Chin knew he was being unfair, he knew he was being selfish but he also needed to gain the respect of the football team. He had been known as the guy from band practice, a bit of a no it all typical nice guy. He was respectful and polite and enjoyed his music but he also loved football. He had played on the team for years, but was never allowed to succeed. The other guys who were more popular made quarterback while he was left in the stands. The new coach had decided to revamp things, swap the guys about. He did trials and made Chin quarterback. He saw potential there and Chin was relieved that he could finally shine. The problem was the other guys. they didn't like the fact that Chin was now the star player, even though Chin always won the game and they started to make comments about him spending time with his little cousin.

"Who's the kid that follows you about like a lost puppy? Get rid of her mate! Has she not got her own friends? Have you not got any other friends?!"

Chin didn't care at first but it got worse. He let it get to him and he decided he could hang out with Kono as much. He told himself he just needed his own space and own friends, and that it would probably be good for her but deep down he knew he was a jerk. It started off with him cutting conversation short, not stopping to talk for as long, finding reasons to not go round at the weekend. He thought he was subtle, of course he would have plans he was eighteen he had a life but then he stopped meeting her after school without telling her and that's when she started to notice.

Kono walked out of school with her backpack on her shoulders and a smile on her face. It was Wednesday which meant Chin would be collecting her from school. She loved the days when Chin would meet her, she didn't live far from the school and would often walk home with a few friends and their parents who lived in the same direction but on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Chin would meet her. She stood at the bottom of the steps looking out the crowd of people searching for her cousin. She frowned when she didn't see him and climbed back up the steps for a better look. Still there was no sign and she headed for the main gates. She decided he was running late and waited at the gates for him to finally arrive. She thought about asking him to buy her two shave ice for being late but then decided she would let him off just this once. Half an hour passed and there was still no sign of Chin. Kono noticed the caretaker close and lock the gates, she realised she needed to pee quite badly and couldn't get back into school. She sighed and began to walk home, she couldn't wait forever.

Chin sat on the bleachers chatting up a girl, he wasn't one to go about hitting on the cheerleaders but since he made star quarterback everyone wanted to know him. He enjoyed the attention and the thrill of playing the game. As he sat talking to the girl the usual guys walked passed.

"Yo Chin! Thank god you got rid of that little kid; you wouldn't be able to nail the chicks if she was hanging about!"

"Yeah man! Good game!"

Chin nodded in acknowledgment and fought back the guilt that built within. He missed getting shave ice with Kono, and walking her home but he was also enjoying the attention from girls and the popularity. He knew it was pathetic but he didn't think Kono would care.

Kono stood at the school gates once again waiting for her cousin. Her friend's parents asked if she was being collected and offered to walk her home but Kono insisted that he cousin would come and get her. Again she waited until the gates were locked before sighing and giving up, she didn't know why Chin wasn't coming to meet her and she thought she had made him mad. Maybe she had done something to upset him and he didn't want to be her friend anymore. It made her sad to think her favourite person didn't want to see her no more but she held out for tomorrow hoping he was just caught up at school. When Friday came she left her class went to the bathroom before leaving and waiting by the gates. She decided to sit on the little wooden bench and waited patiently for Chin to arrive. Her mum had brought her a watch and she sat watching the hands go by trying to tell the time. When the gates were locked she thought about leaving like usual but she had been to the bathroom, she would be okay to wait longer. What if Chin had been arriving late all week maybe that's why she never saw him? An hour went by before Kono finally gave up. She wandered along the beach front and looked along the sandy beach. She noticed Chin hanging out with a large group of both boys and girls. She stood for a moment and watched him, he seemed happy. She didn't know the guys he was with and normally she would just go over but she didn't want to make Chin mad. She thought about waving but when he looked over he quickly looked away. She realised her mum would probably be home now and wandering where she had got to. She knew she would be in trouble if her mum realised she had been walking home alone and she didn't want to get into trouble. She hurried home and ran up the pathway, hoping she had beaten her mum. She got out her key and went around the back fumbling with the lock. She always found it difficult and normally whoever walked her home would help, she was only seven after all. As she walked into the kitchen she saw her mum look at her with relief in her eyes.

"Keikei where have you been?" Nani asked with concern, normally Chin would text if they were getting shave ice.

"Nowhere" Kono mumbled unsure what to say.

"Sweetheart did Chin walk you home?"

Kono didn't want to get into trouble she knew that if Chin wasn't there she was meant to walk with Leila and her mum.

"Ipo?" Nani said as she bent to Kono's level.

"No"

"Darling did you walk home alone?"

Kono looked to her feet and walked into her mum's arms as Nani held her close.

"Keikei"

"Yes"

"Ipo why did you walk home alone did you not walk with Leila and her mum?"

"I was waiting for Chin"

"Keikei sometimes Chin can't make it you know that and you should go with Leila"

"But I thought he might be late"

"What did he tell you yesterday did he say he would come?"

Kono remained quite knowing she had walked home alone since Wednesday"

"Keikei has anyone walked you home?"

"No mummy"

"Kono baby!"

"I thought Chin would come…he always comes"

"Ipo"

"I think I made Chin mad…he doesn't see me anymore…he doesn't pick me up from school and I saw him at the beach" Kono explained as she began to cry.

Nani's heart broke hearing Kono talk. She had noticed Chin not coming round as much but she out it down to school and work. Nani took Kono's hand and led her to the couch where they curled up together.

"Keikei maybe Chin is just busy with school"

"No…he was playing at the beach…I don't think he wants to be my friend anymore mummy"

Nani sighed and kissed Kono's temple softly.

"I will call auntie and see what she says about Chin okay, but you must promise me no more walking home alone, how about you go to book club after school then I will come get you"

"Okay"

"Have you got homework?"

"Yes"

"Why don't you go start it and I'll bring you a drink and snack in a minute?"

"Okay" Kono replied tearfully.

It was the following weekend and Chin's parents were throwing a barbeque. Nani had spoken to Mele about Chin but she didn't know what was going on. She tried speaking to him but he just claimed he had been really busy. When Nani and Kono arrived, Kono clung to her mother tightly. It wasn't like her at all she would normally go chase Chin around the garden or something.

"Hey Kono, Chin's at the bottom of the garden if you want to go see him" Mele explained softly.

"Does he want to see me?" Kono asked innocently.

"I'm sure he would love to see you"

Kono smiled hopefully and wandered through the crowds of family towards the garden. She spotted Chin with a group of friends and a few other older cousins. She wasn't convinced he would want to see her but she still headed over.

"Oi Chin ain't that the little kid that used to follow you about?"

"She's my cousin"

"She's always followed Chin about" One of the other cousins laughed.

Kono hovered awkwardly as she stood by Chin.

"Hiya" She grinned hoping Chin would be pleased to see her.

"Hey cuz" He replied casually.

Kono didn't think Chin wanted her to stay but her other cousin started talking to her.

"You okay Kono?"

"Yes"

"Is your mum and dad here?"

"Daddy's at work but he said he will come later" Kono explained as she decided to sit down.

"Ah okay"

Kono smiled shyly and began pulling the daisy's out of the grass as she stretched her legs out. She noticed how the group suddenly became quiet and stopped their conversation and she knew it was because of her.

"Shall we go catch some waves?" Chin suggested as he stood with the others.

"Can I come cuz!" Kono asked excitedly.

"Er it's pretty rough out there cuz better you stay here" Chin muttered as the group left her alone.

Kono looked at the ocean and noticed how calm the waves were. She sighed and decided to go back in side.

Nani watched Chin leave Kono alone and Kono get up and go inside. She understood that Chin was older and had his own friends but he had never minded Kono hanging out with him before.

"I need to talk to that boy" Mele said to Nani

"He's just growing up; he's got his own life now"

"Regardless he should have told someone if he wasn't meeting her from school"

"She thinks he's mad at her"

"What, bless her"

"She will be okay"

Kono waited by her uncle as he made her a hot chocolate. She asked for extra cream and marshmallows because that's how Chin made it. Her uncle sat her at the kitchen table with her drink and a spoon while he headed back outside. She didn't want to go out there in case Chin got mad. She ate the cream and marshmallows happily as she watched TV from where she sat. She noticed Chin's sister and her boyfriend come in and potter about the kitchen and heard Chin and his mates on the lanai after their surf. She picked up her mug but it was quite heavy and very full, she brought it to her lips but it slipped and she dropped the hot liquid over her tummy and legs. Kono screamed and cried hysterically as the hot liquid burnt her skin and he top stuck to her skin.

Keani, Chin's sister, turned and saw Kono crying. She ran to her and scooped her up before passing her to Nani as she ran inside.

"Keikei shhhhh It's okay"

Nani rushed Kono upstairs with Mele and stripped Kono of her clothes. Mele ran a cold bath and Nani sat Kono in it.

"M….mumm….y"

"It's okay baby you're okay"

Nani and Ke'ano decided to take Kono to the hospital to be safe. Her burns didn't seem bad since the liquid wasn't scalding but still hot enough to hurt.

The retuned home later the evening and Kono stuck to Nani side all evening. Mele, Kam and Chin's sisters came round later to see how Kono was but there was no sign of Chin.

"Where's Chin?" Kono asked softly.

"He erm…had to go out sweetie" Kam explained gently but he was bubbling with anger towards is son.

"Where did he go?" Nani whispered to Mele while Kono was distracted.

"He went out with those new friends of his" Mele bit

"Are they the reason for his change in behaviour?"

"Yes, he's been out so much more, avoiding family gathering's it's not him"

"Maybe it's a faze"

"I hope so because I can't see Kono so upset any longer" Mele sighed as she stroked her niece's hair.

Nani didn't know what to do, it was Kono's school play and a few family members were coming to watch. Chin had agreed months ago to come and see it and Mele had got him a ticket. She had laid into him over his behaviour before giving him the ticket and telling him to be at the performance. As they all sat there, Mele and Nani looked over to the empty seat. The children took to the stage and Nani noticed Kono straight away, a big smile on her little face. She could see Kono grinning at her and looking around. Nani knew she was searching for Chin and it broke her heart when she saw Kono's smile falter. At the end of the show, Kono walked out with tears in her eyes and she took Nani's hand.

"Did Chin not want to see me?"

"Chin was busy ipo"

"I made him mad didn't I?"

"No baby he's just super busy"

"I don't know what I did"

"Keikei you were amazing and Chin has missed out"

"It doesn't matter but he was my best friend" Kono said sadly as she walked out.

Kono left school on Friday and her auntie Mele collected her. She was having dinner and her auntie and Uncles since her parents had to work late. She was excited to spend some time there, she hoped she could see Chin and make things better. When they arrived home Kono quickly realised Chin wasn't home. She sat on the couch waiting for dinner before sitting at the table quietly. Chin returned home late and said a quick hello before going upstairs to his room. Kono finished her dinner and asked her auntie if she could do some drawing. Mele got Kono some pens and paper and left her too it. Kono sat and drew a picture of her and Chin and made it into a card. She wrote inside it and closed it just as her mum arrived. She quickly ran upstairs to Chin's room and knock softly. She peered in and saw Chin texting someone and listening to music. She didn't want to make him mad and quickly left the card on his desk before going downstairs to see her mum.

Chin moved from his bed and picked up the car. He looked at the picture of him and Kono and the word best friend scribbled on the front. He opened it up and felt guilt consume him as he read the card.

I'm sorry I made you mad and you don't want to be my best friend anymore. I am sorry I will try really hard to not be bad again because it made you sad with me. I love you Chin! Love from Kono.

P.S You are still my best friend.

Chin felt himself well up as he realised what an absolute jerk he had been to his baby cousin. He hated himself for ever making her feel like she had done something wrong. He realised how selfish he had been. He knew it was his friends influence and he knew he shouldn't care what they thought. He didn't even like them much. He ran downstairs and realised Kono had already left. He sighed and headed back upstairs punching a wall on the way.

The following afternoon Chin turned up at Kono's house with guilt written across his face. He knocked and waited for someone to answer. Nani came to the door shortly after he knocked with a look of surprise on his face.

"Chin?"

"Hey"

"Hi"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course" Nnai said as she let Chin through.

"Is erm…Kono here?"

"She's in her room…crying" Nani added.

"Because of me?"

"Yes Chin because of you…she's been upset for weeks because of you. She would wait at school until late thinking you would come to collect her then walk home alone! She thinks she's done something to upset you and make you mad at her and keeps asking me why you don't love her anymore!" Nani snapped angrily.

"I'm sorry"

"I'm not the one you should be apologising to Chin"

"I know"

"If you're going to go in there and upset her then leave now She saw you walking up the drive way and ran in their crying thinking you won't want to see her and that your mad at her"

"I'll make it right I promise"

"You better" Nani said as she watched Chin go to Kono's room.

Chin knocked on her bedroom door and peered round. He saw her curled up on the bed sobbing softly and cuddling her teddy.

"Hey cuz can I come in?"

"Did I do something bad?" Kono asked innocently. "Am I in trouble?"

"No no…I wanted to see you"

"Really?"

"Yeah…can I come sit with you?"

"Yes" Kono agreed as she sat up.

Chin took a seat next to Kono and brushed her hair from her eyes.

"I've not been very nice to you lately have I?"

"No"

"I'm really sorry cuz"

"Did I make you mad?"

"No, I just got in with the wrong crowd and I was a jerk…you haven't done anything wrong"

"Can we still be best friends?"

"You are my best friend ever!"

Kono smiled a watery smile as Chin lifted her into his lap and hugged her tightly.

"How's your tummy is it better now?"

"Yeah the doctor said I was really brave" Kono smiled as she lifted her top.

"Ahhh it's all better!" Chin exclaimed.

"Yeah!"

"Hey…am I forgiven?"

"Yes"

"Shall we go get shave ice?"

"Can I get two?"

"I suppose so!"

Give me prompts! Young Kono or Older Kono I don't mind!