Chapter 7: Unexpected Surprise

It rained for the next several days; I hadn't seen anyone besides my family, not even Luke. I stared gloomily out the window hoping to catch a glimpse of anyone else, like Chase running from his house to the Ocarina Inn. I watched the drops collect on the window as they gathered bigger and raced each other. "Hikari did you hear me?"

I snapped out of my trance to see Takeru with the phone in his hand, "The phone is for you." He held it out to me.

"Hello?" I asked as I took the phone to my ear, half expecting it to be Luke, "Oh Dr. Jin hi!"

"I have some news, Dr. Alex called me this morning, and he's getting married this weekend."

"Oh well tell him I said congratulations!"

"I will. He wants me to be in the wedding, groomsmen."

"Oh, did you accept?"

"Of course, Alex is one of my oldest friends; anyways he wanted me to extend the invitation to you."

"Me? He wants me to come?"

"Yes."

"Well of course. I'd love to."

"Good I knew you'd say yes, he has our rooms reserved at the Inn. We'll be leaving Thursday morning, meet me at the docks before 6. And bring something nice to wear the day of the wedding."

"That sounds great. Thanks!"

"See you then."

"Ok bye Dr Jin."


I hung up the phone and turned around to my entire family sitting at the table. "Uhm, didn't realize my conversation was that entertaining." I said very nervously. I didn't bother to ask for permission before saying yes, but I didn't think my dad would say no to me either, "Hey dad, is there any chance I can go to the big island?"

"For what?" He said very gruffly.

A friend is getting married back there, and he invited Dr. Jin and myself to come out."

"When?"

"We'd be leaving on Thursday and would return sometime over the weekend."

Akari slapped the table, "But Hikari your birthday is this coming weekend."

I shrugged, "I've missed the last few, what is another one?"

"Except Luke has been planning a surprise party for you."

"Not much of a surprise now." Yuuki said.

"My friend will only get married once, I will have more birthdays, we can always celebrate when I get back. Dad?"

"I see nothing wrong with you going. Do you need some money to go buy a dress?"

I hugged my dad, "Thank you."


It had stopped raining by the next morning. I made my way into town, and went over in my head what I had planned on telling Luke. My first stop was Sonata Tailoring.

"Hello Hikari." Candace greeted me, "What can we do for you?"

"I need a dress."

"What kind of dress?"

"A formal one I guess. Something nice, that I can wear to a wedding."

At the word wedding I saw a pink explosion as Luna and I became face to face. "Wedding, whose wedding?" She asked me.

"A friend of Dr. Jin's."

"Oh" She sounded rather disappointed, "You're with Dr Jin? I thought you liked Luke."

Sweat began to form on my forehead, I had no idea I was going to be interrogated as she glared me down wanting answers, "It's a mutual friend from the big island, and he asked Jin to invite me. Luke and I are just friends."

"So this dress," Candace interrupted her little sister from asking any more questions, "Do you have a certain color in mind?"

"No surprise me. I just want something pretty." Candace took some measurements, and jotted down a few ideas, "It'll be ready Wednesday, anything else we can help you with?"

I shook my head, thanked them, and headed off to find Luke. We had to talk.


I didn't often head up to Garmon mines, in fact I think I had only been there twice. I spotted the carpentry and went to knock on the door. I was greeted by a boy with light brown hair who I had never seen before. "Can I help you he asked?"

"Bo, don't be rude." I heard a deep voice from behind him. "Sorry." He stepped back and let me come in.

"We've never met before, I'm Hikari and I'm looking for Luke."

Luke's dad, Dale came up behind Bo, "Sorry sweetie, he's not here. You can try Fugue Forest, he sometimes goes there to chop wood."

"Thanks I'll look there." I waved and headed out.

I hadn't gotten more than two feet out there door when I heard someone shout my name, I turned to where the voice had come from and running towards me was Owen. I smiled and waved to him. "I just wanted to say 'I'm sorry'."

"Yes I know Owen; I got the flowers you sent me, both times."

"I know, but I can't say sorry enough. I should've protected you, cause that's what boyfriends are suppose to do."

"Woah, um Owen you're not my boyfriend."

"I know, not yet though." He winked at me.

"Uh I really have to find Luke sorry." I turned to make a run for it.

"Hey wait, what are you doing for your birthday?"

"Well rumor has it Luke is throwing me a surprise party."

"How'd you know? It was supposed to be a surprise."

That was a 'duh' moment I thought. "I know. That's why I have to find Luke. See ya!" And I ran all the way to the forest.


I had never been into the forest before, I had always been too small and too young, and it was too scary and too dangerous, and I was scared, but I had to find Luke. I walked through the forest gate into the unknown. The forest had a weird eerie feel; it sent chills up my spine. The trees had grown wildly out of control. Shrubs, roots, and rocks covered most of the ground and the beaten path. I tried to stay on what little path there was. I could hear the echo of wood being chopped, I walked in that direction. I thought I was getting closer, so I called out his name several times. He stopped chopping, success. I called his name again, no answer, and again, nothing. I looked around. Maybe I'd be better off waiting in the clearing at the beginning of the forest. So I turned around to leave.

I must've been walking for 15 minutes and I could've sworn the trees were getting thicker. No, it has to be my imagination; the forest is magical and can play tricks. So I kept walking. I walked for what felt like another 10 minutes. Ok now I'm lost, did I turn around at some point, or am I going in circles. I turned around and tried to go the way I came. Luke probably went home by now. I decided to keep walking, I was bound to find my way out some how.

Rumor had it there was a Witch living in the forest, maybe I'd run into her, which was creepy in a way. I could swear I see smoke. I moved a little slowly towards it, I felt someone touch me. I jumped, "Ahh!"

"It's me!" Luke was standing behind me and grabbed me tight.

"Luke!" I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"I heard you calling my name, so I watched for you and waited and when I didn't see you I came after you." He told me.

"I'm so happy to see you." I hugged him again, "I um need to talk to you."

"Sure. Let's get out of here." We walked till we reached Fugue River and sat down at the edge.

"That seemed so easy with you."

"I know my way around that forest blindfolded. So what did you need to talk to me about?"

"I need to talk to you about your surprise party you're throwing for me."

Luke frowned, "Who told you."

"They had to. Luke I'm so glad you're thinking of me, but I won't be here for my birthday this year."

"Why not?"

"I'm going to a friend's wedding from the big island."

"Oh…" He sounded so disappointed, I felt really sad like I was breaking his heart, "But that's important, I wouldn't want you to miss my wedding." He squeezed my hand, "We'll do something. Promise."

I realized I had the most amazing friend, my true friend, Luke.