excited to see you all."

Shaking Embry's hand, she gushed, "I'm really glad to meet you, Embry. By the way, where did Tiffany dig up that name?"

Embry frowned, scratching the back of his head. "It's a long story."

"I'll bet. Well, let's all go on inside. Kapono's out in the shed, dragging out his surfboard. He'll join us in a few."

She walked between Embry and Jacob, craning her neck up at them. "Good lord, are all you home-grown boys this tall?"

"Pretty much," Embry touted, nodding sheepishly.


About two minutes after we entered the house, a husky man in a colorful shirt and blinding grin arrived like a blast of the trade winds. I imagined it to be Kapono.

"Jacob, my man," he brayed. "Kilauea—but you some moke kane now, eh?"

"Sure, sure," Jacob agreed, laughing.

"Well, hey … don't stall; introduce me to your friends."

Rebecca went into the kitchen while Kapono got to meet everyone. He shook hands all around, as Jacob gave him each of our names. Kapono spread his arms dramatically. "Welcome to our little grass shack, yeah? Look quickly tho', kanes and wahines. My ol' lady packed some onolicious grinds for lunch, so we are ready to go." He called out to the back room as Rebecca returned carrying a huge box of food. Jacob took it from her.

"Ephraim, we're leaving. Gonna catch us some waves."

A three year old boy, the spitting image of his father emerged from his room. He promptly grabbed hold of his dad's leg, and hid his face behind it.

Kapono patted the boy's head, and announced, "And this, my friends is Ephraim Isaiah Apaka, my son."

"Big name for such a little guy," Jacob quipped.

"Yeah, but he eats like three, and soon he'll be moke like you and Embry here."

Ephraim pouted, saying, "I don't wanna be moke like them. I wanna be like you."

Rebecca burst out laughing, and pulled her wounded spouse to her side. "Out of the mouths of babes … It's okay, Al, I still love you."


# # # # #

We all crammed into Kapono's Land Rover, his surfboard bein' already secured on the roof. It was off to Sunset Beach.

"I'm happy you all came here today. Gives me an excuse to ride the waves. Becca is so manini. She hates it when I answer the call of the ocean."

Rebecca faced him with her arms folded across her chest. "That's because I worry that you won't come back."

"Yeah, lots of cute girls in bikinis on the shore."

My sister swung around in her seat, looking over the edge of the upholstery at Leah and Bella. "He jokes about it, but I'm afraid that someday he'll wipe out permanently."

"Holey hula … never happen. You forget; you are talkin' to the primo surfer of Oahu."

She turned to him again. "That was a long time ago. You're a lot older now, whether you want to admit it or not."

"It's like ridin' a bike. I know what I'm doin', woman."

Rebecca sighed, "So they all say, before one huge wave buries them for keeps."

He made the shaka sign. "You worry too much. Hang loose, Becca, this is Hawaii nei."

Ephraim piped up. "Yeah, mom; you should hang loose, huh, Dad."

Slapping Kapono on his arm, Rebecca whined, "See what you taught him, Al?"

Bella looked confused, so I whispered in her ear, "They call him Al—short for Al Capone."


I leaned forward, and tapped my brother-in-law on the back. "Hey, Kapono, where's the best place to rent a couple of boards?"

"I'm taking you there right now. It's close to the beach."

We parked in front of Yonegi's Bait and Board Rentals. I kid you not. Rebecca stayed in the car with Ephraim, while Embry and I picked out our rides.

I tilted my head, one finger tapping on my chin. "So whaddya think, Bells? The red or the yellow?"

Embry, wide-eyed, corrected me. "Dude … not the yellow!"

Leah snickered. "It's just a color. It doesn't mean anything."

Kapono stood with a sober expression on his face, and dead panned, "Never underestimate a surfer's personal superstitions."

"Oh, for Pete's sake," Bella huffed, pointing out a board. "Rent the red one."

"You sure you like that one?"

There went the eye-roll. "Why would I care?"

"'Cuz you're gonna be ridin' with me."

"I–Whaaaat?"

"I'm gonna teach you, that's what."

She froze, slack-jawed, and speechless.

On the other hand, Leah practically bounced on her toes. "Whoohoo … sounds like fun. Can you teach me too?"

"No."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why not? I wanna surf."

Embry sauntered up behind her, nestling his chin into the crook of her neck. "Because, hon, I'm going to be your instructor."

The wolf girl whirled around, confronting him. "When did you learn how to surf?"

"I've been practicing with Jake."

Her arms were suddenly snaked around his neck. "Em, you are just full of surprises, aren't you? You can pick out any board you want. As long as I'm on it, I don't care. Can we hurry up a bit tho'? The stench in here is enough to gag an elephant."

Embry pulled out one of the credit cards that the hotel issued to us and paid for the surfboards. "Okay, let's go."

Kapono gestured to his entourage to follow him. Embry and I tied the boards on top of his, and we headed to Sunset Beach.