"What did you just say?" Rome turns to Jessie, making a somewhat baffled face.

Jessie can't figure out, if he asks, so she'll repeat what she said or if he asks, because he really didn't understand what she said. Billie... she can't believe, that she said it out loud, that she said: "I'm Billie." If truth be told she wasn't sure whether she still was Billie or not. There was only one person who called her Billie... and this person... well, somehow wasn't there anymore... so, maybe she stopped being Billie. "Bye, Billie!" That's what Katie said... Jessie decides that it is worth a try to deny that she has said anything. Maybe he really didn't hear.

"Nothing."

"'A'ole, I'm sure you said something," he hesitates "something concerning Billie. I heard you say Billie. That's for sure, 'ea."

Jessie shakes her head and turns her gaze back to the sea. Out there... in the distance she can see Katie, waiting for the next wave. She was still so very beautiful... the cutest girl that has ever crossed Jessie's path. Even though she was completely shocked, her eyes were smiling... Jessie is sure that she has seen this little twinkling something in her eyes that she had seen when they first met, too. Oh, Jess... not again... she sighs. While she watches Katie, she starts to remember : Tad was trying to ask her out, when Katie came, completely excited, bursting from energy... her face beaming... with the sweetest smile on earth... she was so... bouncy... first it scared her a bit, she was so different... but then... she began to love every joke, every "hopping around" like she was about 5-years-old and after starting to love all this she noticed that Katie was so much more than this over-energized girl which she was in school...

Rome hits her.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Do you know who Billie is? Who's this Billie?" Jessie notes that he seems to be a bit angry... there was something in his voice.

"No. Please... just leave me alone for a sec. Could you look for Eli?"

"Au'e! I don't understand you girls! What's up? Ahmm... I'll just... Forget about it! I'll search for Eli! I suppose he won't tell me anything either..."

"Hey, brah!" Eli smiles at his new found friend and is a bit disappointed when Rome just grumbles.

Rome sits down next do him.

"Do you understand girls, Eli?"

Eli laughs and shrugs his shoulders.

"No one understands girls, why do you ask?"

Eli notices that there's something more serious that troubles Rome.

"Well, I met your sis in town, so I ask her to have lunch with us. We come to the beach, I find Kat's favourite sail... then we see Kat... I want to introduce Jessie to her... so me and your sis go to her. And then... booomm," he claps his hands, "they see each other... stare at each other... the next I see, is Kat fleeing in shock and Jessie stuttering something... I scream for Katie, tell her that I brought Billie, that's her favourite sail... you know... and then... Your sister said something about Billie... but... she denies."

Rome exhales noisily and leans back into the sand.

Damn! Not good! Not good! Eli thinks. That couldn't end well! He wasn't sure, but Katie must have been more than shocked... maybe scared to death... was a better expression. After a while he tried to imagine how he would feel, if he met one of his former girlfriends... one of those he left very quickly and without many words... he would be close to passing out from discomfiture. Then he remembers... Billie... hasn't Katie called Jessie Billie? His memory was a bit vague concerning this. He smiles to himself, if she called his sister that way, it must have been quite torturing to see Jessie and hear Rome shout: "Hey Kat, I've brought Billie!" What a weird situation, but it was pretty more weird that Katie calls her favourite sail Billie... he hasn't called anything he owns after one of his exes... maybe... Oh, don't screw it up, Eli! Don't!

"Brah... you seem to know something, too... why are grinning?"

Eli shakes his head.

"No... it's just... we... we know Katie, she went to High School with Jessie, they had been friends... that's it... and well, they haven't seen for a long time."

"That's all? Then who's Billie? They both seemed to know... 'ea?

"Don't ask me, brah! I won't tell you, I can't. It's not my story, ok?"

Rome clapped on his shoulder.

"Sorry, I pushed you. It's ok, you don't have to tell me, I'll talk to Kat tonight."

The swell is rather good and while Katie is sheeting out the sail, she waits for the wave to built. She senses that her mind is drifting away, that she's too careless... her thoughts are too occupied with something completely different. Jessie! What does Jessie do here? There was no explanation for this... coincidence? Fate? Katie aims for the wave's lip. I can't talk to her... I can't talk to her... the thought rambles through her head, while her body just follows her instincts, her daily routine of surfing. She hits the lip. What should I say? I left her... I freaked out and left her... I can't just tell her I'm sorry... that's not enough. She must've been angry... sad... disappointed... she might have forgotten me... come over me... she might not be in love anymore. The wave throws her up, but Katie has to little speed. She feels the pressure on the sail. What should I say? The truth? How does that sound? Her feet slip out of the footstraps. I still love you, Jess. Her hands grab fiercely for the boom, but it's too late. She has lost all control. She'll humiliate herself. And with this she hits the surface and the wave pushes her down under water. I can't tell her I've always loved her. Katie feels the wave crashing over her head... I'm so damned scared... scared to death... another wave pushes her down again. She desperately gasps for air. Then something hits her.

When Jessie sees how Katie disappeared into the water, she jumps up, staring helplessly to the ocean.
Katie! Oh, my god! A voice screamed within her. Just when she steps into the water, a hand grabbed her arm.

"What do you wanna do, sis? Rescue her?"

Eli has appeared right behind her. They watch the waves and wait for Katie to reappear. Jessie takes a deep breath. There she is! Katie dives out of the water and climbs onto her board again.

Rome has watched what had happened, too. He goes down the shore towards Jessie and Eli.

"She's driving me crazy today! What is she doing? That's a beginner's mistake... how can a pro like her..." He shouts and takes a few paces into the water.

After a few minutes Katie appears near the shore. She's pulling her board onto the beach... just a few meters away from Jessie... no glance... not a single glance. She steps out of the harness and a short bikini panty becomes visible, which makes Jessie sigh... that's my damn ex-girlfriend... think it again, Jess... your ex-girlfriend... Then she notices. Katie's left shoulder hangs down a bit oddly. Did she get hurt? She has hurt herself! Jessie suppresses the urge to run to her and help her... hug her... make the pain go away. Katie pulls the Lycra-Shirt over her head... what makes her groan from pain. Then she throws the harness and the shirt into the sand. Jessie doesn't know what should make her worry more, seeing her breathtakingly cute ex-girlfriend with tanned skin wearing a nothing of bikini or the fact that this ex-girlfriend has hurt herself rather badly... Jessie can't move, she just watches Katie. I'm not allowed, am I? She left me... and she fled when she saw me again... I'm not allowed to help her. Suddenly the sand begins to burn under her feet and the former cold breeze sets her skin on fire.

Rome runs towards Katie and grabs her harshly.

"Look at me! Look at me, Kat? You're still stoned. I said: Don't surf and smoke! You almost killed yourself."

"I'm not stoned, Rome!" She snaps and breaks free of his hold.

"Then what's up? You're acting... like a fucking lunatic."

"Nothing."

"Nothing," Katie storms up the beach, Rome follows her, "Kat, take Billie with you! You can't leave Billie at the beach again!"

She turns around, her eyes full of flaming fury.

"Rome! Stop this damn Billie-shit. Don't ever say it again!!! If this word ever slips your tongue again, I'll kill you... 'ea?"

Katie is shaking from anger... and from fear. She knows, Jessie must hear... Jessie must hear her. Knowing that Jessie was so close, makes her knees weak and her voice tremble.

"What? It's just a sail! And you always call it..."

"Pa'a ka waha!" She screams and runs off to the path that leads to the town.

Katie has ran home and Rome has followed her. When she reaches the door of her lodge, Rome steps onto the porch.

"Talk to me! What is happening at the moment I don't understand it, ipo!"

Katie stops dead. She knew it! This isn't about her. It's about him.

"Don't call me ipo!"

"Nau ko'u aloha." He whispers and anger suddenly vanishes from his voice.

That is something she knew right from the start: Don't try to be friends with a lonely surfer! That won't work... yeah, right... it doesn't work! Rome was a nice guy, he cares for her, he's sweet and kind of cute... but... there's nothing... definitely nothing. She knows that he won't accept that. And he will accept even less, that there's someone that'll get all he demands... There's only one human being breathing on this plant who will ever have her heart. That's what she couldn't bear for a long time... that was what she couldn't stand, that scared her away... that it might have been forever. Now she knows it definitely was meant to be forever... to late... she screwed it!

"No, Rome. And I that's what I tell you again and again. Please, accept it!" She tries to stay calm.

She doesn't want to hurt him. He deserves someone who really loves him, not someone who's just extremely lonely and desperate. That's the word she was missing: desperate! Yes, Singer: You're desperate. Your heart is desperately longing for the touch of one single person. And this person won't ever touch you again. Never! Well, maybe she'll kick my ass... who knows... but that's all I'll get.

"Why? Do you still love Billie?"

Rome's whole expression has changed, the cool surfer was gone. He has let his defence down. Katie has difficulties to stay composed. Can't he just stop talking about Billie? Every time she hears this name now, it's like someone was pushing a sword deep down into her heart. Don't cry! Damn, don't cry! It's your own fault that she doesn't love you anymore.

"Rome, let me show you something!" She says while opening the front door.

She guides Rome into her bedroom.

"Do I finally get to know who Billie is? The man that broke your heart?"

She smiles weakly... Billie, the girl whose heart I broke... he should really stop talking about Billie... it's so weird that I'll probably start laughing instead of crying if he goes on like this.

"Somehow. Look at this," she points at the old LP cover hanging on the wall, "do you know this woman?"

He shakes his head.

"Her name is Billie Holliday, she's a singer. It's a shame you don't know her, she's really talented."

Now her smile grows more confident. It's obvious that it takes Rome a few seconds to understand, then he starts laughing.

"So, it's all about... about a damn singer? You called your sail after a singer?"

She shrugs her shoulders.

"Well, somehow..."

"Then what... why have you been so shocked, when you saw Eli's sister?"

Katie sits down on her bed. Maybe telling him I'm gay and in love with Jessie isn't a good idea, but... it would solve a few problems... maybe he would start let go... and come over his crush on me.

"We were friends in High School."

She could just lie to him... he wouldn't notice and it wouldn't matter.

"Oh... well, I know. Seeing old friends is kind of bizarre sometimes. It's ok... maybe I would be as shocked as you were when some of my old friends showed up here!" He smiles at her comfortingly.

"Yes, it sometimes definitely is."

Suddenly Rome seems to remember that Katie was hurt.

"What's with your shoulder? It seems like it's dislocated."

He steps towards her and examines her shoulder.

"No, I don't think so. I'll see a doctor... later."

"You should... Shall I come with you?"

Katie shakes her head.

"No, no. It's ok. But... Rome, please: Never call me ipo again! Never try it again! You know I'll never love you more than a friends does, accept it... I would miss you as my friend..."

He silently nods and lets go of her shoulder.

"Yeah...," he suddenly grins teasingly, "ok, but can you blame me? You're the hottest bikini-beauty around... and well... speaking of hot chicks... you're old High School friend... whooo... au'e! She's cute. I suppose she was really popular in High School, wasn't she?"

Katie smiles. Jess... sweet Jess... too sweet to notice that she was on top of the most boys' list. But she was mine... mine... mine... mine... She sighs quietly... ok, Kat... huge, huge emphasis on the word "was".

"I'm not sure if I should tell you... but... did she ever tell you she is gay? She just told me... I mean... such a hottie... gay... I couldn't believe it."

Wow, big sigh! Big sigh coming up! At least she hasn't head back to boys. That's good. Very good. Katie nods and Rome grins even more.

"Sorry, Kat..."

"What?"

"I... you have to understand... I mean... I'm a guy... men like things like that... I just..." He stutters, hardly suppressing a giggle.

"What?" Katie barely hides her astonishment... but... a little smile is creeping up her face. She has this vague foreboding that she knows what he's thinking of.

"If I imagine you and her... had... I mean you were friends... oh, I'm sorry... I really shouldn't, I know you would never..."

"What? Have sex with a girl?"

He nods.

Thanks, Rome! Big hugs and kisses! I love ya, brah! Please, remind me a bit more. Just do it! It doesn't hurt enough already! It's not that I haven't had sex for... let me see... for about almost two years! Oh... ok, there was this one time... in surf camp... when... but it didn't work... we just reached... ok... we went up to topless... but I eventually started moaning someone else's name, so she practically threw me out of the tent half naked. And there was definitely no love involved... speaking of moaning names.

"Why are you grinning? Do you have? What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, brah! I really have to see a doctor. My shoulder kills me."

The sun has already started to set, when Jessie decides to go for a walk. Eli has already fallen asleep. He has surfed the whole day... well, he tried to surf the whole day with the help of Rome who had come back a few minutes after Katie and him had left. He told them that Katie's shoulder was probably dislocated and that she's off seeing a doctor. It seemed as if they had talked about a few things, Rome was happier than before, still a bit troubled but happier... happier than Jessie was.
Everything is quite now, most of the people who spent their day on the beach were enjoying their nights now. The temperature has fallen and a light breeze is now cooling Jessie's skin of.
Later that afternoon she talked to Rome and he said, that it might be a good idea if she talked to Katie. It was kind of sweet how he tried to tell her, that seeing old friends was shocking somehow and that maybe a few words would be good, talking about the old times and stuff... So, Katie didn't tell him about them. He didn't know. She really wants to talk to Katie, but what if Katie didn't want to talk to her? She left you, don't forget it, Jess. Maybe she's not interested in talking to you. If she was, she would have called, wouldn't she? Jessie remembered how much it hurt, seeing Katie being in pain... after her accident... and not being able to help her. Her heart almost screamed: "Hug her! Hug her! She needs you! Look in her eyes! She's almost crying!" But she couldn't, she couldn't just run towards her and fall upon her. She left me! She... left me! Leaving means... "I don't want you anymore!" Doesn't it?

Suddenly she notices that she has arrived at a small lodge. Oh, damn subconscious part of my mind! Couldn't just at least warn me? Just a short notice... like, hey conscious part of Jessica Sammler, I'm walking to Katie's home, ok?
The small house is a bit rotten and huge palm-trees are covering the whole garden, it has a small porch on the one side and... something that seems to be a veranda on the other side, from which can one look directly to the beach and the ocean... directly into the sunset. The dark sky was lit by the flaming red of the setting sun and already full of a million sparkling stars. There were a few broken sails lying on the path towards the house... and Billie. Jessie grinned. Somehow... something tells her... that this was a bit too obvious, wasn't it? On the other hand: She can't be sure. There was still this damn She-left-me-thought. Suddenly she hears steps on the veranda. Katie's home... she is home. Jessie's heart skips a few beats, the prospect of seeing Katie... of being close to her... is driving her crazy. She can't hold back...

Katie has sat down on the steps of her veranda. Every day ritual... start of the night... preparing her mind for sleep. She has placed the small black bag on her knees... as someone comes around the corner. She stops dead, her heart almost bursting and her stomach making some really... really... odd things... hello, butterflies, missed you guys! What does Jessie do here?

They look at each other silently. The air is crackling, so hard one can almost see the little sparks lighten the dark. The tension is almost unbearable.

Why doesn't she smile? Why's she staring at me? Katie wonders... fearing she know has to listen to a speech full of accusations and full of hate.

Why doesn't she smile? She doesn't want to see me, does she? Jessie's confidence slowly vanishes. This wasn't a good idea... it definitely wasn't.

Jessie comes closer and sits down next to her... taking care of not touching Katie's bare thighs.

Say something, Singer! Just say something! She's completely incapable of speaking. Tonight probably no sound will leave her mouth. Oh... and how much she has to tell her. I'm sorry, baby! I'm so damn sorry! She doesn't even dare to look at her, instead she looks to the ocean, into the sunset.

You have to say something, you can't just sit here. Then Jessie notices the little black bag in Katie's lap. No! She doesn't... maybe she already has... maybe... Jessie takes the bag and throws it away.

"You don't need it." She simply states, shocked by the hoarse sound of her own voice.

Katie's heart tosses and turns. The first words... Jessie's first words towards her for about 2 years...

"I know, ko'u aloha!"