Playing With Lightning

Uh-Oh

“Oh my god, it’s so hot!” Taylah complained.

“You’re kidding right?” I asked incredulously. “You’re not even walking.” I gestured to Nathan, who was at that moment giving her a piggy back.

“Whatever, it’s still hot up here,” she shrugged, narrowing her eyes at me.

We were walking along the dock towards a dingy little speedboat that would take us to one of the other four islands dotted around the main island. We’d had a couple of days just relaxing around the hotel and shopping in town, now we were up for a bit of adventure, and Kawalieh Island was the perfect place for it.

“You don’t get sea sick do you?” Tom asked me, crinkling up his nose and poking my arm.

“Yeap, and guess who I’m sitting next to?” I teased, elbowing him. He slid down along the bench seat and pretended to hide behind Max, who pushed him off playfully. “Let’s get this show on the road – or the sea, whatever…”

“Dork,” Nathan coughed behind his hand and I flipped him the bird. Lady like, I know.

“Gah! It’s even more beautiful than the last one,” I said as I stepped onto the dock at the other end. “Screw you guys, I’m moving over here. I’ll live in a hut, I don’t even care.”

“Come on, there’s a trail that leads up to the good stuff,” Jay announced, starting off to a gap in the trees the edged the beach.

“Uphill?” I stopped at the site of the path. “I don’t do uphill. It’s like you don’t know me at all!”

“Come on lazy ass,” Tay rolled her eyes, pulling me on by the hand. “It’ll be worth it.”

We made our way up the path, winding between massive trees, and found a tiny little cluster of buildings all surrounding an open area. Set up on the cobbled square was a group of tables piled with food and a crowd of people stood around in colourful clothing.

“What is this?” Siva asked, looking to Jay for answers. He’d planned this whole trip and insisted on keeping it a secret from the rest of us.

“This is the Annual Kawalieh Festival of the Sun,” he said proudly. “It lasts for one week every year. Barely anybody knows about it, not even everybody on the main island. Luckily, I know a guy, and he told me we definitely have to check it out.”

“Then let’s go,” I said excitedly, pulling his arm towards the square. As we approached, the people looked towards us. But they weren’t looking at us like we were unwelcome, so I grinned and kept walking. “Umm, hi.”

“Hello,” a caramel skinned girl with insanely long black hair stepped forward. She was probably a bit older than me, maybe in her early twenties. “Welcome to Kawalieh, I’m guessing you’re staying on the main island, right?”

“Yeah,” Nath nodded. We were starting to attract the attention of a group of teenage girls. Of course, when I say we, I mean the boys. It tends to happen when you’re with admittedly attractive guys. One of the girls had her eyes on Nathan, but he was completely oblivious, wrapping an arm around Tay’s waist and pulling her to his side.

A younger girl, probably about fifteen, ran up to the one we were talking to.

“Lilo, Lilo! That’s them!” she squealed excitedly. “I told you I wasn’t lying! What did I tell you? I said they were here and you didn’t believe me.”

“That you did Kay,” the girl said with an eye roll. “In that case, I take it you guys are the Hunted?”

“The Wanted,” the girl corrected. “Sorry about her, she’s musically challenged. But I’m like, your biggest fan! I’m Kay, short for Kaylee. This is my big sister Lilo.”

“Yes like the movie,” Lilo said as if she got it a lot.

“Hi,” Tom said charmingly. “Nice to meet you both. I’m Tom, this is Nathan, Max, Siva and Jay.”

“And this is my sister Maeve, and Tom’s sister Taylah,” Max added. We both waved and smiled warmly. “We all love the island.”

“Yeah it’s beautiful,” I nodded my agreement.

The music coming from a couple of loud speakers changed to a fast paced song with rhythmic drumbeats. Kay jumped excitedly as people started moving towards the centre of the square, pairing off.

“I love this dance,” she squealed. “Do you guys want to come learn it? It’s really easy.”

“Well, I’m not the best dancer,” Tom admitted. “But I’m game.” Kay grinned and grabbed his hand, pulling him off to join the line of couples.

Lilo called over a few of her friends and they all grabbed our hands and started showing us the steps. Once we’d gotten the hang of it, my partner and Jay’s, who we found out were one of the island’s hottest couples, paired off and started dancing together, pushing up against each other in a less-than-traditional way.

“I’m really not that into this embarrassing myself stuff,” Jay said with a laugh. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Definitely,” I looped my arm through his and we ran off the dance floor, away from the tangle of people and down a quiet side street. “I love this place.”

“It’s awesome,” he agreed. “I’m glad we brought you guys here.”

We were basically going in a circle around the group of shops and houses, just walking and taking it all in. Our arms were still looped together, but I’m pretty sure I was the only one who was painfully aware of our skin brushing together and the tingle I felt at the contact.

“We should probably get back,” I said, as much as I didn’t want to. “I would hope my brother is wondering where I am.”

“Or maybe they’re not…” Jay trailed off as we came back into the square to find it empty. There were only a couple of old ladies sitting at one of the tables, everyone else was gone. “They’re gone.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” I groaned. “What are we meant to do?”

“Find them,” he shrugged and I sighed, grabbing his hand and turning right back around to leave again. Stupid Max, stupid Nathan and Taylah and Tom and Siva. Now I was going to have to walk all around the island looking for their stupid asses. Stupid them.