Love at the Sea

Seventeen: Leilani

We ordered our food and took our seats.

Everyone looked at me and then Kalei over and over.

I took out my phone, which I guess was the signal to talk.

Kainoa started first, "Remember back during your 8th grade year, when Lei couldn't hangout with you at school, because Kimberly was always there?"

I glance at Kalei and he was looking right at me and nodded. "Remember how you would tell me how much you wanted to hang out with Lei but Kimberly was always there and every time you were with Kimberly and you saw Lei, my sister would never say hi back?"

I looked at Kalei again and he was staring at me and nodded again.

Kainoa then said, "Kanoe your turn." Kanoe just shook his head looked at Makana and got up to get the food.

Makana then said, "The reason why Lei never said hi was because Kimberly was bullying Lei at that time and every time..." I took a breath in and said, "Every time I talked to you...Kimberly would just latch on tighter to you, then she say really mean things.."

I looked at Makana and she nodded. "Lei was being bullied by Kimberly.

You remember that day when Lei was called to go home with that excuse of a family emergency. Hmmm, when Kainoa and I went to get Lei from your class. Remember?"

She asked Kalei and he nodded slowly.

I can feel him staring at me, but I don't want to look at him.

Kalei then asked, "Lei, why did you leave early that day?" I looked at the table and said, "Because my mom found a letter of my running away..."

I looked up at him and at first he thought we were all making this up, but he read me and realized...this was all true. "You were gonna run away?"

I looked down.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Kalei asked.

I just shook my head. "Lei tell him what you told me then," Makana told me.

I stared at the table and said, "I didn't think you would miss me because you had Kimberly." I looked at Makana and then the table trying to avoid at all cost to look at Kalei.

There was a long pause which probably would have lasted forever if Kai and Kanoe didn't come back with food.

I finally looked up at Kalei and saw him staring at me.

His eyes read you-know-I-would-miss-you-right? "At the time I didn't think you would, you were always with her," I said. "Yeah, but I didn't have a choice, she pretty much kidnapped me from you every single time."

What can I say? I look at Makana.

Makana looked at Kanoe and he said, "She didn't run away as you can see and you both became really close after that. I think if that girl didn't come into your guys lives you would have never realized how much you both care about each other," my brother looked at Kalei and then to me and said, "Kalei missed you too, back then Lei."

I look at Kalei, but he didn't let me look in his eyes, "Kalei?"

He looks up into my eyes and says, "It's true, I missed you so much. We never got to hang out after school and when I came over to your house," he paused and looked at the table, "every time I came over you would be to busy and you would always say we would hang out next time."

He looks at me with sad eyes and continued, "But next time never came until the end of the year when Kimberly finally left and you never told me why? Why we couldn't hangout then? Why you won't even talk to me? Then everything got worse in high school. We never got to hang out during school." His eyes pleaded with me and I stood up. "Maybe we shouldn't be having this conversation now...with everyone here and in public."

I walked over to him and picked up his hand. "Kanoe can I borrow the keys to the car please?" Kanoe took out the car keys and before Kai or Makana began to protest Kanoe said, "This is their fight we done all we could do."

He handed me the keys and we walked out of the restaurant.

When we finally got into the car and closed the door an awkward tension began to form.

So thick I could probably cut through it with a knife.

I looked at Kalei, who was looking out the window. "I'm sorry Kalei."

He looked at me and his eyes looks too sad. "Kalei..." A tear rolls down my cheek. He looks into my eyes and says, "I know, you are sorry. I am too but Kanoe was right and if I could I would go back in time and change what I did....."

He immediately stops and asks, "What are you thinking?" I pick up his hand and says, "I won't change anything because I like how everything turned out in our favor in the end, right?"

I look into his eyes knowing that he can read my ever thought now and I can read all of his, our special gift.

"Leilani Kalea Noa Kaleialoha, I hope you know I love you."

"Well, Kaleikoa Keanu Kaleahola, I love you too."

At that moment the doors open and Makana, Kainoa and Kanoe slid in the the car starts and we are off.

"Now let's officially start our sightseeing, we have school tomorrow guys and we are leaving at 8 pm. before that we are all going to eat dinner together as a family.

It's a formal dinner and Kalei you don't have a tux so Kai and Kanoe your are taking Kalei tux shopping and Lei, I'll take you dress shopping," Makana smiles and we drive off.

After sightseeing and dress shopping with Makana we finally found the perfect dress for tonight.

It is blue A-line strapless appliqued, extravagant Chiffon formal evening dress.

Makana found a Spaghetti Straps Asym Beaded Empire Purple Dress. "Let's wait in the front as the guys pick us up," Makana looked at me and smile her smile that makes her eyes sparkle.

No matter what is going on good or bad that smile makes everything better.