Aloha Lila || Milo Manheim

Chapter 8 - An Unpleasant Surprise in the Seafood Stew

This chapter is dedicated to my amazing, wonder sister who I love dearly who, several years ago, went through the same thing that Lila will go through in this chapter. And, sorry, but... it could get a little gross.

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Tuesday morning, and I sat out on my balcony, watching the sunrise. I had never asked Lila if she had seen the sunrise or sunset. I hadn't really even talked to her since we parted near the elevators on Sunday, and I was texting her as I was headed out to go to church. I had to remember to give her a hug the instant I see her again. That raincheck would be checked for sure.

"Wise men say... only fools rush in..."

I had finally got the tune on my guitar that I brought with me. Yes, I found tutorials online, but I also had been fiddling around on my guitar to find the right notes, and I had been rewatching the scene from Blue Hawaii where Elvis sings the song.

I was determined to play this song for Lila and hopefully in a place that she really wanted to go to in Hawaii. I had no idea as of yet when that would happen and how it would happen, but I wanted to make it happen since I cared about her so much. It was insane how fast I came to care for her. I liked to say that I could easily fall in love with people platonically, and I expected that when I came to Hawaii and started on Doogie, but I didn't expect to actually fall in love for real!

I checked my phone. 6:03. I looked out at the sunrise that was coming up over the ocean, and it painted the whole sky with orange, pink and blue, and those same colors were reflected on the water. What a beautiful sight. I took up my phone and snapped a picture. I went to Lila's and my chat in my text messages and sent her the picture. She would love it.

We texted each other yesterday, but we never physically saw each other. She was so busy doing things with her family. She sent a text telling me she would send me pictures of her snorkeling and other activities. She never did that. Maybe they were with an actual camera and the film needed to be developed. I would be patient. She had my e-mail, too, that she could send pictures to.

We both were busy yesterday, but I was working. I was going around the island, making appearances at clothing stores and such, and I modeled some of the clothing. No filming. That would be done later this week, actually, since I was needed for a couple important scenes: the rain kiss scene and the waterfall scene. Peyton and I also had to record "Tale as Old as Time" for our Beauty and the Beast dinner and waltz scene that we would do next week. We had to focus on those scenes, mainly for me, while the others of the cast had the Jellyfish Jam to worry about. Matt had been practicing like crazy to do his dance number for the competition at the dance.

I checked my phone again. Lila was probably still sleeping. After the sun was up over the ocean, I went back inside and set my guitar on my bed. I hadn't gotten ready for the day yet, I just ate a protein bar and sat outside the balcony, practicing the Elvis song, while watching the sun rise.

Knowing I had about an hour until I needed to head out, I showered, and when I came out, dressed for the day and with my hair up in its Nico 'do since the style grew on me while I was doing Zombies, I checked my phone and saw that Peyton called me three times. My brows creased. She never called me that many times in a row unless it was serious. I called her, and she picked up after the second ring.

"Oh my gosh, Milo! Why weren't you picking up?!"

She sounded flustered, and my heart started racing in worry. "I was showering. What's the matter?"