Learning To Live

Chapter 2: Kauai

My alarm had been set for 6am, and my flight was at 8.  I dragged myself out of bed, and into the shower.  Once I was finished, I threw on the clothes I had set out for myself the night before and slipped my combat boots on.  I sighed; it was time to go to Hawaii...

Jenny and Dave drove me to the airport, and I thankfully got through security with no problems.

The plane ride there wasn't terrible.  I had the aisle seat and there was no one sitting in the middle seat.  It was the closest I could be to being alone, and I just listened to my music the entire way anyways.  The flight from New York to Kauai was nearly thirteen hours long, so I kicked back and relaxed.  I slept for most of it, thankfully able to make up for my lack of sleep that night.

* * *

When the plane finally landed, I was more than ready to get off of it.  It was cramped, and I never like to stay in one place for too long.  Not to mention I get easily bored.  I followed the crowd of vacationers getting off the plane as well, and started searching for whoever I was supposed to be here for.  Derek and Jenny hadn't given me names or anything, so I was pretty much helpless.  I looked around the airport and soon spotted a sign with my name in bright letters.  It took everything within me to not get back on that plane.

I made my way over to the man and woman with the sign, feeling more embarrassed than I had in a very long time.

"Oh, you must be Natalia!"  The woman exclaimed with a slight accent.  She was pretty tall, maybe 5'7, and had dark brown hair and light brown.  She was definitely a native Hawaiian.

"Yeah."  I shrugged.  She held out her hand for me to shake, but I just gritted my teeth and looked at the ground.

"I'm Leilani Gray, and this is my husband Jim."  She smiled, gesturing to the man next to her. He was average height, standing only three inches taller than his wife.  He had light blonde hair, blue eyes, and looked very muscular from hard labor.  He didn't say anything, but of course that was just fine with me.  He thankfully didn't attempt to shake my hand, because I would've declined his too.  My aim was to make them regret taking me in so they'd have to send me back. At Jenny and Dave's house, it was so easy to get away with things.  I doubt it'd be so easy where I was going.

Jim and Leilani led me to a truck, and told me to 'hop in'.  I visibly rolled my eyes when they told me that.  Jim tried to take my bags from me, but I forcefully told him 'no'.  The zipper on my book bag sometimes came open, and I really didn't want him finding the stuff I would need to cope with living here.  I climbed in, and set my bags on the floor.

"Buckle up!"  Leilani called from the passenger seat.  Both her and her husband buckled, but I didn't.  She looked back at me with an expectant face, but I just gave her a smug look and put in my earbuds.

The car ride to their house was only about ten miles, and the scenery was to die for.  I found myself actually enjoying something in life.  It felt almost nice, I suppose.  I caught little snippets of Jim and Leilani's conversation.  They were actually talking to me, but I was trying to pretend I couldn't hear them.  They were talking about how Jim moved to Kauai twenty five years ago, and met Leilani.  All their boys were all born here and given Hawaiian names, since they were half Hawaiian.

"Here we are!"  Leilani proudly pointed to the largest beach house I had ever seen.  In fact, it looked like three beach houses combined.  I nodded, showing her I'd heard what she said since I still had my earbuds in.  The car pulled in the driveway, and Jim put it in park and killed the engine.  I grabbed my bags while Jim opened the door for me.  He offered me a hand to help me down, but I ignored it.

"Why don't you come inside and meet the family?"  Jim suggested lightly.

"Family?"  I grumbled.  No one said anything about them having kids.

"Yep.  We have ten boys."  Melissa beamed.  I growled, then spit to the side watching the nasty glob land on their lawn.  I picked up my bags and headed back toward the van.

"We're not taking you back, if that's what you want."  Leilani's voice changed tones all of a sudden.  I halted in my tracks, knowing I couldn't really go anywhere if they wouldn't drive me.  I didn't know my way around, so I turned back around and followed Leilani inside.  Jim walked behind me, probably to prevent me from bolting.

Leilani led me in the house and up the stairs, and headed down a long hallway.  The one at the very end to the right, she said, was mine.  I nodded, and opened the door.  I prayed it wasn't pink as I slowly pushed it opened.  It was thankfully a pretty color of blue, but I still wished it was black or at least red.

"I'll leave you alone to get settled."  She smiled.

"Fine.  But just so you know, I don't want to be here."  I glared at her.

"Yes, Natalia, you've made that very clear.  But you are here anyways, and I suggest you make the best of it."  She had an edge in her voice that almost made me shudder.  She left the room, leaving the door wide open.  I stomped loudly over to it, then slammed it shut as hard as I could.  Feeling satisfied with myself, I decided to unpack.  I first hid all the cigarettes under my bed, and covered them up with a black blanked to make it blend in more.  The cocaine, though, was shoved in a sock and put in the sock drawer. 

Then I placed all my clothes in the dresser and closet, noticing there were some clothes placed in there for me.

All the clothes picked out, were very colorful and bright.  Nothing black.  There was also a collection of swimsuits; a purple one piece with silver swirls and a plunging neckline, a hot pink bikini, and a bright blue tankini with black polka dots.  I almost laughed at the thought of me wearing any of them.