Nico

We went down to the lobby where my dad and Will's parents were waiting for us and then we went to the car our parents rented for this trip.

It was a seven-seat SUV, enough to accommodate us all.

My father gets in the drivers sit and my mother gets on his side. She'll work as a guide for him.

Will's parents sit in the second roll and Will and I are in the third row in the back of the car.

My father starts the engine, and we begin the trip. I lean back in my seat and close my eyes, trying to block everything around me, including the fact that I'm here.

"It's going to be fun, Nico. You will like it," My mother says.

I take a deep breath and open my eyes. "No, I will not. I don't know what is so good about seeing a volcano spilling lava," I complain.

"We're not going to the Volcano Park today. We'll go to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, then we will dive into Honaunau beach bay, we will have lunch and then go to the hotel we booked in Hilo and then we go to Mauna Kea to see the sunset and the starry sky," My mother says.

I cross my arms, some of the things she mentioned do seem interesting, but my bad mood would not budge so easy.

"Wow. Nothing you said sounds like fun," I say, with a fake cheer voice.

When my mother cannot convince me, it's my father's turn to take action.

"You must be sleepy, so let's do this. You get some sleep on the way and maybe when we get there your mood will be better and you can at least try to have fun. How about that?" My father suggests.

"I have enough fun without climbing a mountain that spills fire, and we may not be going to Kilauea today, but I know you'll want to go tomorrow, and Mauna Kea is also a volcano."

"An extinct volcano," Will says.

"Shut up," I say.

My mother sighs in exasperation. "All right, that's enough. Try to get some sleep anyway, the trip will be long. I know you'll like it when you get there."

I breathe deeply, trying to calm myself and resist the urge to keep complaining. I hate being dragged to places I don't want to go. What's the matter with adults? Can't they accept that their idea of fun and mine are different? Ugh!

I am slowly brought to consciousness as I feel a caress in my hair. I open my eyes only to realize that I fell asleep during the trip and that I used Will's shoulder as a pillow.

"Nico," Will calls me softly, running his hand through my hair again.

I get up from his shoulder, immediately missing the contact. I take my hand to my mouth, covering a yawn.

I look around.

"Are we there?" I ask in a hoarse voice of sleep.

"Yes. But before we go to the beach, we are stopping for breakfast."

We get out of the car and follow our parents to a coffee shop across the street, soon as we enter, we are invaded by a delicious smell of coffee.

"Kona is famous for having the best coffee beans on the planet. I've always wanted to taste it," says Naomi, Will's mother.

"At least something good on this trip. Coffee," I say.

"Nico," my mother says angrily as she gives me an ugly look, but I don't pay any attention. My moodiness has not improved, even after I've slept.

I know I'm being childish, but I really didn't want to be here and being forced to come frustrated me.

Will's parents ignore my behavior and go to the front desk with my parents just behind them. When I take a step to follow them, Will holds me in place.

I turn to look at him and am taken by surprise by the intensity of his gaze. "What?" I ask.

"Can't you at least try to enjoy it a little? They are excited about the trip," Will says pointing to our parents.

"It's easy for you to say. You want to be here."

"Is it really that bad for you to be here?"

"You don't understand."

"Actually, I understand. I know it's frustrating to be forced to come, but I also know that closing your face and complaining every step of the way won't do you any good. We are in a beautiful place! Enjoy the views. And enjoy the time we're spending with our families. Do it for your parents at least. They feel bad about you behaving like that."

"Are you scolding me?"

"No. I mean, yes," Will sighs in conflict, but then he relaxes and says. "I just think you could give it a try. For your parents. And for you. What does it cost to try to have some fun?"

Will gives me that puppy dog eye, making it impossible for me to say no.

I sigh in defeat. "Okay. I'll try."

Will opens a big smile and I have to resist the urge to pull him against me and kiss him.

"Thank you," he says.

I look away from his face to preserve my balance. "I need coffee," I say, going to the service desk. Will follows behind me.

The cafeteria is small and rustic. The tables are of a smooth and dark wood, as well as the chairs. The lighting present on the place comes through the windows, all of which provide a comfortable and warm atmosphere.

We follow our parents to a table that has seats for everyone and wait for our orders to arrive, which doesn't take long.

We all try the coffee, which is really the best I've ever had.

"Where are we going next again?" I ask, trying to join in.

"Homnausdmfknfsjnau," Will's father says with his mouth full. His wife laughs.

"What?" Will asks without understanding, just like me.

"Honaunau. More specifically, to the National Historical Park of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau. That is where in ancient times Hawaiians who broke the sacred laws of society took refuge - and after being there for a while, they could return to social life with their sins or crimes forgiven," explains Naomi, Will's mother.

"Like a prison?" I ask.

"Not exactly," Naomi answers. "It's concept is similar to that of a prison, but most of the time it was voluntary. The sinner decided to go there to take refuge and 'cleanse' himself of his sins."

"Got it."

"There are also totems there from the ancient Hawaii era that are still there," my dad says.

"And if we're lucky, turtles are on the coast resting. Then we can see them," my mother says excitedly.

"Only we cannot get into the water there," says Naomi.

"Let's finish eating soon. It's complicated to park near the National Park, so we'll have to walk a piece of the way. And to get to the top of Mauna Kea later takes quite a while," says Apollo.

"Top of Mauna Kea?" I ask, not liking how that sounds.

"Yes. It's a three-hour drive to the top to see the sunset. Above the clouds," Will says.

"Three hours. Great," I say to myself.