You Have Got To Be Kidding Me...

I Meet Hunu

"Left! Left! Right! Jump! Right! Shit!!! Duck!" I yelled, swiping my finger down the screen of my iPad. My guy slid along the ground under the tree roots and started running again when the game excited to the main screen.

"Hey!" I protested. I had nearly broken my high score on Temple Run! The screen faded to black with the silver apple logo then, that too, disappeared, My battery had died. I checked the time on the stereo in the corner. 11:43am.

"You were supposed to die in half an hour!" I yelled at it. They always lie. "Half an hour of battery left. Then why did you die only ten minutes in? Huh?" I demanded as I stored it in my bag. At least I had my bag. It had my iPad, wallet and camera. All my essentials but my pocket Wi-fi and phone. And chocolate. Don't deny me my chocolate, it's my drug.

I sighed. What was I supposed to do now? My question was soon answered by a dying whale sound from my middle.

"That's a pretty good idea tummy." I smiled, poking my stomach. I know I probably look like an idiot, talking to my belly, but hey! I was bored and it's better than doing drugs or stuff like that.

I stood up and raided the fridge for something to eat. Energy drinks, energy drinks and what do you know? Even more energy drinks! Oh, and a bag of carrots. I slammed the door in disgust. Guess that means I get to explore. The great detective Kate, goes on the hunt for some decent food! I quickly hid my bag in what I suppose is my room, then excited the hotel room.

I padded into the hallway, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. Seriously, you could go swimming in this stuff. It was dark red down the middle and cream at the side. It sorta felt like you were walking down the red carpet which, technically, you were. I started down the stairs.

I was on the first floor when I smelt it. It couldn't be..... I took a deep breath and smiled. It was. Someone was cooking sausages. I followed my nose as it lead me down the first flight of stairs, around the corner and across the lobby to a pair of shiny double doors. I entered and nearly moaned. It smelt so good.

I had just entered a huge kitchen with stainless steel everything (except the table and chairs in the middle which were wooden) and bright lights. Just imagine a restaurant kitchen with a table, that's what it looked like. The scent of frying sausages filled the air. I was just about drooling, I was that hungry. I peeked around a rack of pans to find a Maori woman in her late sixties frying sausages over one of the modern looking stove tops.

Hmmmmm, I wonder if there was any way to snag a few of those beauties. I was outlining plans of action in my head when, as if sensing my presence, she turned around. Her dark brown eyes met my hazel green ones and she instantly smiled at me.

"You must be Liam's distant cousin. I'm Hunu, the cook at this joint." she introduced herself, extending her hand out to me. She seemed friendly enough.

"Kate," I replied, shaking her hand. She smiled again and I felt a grin creep up onto my face. She was one of those people who could relax you with just a smile.

"I'm guessing you're hungry." Hunu continued, removing the pan from the element and turning off the heat.

"Starving," I admitted. "All the boys have in their fridge is energy juice and carrots."

I eyed the sausages hungrily. Hunu chuckled, picking up one and placing it on a piece of bread before squirting tomato sauce all over it in the true kiwi style.

"What? No onions?" I asked cheekily. She chuckled again and added some burnt onions (just the way I like them) to the mixture and handed it to me. I eagerly took a bite and nearly burnt my mouth in the process.

"Careful! It's hot." Hunu laughed, as I fanned my mouth. She also made herself one and did the exact same thing as me. We both laughed. It felt so good to laugh again. I hadn't laughed since yesterday and for me, that is a very long time.

After I'd had four sausages and Hunu ate two, we sat at the polished wooden table and started chatting, getting to know each other. I found out that she knew every meaning to almost every name. Hunu meant sun's rays in Maori and mine meant pure in Greek. She told me her birthday was on Monday (Note to Self: Bake Hunu a birthday cake) and I told her about me and my friend's crazy nicknames. We talked about all sorts of stuff. The ultimate mac and cheese recipe, how the world was supposed to end this year, music, the boy's bodyguard Oliver and we somehow got onto the topic of stickmen. It went on like this for around two and a half hours before she brought up Liam.

"So," she started, sipping her drink which she'd gotten a few minutes ago. "You're a distant cousin of Liam's right?" I nodded slowly. "When was the last time you saw him?"

I was afraid that she'd bring this up. Oh well, it was bound to happen. I just hoped it'd be later rather than sooner. Might as well get it over and done with. Okay Kate, time to use your imagination and put your improvising skills to the test.

"I don't know exactly. It's been what? Ten, eleven years? He came over here for the funeral of our great-grandma and spent a day or two in Whangarei with us. I was only four or five at the time so I don't really remember it. Our parents thought it'd be a good idea for us to get to know each other better, so yeah." I said smoothly. I hoped that sounded believable.

"So you're here for a week?" Hunu asked. It seems she brought my lie.

"Yeah, but I'm not allowed outside since Liam thinks I'll get mobbed or something. So that means that I'm stuck in this very swanky prison. Guess I'll be seeing you a lot."

Hunu smiled warmly. "I'd like that."

I opened my mouth to reply when there came the sound of stomping feet and someone yelling at Oliver. We looked at each other in confusion before getting up and exciting the kitchen into the lobby. What we saw was far from a pretty sight. Liam was yelling at Oliver, his face red and fists clenched. Oliver was trying to calm to him down and failing miserably.

"What's all the racket about?!" I shouted over Liam's yells. Liam spun around and a look of relief crossed his face. He strode determinedly towards us, halting in front of me.

"Where have you been?!?!?" he practically screamed at me. I put my hands up in front of me.

"Dude, no need to yell. I'm standing right in front of you." I retorted. He just scowled and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring angrily at me. "As for where I've been, I was in the kitchen talking to Hunu here," I gestured to the cook beside me. She waved cheerfully at him.

He glanced over at her, then snapped his attention back to me. He sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head.

"The others are waiting for us," he finally said. "Come on.... Uh....... Ummmmm...."

Hunu looked at him curiously. Shit, he didn't know my name. I'd forgotten about that. Guess I have to save his famous ass before he makes a fool of himself.

"You see? You can tell we haven't seen each other for ten years. He can't even remember my name!" I exclaimed to Hunu. She chuckled while his face turned bright red. "Well, I guess I can't keep the boys waiting. See you later Hunu!"

I waved over my shoulder and strolled up the stairs, a very baffled Liam behind me.

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Just want to apologise beforehand if some of the slang is wrong. I'm using New Zealand slang which is kind of a mix of a lot of different countries.

Also wanted to add that Maori is pronounced moldy.

Still no comments. Me sad :( Oh well, I will survive!