Love at the Sea

Six: Kaleikoa

I didn't get to see her all day and when I asked Derek where she was he's say one second I'd see her and then she's gone.

Before I went to practice I finally got to talk to Chelsea, "Where's Lei?" She was putting her bag in Derek's truck when I looked inside I saw two swimsuits and a pair of swimming trunks.

She looked up and said, "I last saw her after AP GOV, she said she's gonna put her stuff in your truck and then she'll meet me here. Oh look, there she is."

Chelsea pointed over my shoulder past other half of the parking lot.

She was walking with a teacher and holding some papers and a folder. "Lei!" Chelsea yells over to her and when Lei looks up Chelsea waves and Lei smiles, her innocent smile.

Then she looks at me and her smile drops. "Heyy, ready to go." "Yeah, let me just call Derek to tell him we're leaving."

Chelsea walks to the drivers seat and I finally got to be alone with Leilani. "Thanks for breakfast this morning." She looked up from her papers, she was holding, her expression scared me. "What's wrong?"

A tear rolled down her face then she looked back down at the papers in her hand then handed them to me. I flip through them.

On the third page on the top said 4.0 student moving to either La Pietra High school or 'Iolani High school I looked at her...

"These aren't the schools..."

She immediately took out her phone, "Mother, I looked my transferring forms. The schools are La Pietra or 'Iolani."

I couldn't hear Aunty Pua talk but I saw Lei nod head and then say, "See you when I get home. Bye."

I gave her back the forms, that moment Chelsea turned on the engine. Lei looks at me as I reach over and wipe a stray tear that was rolling down her cheek. "I'll text you after practice okay?"

I give her my it's-going-to-be-okay smile she hugs me and then opens the door to the truck.

I close the door and back away from the car I look at her and she smiles, her smile that says whatever-happens-everything-will-work-out.

After the car leaves the parking lot I realizes I forgot to ask her where she was going.

I walk to the track field, on my way there my paddling coach comes and tells me practice is starting early this time and we are need to got to Sunset Beach.

He leaves and Derek comes, "Brah, I need a ride. Chelsea has my truck."

I nod and we walk to my truck, "Where are they going?" "Sunset Beach." "Why?" I ask him and he stopped and said, "Lei, she wanted to talk to Chelsea about something and I think she thinks it's better to tell her there.

We'll see them there anyway." I nod and then take the keys out of my pocket and open the drivers door and unlock the passenger's seat.

When we got to the beach I scanned for Lei on the beach but couldn't find her.

Then I look in the ocean, I see her and a few of my surfing buddies in the water with her.

She looked really happy and carefree how she always looks.

I stand by the coconut tree where I always see her standing under and watch her surf as I wait for the rest of my team come in.

"Kalei, coach has boards if you want to join them." I looked over my shoulder to see Derek pointing at coach's truck with four boards.

We walk over to the coach's truck and and slid the boards down. Derek pulls off his pants then takes one of the boards and walks to the shore.

I walk to my truck and open the toolbox to find Leilani's bag and duffel bag and my surf shorts I didn't think I brought.

I pulled them out and a note fell, it read Come surf with me at Sunset, you're going there anyway for practice right? See you in the water! Lei.

I put the note back in my toolbox and went to the restroom.

After I put on my surf shorts I grabbed one of coach's long boards and walked to the shore to join Derek.

I get on my board and swim out to where everyone is. Coach, Derek, Chelsea, Kavika, Jay, Grace and Leilani were all waiting on their boards. "Finally! We thought you'd make us wait forever," Lei says.

Kavika and Grace laughed and said, "Nice of you to join us." Jay and Coach were deep in conversation.

Then Grace looked at Lei and said, "I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone that we are surfing the waves to have fun and that Lei is leaving next week to 'Iolani High school to finish off her senior year."

I look at Lei and she smiled, "Sorry, I wish I could have stayed. I can't believe I'm going to have to say goodbye before graduation even comes."

She looks at me and smiles, her innocent smile that makes her eyes sparkle even though this time her eyes lack the sparkle and shine they normally radiate when she smiles like that.