THREE YEARS LATER

THREE YEARS LATER 2000

"Danny question—are you completely insane, or are you, like, freakin' high on some marijuana shit?!" Her eyes were blazing at him with definite anger and fear.

"Meg" Sixteen year old Daniel sighed, rolling his eyes as he continued his way down the beach towards the ocean.

"Danny!" Meg exclaimed, her voice alarmed. She turned towards Danny's other best friend, practically pleading with him to get through to him. "Michael! Knock some sense into that damn boy! Tell him that he can't go through with this!"

Michael Casco nodded. He ran ahead of Danny, stopping him in his tracks. "Look, Danny Meg's right. This is nuts! You can't go out there today!" He said, indicating towards the rough and crashing waves.

Meg jogged up to both boys, placing a protective hand on Danny's arm. "I'm sure as hell not gonna lose my best friend today, Danny or any other day for that matter! Those waves out there are gonna eat you alive!"

There was a definite storm a brewing during this hurricane season here on the islands. Most days, the ocean waves were perfect for surfers of all ages but today wasn't one of them. In fact, if it were to fit the title of perfect well, the waves would be "perfect" for killing oneself at sea!

"Meg I need to do this, okay? Or else" His eyes turned dark and deadly as they were set upon a figure approaching them.

"Hey, James don't tell me that you're gonna back down like the wuss ass punk that you are?"

Danny tightened his grip on his surfboard, evenly growling at the six-one man before him. "I'm not backing down, Donovan."

Kimo Donovan, a senior at Baldwin High School, chuckled at Danny's apparent spite towards him. "Wouldn't expect anything less from a shit head like you, kid."

"Fuck off, Kimo!" Meg yelled, her temper rising to a lava point. Her eyes were flashing bright with anger, "I swear to God, Donovan, if something happens to Danny—I'll fuckin' hunt you down like the bitch you are."

"Hell, hon," Kimo sneered at the young vixen. "You got no one to blame but yourself if shit head here gets hurt you are, after all, the real reason why he's challenging me today." He reached up to stroke Meg's cheek, but his hand was knocked violently aside by Danny.

"Lay one fuckin' finger on her, Kimo, and you can forget about our surfing competition because I won't have a board to compete with—seeing as I'll have shoved it completely into your mouth and out your ass." Danny growled menacingly.

Kimo, unfazed by Danny's threat, only laughed. "Oohh are you threatening me, Danny boy?"

"No that's a damn promise."

"I'm sure it is, kid." Kimo scoffed. He turned his gaze right onto Meg, and with much bravado, he winked and blew a kiss at her.

Meg turned away, shuddering in revulsion by his action. She placed herself in Danny's arms, burying her head on his bare chest.

"Aww how sweet Danny boy protecting his little bitch girlfriend Hope she's worth all the sea water you'll be choking up once I'm through with you." Kimo snickered, then laughed loudly as he began to make his way out into the raging Pacific Sea.

"I'm gonna pound that bastard a new neck" Danny snapped, quickly dropping his board on the sand, and stalked up to pounce Kimo.

"Danny, no." Meg intercepted him. Michael joined them, also holding Danny back.

"Look, Danny, he's not worth it." She began, her voice pleading. "Damnit, I'd rather lose him to the waves than you! Don't let him talk you into surfer suicide! Please don't go out there please, Danny." Meg grasped his hand, refusing to let go.

"But Meg he's never gonna leave you alone unless I stand up to him."

"I can take care of that asshole!" She cried.

"Like hell you can, Meggie." His eyes were weary with frustration. "What happens if one night you're walking alone on the streets and he grabs you and rapes you? I can't be there for you 24/7, Meg."

"Then what is this stupid contest gonna prove then, huh? If you die, you won't be there for me at all!"

"I challenged him to this to prove that I'm true to my words! My promises! My warnings! If I back out, he'll just walk all over me! If I beat him"

He paused, then, with faith in his eyes, "When I beat him, he'll have to keep his word and leave us alone. If he doesn't keep his word, everyone will know what a prick he really is and he'll lose all respect."

"Everyone already knows that he's a prick, Danny." Michael sighed, "And they still respect him."

"Out of fear." Danny replied. "But once they know that the mighty Kimo can be beaten that he's human just like the rest of us they'll stop being afraid and just stand up to him!"

Danny walked back to retrieve his board. He leaned down to pick it up when he noticed a chain lain spread across it. The sixteen year old bent on his knees, slowly picking up what appears to be a dog tag out of the sand.

"What'cha got there, Danny?"

He inspected it, and feeling an immediate connection to the military tags. Looking closely, he gasped at the name inscribed on it. "Daniel Walker"

"Danny?" Meg placed a hand on his shoulder. She too gazed upon the tags in wonder. "Are those yours"

"I don't" Suddenly, an image flashed before him. A mere memory from a few years past of a kind stranger named Walker who had just smiled and nodded at Danny, right before the ambulance doors closed on him.

"Hey, Danny boy! Are you ready to rumble or what, pussy wuss?!" Kimo called, his voice faint yet was picked up by the wind, allowing Danny to hear him loud and clear.

Danny hung the dog tags around his neck, then picked up his surfboard and began to walk out.

"Danny" Meg began to protest again, but Danny stopped her.

"Meghan, since when have you told me to stop taking stupid chances like this? Remember three years ago that suicide chicken game almost cost you your life!"

"The only difference is that I'm not gonna be out there with you! All those kamikaze games of ours always include the both of us! I won't be there with you if the waves decide to eat you whole! Instead, I'll be on shore watching helplessly while Mother Nature takes another man out to sea!"

"I'm sorry, Meggie I have to go" He whispered, then placed a gentle reassuring kiss on her cheek.

Danny turned to leave, when Meg grabbed him and enveloped him in a fierce hug. With urgency and love in her voice, "Please come back, Danny. With your heart, please come back."

"With my heart and on my honor." Danny promised, returning Meg's hug.

Michael approached his best friend. "Hey man, play it safe out there, kay? And whoop that prick's ass into next Tuesday." He held out his hand, which Danny shook.

"Hey, Mikey. I want you to take care of Meg for me, in case I don't make it." Danny half joked. Unfortunately, neither Meg nor Michael really appreciated that comment.

"C'mon, Danny don't joke like that. Just make it back safe for the both of us." Michael replied.

Danny stood still for a moment, taking in what Michael just said. For a brief second, he swore that he heard a familiar echo speaking those exact same words feeling the exact same emotion of fear and hope in a loved one's return home.

"Time's a tickin', Danny boy! Just be a good little bitch and wuss out." Kimo taunted Danny.

"I am so gonna kick his ass." Danny proclaimed to both Meg and Michael as he strode on over to his nemesis.

Before Danny could fully approach him, Kimo jumped right into the waves. Danny watched as Kimo just drove straight through the rising and falling walls of water.

"Lord be with me." Danny prayed as he too jumped and began to swim right into his fate.

The dark clouds surrounded the whatever remaining patch of clear blue was left in the sky. The mighty winds sang and played with the leaping ocean waves. From Meg's point of view, she witnessed her Danny slowly become a single speck over the horizon. "Be with him" She prayed, feeling Michael's arms wrap around her. "Please keep him safe"

Danny slowed his pace as the waves began to turn and turn. He knew that he shouldn't fight against them that he should ease right through them as carefully as possible. Finally, he had caught up to Kimo, who was sitting on his board, checking his invisible watch.

" Bout time, James. Bit afraid that you backed out"

"You? Afraid? Since when?" Danny sneered, wiping a bit of sea water from his face, and slowly getting up on his board.

"Yeah I was afraid that I wouldn't get the chance to kick your puny ass."

Sarcastically, Danny came back with, "You pervert. Didn't know that you were fascinated with my ass my, my, what will the lovely ladies think of you now?"

Kimo's eyes blazed, "Don't know why don't you ask Meghan?"

Danny stopped short, anger boiling at the thought of Kimo's twisted affection towards Meg. The weather building up around them began to match Danny's growing temper. "When I'm through with you, Kimo if you even think about Meg—I'll also shove your board down your throat and through your ass."

"First one to make it back to shore on an actual wave, without falling off it, wins." Kimo growled.

Danny nodded silently, his eyes glancing behind him every so often to see whether or not the right wave was approaching.

It was then that he saw his chance. While most of the waves before and after it seemed to be close on one another, this sole wave separated itself from the rest. This was Danny's perfect wave.

"See you at the shore asshole!" Danny cried, giving out a big delighted shout as he allowed the wave to let him ride.

The ride was beautiful and calm as could be. Danny slowly picked himself up until he stood and began walking a bit towards the end of the board. He allowed himself to glide on the wave, feeling himself so in sync with this sea beauty.

Danny felt like he was flying. Felt a powerful surge of triumph over this wave. He looked far and ahead to see his Meg and his friend Michael cheering for him from the shore. Danny smiled, holding up his two fists victoriously.

He would have made it safely too—if he hadn't looked back for Kimo. Danny glanced behind him, and a chill flew down his spine as he spied a lone surfboard just merely floating on a wave nearby.

"KIMO!" His mind screamed. Shit! Where did that bastard go?!

Danny's perfect wave obediently brought him back to shallow waters. Once he realized that Kimo must have fallen and was sucked under the waves, Danny flew his board onto the higher land and began to swim back.

"Danny! Wait up!" Michael quickly removed his shirt, also jumping in after his friend.

Meg was about to join in when she felt a comforting hand grasp her shoulder. She spun around, meeting eyes that she thought only her Danny could possess.

"Stay here. Don't want your boy to worry about you too." The stranger with soft brown hair and gentle green eyes said.

Meg nodded numbly, her eyes averting back onto Danny and Michael.

Danny and Michael, though completely sore from swimming though the walls of water, managed to reach Kimo's board.

"Where the hell is he?!" Cried Michael.

"I don't know!" Danny replied. He swallowed his breath, then dove under to scan the depths of the sea floor. Danny estimated that from the top of the water to the bottom floor was at least six to seven feet. When he felt the oxygen escape himself, Danny shot up through the ocean-air barrier, filling his lungs up with sweet air.

"You find him?!" Michael shouted, his voice going against the wailing winds.

Danny shook his head, too exhausted to shout. He allowed more oxygen, then dove straight down again.

The water was really fighting with Danny. In his mind he prayed that Kimo was okay. Though the guy was a major pain in the rear, even he doesn't deserve a watery grave.

Suddenly, it was as if a ray from heaven peeked through the clouds, allowing a light to shimmer into the dark sea. Danny momentarily froze with shock and relief as he spied a huge six foot one body floating under water.

Danny shot up, wanting to refill his lungs. Extremely relieved to have found Kimo, he called to Michael, "I found him, Mikey! Stay here while I go get him!"

"Be careful, Danny! Don't let any undertows pull you in!" Michael warned his friend.

Danny swallowed more sweet air, then began to swim towards Kimo's fallen body. He dove under, and with whatever strength he had left, Danny pulled him to the surface.

Michael began swimming, with Kimo's board, towards them. A triumphant smile was on Danny's face as he placed Kimo's still body on the board.

"Is he dead?" Michael asked, fear in his voice.

Danny checked his pulse and sighed with relief, "Nope. The damn bastard's still alive. His pulse is weak, though."

"Let's get this sorry ass back to shore, and get him some help."

With a crazed smile, Danny joked, "Well, I bet if we ask Sal, he would gladly give Kimo some mouth-to-mouth. Y'know that guy has the hots for Kimo for some time now?"

Michael cackled, "Oh man! Is that the real reason why Sal signed up to for that certified CPR class? Just the opportunity to legally give guys some lip-mouth action?"

"Dude, why else?" Danny remarked, despite his weary state.

"Cold, man. You is cold!" Michael grinned.

"Hell ya! Talk about literally speakin', Mikey. Let's get back to shore." Danny said, helping Michael glide the board, with their fragile package, back safely.

Danny felt his spirit soar as he could nearly see his Meg anxiously waiting his return. God so this is what being a hero feels like? He grinned to himself. He began to kick harder, wanting to get back to his best friend, when

His grasp slipped from the board, causing his head to unfortunately meet with the harsh surface of the surfboard. Everything around him was engulfed into darkness as he felt the sea surround him.

"DANNY!" Meg shrieked at the mere sight before her. She saw everything. Saw him smiling directly at her one minute then fall into the watery abyss the next.

"Stay here!" The kind stranger with eyes like Danny ordered her. Meg watched helplessly as this man sprinted towards the water, and dove straight through.

Michael had felt Danny's side of the board go limp and light. He turned around and gasped as he witnessed Danny fall deep and in. A part of him wanted to just leave Kimo and dive right in to save Danny however, knowing Danny, he would've wanted Michael to take Kimo to shore safely.

Michael was confused. He had no idea what to do. "Damnit! Screw this Danny!" Michael shoved Kimo's board aside, intending to go after his best friend.

"Get him to shore!"

Michael froze at the gruffness in this stranger's voice. This stranger stopped for a second at Michael's side, practically ordering him to shore. "I'll get Danny. You get this guy some help."

The teen just nodded, a strange calm setting over him as he regarded this man. It was if he could trust this stranger to take care of Danny to trust Danny's life in this man's hands.

"Go!" The stranger barked at Michael.

"Y-y-yes sir!" Michael cried, then began to head towards an awaiting Meghan. He didn't dare turn back to watch this man dive into the dark waters.

Tired and weary, Michael heaved Kimo on the beach. Meg made her way towards him, followed by a couple of their classmates whom had witnessed the whole thing.

"Michael! Where's Danny?!" Meg asked, tears streaking down her face.

"Michael! God, are you okay?" Nathalie Casco, Michael's twin, tackled her brother, hugging him fiercely.

"Yeah, yeah, Nat. I'm okay."

"Michael" Meg pleaded for an answer, her nerves shot.

"This guy he went in to get Danny" Was all Michael could say. It was all he himself could summon up.

Nathalie and a fellow classmate turned towards Kimo, and began to administer CPR. Someone had already dialed 911, and the sound of an approaching siren could be heard wailing in the distance.

Meg's knees immediately buckled, causing her to fall on the sand. Michael instantly caught her, cradling her as she began to sob in deep fear for her dear friend.

"I I can't can't lose him, Michael" She sobbed.

"Don't, Meg sshh it's okay" He comforted her, holding her tight. "I have a good feeling it's a strange feeling, but that guy that said he'd find Danny I just *know* that he will"

Michael gazed at the stormy sea, watching as the waves continued to crash one on top of the other. "He will find Danny He will"

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