ABOUT THIRTEEN YEARS LATER

ABOUT THIRTEEN YEARS LATER 1997

"I'm tired, Meggie! Plus, it's damn near ninety degrees I'm hot! Damnit, can't we just take a break? Or better yet, can't we just head home?"

"Don't be such a wuss, Kawika!" The young vixen hissed, fixing the straps on her roller blades. Pointing up at the climb that began at the wooden sign that said Lahainaluna High School, and ended somewhat at the intersection that separated Kualua Street and the road that would lead to Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High School, "Now get your butt up there and wait for my signal!"

"I ain't gonna do it, Kahea." Danny crossed his arms stubbornly, "I'm not gonna play chicken with you! It's suicide, damnit—and you know it!"

They stood on opposite ends of the main road, each facing the other off. A faint sound of an approaching vehicle could be heard making its way up. At the sight of the moving truck, Danny's face lit up triumphantly. "See?! See! Look at that! It's a truck, Meg! A damn truck heading up towards L.H.S! Now what the hell do you think could've happened had we played chicken? Huh? Huh?!"

The truck flew past them, the driver waved at the young teens. He chuckled, amused at the thought of youthful innocence still alive today if only he knew that the extent of innocence can only go so far

"You are such the chicken shit, James!" Meghan Kahealani Conner cried out, her eyes glaring at him with pure annoyance. "It's just one goddamn truck! There's no real traffic on this road during the damn summer time, Danny! Shit! Now get the hell up there!"

"Hey! Watch that mouth of yours, Meg!"

"Chicken shit!" She proclaimed, then stuck her tongue out in an immature fashion.

Danny turned around, his back facing Meg. The two thirteen year olds knew just how stubborn they both are when it comes to playing games. Danny hated playing chicken with Meg in any of its forms. Whether it be on skateboard, roller skating, or bike riding. He even had an awful feeling that once they had their own cars, Meg's practically going to be conning him into playing chicken with their vehicles.

"Ain't gonna do it, Conner I'd rather surf the waves at D.T. Flemings than blade down Lahainaluna Road just to play that stupid *suicidal* game of yours!"

"Fine!" Meg threw up her hands in rage. The young girl turned, facing the limed "L" on Mt. Ball. Immediately, she began to make her way up the rest of Lahainaluna Road.

Danny heard the sound of Meg's blades climbing the road. He instantly spun around, his jaw dropping at the realization of what Meg was going to do. "Meg! Damnit, Meghan! Don't you dare!"

He saw her place her hands firmly on her ears. Yelling, "I can't hear ya, Danny boy!"

"I'm not playing your game, Meg! I'm not!"

"Fine! Whatever! I'll just meet ya at the bottom then!"

"Damnit!" He cursed to himself. Danny raked his hand through his soft brown hair, mumbling, "That stupid girl is so stubborn!"

"Danny! Hey, Danny!"

Danny turned to face her direction, despite himself. He looked up and saw her, grinning ear to ear at the very entrance to Lahaina Intermediate. Meg turned, skating a bit farther up until she reached the stone wall built along the sidewalk on Lahainaluna High School grounds. Carefully, and with much skill, she got up and stood on the wall.

"Meg!" Danny called out to her, practically scared to death at the thought of how far she skated to.

"You ready, James?!" He heard faintly heard her.

Damnit! This isn't good Danny thought to himself. He then bellowed up to her, "I'm not doing it, Conner! I'm not playin' chicken wi—"

He heard the young girl whoop with pride as she jumped off the stone wall and began to blade down the curved road, gaining as much speed as possible.

"Aw damnit! Hell, Meg!" He cursed silently as he scratched the back of his head anxiously. Grabbing his helmet, he placed it back on and secured it tightly. Danny estimated the remaining distance his girl had left before she would reach him. Sensing that with her speed that there wasn't much left, "Meg!" He cupped his hands like a megaphone, "Right or left?! Right or left?!"

"Left!" She called out to him. "Left, Danny!"

He thanked God that she heard him. Reluctantly, and with urgency, he sighed and began to skate with fury towards her. "You better turn left, Meg!"

"Right!" Meg answered, immediately seeing Danny speeding towards her.

"What?!" Both his mouth and mind screamed. They were closing up on each other "You said left!" He began to huff and puff, his chest hurting as he ran with his blades towards her.

"I did say left! I'm going left!"

"You said RIGHT!"

"No, Danny! I said—"

Mere feet separated them now, especially as Meg's down hill speed increased at a rapidly dangerous rate.

"LEFT!" She screamed, just as Danny was within plain nose-to-nose sight of her.

Both adolescents screamed as they nearly collided with each other. Meg attempted to grab onto Danny's arm, with one movement, intending to yank him with her. However, her arm only managed to shove him towards the opposite end, and land on a dirt road.

Dust flew around Danny's still body. A groan escaped his lips, then he began to cough as he involuntarily inhaled the red dirt. Danny slowly picked himself up, hurting in every place possible. He rubbed the dirt from his eyes, cursing as he began to realize what had happened.

"Damnit, Meggie!" He coughed again, then dusted himself off. "I'm gonna kill ya for that stupid stunt you just pulled"

Once he allowed the dust to settle, Danny glanced around him for Meg as he removed his roller blades. A very nerving fear fell on him as his eyes swept the area for Meg and finding nobody. "Meg? Meghan?" His blood ran cold, his voice filled with panic. "Meg Meg!"

His soft worried eyes scanned the whole area around him, until

"MEG!"

Her body lain twisted and scratched up, lying unmoving right in the middle of Lahainaluna Road.

Danny just sat there, stunned beyond comprehension. The sheer sight of her lying there, like a ragged doll, terrified him. His mind commanded him to speak, but his whole being went limp with utter disbelief.

Finally, he found his voice as the disbelief died, "Oh my God MEG!" Danny pushed himself up, and sprinted towards her. Once he was by her side, he gently turned her over so that her back was flat on the asphalt. He nearly jumped, startled at the sight of blood on her face. "Oh, Meg" He whispered, his eyes near tears.

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