CHAPTER 2: "YOU KINDA LIKE ME, DON'T YOU, ZAC?"

Peppermint Patty and Zac did quite a bit together that day. They both went to the beach to watch the rest of the surfing contest. Danny A'oi had made the finals and they were there to cheer him on. Danny had managed to win the event and bring home the prize. She told him about the fight Franco and Zac got in, and how she was avoiding him, and when she couldn't, she wouldn't even acknowledge his presence, let alone talk to him.

"That bad, huh?" said Danny.

"Yeah," said Patty. "I don't know if I'll ever forgive him."

"I know you're upset right now, but don't do anything rash right away," Danny advised.

"What's funny is that I'm more forgivin', and it was ME that got th' punch," Zac replied.

"Anyway, enough about Franco," said Patty. "Congratulations on winning, Dan-O."

"Thanks," said Danny. "I talked to Renee on webchat a few days ago. I told her you and the others were here in Australia. She told me to tell you 'Aloha'."

"Is she still working at Paleka, Frieda's uncle's place?" asked Patty.

"Yeah, she enjoys it, though," Danny replied.

"I told kangaroo here that I'd like to visit the states one day," said Zac.

"Don't forget about Hawaii, though," Danny advised. "We have some decent waves there, too. And it's as warm as here."

"Crickey, now I know I need to visit!" laughed Zac. And the three continued to hang out for a bit before Danny had to meet up with the officials of the contest to claim his prize.

A while later, Patty and Zac were walking along the coast. They were holding hands and just listening to the crashing of the waves from the ocean. Patty, for the moment, had forgotten about her anger towards Franco.

"I needed this, Zac," she finally said. "I needed the calm of the beach."

"I'm glad you're feeling better, kangaroo," said Zac.

"I am. There's something peaceful about the beach. I ever told anyone else this, but when we were in Hawaii last year, before I practiced my surfing with Renee, I would walk the beach alone and it was surprisingly calming. Usually I'm all full of energy and always at full-speed, but the beach has a calming effect and lets me think about everything."

"Well I'm glad to help y' out. We can stay a bit longer if y' want."

"Much as I would love to, the rest of the gang should be getting back soon. But we can definitely do this again." And Patty and Zac began to head back to the Grandin household.

NEXT CHAPTER: ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND