Problems in Paradise

Chapter 4

When we got back to Dog and Beth's house, I asked Lyssa to help me get ready before the boys got back. I texted Leland asking what time I should be ready for dinner.

"How did we beat them, anyway?" I asked her.

"Oh, they're probably weapons shopping. They don't get the chance to do that very often." I just nodded in understanding. Leland texted back saying around 6. I showered so I could rinse off everything from the morning. Before Lyssa came back in, I sent Leland one last quick text.

Not a date, right? You know I can't. He texted back right away. Frate. Friend-date. Just dinner and walking along the ocean. Deal?

Deal I responded. Afterwards, Lyssa helped me blowdry my hair and showed me how to wash my face everyday to prevent acne or blemishing from makeup. "If you wear it every day, you'll feel better. Safer." I nodded and after that we quit talking for awhile so she could do my makeup. A few minutes later, she popped up from her kneeling stance.

"All done!" she smiled. I looked in the mirror. She had done my hair in a half-up 'do so it was still cascading down my back. The wavy curls she had added to it looked spectacular compared to my normal straight ponytail. My makeup was dark, a contrast to the light, barely-there stuff that I'd had on this morning. It looked much different from what I usually did myself. Lyssa had let me borrow waterproof hairspray and setting spray so I could get in the ocean without undoing any of it. To wear, I had chosen one of my seven brand new bikinis – the royal blue one, obviously – and a strapless flowy dress to wear over it. I had bought white flip flops to wear around the beach, despite Beth and Lyssa's objection.

"I look incredible," I said aloud. This was the first time since I had come to Hawaii that I allowed myself to actually dress up and feel good about myself. "You really do," Lyssa agreed.

"You look great," Dog said, coming in with Beth. "Leland will love it." I looked at him and he laughed. So apparently it was a family joke now. Dog passed something to Beth, who handed me black clutch with what was probably a real diamond on the clasp.

"I put that small wallet we bought today in here. This is an old one, you can have it. I don't use it much anymore." I took the purse and opened it. Inside was my new phone and wallet, which was full. I pulled it out and opened it. The wallet held a new Hawaii driver's license, three credit cards – one from each major company, Mastercard, Visa, and Discover – a library card, Dog's business card that had everyone's numbers on it, an insurance card, and a bunch of cash stuffed inside the pocket. I looked up at Dog.

"What is all this?" I asked him.

"Leland told you, we got your back. You're one of us now, sista." Beth explained. I glanced at the driver's license, Chapman, Annilise Marie. Apparently, I was.

"You're...I'm..."

"We're here to protect you, honey," Dog said in a serious tone. "No one will get to you. They have to go through us. That ain't about to happen." I couldn't say anything, so I just gave Dog a huge hug. He hugged me back and said, "You'll be here a long time." I really believed I would.

I walked down the stairs following Dog, Beth, and Lyssa. Suddenly I heard everyone stop talking. There were 2 younger girls, a girl around my age, and a younger boy sitting in the room with Leland and Duane Lee. I just laughed.

"You look even better than you did this morning," Leland said.

"How bad did I look this morning?" I asked him. Everyone laughed.

"You know what I mean." He said. "I do," I nodded, "but it's more fun to pretend I don't."

"She's catching on, brotha," Duane Lee laughed. Leland took my hand and led me down the last few stairs. He just stared at me for a moment.