Disclaimer: Not mine. Never been to Hawaii….maybe you noticed?

Pele pulled herself through the water smoothly. Her surfboard and arms cutting through the rippling waves bringing her out into deeper water away from the beach. Once past the breaking waves and masses of tourists that swarmed the beaches this time of year the girl stopped and floated.

If anyone were to observe her they would see a girl in her late teens, most likely between the age of seventeen or eighteen. She was slim, very tan, and average height with dark brown eyes with hair to match. A white two-piece bathing suit set of her tan skin making her look darker than she really was. The surfboard she was perched comfortably on was white with a dark orange red floral print reaching tip to tip on the board. Onlookers would also notice that she was completely at ease with herself and her surroundings. She showed no fear in regards to the deep water and hot sun. In fact she looked pleased and determined. Like something was about to go her way.

So there she was just floating in the ocean moving farther and farther away from the beach. Moving closer and closer to a dot in the distance that would become a very stealthy speedboat. Pele was obviously expected.

Warren Peace was stretched out on the sand looking extremely comfortable. He had survived the flight from Maxville to Hawaii without blowing up the plane or his temper. He had to admit that the sun above him and the warm sand beneath him was completely relaxing. Honestly, Warren could not remember the last time he had felt this good. Layla and Will were splashing in the waves just feet way and Will's parents were off on a tour of the island.

Up the beach from where they were, was a lovely beach cottage with three rooms that they would be living in for the rest of the summer. Naturally, Layla had a room to herself being the only girl. This of course left Will and Warren to share a room. First day there and a few scuffles had already been started about that. But over all everyone was enjoying their first day on the islands.

"Warren…" the voice sounded like it came from a distance away, soft and faint.

"Hmmm…"

"Warren" the voice sounded much more distinct this time.

"Mhmmm yes…" Warren mumbled somewhat garbled. The suddenly he felt a light sprinkle of water over his chest.

"What!" the sudden feeling of coolness that result from the water brought Warren swiftly back to all his senses.

He sat up to see Layla kneeling on the sand besides him, her hand dripping wet. Warren stretched loosening up his muscles from the position they had been in for the last few hours. He wasn't entirely pleased with being woken up by drops of water. Maybe it was the fire within him but although he could swim, and swim well at that, water just wasn't his thing.

"Sorry, didn't know how else to wake you up. Why don't you come back up to the house with me? It's getting late."

"I was asleep?"

"Yes!"

"Oh…"

Then he noticed. The beach was empty, Will was nowhere in sight, and the sun was almost completely set. The sky as a result was a brilliant red, orange, pink, and gold array of nature's own painting.

"Where did Will go?"

"Flew back to Maxville to pick up something for his parents. He'll be back in the morning. Mrs. Stronghold didn't want him flying back at night." She answered sounding slightly wistful. First night on vacation and her boyfriend couldn't even spend the whole time with her. Poor girl.

"Must be nice to fly cross country on a whim." Sarcastic and dry as usual for Warren.

"In that case, Layla, you and I are going to sit here and enjoy the first sunset of our vacation. Come morning we will make sure to rub it in Stronghold's face." A small giggle was his only response as the red head settled into the sand besides her pyro friend.

Ethan, Zach, and Magenta were also starting their vacations. None of them however seemed to thrilled about it though. First summer of their High School years and they would not get to see any of their friends for over two months. How many teens would actually look forward to spending their summers stuck with their parents?

Of course summer would not go according to plan for any of the gang, wherever they were staying.

But for the time being, all three of them viewed the rest of the gang in Hawaii as the lucky ones. Maybe they were lucky maybe they weren't. Only time would tell.

Back in Maxville Christine Battle was finding that summer without her son at home could be long and lonely. To occupy her time she covered for her son at the Paper Lantern along with her regular desk job. Considering the fact that Warren was something of a work-a-holic that was a lot of hours a day for a single person to work. More than ever she missed the time years ago that Barron was home and Warren was still a happy go lucky little kid. She missed family. A warm loving family. Christine did hope that Warren would enjoy himself in Hawaii. She was already eagerly awaiting the first postcard and letter that she knew would come in the mail.

In her mind her last discussion she had with her husband replayed. Barron's concerns about Warren spending the summer with the Strongholds and Layla did not really concern her much. Warren was seventeen and he knew how to take care of himself. Not to mention that Warren and Will actually got along with each other really well. Warren's ach enemy at one time had become his best friend. If things did get out of hand there was always Layla there to keep the peace. Nether boy like to fight with her.

And of course Barron was right on one thing. No villain would be stupid enough to bother the Strongholds on their summer vacation.

Sooo… this was slightly longer than the rest. Thank you for not giving up on my story and lack of updating.