They are still wearing their leis, with which they have been greeted at the airport. Jessie had insisted on bringing their luggage to their lodge first, so Eli had grumbled the whole way. The beach, the surfing, the girls, that was all he was here for... well, ok... almost, spending some quality time with his little sister was another reason. Jessie still wasn't so convinced of Eli's idea... having a great time on Maui... never in a thousand lifetimes she would have thought she would visit Maui ever... But as Eli had came up with this plan, she agreed, just because it was a great, great opportunity to flee from her life... which had been a bit upside down since she had left high school. Boys... girls... who cares here? After Katie had left her, she decided to experiment a bit... with dating boys... which made everything so damn complicated, besides she started not liking it very quickly. Then she dated... well, no one in fact... because every girl that had crossed her path... had to compete with Katie, which made everything some more complicated. On the one hand, she didn't want to be alone, but on the other hand, she still couldn't think of anyone else but Katie.
"Wow! Look at this!"
A broad smile crosses Eli's face. That's what he had wished to see. This was Maui!
"Swayze! It's a Swayze!!!" Someone screams and some guys start clapping their hands.
Jessie notices that everyone is watching one specific surfer who has just finished one of his jumps when a wave broke right him. Eli is completely fascinated. He stands there, his mouth somewhat wide wide open, watching the surfer In amazement.
"That's... wooo... look at that! Jess! Incredible!"
Jessie just smiles at her brother's childlike enthusiasm. There are two other surfers standing close to them and Eli goes to them.
"Ahm... sorry, guys! Who's that?" He asks.
One of the guys smiles at him, showing his bright, white teeth, and nodds towards the sea.
"Hey, brah! Sorry, I don't know the girl's name... but she's definitely da big kahuna!" He laughs and the other surfer, who stands close to him, adds:
"Definitely, but too much pakalolo... you know," he wiggles brows, as if he has said some code word, "she's been here for a few months, driving all the guys crazy... wow, look at that... finishing with a Backwind Jibe 360." He laughs and turns away from Eli.
Eli goes back to Jessie, who has sat down in the sand.
"And who's the guy?" She asks.
Eli grins. "It's a girl!"
Jessie notices Eli's expression and shakes her head. Oh, Eli! Not as if he falls in love quickly, but he's so... easy to impress. But having a closer look... well... nice, oh stop it, Jess! You and your ass-obsession, she smiles to herself... oops, that's not her butt... that's the harness...
"What are you smiling at?" He suddenly feels kind of insecure. Is she laughing about him? Ok, he's a little bit over-motivated when it comes to surfing, but... that's not fair!
"Oh... I...," Jessie thinks a second about it and decides to shock her brother a bit, "I just noticed that it's a harness and not her ass, I'm starring at." She grins, loving it to tease him and seeing how his eyes dilate.
"You did what?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I told you I was gay, didn't I?"
Eli grins.
"Yes, you did... well, not face to face, but this Katie-thing was a bit too couple-ish... but, sis, you never told me, you have a little ass-obsession..."
"Get used to it!" She smiles and as he smiles back, he holds his hand up to give his sister High Five...
"Seems some things are really hereditary!" He jokes.
Maybe this trip was the best idea he ever had. Spending time with Jessie alone was something he had missed for a long time.
"Ah, by the way Jess, you're the smart person here, do you know what pakalolo means?"
Jessie shrugs her shoulders and turns her gaze to the sea. It's so very beautiful... she thinks by herself... more beautiful as on the TV screen. Maybe she should forget about this damn college-stuff and just stay here... no, she couldn't... ambition, ambition... who needs A's anyway? A soft breeze stroking through her blond curls.
"Hmm... why do you ask?"
Eli leans back into the sand into she shadow of a palm-tree.
"Because the guys over there said that she's one hell of a surfer, but has too much pakalolo."
"Ambition?" Jessie asks.
"No," Eli shakes his head, "I don't think so, he wiggled with his brows... made a somewhat funny face as if I should have know what he meant."
"Pot... Eli, I think, he wanted to tell you that she's smoking too much grass."
"What?"
"Grass... pot... weed... even I know what that is." She grins.
Eli sits up again. "Ok, first you tell me, you're gay and now you're THAT expert on drugs. I'll have nightmares tonight! You just started college, Jess. Where will that end?"
"I just assumed... wiggling eyebrows... a surfer... pakalolo... no need to worry big brother." She tries to calm him down.
Both smiling they continue to watch this mysterious surfer ride one wave after another. Jessie becomes aware of something familiar... some certain way of thinking... she could almost sense the girl's drive, her passion... she must be bursting from energy. Jessie smiles to herself, the thought of this girl making a pass at her makes her skin tingle... not that she needed another lousy, meaningless relationship on her list. But, does it matter? It is her first spring-break, maybe she should change something, do something different, to break free of this circle... she likes herself, she likes that she's ambitious, smart... whatever, but she misses this certain thrill... the thrill that had left with Katie.
"Hey... ehmm... brah!" one of the older surfer guys touched Eli's shoulder.
"Yeah?" Eli turns around.
"You seem cool. There's a huli huli at the beach tonight... a barbecue... maybe you and your girlfriend wanna come?"
Jessie grins. "I'm definitely not his girlfriend."
"Whatever," the guy says a bit confused, "would be cool if you could join us. She," he nodded towards the sea, "is there, too. You like her, don't you? Heard how you were asking Jamie about her. Maybe you can chat a little bit with her... if she's not too... well... taken away... you know, brah."
Eli nodds, silently freaking out. He's just on the isle for about two hours and he's already invited to a beach party and will meet the most famous chick at the spot. The guy smiles at him.
"Great, by the way, you can call me Rome and we'll meet at Maui Sunset, see you there!"
When Rome has left, Eli starts to giggle. "That's so damn cool."
Jessie just shakes her head. "It's definitely grass... pakalolo is definitely grass."
"What? Aww, Jessie... leave it! I don't care! I wanna have fun," he jumps to his feet, beginning to shadowbox, "sis, that'll be our best spring-break ever!"
"Totally." Jessie smiles and for a second... for just a second, she thinks about Katie, how much she would have enjoyed it.
And she has thought a moment too long. Eli and her had went back to the town and did a little bit of sightseeing before they got back to their lodge. But Jessie couldn't enjoy it, the memory of Katie had begun rampaging through her head. Why did she leave? Why did she just leave without telling why? The night before they had talked through the night... they had been so close... so close... It was the last time she had seen Katie. No letters, no phone calls. Jessie had met one of Katie's brothers and he had told her that Katie had gone off to college... Princeton as he said, she told him, that Katie just left... and he said that she didn't even call home, that no one knows how she's doing. She just left everything behind. Grace, the only one who knew about them officially, had said that probably Katie got scared of the whole situation... that they had been "too in love", too close, their bond too strong... And Jessie would have understood that, she had felt the pressure too... but they could have worked it out... they could have.
Eli slams at the bathroom door.
"Jess! Get ready! I wanna leave! It just a beach party... no one will drive you over a catwalk. Come on! Who do you want to impress?"
"Stop getting on my nerves! I'm coming." She smiles lovingly as she steps out of the bathroom.
"Wow? Any second thoughts, sis?"
Jessie grins and pushes him aside. No! No, seconds thoughts, but it isn't forbidden to play with a fire a bit, is it?
"No, I just like this wearing this stuff."
Eli shakes his head in surprise. His sister grows up... she definitely grows up and he had already missed half of the show. Jessie is wearing a blue top and a thin darkblue cloth with a flower print, wrapped around her hips... is it too much? Jessie looks into the mirror next to the door. It isn't too much, is it? Oh god, she's going to embarrass herself... she knew it...
"Aloha ahiahi!" Rome greets them.
The sun has already begun to set. The dark blue sky is dipped in to shades of red and orange. Under the palm-trees a big bonfire has been lit and a bunch of people is sitting around it, they laughing and talking very loud. Someone is playing guitar and a few girls are singing... somewhat high-pitched.
Near the water two guys were taking care of the barbecue.
"Come on! Sit down! Have a drink!"
Jessie and Eli are immediately captured by the atmosphere. Jessie refuses to drink, she wanted to experience this with a straight mind. It fells so calm... so at ease and relaxed, she was sure she would forget about some worries here.
Next to her, two girls were chatting about the sails they are going to use the next day. Something about 4.0 or 5.4... then they argued about the wind... side-shore, off-shore... she doesn't understand, but it doesn't matter.
She had to smile a bit to herself. This was definitely some kind of heaven. She is sitting in midst of a bunch of girls in bikinis with tanned skin and a beer in their hands... like some bad TV movie... if it was really funny, she would have laughed. Instead Eli recognized her thoughtful face and grinned at her.
"Paradise, Jess, isn't it?"
And she just smiled back. Men!
Rome came towards them and let himself fall down into the sand next to them.
"Enjoying yourself?"
They nod.
"Great, just get yourself something to eat, if you want to. I'm sorry, but our best chick isn't here yet," he grins at Eli, "I'm not sure if she'll show up, anyways. As far as I know she spent the whole day surfing... the other guys have seen her at the beach only twice... Ehm... brah, have you ever surfed?"
Eli shakes his head.
"No."
"We'll change that tomorrow, 'kay?"
Eli wants to answer, but all of a sudden the crowd gets crazy and begins shouting.
""Geev uum! Geev uum!"
Everyone, except for Jessie and Eli, stands up and claps in his or her hands. It seemed as if someone special has arrived. Some of the guys are running towards a bunch of people that is coming together just a few paces away from them. They hear them shouting.
"This was the most amazing Duck Jibe 540 I've ever seen!"
"Hey, I didn't thought you would survive this da'kine wave!"
"Can you help me with my Swayze tomorrow?"
Eventually all barbecue has been forgotten and all of them were going on rampage. Even the girls who were just a second ago passionately discussing their choice of sail, had left the bonfire to greet the person who had arrived.
Eli smirks. "Easy to impress, those guys. Must be our surfer chick!"
Jessie nods... and from nowhere she suddenly gets nervous. Something creepy crawled up her throat. It wasn't as if she had to make a pass at this chick, was it? She hadn't even seen her up close... just from a distance... she even mixed up her ass and her harness... Rome stands up and pushes and pulls through the crowd.
"Shaka, kahuna!" He says calmly and bows his head. His broad small of the back preventing Eli and Jessie from seeing who really has come, to attend this little beach party, too.
"Pehea 'oe?" Rome adds.
"Thanks, Rome, I'm fine. Just a bit tired as always." A voice says.
"I see you've already relaxed a bit... but, don't you want something to eat?"
The voice laughs. "Totally."
And with this Jessie's heart malfunctions. Totally! Totally! How often has she heard this phrase, this intonation of just a few letters... How often has heard this voice whisper? Some kind of invisible grip tightened around her chest. The last thing this voice has said to her were "Bye, Billie!" and this was almost two years ago... well, ok: one year, seven months, three days and approximately 2 hours ago. She tries to hide her shaking hands behind her back. Eli is so drawn away that he doesn't notice his sister's change of behaviour.
The crowd parts and the girl stepped into the light.
Her hair is bright blonde, bleached by the water and the sun. The top and the hot-pants she's wearing are barely hiding her dark tanned skin. In her right hand she's holding a little black bag.
Rome, who has fetched something to eat for her, comes back and gives it to her.
"Ono!" He grins widely.
"I know," she smiles back at him, her whole face immediately lightening up, "I don't wanna leave, brah, but I need some time alone... I just wanna hear you having a great time... I'll sit over there, please take care, that no one disturbs me, ok?"
Rome nods.
"Of course, honey. Whatever you wish," and he quietly adds, for almost no one audible, "but... no... no pakalolo, 'kay? It's too much, kahuna... and you know it."
She doesn't answer and turns around, walking towards the shore.
"Wohoo! And that's definitely not her harness!" Eli says grinning broadly.
Jessie's still petrified, unable to move or speak. This must be some weird dream... not a nightmare... just a weird dream... Katie! Katie's here. This damn hot surfer chick is her Katie. About 75 of her thoughts are running wild for happiness and the other 25 are so scared that she's close to fainting. Why did Katie left?
Eli hits her.
"What's up, Jess?"
"What's up? Eli! Don't tell me, you haven't noticed!!" She almost screams.
"What?"
Dump ass brother!! She angrily thinks, he can't be this blind.
"It's Katie." She whispers.
And Eli just doesn't know what to answer. He turns around to the sea.
Katie has already eaten up, what Rome has given her. She's lightening a joint as she steps into the water, making a few paces and then standing still, taking a deep drag, relaxing immediately. She smiles to herself... there were only a few things missing, so she could be happy again. Since she had left Princeton her life had begun to improve with every step she took. Confidence is slowly coming back after all mistakes she had made... Mistakes that where somewhat haunting her every night... reminding her of a certain blonde girl that had stolen her heart completely. Yes, Kat! Think about it again! As always! That's the reason why you're smoking so much grass... with every drag you take... her face becomes clearer. Until you see her face again! I'm such a dud! She smiles to herself! So damn, damn foolish! I'm... well, yeah... I was kind of witty until a certain point in my life... but she took it all... all my senses... all my thoughts... And she's missing... she's the missing piece in my puzzle. I was scared! Yeah, right... scared of yourself, idiot!
And with this Katie looks up to the sky, where all the stars are sparkling down on her. And she quietly whispers: "Jess, honey, wherever you are! I miss you! I'm so sorry... and I miss you."