Racing to You ✓

10 | breathing

Who knew that I, Leilani Ka'uhane, would ever ride on Deandre Williams's bike?

But that was exactly what was happening -- two people from polar opposite worlds, together. For some odd reason, it felt... okay. Of course we travelled in silence, as the roar of the engine was too loud, but the sun was setting, and we were riding towards one of my favourite places in Toronto.

We stopped by the walkway to the beach and he killed the engine. I took off his spare helmet and passed it to him gratefully. "Thanks for all this, Deandre."

"Of course," he replied. His Adam's apple bobbed. "I'm so sorry about what happened back there--"

"Wasn't your fault," I told him firmly.

He grimaced, his lips pulling into a thin line. "If you weren't there in the first place--"

"It could've happened anywhere," I pointed out.

He held my gaze for a moment more before giving in. "I guess so."

I turned towards the ocean instead, breathing in the salty air. There were still some children running along the beach, sending flocks of seagulls away, squawking noisily. But the waves crashing along the shore calmed me, grounding me.

"I love the sea," I murmured. "I love the sand. I just... I just miss Hawaii sometimes. I only have happy memories there. I was born and raised here, but some of my family is still back there, so I do partly consider there home too."

He walked up beside me. "Will you ever move there?"

I shook my head immediately. "The cost of living is astronomical. It's being bought over by lots of outsiders, and the locals can't compete."

"That's awful."

I shrugged. "I'm just grateful that I can still go back and visit, while chasing my dreams here. Hawaii has its downsides too, obviously. Like the long shipping times as it's far away from the mainland."

He turned his inquisitive gaze on me. "Why not L.A or New York?"

"California was expensive too," I laughed lightly and turned to look at him. "And so was the upper east side. But Toronto is pretty close to NYC, and Canada has healthcare covered."

He shrugged and looked back towards the horizon.

I grabbed the chance to ask what had been intriguing me. "Anyways, enough about me. What about you?"

He stiffened. "There's nothing to tell about me."

"Everyone has a story," I pushed.

He avoided my gaze as he stared out at the horizon. After a few tense moments, he finally settled on, "Everyone in school avoids me for good reason."

I frowned. "I'm not--"

"You should," he replied flatly.

"My friend Sasha taught me wushu." As in like, one stance.

Deandre re-composed himself from the abruptness of my statement. "Not that way. I just can't be with people. I'll just drag them into my shit and it'll be unfair."

"Shizzles," I corrected. "Are you talking to someone at least? Like a counsellor, maybe?"

"Yeah."

"That's more than enough," I insisted, although my curiosity was bubbling over.

Silence settled between us for a moment. He must have sensed my unasked questions as he sighed again. "You're just so... full of life, Leilani."

A bittersweet smile found its way onto my lips as I thought about the pressure of perfection that had shrouded me my entire life. "Sometimes."