Forty Three: Olivia
Well, she's taking this well. Not knowing where we're headed and letting me drag her here. She doesn't seem worried or nervous. Maybe she's relieved? Either way, I know I feel nervous, and it isn't about the flight. This week has to be perfect. I think if one of us chipped a nail, the apocalypse would finally happen. So, yes… perfect.
…Please put all belongings in the over head compartments and place your trays in the upright position. Now departing for Phoenix…
"We're going to Arizona Olivia?" Alex asks, horribly confused.
"Ha ha! No, we have a stop over flight. It's going to be a long one but it will be worth it." I say with a smile. I want her to ease up. I want myself to. Maybe I can trick myself into it.
The further we fly from New York, the happier I feel. I never thought that was possible. It's only 9 p.m. but it doesn't matter what time of the day it is when Alex nods off. She falls asleep all the time; maybe because she doesn't sleep at night. I don't bother her though.
I rest my head on the back of my seat and look at her. She's curled up against the window of the plane and I watch her chest slowly rise and fall. The in-flight movie is softly buzzing some chick flick with a soothing soundtrack in the background. I lay my coat on her lap and she lets out the softest of sighs. It makes my stomach twist and I smile. It's good to feel a twinge of normalcy, even if it's only for a moment.
A half hour lay over, two cups of coffee and a turn down the wrong terminal later we are on the correct flight to Hawaii…
"I don't even believe it! You should have told me," Alex says swatting my shoulder as the flight attendants close the overhead compartments, preparing for take off. Her smile is splashed across her face and she's so excited. It makes me laugh with happiness knowing I could pull her out of her funk. I have a great feeling about this week. "I've never been to Hawaii!"
"Are you kidding me? You're family never went? You don't have like ten houses down there?" I joke and she pretends to frown. The smile returns and she shakes her head. "What?" I ask.
"You," she starts. Seriousness is laced along her grin. "You just are always on top of things aren't you?"
"If the night goes well," I joke. She gasps in 'disbelief' and laughs at me.
"OH YOU!" She swats at me again and as I swat her back, our hands fumble and she catches mine; holding it tightly. "I mean it Liv. Thanks." I smile at her and the electricity I feel cursing through our fingers gives me chills.
Getting off the plane, we're so exhausted. I wanted her to wake up in Hawaii, that's why we're getting here so late. I look down at my watch, 12:45 a.m. We rent a car and I drive us to Maui.
"Oh my Gosh, look at this place!" Alex exclaims as we drive up to the hotel. The check in building has, what looks like, a jungle in the lobby. A waterfall demands attention as bright birds sit on the trees around it, squawking. Alex's eyes are wide as she takes in her surroundings. I go over and check us in.
"So where's our room?" She asks as I lead us out the back door. I've done my research about this place online. It was perfect… and some what affordable. With map in tow I lead her to our town house. As we walk in, we drop our things in the kitchen and Alex wanders down the hall. "Wow, this is all for us? Olivia, you really shouldn't have, this is so… Oh look at the view!" I step into the living room and see her standing on the patio over looking the incredible drop to the ocean below. The living room is open and spacious with enormous windows looking over the sound.
"I'm glad you like it," I say, walking up behind her. She turns to face me and just as my hands touch her waist, her lips are on mine. My body lights up. Her movements are slow and sensual. Just when I think my legs are going to snap she breaks the kiss and throws her arms around my neck so tightly I'm having trouble breathing. "Things are going to be right from now on," I tell her breathlessly. I want the chain to start right here.
We wake up in beautiful Maui, just as I had planned in my head… only I could never imagine it like this. The town house with the straw roofing and wooden interior lights up like magic when the sun first rolls over the, now, sparkling water. It's incredible and for the first time, in what feels like months, Alex opens her eyes and greats the day with a smile.
The first three days we spend exploring the island and all it has to offer. We watch flame throwers and hula dancers on the beach and I take Alex to restaurants that have exotic character. We're tourists, but we don't act like them. We've had drinks at tiki bars. We've wandered to a half a dozen beaches, where the water is always crystal blue.
"Come body surf with me," I ask her excitedly. The beach we've hit today is perfect for it.
"You go on without me," Alex answers, somewhat distracted.
"Why? You come too! I know you're burning up, now come on!" I place my feet on either side of her towel and tower over her.
"You're blocking my sun detective!" She answers playfully.
"Get up or I'll arrest you for being uncooperative!" I laugh reaching down for her hands and pulling her up to her feet.
"Olllivia," she whines.
"What? You act like you've never body surfed before," I say pulling her down to the water. I feel a snag of resistance. I turn and see her face, suddenly shy. "Alex, really?"
"Well, I missed out on a lot of things when I was a kid," she stated in her defense with a frown. "Besides, it wasn't a proper thing to do."
"Well, the rule here is, 'there is no proper'. We're here to let go and have fun. Come on, it's easy, I'll show you. I know you can swim and that's half the battle!" I pull her into the warm water and I start to swim. She follows close behind.
A wave comes at us but I duck under it and so does she. I look over at her. She's so adorable when she's concerned. "Ok I see a big one!" I tell her and I see her switch her game face on. I almost laugh. "When I say swim, you swim towards shore, okay?" She nods. The wave gets closer and closer until it's just upon us. "SWIM!" I shout and I take off. The water splashes ashore but I'm the only one it took with it. I turn to see Alex taking the wave behind it. It's bigger and faster and well… I should've known she'd show me up. I laugh and stand with my hands on my hips as she tumbles into my feet laughing.
"That was crazy!" She cries as I pull her to her feet. "Let's go again."
"You're on!" I say racing away from her into the water for a head start. I hear her call my name as she jumps in after me.
The rest of the afternoon is spent speeding through the water. Alex just couldn't get enough of riding those waves. It felt great to play and be silly and not to worry about the dreary life back in New York. I love the city more than anything but sometimes you need a break. A break like this.
"Excuse me miss," a Hawaiian boy, maybe 15, with dark skin and jet black hair approaches me as Alex and I retreat to our towels. "You're quite the skin rider out there." I hear Alex snicker behind me.
"Thanks," I say, eyeballing the board in his hand.
"My friends and I made a bet that you could surf," he says in a cocky tone. It's so cute.
"Actually I can surf," I answer honestly.
"Good because I bet them I could surf better than you," he said with a laugh.
"How long have you been on that board," I ask him with a smile.
"Three weeks, but I got it down. So to make me a boarder, I need to challenge someone. So I picked you," he said eyeballing me. Alex laughed again and I turned around and made a face like, 'shut up'. She covered her mouth and shooed me away telling me to do it.
"Okay," I say. The boy's face lights up. "I need a board." He turns and motions for a smaller boy to bring a board over.
"What's your name?" The boy asks.
"I'm Olivia," I tell him as we head to the water.
"I'm Malo. It means 'winner'," he said extending his hand to shake on our challenge. I just think this is all too funny. I can't wait to tell Elliot.
We get in the water and swim out far. We wait until we see a good one and Malo calls out to take the next one coming in. So I do. I catch the wave perfectly, which is a surprise to me because I haven't done this in years. I almost loose my balance but I get it back and ride the small curve of the wave. I glance over and see Alex smiling nervously, afraid I might fall. I look back just in time to see Malo slip and nose dive into the water. Ha, I win! I lay down on my board and let the water push me in.
"What happened out there Malo?" I ask, laughing.
"Good show Olivia, maybe I'll get it next time," he says. He takes my board and I walk back over to Alex.
"God that was incredible! I didn't know you could surf. Where did you learn?" Alex asks, clapping her hands.
"When I was younger, we lived near a six flags and I worked as a lifeguard. We had a wave pool and they would open it early for surfers. A few of them taught me how. We used to do it every morning for months until I had to move. Anyway, I'm starving lets get out of here." I say quickly changing the subject. I didn't want Alex to ask why we moved. There were only little pieces of my childhood that we exciting and fun. The rest were surrounded by chaos and I won't have that sneaking into my vacation.