Learning To Live

Chapter 6: Trying

After vowing I would actually try from now on, I was 'asked' to help make breakfast.  It was more of a command said in a nice tone, though, so I said yes in order to not get in trouble.  We made bacon and pineapple bake, and I thought it sounded absolutely disgusting.  To Leilani's satisfaction, after making me try it, I actually liked it.

Even after the conversation I had with Leilani, that didn't mean I had to be the perfect child.  After breakfast, the boys decided to go surfing.

"Wanna come, Lia?"  Ori asked.

"Who said you could call me that?"  I snapped.  It gave me great pleasure to intimidate and scare people; especially children.

"I'm sorry."  He apologized, clearly taken aback.

"Go away."  I shooed him away from me, and he ran.  I smirked to myself, feeling good.  I turned around to see Kayl giving me a disapproving look. 

I just shrugged and walked past him, heading to my room.

At the top of the stairs, I nearly ran into Keoki.  He held up the bag of cocaine I had hidden.  My jaw dropped open and I lunged at it.  He must've seen me take it out the other day...

"Not so fast."  Keoki yanked it away, wagging his finger in my face.  I know I had promised Leilani that I would try, but this was too far.  I wanted to punch him in the face, but I vowed never to hit another person.  I wouldn't be like my uncle; ever.

I stood there, seething in anger.  He didn't have a smug look on his face, but a look of sadness almost.  Great; he probably felt bad for me. 

"Give it back."  I snarled, but he shook his head. 

"Well what're you going to do with it?"  I asked.

"Throw it away."  He answered easily.  I rolled my eyes and pushed past him.  I was about the enter my room, when Kai exited his room wearing only swim trunks.

"Why don't you come swim with us?  It's literally in our backyard."  Kai suggested. 

I shook my head, still not wanting to wear one of those bright colored swimsuits I'd been provided.

"It's more of a command from my mother than a suggestion, so I would seriously consider coming."  Kai explained. It wasn't just the fact that I didn't like the bathing suits; it was the fact that I had some noticeable scars that I wasn't ready for the world to see.

"No."  I told him, almost wishing I could say yes. 

"Why not?"  He countered.  I wasn't about ready to tell someone the truth, let alone him.

"I just don't want to."  I crossed my arms daringly.

"Natalia, you don't even have to swim.  Come play volleyball, or even just sit outside and watch."  He suggested.

"Fine."  I sighed loudly, not happy about this at all.  Kai flashed a smile and left me alone as he bounded down the stairs.  I went and changed into a pair of jean shorts I found in the dresser, and a black ruffled tank top I had brought from home.  I had quickly found out that it was too warm to be wearing all black all the time.  It wasn't a fun change up, but it was sort of necessary if I didn't want to die of heat stroke.

Everyone went barefoot around here, so I skipped putting shoes on and headed out the back door and down the steps leading off the deck.  I immediately saw all the boys, playing in and out of the water.  They looked like they were having a lot of fun, and I almost envied them.  My childhood hadn't exactly been the definition of 'fun'.

Koi and Ori waved to me from the sand where they were building a castle, and I accidentally smiled a little as I made my way over to them.

"Hi Natalia!"  Ori smiled brightly, evidently forgetting me snapping at him a few minutes before.  I waved and tried to smile back, but I had a feeling it looked more like a grimace than a smile. Oh well; at least I tried.

Further down the beach, Kelan and Kalei were playing soccer with Nui and it was rather funny to watch.  The rest of the boys were in the water.  Keoki, Kayson, and Keon were messing around on their surfboards while Kayl, Kai, and Keiran played volleyball.

"Hey Natalia, wanna join?"  Keiran called out to me. I had never played volleyball before, and I really didn't want to make a fool of myself.  So I shook my head, hoping they'd drop it.

"Come on, the teams are uneven anyways."  Kai tried.  I thought about it for a second before shaking my head again. I really didn't want to get in the way.  Thankfully they gave up trying to persuade me, and went back to playing.  I sat a couple yards away and watched everyone having fun.  Everyone seemed to carefree, and I really wanted to be that way too.  But there really was no possible way, I decided.

"I got kicked out."  Kai chuckled, coming to sit next to me.  He thankfully sat a foot away, but I still didn't know how I felt about him being there in general.  I managed a small smile at his statement, but stayed silent.

"How are you holding up?"  Kai asked, concern etched on his face.  He was referring to last night, wasn't he...  When he nearly gave me a heart attack.

"I'm fine."  It wasn't necessarily a lie, but I could be doing a whole lot better.

"Do you like it here okay?"  He asked, sounding as if he actually wanted to know.

"Yes, it's very nice here.  Very beautiful."  I answered calmly.

He nodded as if my answer pleased him, and remained quiet after that.  Before long, he stood up and motioned for me to follow him.  I reluctantly got up as well and started walking after him.  He headed toward the water and waded out.

"Are you afraid of the water?"  Kai asked, curiously.

"No, I just don't want to get my clothes wet."  I replied truthfully.

"The house is literally right there, and you have more clothes in there.  Besides, we swim in our clothes all the time."  He shrugged.  As much as I didn't want to admit it, he did have a point.

"Fine."  I rolled my eyes and started to go in deeper.  Maybe this could actually be fun.