Kwame had already worked up a sweat while digging with his trowel. He had been tending to this particular watermelon plant for several weeks and couldn't understand why it would not grow. He started digging the plant out yet again before the ground around him got suddenly darker. He turned to his left to see Wheeler standing in front of the morning sun.
"Good morning Wheeler, how are you?" Kwame was always excessively polite, even to his friends. Some people found it snobbish but his friends simply understood that that was how he always was and always will be.
"Morning Kwame, I'm doing great. How's that watermelon plant?" All the planeteers knew about this particular plant. It had frustrated Kwame incessantly and seemed to be the only thing that he talked about with them.
"It still will not grow," Kwame threw his hands up in defeat, "I have tried everything to get it to grow properly, different locations and facings, different fertilisers... nothing works!"
Wheeler put his hand on Kwame's shoulder, "don't worry, I'm sure that it will grow eventually. Why don't you try using the internet to see if there's something that you've missed? Surely someone out there has experienced the same problem that you are. Just need to find 'em."
Kwame thought about it and nodded in agreement, "Yes, Wheeler, that does sound like a very good idea. Thank you."
"Hey, no probs!" Wheeler pointed his fingers in a gun shape at him, a common gesture simply meaning exactly what he just said, "hey, I cooked breakfast for us all. Do you mind swinging by Linka's and letting her know before it gets cold. I'm gonna go and get Ma-Ti."
Had he heard correctly, did Wheeler say that he had cooked them breakfast? "Yes, of course. I will meet you soon, my friend."
Wheeler smiled to him and helped him up before making his way towards the beach. Kwame gathered his gardening tools and put them back into the nearby shed before washing his hands and heading towards Linka's hut. She would no doubt be doing something on her computer at this time of the day. He smiled to himself as he walked, still not quite believing the behaviour and the news that Wheeler had told him.
Ma-Ti could sense Wheeler approaching him and called out to him without raising his head. "Come on, buddy, at least give me a chance to sneak up on you! You would be the worst hide and seek player in the history of humanity."
Ma-Ti laughed at him, "yes, it wouldn't really be fair would it?" Wheeler smiled back and they shook hands before performing their unique handshake by twisting their hands upwards, sliding their palms away from themselves, locking thumbs before twisting and crashing their bodies together and then bouncing away from each other and shaking their hand up in the air. They didn't know who first started their handshake but it had changed over the years into what was now a settled and well rehearsed handshake. Ma-Ti and Wheeler were like brothers and each thoroughly enjoyed being around the other.
"You are in a great mood today, Wheeler," Ma-Ti commented, "I could feel your happiness radiating from the moment I woke this morning and it hasn't stopped."
"I feel great," was all Wheeler said in response, "let's go to the lodge. Breakfast is waiting."
"Oh, I sure hope that Gi cooked that delicious, what was it called again? Kysarki?" Ma-Ti started.
"Kaiseki," Wheeler corrected.
"Yes, that's the one," Ma-Ti was literally frothing at the mouth, "that was truly the most exquisite meal I have eaten in my entire life."
Wheeler laughed at him, "Well, it won't be as good as that dish, that much is guaranteed." Wheeler knew he was a terrible cook. He was never taught and whenever he did try to make food, people would generally tell him just how terrible it always was, completely destroying any confidence he might have generated. To his friends' credit, he had been able to tell that they were enduring his cooking whenever they had to eat it but they would do so gracefully and the conversation they shared at the table was always lively and had made him feel a little better.
Kwame approached Linka's door and raised his hand to rap on the door but before he could do so he could her a voice inside. It was clearly Linka's voice but he couldn't make out what she was saying. He put his ear to the door and listened carefully over the gentle morning breeze around him.
"Mmm, Wheeler..." he could barely hear but after a couple times listening, he knew that he hadn't misheard. She kept repeating herself over and over. It was a low voice and was almost like a whisper. He didn't know what was happening so he knocked on the door quickly and called out to her.
"Linka, are you inside?" He heard immediate activity inside and about 20 seconds later she was at the door, shielding her eyes from the sunlight as she opened it. Her hair was a mess and she still wore her bedclothes.
"Oh, good morning Kwame," she seemed alert but judging by the state of her, Kwame surmised that she must have only just woken up, "what's going on?"
"Breakfast is ready in the main lodge," he told her, pausing before continuing, "do you want me to bring some food back for you, you look like you just woke up."
"Oh," she started blushing. Actually, Kwame thought, she had always been blushing but now it intensified, "Niet, um, no, I will be out in a couple minutes. Just, um, wait there.. one... moment." She seemed a little lost and she closed the door in a rush and he could hear he rushing around inside. He almost laughed at her, she was not normally this disorganised and it was funny to see this different side of her. As she promised, a few minutes later she emerged in just a throw-over shirt and a pair of pants. He held his hand out toward the lodge, "shall we?" She proceeded to walk with him, not saying a word. This really was peculiar behaviour. Both she and Wheeler were both behaving strangely, almost completely opposite to normal. He said nothing as they walked and neither did Linka.
Before long, Wheeler and Ma-Ti had both arrived at the lodge and Wheeler opened the door to allow Ma-Ti inside first. Ma-Ti entered and sniffed the air.
"Whatever that is, it smells delicious!" Wheeler could feel warmth in his heart at the compliment. He didn't know that he had been the one to make it and knew that once he tasted it, that compliment wouldn't stay the same but he appreciated it greatly. He walked through the doorway and saw Kwame and Linka approaching in the corner of his eye before the door closed behind him so he stopped and held the door open for them both.
"Thank you!" Kwame walked through first and rapped him on the shoulder as he walked past.
Linka waited embarrassingly outside without passing through the doorway. Wheeler leaned forward and held his hand flat across her back between her shoulders and gently coaxed her inside. She was blushing at their proximity and didn't say anything to him as she walked through and inside towards the others. Unsure as to what her behaviour was all about, he just closed the door and joined the others at the table, sitting at roughly the same time as Linka.
"This food looks great, Gi, thanks so much for making it," Ma-Ti had said, assuming that Gi had made it. Gi had quickly looked over at Wheeler and checked to see if he was going to say something and only saw his grin back at her before winking.
"Actually," Gi started, "Wheeler made breakfast today." Kwame knew that Gi wouldn't lie about something like that and now believed that Wheeler had been telling the truth. Ma-Ti seemed flabbergasted and Linka looked over at Gi as well. Clearly they both didn't believe her.
"You've got to be kidding," Ma-Ti exclaimed before realising how rude that it might have sounded. He quickly turned to Wheeler and began apologising, "sorry Wheeler, that was.."
"Don't worry, little buddy," Wheeler tussled his hair, "I know that my cooking is terrible. Gi helped me so it shouldn't taste too bad today." Gi knew that he was lying, she had arrived once everything was basically done already. Perhaps he was trying to be modest in case the food was terrible, she knew that he was self-conscious about failing. Linka had told her as much during one of the many hundreds of conversations about Wheeler that she had been forced to endure from her blonde-haired friend.
"Well, thanks Wheeler for cooking breakfast for us today," Kwame took the time to properly thank Wheeler. It was rare that Wheeler helped out and it seemed appropriate to thank him, especially when he had done the work without prompting. That was something of a first for Wheeler.
Wheeler turned to look at Linka and she must have been staring at him because she averted her eyes instantly. He could see that she was blushing and didn't know what to make of it. He desperately wanted her to show him some gratitude but he did not push her. Gi also noticed Linka's strange behaviour and made a mental note to herself to ask, no.. to demand, what she was thinking.
Everyone picked up their cutlery and began to eat their food. They all started hesitantly, no doubt fearing that the food tasted horrible. Even Wheeler felt a bit apprehensive. After the first bite though, everyone began eating their food ravenously. They all agreed throughout the meal that the food was fantastic. Gi commented on how wonderful the bacon tasted and Ma-Ti and Kwame said that the spices were perfect in the omelette. Linka didn't say anything but she ate quietly and was smiling while she did so, clearly she thought that the food tasted adequate as well. Wheeler was surprised by the quality of the food he made. It hadn't been as good as Gi or Kwame's cooking but it was definitely a vast improvement on the concoctions that he normally made.
There was some leftover food after they all finished their serves and they had to fight for who got to eat it. They all agreed that Gi and Wheeler should get to eat the extra food as they had been the ones to prepare it, much to the dismay of Ma-Ti.
Wheeler stood and grabbed his plate and looked over at the littlest Planeteer. He let go of his plate and grabbed Ma-Ti's instead. "You can have my share, buddy. I'm pretty full and you still look hungry."
"Wheeler, you don't need to do that!" Ma-Ti started feeling guilty, but Wheeler put his hand on his little friends shoulder.
"It's important not to overeat. Some of the world's health problems would be fixed if people stuck to that simple rule. I am no longer hungry and I can see that you are. Please, help yourself to some of the remaining food," Linka looked up at Wheeler as well as the other Planeteers. Wheeler had never given up seconds before. Never. All of them were shocked at his selflessness, but Linka could see that Wheeler truly was changing into a new person. He was maturing, and with every passing minute he was looking like a more and more beautiful person, not only in appearance but in his new personality. She blushed as quickly as she thought it and looked back down at her empty plate.
They watched as he went to the kitchen and served up some of the remaining food. It wasn't much, about a third of a serve, but the gesture was what counted and everyone understood that. "Thank you, Wheeler," Ma-Ti said and accepted his plate back, "would you like some of my bread?" Ma-Ti had a little bread and a piece of bacon along with a small amount of egg.
"Thanks, little man, but I really am stuffed," Wheeler sat back in his chair and wiped his face with his handkerchief before turning to Gi, "there's still some food left there. Sorry, but I think I gave Ma-Ti a little more than half of what's left."
Gi, unable to think of anything to say, simply stood and made her way to the kitchen and filled her plate with everything that was left. She wasn't the only one that was speechless. Linka had been for the entire meal whilst the others were so shocked at his actions so far today that they didn't know what to do. He seemed like a completely different person, the polar opposite to what he had been the day before.
Wheeler could see that Linka was eyeing Gi's plate. Gi was eating quite slowly, so there was still quite a bit remaining. Wheeler caught Gi's gaze and motioned his eyes towards Linka. She understood immediately and turned to face Linka. "Linka, did you want to share?" Gi asked her.
Linka sat up a little and for the first time during breakfast she said something, "if you wouldn't mind. The food was.. is.. amazing." Gi used her fork to shovel some of her plate on to Linka's and they both started eating again. By now, Ma-Ti had already finished his food off and seemed satiated.
"Hey! What about me?" Kwame voiced his objection, but he was smiling as he did it. He didn't mind missing out, he was happy that the others were enjoying themselves.
"Kwame," Wheeler started, catching everyone else's attention, "you can have seconds again when we all get to enjoy some watermelon!" Everyone began laughing, including Kwame. That watermelon plant had become somewhat of a mystique now and was the butt of at least 1 joke from Wheeler per day.
"Wheeler and Gi," Ma-Ti raised his voice when their laughing had tapered off, "I think I speak on behalf of everyone in thanking you both for making such a magnificent meal for us!"
"Yes," Kwame agreed, "it was a great meal and especially for you Wheeler, no offence."
"None taken Kwame, and thanks," Wheeler nodded his head humbly.
"I can't take any credit for the meal," Gi blurted out, "Wheeler made it all. All I did was set the table for us." The others seemed even more shocked now.
"You made this all yourself, Wheeler?" Ma-Ti exclaimed before Kwame continued, "I must say, you truly have impressed me today Wheeler."
Gi felt Linka's hand on hers and turned to face her. The look on Linka's face seemed like she was about to cry. Gi put an arm around her quickly and squeezed her shoulders. Wheeler saw her distress as well, but the other guys hadn't yet. He didn't want to make her feel any more upset so he distracted them both. "Hey, you guys wanna jump in the kitchen and start clearing up some of the mess I left behind. I'll bring the plates and stuff over to you guys."
"No problem at all, it's the least we can do," Kwame responded and he and Ma-Ti both quickly stood and headed off to the kitchen without realising that Linka wasn't well. Ma-Ti started gathering the pots and pans while Kwame started running a sink. Wheeler gave Gi a quick look which Gi returned and he nodded at her. She got the message and whispered something quietly to Linka. They both stood and made their way to the lounge while all the guys cleaned their dishes. Wheeler managed a quick look over to Linka and he frowned when he saw her anguish. Wheeler didn't know what had made Linka so upset, but not wasn't an appropriate time for him to confront her about it. He would only make her angrier. The best thing he could do was to stay as far away from her as possible. He'd done what he could but she needed Gi's help, not his. He sighed as he grabbed the plates and cutlery and carried them over to the others.
"Hey, do you want to make breakfast tomorrow as well?" Ma-Ti said in hope.
Wheeler wrapped his arm over the young man's neck, "this is Hope Island Ma-Ti, not Miracle Island!" before they all started laughing. Wheeler laughed along, but he still felt a twang of pain at how Linka was feeling. It surely had something to do with his recent behaviour. He couldn't stop blaming himself.
Gi carefully let Linka sink down onto the couch. Wheeler hadn't pointed out to the others that Linka was upset and normally he would have blurted something out and made Linka feel even more terrible than she already was. She couldn't stop saying it to herself but Wheeler seemed to be the perfect gentleman today. She shook her head to discard her thoughts so that she could comfort her best friend. She sat herself down next to Linka, who was now leaning forward and hugging her knees while sobbing gently into them.
"Shhhh," Gi hugged her and Linka immediately threw herself into an embrace with the water Planeteer and began crying openly. Gi could feel the warm tears on her collar. "Linka, shh, just tell me what is wrong."
"That is the problem," Linka looked up at her and wiped the tears from her face, "nothing is wrong! I think that I'm in love with Wheeler and I don't know what to do about it."
Gi hugged her and Linka started to cry into her shoulder again. Gi had known that the two were attracted to each other for a long time. They'd never explicitly said so but it was clear from their behaviour and actions towards each other that they had strong feelings. Wheeler had been open about his desire to begin a relationship with Linka but everyone, including Linka, had not taken him seriously as he flirted and joked with many other girls too but as time went on and his flirtations didn't stop and his flirtations with others started to diminish, it started to become more clear that it may have been more than just a crush for him.
In the past, Linka had gone through times where she had told Gi that she had feelings for Wheeler and then the next week Wheeler would do something crazy and she would tell her than Wheeler was an arrogant imbecile, amongst other names. Gi could tell that she had feelings for Wheeler though as she would be openly jealous of his affections towards other women and she would be genuinely concerned for his wellbeing whenever he was in danger.
But this time was different. Wheeler's actions today had proven to Gi that he was mature enough to begin a serious relationship. Linka's behaviour too had seemed more serious and genuine as she cried in her arms. "Linka, why don't you just tell him that you have feelings for him then?"
"I can't do that, Gi!" She flinched back and released her embrace, "I'm too embarrassed and scared to even know what to say and besides, Wheeler will just make me angry in a couple days and I'll feel completely different again." Gi couldn't really argue with the history of that, it had happened plenty of times before.
"What's different about this time then Linka?" Gi asked her, "I've never seen you this upset about Wheeler before and although you've told me that you love Wheeler before, it's never seemed as real as just now."
"I can't explain them, Wheeler was so sweet to me last night and this morning" Linka started blushing before her face turn solemn, "before Gaia called us to the Chamber last night, Wheeler had tried to kiss me in his usual way, by being arrogant and.. well, you know how he is." Gi could only nod in agreement. Linka started staring into space, "but after that meeting, he walked me back to me room and his behaviour completely changed. He told me things that he'd probably never told anyone, such as that he only behaves the way he does because he's insecure about himself. He's had a difficult childhood and he's forged this persona around himself to keep others from getting too close, to protect himself. He said that he behaves immature when he's uncomfortable. I've never heard him speak so seriously."
"Yes," Gi nodded, "I've noticed a complete change in his behaviour this morning. He looks and seems like he's become a, to be honest, wonderful gentleman."
"Exactly," Linka visibly frowned, "and last night, I..." She couldn't continue. She put her face in her hands and shook her head to hide her embarrassment. Gi put a hand on her nape and began rubbing to relieve some of her stress. She didn't want to push her to say something that she didn't want to be at the same time she was curious.
"If you don't want to talk about it..." Gi started, giving Linka the option to continue.
"No, I will tell you but it is so embarrassing. You must swear not to tell anyone, especially Wheeler!" Linka swore her to secrecy. Gi had hated keeping secrets but she agreed to it nonetheless by locking their pinky fingers, a childish action but one that affirmed their trust in each other.
"Last night, after Wheeler left for the evening, I went to bed and.." she paused, before turning her head away, "I dreamt that I had sex with Wheeler."
Gi yelped and raised her hands to her mouth, partly to hide her shock and partly to hide the massive grin that was on her face. "You've never dreamt of that before?" she asked when she calmed a little.
"No! Of course not!" Linka seemed like an innocent teenager for a moment, "but the embarrassing part was that when I woke up I wanted the dream to continue. I wanted to feel Wheeler's hands over me again and I've never experienced this kind of desire before, about anyone."
Gi smiled at her. "Don't be embarrassed Linky, you're allowed to have sexual desires."
"I'm not a little girl any more Gi," Linka turned to her, "I shouldn't be feeling like I'm back in school with a first crush or anything. I'm 23 years old."
"Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you can't have those kinds of feelings," Gi responded instantly, "there's nothing childish about it."
Linka seemed lost in thought for a moment, "yes, I suppose that you are right. Anyway, right after I woke from that wonderful dream." Linka had blushed when she'd admitted just how much she had enjoyed it. It felt nice to talk about how good she felt but she felt dirty at the same time, like she was saying something that she shouldn't be saying. "Wheeler comes and knocks on my door and asks he to join him on his morning run."
"Did you go?" Gi sat on the edge of the seat, literally gripped by the story.
Linka sighed, "no, I felt too embarrassed to spend the morning with him not minutes after the thoughts I'd just had. I saw the pain in his eyes though. It looked like his heart had been crushed. I've felt guilty all morning. I did offer to go swimming with him later though, but I don't think I can do that either any more."
"Why not?" Gi asked. It seemed like a perfect idea to her.
"After I had bathed, I sat and tried to do some study. I couldn't concentrate so I lay on my bed and tried to take a nap but all I could think about was Wheeler.. his hands on me.. his lips on mine.."
"..ok!" Gi stopped her, "I get the idea!" Gi started laughing and Linka turned away and put her hands on her cheeks to hide their red.
"Bozhe moi!" Linka said, "I'm so sorry, that's completely inappropriate. I can't believe I said.. sorry!"
"Don't worry Linka, just keep telling me what else happened."
"Well, I kept thinking about my dream from last night. Soon after, I started feeling warm and my hands started to.. explore my body," she stopped suddenly. It didn't look to Gi like she would be able to finished her sentence but a few moments later she continued, "I began masturbating." Linka stood straight up and began walking around the room frenetically. She started cursing in Russian to herself. Gi's smile would not go away. Her little Linka, doing such a thing, about Wheeler! She could have been merciless for years about this.
Linka stopped pacing and sat back down next to her friend. She just stared speechless straight at the television. "Linka, it's only natural. It sounds like you're in love with Wheeler," Gi became serious. Now was definitely not the time for any jokes about it, "like.. for real this time." Linka looked over at her and then looked back away from her.
"But why, Gi?" she said, furrowing her eyebrows, "he's so much unlike me."
"Well, in a lot of ways he is," Gi agreed, "but in a lot of ways he is very much like you too. And, I'll be honest, judging from the way he's carried himself today, that list is getting longer and longer."
Linka turned to her and smiled, "breakfast truly was a surprise. I wish I could have thanked him for it..."
"You still can, Linka," Gi hugged her tightly, "he's right there in the other room." She threw her arm up, pointing straight to the door between the kitchen and lounge.
"Hmm," Linka looked as well, pondering the thought before she slowly and gingerly stood, weak at the knees. It really shouldn't be this hard to thank him. Before passing the couch, Linka remembered and turned back to Gi, who was still wearing her great big smile, "Oh, I forgot. As I was.. you know.." she rolled her eyes and yet again her cheeks were scarlet, "..right before I was about to climax, Kwame knocked on the door and ruined it." The embarrassment was too much and Linka hurried out of the room before Gi could forge a response.
The door to the kitchen swung open and Linka could see Ma-Ti and Kwame finishing up on the dishes. She coughed and gathered herself before walking in to the room. She could see that the table was cleared and the kitchen was clean but couldn't see Wheeler.
As if sensing her question, Ma-Ti answered it for her, "he's gone to have a shower."
Linka managed a small giggle before nodding her head at him, making her way towards the door to the deck. Kwame and Ma-Ti glanced at each other, unsure as to what the heck was going on and simply turned back to completing the dishes. Linka closed the sliding door behind her and shielded her eyes from the mid-morning sun. It was beginning to get warm and the breeze felt great on her skin. She slowly started walking towards Wheeler's hut, trying to form her apologies and gratitudes as she walked, disregarding most of them as being too tacky before she'd even finished them.