Secrets

Kuki stared out of the side of the helicopter in awe. The sight was beautiful. Under the clear bright blue morning sky rich, luscious vegetation covered the rugged tropical mountainside. Vibrant shades of light contrasted with dark green, and as the mountains leveled out at the coastline, they flattened into beautiful white sandy beaches lined with crystal turquoise waves lapping against the shoreline. Closer to town, she could make out the many rows of homes creeping up the steep mountainsides and the various winding roads and highways snaking their way around the island. The view was absolutely spectacular.

Mark had been courteous enough to treat her to a private, doors-off helicopter tour around the island. She had to admit, it had been a nice gesture, or it would have been if he hadn't boasted about how expensive the excursion was beforehand. She stole a quick glance at him. He was seated adjacent to her, his body turned slightly so he could enjoy the view from his side. Despite his angle, they were considerably close. He must have sensed she was watching him because he leaned over to look back at her. Taking note of her excitement, he smiled behind his aviator shades. He pleased to know she was enjoying the ride. She politely smiled back, but then quickly went back to admiring the gorgeous view, hoping he hadn't read too much into it.

Suddenly the chopper took a sharp left and Kuki involuntarily grabbed the closest thing near her for support. Which in her case, just so happened to be Mark's arm. She had never been in any real danger due to the safety harness they were both wearing, but the sudden movement had still caught her off guard. The pilot gave a quick smirk as he tilted the chopper upright and navigated to the next area of interest. Clearly the unexpected maneuver had been intended on his part to enhance the thrill of the tour.

Still shaken, Kuki continued to cling to Mark's arm. Mark smirked again and took the opportunity reach across her shoulders to comfort her. "Relax babe. There's nothing to be afraid of," he said attempting to sound reassuring. "It's all part of the show."

At first, she was going to politely ask him to release her, but then realized she was the one still holding on to him. Feeling somewhat awkward and suddenly embarrassed, she casually let go of his arm and sat up. He looked at her somewhat confused, but decided to shrug it off as nervousness.

Why did it feel so wrong hugging him? she wondered. They were supposed to be dating right? She knew Mark hadn't done anything wrong, but why did she feel she had? For a reason she couldn't understand, she felt a small feeling of betrayal lingering in the pit of her stomach. Hoping to fend it off, she stared out across the landscape once more, but somehow the beautiful scenery had lost some of its appeal.

After the tour ended, the helicopter company courteously shuttled the two of them back to their hotel. After taking only a few steps into the main lobby, Mark abruptly stopped in front of one of the clothing shops lining the entryway. He brought the palm of his hand up to his forehead, as if he was in agony.

"I don't believe this," he vocalized in annoyance.

"What is it?" Kuki asked confused.

"I sincerely apologize babe, but I completely forgot to get my suit fitted for dinner tonight."

Kuki looked at him sideways. She wasn't quite sure how to react. Why in the world would she care if he was wearing a suit or not? "Oh don't worry about it," she said, falling back to her default cheery self. "It's really not that big a deal. Besides, we don't have to go to a fancy restaurant. There are plenty of other places to try. I'm sure Abby, Hoagie, and Nigel wouldn't mind if we joined them."

He ignored her remark. "No no, I must see that it is taken care of. A woman of your status deserves the absolute best! What kind of man would I be if I took you to dinner dressed in rags?"

Kuki huffed. The compliment was flattering, but coming from him it also made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. Not to mention, it wasn't like he was dressed poorly. He had specifically bought new, name-brand clothing for the trip and it was better quality than what most other people in the hotel were walking around in."Alright. If it's that important," she said languidly.

Mark beamed. "Of course it is! I must look my best for you." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and headed inside the tailor shop. Kuki rolled her eyes as she watched him go. What was it about all the suitors her mother picked out that made them feel the need to go to such great lengths to impress her? Maybe it was just a rich guy thing. She was so focused on him walking away she failed to notice someone else walking up behind her.

"Hey Kuki."

She let out a squeal and whirled around. She breathed out a sigh of relief. "Oh hi Wally!"

He chuckled a little. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare ya. So, you ready to go?"

Kuki smiled. "Of course!" She was just thankful he hadn't arrived a few minutes earlier.

Wally parked his truck in the dirt parking lot nearby and the two of them grabbed their boards. He had taken her to a special surf spot closer to his home where his dad had taught him to swim. It was beautifully secluded cove with a moderate opening to the sea in the distance, creating the perfect sized waves for a beginner. From the main road, it was well hidden due to the surrounding vegetation and muddy trail, and not many people lived in the area making it a nice place to get away from the crowds.

They paddled out into the water and he guided her to the surf break. After about an hour or two of lessons, kuki grew exhausted. She had finally learned to stand up and even caught a good number of waves, but the surf seemed to be calming down and fewer and fewer sizable waves were rolling in. They agreed to take a break and sat floating casually on their boards. Kuki lay on her back, soaking in the calm atmosphere while Wally watched the waves roll by.

"Hey Kuki," he asked, breaking the peaceful silence," What's the deal with that Mark guy anyway? I mean, he never seems to be around when you're off doin stuff? Was he the new guy added to sector V or somethin?"

Kuki sighed and sat up on her board. Her hair dripping from taking up some of the water with her. "Not exactly. He's someone I'm sort of...seeing."

"Oh," replied Wally, disappointed. It was definitely not the answer he had hoped for. "What do you mean, sort of?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. Somehow he felt he wasn't getting the whole story. He eyed her suspiciously.

His curiosity was desperately begging him to pry further, but he remained quiet and patiently waited for her to continue. There was another long moment of silence. Growing anxious, he was about to blurt out another question when suddenly Kuki bolted upright. "Oh my gosh! What time is it!?" she said panicked.

"Eh?" Wally looked at her confused. "Whaddya mean?"

"Dinner! I'm supposed to be back for dinner!" She checked her waterproof wristband.

4:47PM

Wally looked at her concerned. "Heh, guess we sorta lost track of time huh," he said nervously. He couldn't help but feel partially guilty for keeping her out for so long.

Kuki ran her hands through her raven black hair. "Oh, I'm going to be so late! Mark made reservations at a really nice restaurant and I would feel terrible if he thought I stood him up. Ugh! I still have so much to do! I still need to take a shower and dry my hair and I need to get ready and-"

"Hey, relax Kuki. No worries," said Wally, trying to get her to calm down. He knew how she was when she started to panic. "My place isn't too far from here. You can shower and change there and then I'll drive ya over after. Alright?"

Kuki took a minute to process the information. After finally accepting his answer, she looked back at him with relief. "Thank you Wally," she said sincerely.

His heart pounded loudly. "Yeah, no problem," he said, blushing.

Wally was more than nervous when Kuki stepped into his home for the first time. It wasn't exactly in the best condition, nor was it the most impressive living space. Luckily for him, she was too preoccupied with running late to notice.

He pointed out the location of the shower and she practically sprinted down the hall. Knowing he needed to rinse off as well, he yanked off his shirt and proceeded to the side of the house where he kept a cheap garden hose attached for cleaning off sand before entering. He held the hose above him and let cold water cleanse away the salt. After fully rinsing off, he grabbed the towel resting on the nearby tailgate of his truck and headed back inside to change.

Kuki frantically scrubbed the fragrant shampoo into her hair like a madwoman. Since she was in such a hurry and all of her hair products were back in her hotel, she had been forced to borrow some of Wally's. She knew he probably wouldn't mind given the circumstances. However, the shampoo did coat her with a somewhat masculine scent. As she rinsed her hair, the warm steam carried it though her nostrils. She wondered if Mark would notice the unusual fragrance.

Once clean, she switched off the water and carefully stepped out of the shower. She grabbed the towel off the nearby rack and immediately began drying off. She noticed her dirty clothes and wet swim suit resting on the counter. In the rush of things, she had thoughtlessly left her clean clothes out in the living room. Pressed for time, she securely wrapped the towel around her body and hurried out of the bathroom, her hair still dripping wet. She didn't hesitate to fly around the corner when suddenly, she crashed into something solid.

Or more precisely, a half-naked Wally walking back into his room.

Alarmed and completely knocked off balance, Wally tumbled backward and Kuki followed suit. One arm instinctively clenched her towel, while the other, the one that was intended to break her fall, wound up resting on his chest. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion while they tried desperately to regain their balance. It was no use. Eventually gravity caught up with them, and they went crashing to the ground.

Groaning from the impact, Wally removed the towel he had been using to dry his hair and looked up. His eyes instantly made contact with hers, and they stared at one another in complete shock. Blushing horribly, Kuki finally came to her senses and quickly pushed herself off of him. Of course, she hadn't failed to notice the muscle tone and firmness of his abdomen. Not to mention, most of her body was resting in his lap and on his right leg.

Equally as embarrassed, Wally quickly scrambled up and rushed to get on a new shirt. He was thankful he had kept on his swim trunks. "S...sorry Kuki," he apologized awkwardly. The incident had his heart beating a mile a minute and his intense blushing nearly matched hers.

"No I...I'm sorry too," said Kuki, her voice a little uneven. "I was the one who was rushing and-" Suddenly, the sound of her cell phone ringing caught their attention. Hair still soaking wet, she hurried back to the living room to answer it. Wally watched curiously as she chatted with the person on the other end. He could hear the faint sound of a male voice along with Kuki's responses. She didn't sound pleased.

The call ended and she tossed the phone on the bean bag chair. "Ugh, I don't believe this!" she shouted in annoyance.

"What's wrong?" asked Wally, walking in from the bedroom. He had taken the opportunity to find a new shirt and was once again fully clothed.

"Mark cancelled the reservation because a business matter came up," she explained. "I can't believe it! After all that time running around and rushing to get ready, he just goes ahead and cancels the whole thing at the last minute! Honestly, who does he think he is? And after ALL that talk about how he needed to get his suit fitted earlier. Ugh. If I was there right now I'd-"

All Wally could do was sit and listen as she continued on in one of her classic, Kuki style rants. He waited patiently for her to say everything she needed to. When she finally calmed down, he knew it was safe to speak up.

"Hey, who needs him," he said approaching her, trying to cheer her up. "I've got plenty of burgers right here in the fridge we can grill up. And I've got some drinks leftover from the last time the guys hung out. Whaddya say? Dinner at my place?"

Kuki stared out him blankly, contemplating the offer. At this point, Mark was probably too busy to care if she came home tonight or not. What would it hurt if she stayed a bit longer? "You know what? Why not?" she said cheerfully. "Just let me go get dressed and dry my hair okay?"

Wally nodded. After she left, he slipped away to get the grill started and began preparing the burgers. He also started a bonfire and and grabbed a couple of beers.

Wally was rather proud of himself. The burgers turned out to be quite juicy and the little bit of seasoning he added had given it just enough extra flavor. He never aspired to be a great cook, but he had prayed they had been good enough for her liking. The two of them made quick work of their dinner and continued to enjoy a couple more beers while sitting out by the bonfire.

The sun had set just a little over an hour ago, but they were too wrapped up in conversation about the old days to notice. They sat opposite one another, the fire being the only source of light between them. They had picked up right where they left off, almost as if there had never been any long separation between them. Wally joked about destroying Kuki's stuffed animals while Kuki poked fun at him for doing things like dressing up as Mr. Huggykins to make up for it. Wally was glad. Even among the other members of sector V, he had never felt a more intimate connection with anyone than he had with her. Even back then, he always felt like there was something special when they spent time alone together.

"So why are you with this guy anyway?" he asked, taking another drink from his bottle, the alcohol making him feel a bit more confident.

Kuki, feeling slightly intoxicated herself, decided there was no harm in telling him the whole story. "He's one of the suitors my mom picked out for me. She's always saying I need to marry someone who will take care of me. But not just anyone." She sat up straight, mimicking the posture and tone of voice of her mom, "Someone who is worthy and able to provide you with a stable household and family. In other words...a man with a lot of money and a big fancy job."

Wally scoffed. "Well I don't think that guy is so great. What kind of jerk puts a cruddy job before his date anyway? A real man would be there for you when you need him the most. Why, if you were my girlfriend, I'd-"

He suddenly caught himself, realizing what he was saying. He looked over at Kuki. She stared back him, speechless. Her expression made him feel a bit uneasy. Had he let too much slip? Was it possible she saw right through him? Or worse, a thought that had never crossed his mind before. Was she appalled at the thought of being with him?

"Eh, never mind," he said, hoping to deter the subject. If she did find the idea of him repulsive, he wasn't sure he could take it. He had nearly told her his deepest, darkest secret, something he had never told anyone. And all he could think about now was the possibility of her turning him down.

She didn't respond and continued to stare at him. He shifted in his seat. Stupid! What do you think you were doing? She probably thinks you're some sort of creep now who hits on his friends. Way to go. Things were going so well between you. She probably wants nothing to do with you now.

"Wally?" Her voice was a mere squeak. Surprised, he turned to face her.

Her expression had changed. What was once astonishment had been replaced by something else, something he couldn't quite make out. Her posture had also shifted, and instead of her usual confident, happy go lucky self, she now seemed nervous and well...vulnerable.

Her next words were barely audible. "What would you do if I was your girlfriend?"

He nearly choked on the freshly roasted marshmallow he stuffed into his mouth. Out of the all the responses she could have given, he certainly had not been prepared for that one. What was she implying? Was she even implying anything? He rubbed the stick nervously against his head and cleared his throat.

"Well I uh..." His voice was shaking. Without waiting for an answer, Kuki slowly stood up and approached him. With each small step she took, he became more and more anxious. "I uh...I..." His heart began pounding wildly in his chest and the palms of his hands laced with sweat. She was much to close. Way too close. Why was she so close?

He looked over at the empty beer bottles resting by her folding chair. She did have quite a bit to drink. But it couldn't have been that much could it? How much had she had? Two? Four? More than Four? He never had been good with numbers.

His mind snapped back to the present when he felt the weight of her body resting on his lap. She was facing him. He remained frozen as her hands made their way to his shoulders and slowly up his neck. He looked up at her in bewilderment, his eyes locked on hers.

Was it possible she wasn't really there? That this wasn't really happening? A dream maybe? He had dreamed of scenarios like this countless times before, some dreams more vivid than others. But in the end, he always woke to a cold, lonely bedside, disappointed and heartbroken.

He reached up and ran his hand through her jet black hair. He wasn't dreaming. She was really there! His hand migrated as if on its own and found its way to the back of her neck. He gently pulled her closer. She didn't resist. With their eyes still focused on one another, the tension between them couldn't be more apparent. He leaned in slightly.

And her lips finally met his.

A jolt of electricity surged though him. He couldn't remember the last time it had felt this good to kiss someone. He had been with numerous other girls, but not a single one of them had made them feel like the way he did now. None of them had been able to replace her. He hadn't wanted to admit it before, but he had never stopped loving her. Everyone else had just been a comparison. But now, finally, with the love of his life wrapped in his arms, he couldn't remember the last time he had been so happy.

He pulled her in closer to deepen the kiss. Then with one swift motion, he stood up, lifting her with him. Surprised at how light she was, he carried her inside. They remained engrossed with one another as he carried her to the bedroom. Well aware of what was about to happen, she didn't object. She only broke the kiss as he gently set her down on the mattress.

She was surprised at how soft and comfortable it was. Or it could have been due to the fact that she was in pure ecstasy. She wasn't sure which. He yanked off his shirt and she was soon greeted by the warmth of his toned and exposed torso. He rested his weight on his elbow, supporting himself above her to avoid crushing her. Feeling safe with him above her, she arched her neck to kiss him again and took the liberty of allowing her hands to finally explore his well-defined muscles. Groaning, he kissed her tenderly, allowing her to explore his body at her leisure while he began to do the same to her. After managing to wrestle her top and bottoms away from her, he noticed her hand fidgeting with the string on his swim trunks. She was successful and he adjusted to help kick them away.

He pulled the covers over them, hoping it would make her feel more comfortable and less exposed and met her eyes once again. Before taking the final plunge, they stared at one another for a moment. It was obvious this was a long time coming between them and neither one wanted it to stop. Their feelings for each other were clear as day. Perhaps their friends had known it all along. Perhaps everyone had known it all along. So what had he been so worried about?

He couldn't remember. All he could do was hope she didn't care if he wasn't the most successful or wealthy man out there. All he had to his name was a lowly run-down shack and a surfboard to pay the bills. He was just thankful that he had finally been given the chance to prove to her how much she meant to him, to finally express all the feelings he had been meaning to express all these years. All he had ever longed for was her happiness, and as long as he had that, he would be satisfied.

Author's note: Seriously, if any of you guys decide to do a helicopter tour in Hawaii, you have got to try the doors off option if you aren't too afraid of heights and seeking a bit of a thrill. It was definitely an exciting ride! As for this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it! I actually had this story line dancing around in my head for quite some time and it was the main inspiration for rewriting the original story. The cove where they surf is based off a real location, but it's more of a swim spot than it is for surfing. Hope I didn't make you guys wait too long, but I didn't want to rush this chapter out. Thanks for reading! Don't forget to tell me your thoughts!

Song for the chapter is: "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey