No Aliens Allowed

- Nineteen -

The closest fancy restaurant that met Mom's standards was a half-hour drive. All of us crammed in the backseat, with me, Penn, Nalani and Alana sitting in a space meant for three people.

"You should've gotten a bigger car," Nalani complained. Her elbow was digging into me.

"Nala, you're elbowing my bladder," I complained.

"Shut up," she told me.

"Mom, Nalani's being mean!" I whined.

"Nalani, stop being mean," my mom said absentmindedly, comfortable in the front seat, on her phone.

"Kali started it," Nalani shot back.

"Quit it," Came Alana's reply on Nalani's right side, pressed against the door. Penn sat on my left. He was comfortable because, unlike us three, he had relaxed against me and we were able to sit nicely.

"Stop fighting," my dad asked.

"You're wrinkling my dress," Nalani snapped at Alana.

"And you're stepping on my foot."

"Well, at least you're not sitting next to Kali!" Nala shrieked.

"Hey!" I said. "You're practically sitting on top of me. I have no room."

"I vote we put Nala in the trunk," Alana announced.

"Let's," I agreed eagerly.

"Stop it," Nala said huffily.

"Mom, we're putting Nala in the trunk," Alana said, leaning forward and ignoring Nalani.

"Good job," my mom said, not listening.

"Nobody's going in the trunk. It's Christmas," Dad replied.

My sisters immediately started bickering with him. I turned to Penn, who was watching with a bemused smile on his face.

"Your family is crazy," he told me, tracing his thumb across my cheek.

I gave him a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"I'm actually pretty glad to be here with you," Penn said.

"If you think you're scoring brownie points with me by flattery, try again," I said.

"Fuck. Was I that obvious?"

"You hadn't sworn in the last fifteen seconds. I knew something was up."

"Well, since we're being honest, I hate this island. I hate Hawaii. But I like you."

"There's the Penn I know," I said, and kissed him on the cheek before settling against him, watching my sisters go at it. They were so riled up now that they'd transferred to Hawaiian now.

I caught something about how Alana was acting like a fifth grader.

Alana called Nala something - either a pudding cup or a bitch. I didn't quite catch it.

Totally a pudding cup. Yep. Best insult ever.

"Did you just call your sister a pudding cup?" My dad asked.

"Yeah, I was just wondering that."

Alana rolled her eyes. "Yes, Dad. I just used a packaged food item to insult Nala."

"Are you on your period?" Was Nalani's haughty response.

"Go away," Alana replied.

"I wish I could."

"We're here," my dad announced, pulling into the parking lot and stopping the car.

"EJECT!" I shouted, and both Penn and Alana fumbled for the door handles before we could kill each other.