The Neighbor

Chapter 11: The Past

"It's okay, "I said to Lani on the phone. After Jace had left and Lani had stopped crying we had agreed to postpone my lesson. It was late at night when she called to apologize.

"I feel bad for cancelling, "she said.

"Dude it is okay, "I said.

"Yeah okay, "she said, "well how about we reschedule for tomorrow after school?"

"Actually I have to walk my neighbor's dog tomorrow after school, "I said, "but maybe afterwards we could meet on the beach."

"Sounds good, "she said, "well I better get some sleep. 'Night"

"Good night, "I said.

----------------------------------------------------

The next day after school I ran home, dropped off my backpack, and ran to Ms. Kekoa's house. I wanted to walk Sugar quickly, but not running, and meet Lani at the beach as soon as possible. I knocked on the door and waited for Ms. Kekoa to answer the door. But she didn't answer the door, Lani did.

"Lani!" I exclaimed.

"Danny?" she shouted, "your the one who walks my grandmother's dog?"

"Yeah, "I said, "Ms. Kekoa is your grandmother?"

"Yeah."

"But your last name is Kamaka."

"That was my mother's last name."

"Lani dear, "Ms. Kekoa said, "who's at the door?"

"It's Danny, nunna, "Lani said.

"Oh well invite her in, "Ms. Kekoa said. I stepped in and Lani went to get Sugar.

"I actually have to get somewhere, "I said, "so Sugar's walk will have to be fast."

"Of course, "Ms. Kekoa said, "you know you two should go together." She gestured to Lani who had just walked in with Sugar. "You two could get to know one another, "she said.

"Oh well, "I said sarcastically, "if we have to." Lani and I tried to keep straight faces as we put a leash on Sugar. But once we were outside we laughed until our sides hurt.

"You didn't tell her we were friends?" I laughed.

"No, "she laughed, "I don't really talk to her. She can't hear me! She always loses her hearing aid!"

"I know right!" I laughed, "and you didn't tell me she was your grandmother."

"Well it's not like I go around telling people my grandmother is Ms. Kekoa, "she said, "do you go around telling people who your grandmother is?"

"Of course, "I sarcastically. We laughed again and this time Sugar joined in with barks. "Hey, "I said when we had finished laughing, "you want to see something cool?"

"Sure, "Lani said suspiciously. I started running to the cluster of palm trees at the end of our road.

When we reached the edge of the cluster I said, "Ready?" She nodded reluctantly and I ran through all the trees. In the center was a small pool filled with clear blue water. There were coconuts littering the ground around the pool. "Watch out for the coconuts, "I warned. Immediately after I warned her she tripped on a coconut and fell onto the sand.

"Thanks for the heads up, "she said. I helped her up and to the edge of the pool. She stared at the beautiful coral at the bottom. I took off my flip flops and put my feet in the water and Lani did the same.

"So what was the point of bringing me here?" she asked.

"I don't know, "I said, "it's cool. I come here when I feel lonely or sad."

"Well thanks for showing it to me, "she said.

There was a silence before I said, "I feel like we should know more about one another. I mean I've never had friends before so I wouldn't know. It's just a feeling."

"Yeah we should, "she said, "what do you want to know?" I could sense her awkwardness. I could tell she hadn't had very many friends before, maybe even none.

"How about your past, "I said, "you know, living in Washington, why you moved to Hawaii, all that." She took on a look of grief and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, "I said, "I shouldn't have..."

"It's fine, "she interrupted, "your my friend, you should know." She swallowed, took a deep breath, then began her story, "I was an only child. My parents and I were just normal people living a normal life. But everything changed on one night. I remember it like it was yesterday. I heard the door slam at around 2 in the morning. I didn't know what it was, I thought someone had broke in, so I ran to my parents bedroom. My first clue that something was wrong was that their door was slightly ajar; they always kept their door completely closed, always.

I walked over and opened the door." She paused, I could the next thing would be hard to say. "They were stabbed to death, "she continued, "all bloody on their bed. I guess I heard the guy who killed them leaving, not arriving. And the knife was on the ground. It shined in the moonlight. It was made of silver...." She trailed off and I had to shake her to bring her back to reality. She continued her story, "Anyways I was given to a foster family. They were all right but I had to leave my old friends for a new school. I figured everyone would be sympathetic towards me but they bullied me for what happened. They called me orphan girl. They would pull out knives or sneak up behind me and put me in headlocks. They did everything they could to terrify me, to remind me of that night. Finally my foster family brought me here to live with my grandmother. The plane actually almost crashed on it's way here. I'm too scared to go in the ocean now. I feel like I'm going to drown. And that's it about me."

"Can I ask one thing?" I asked.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"What did Jace say to you yesterday?"

"He called me orphan girl and then he pulled out a knife and asked, 'This look familiar?' I tried to run but I fell."

"I'm so sorry, "I said.

"Thanks, "she said, "now it's your turn."

"All right, "I said, "let's see... my dad left when I was 12, my mom has abused me since he left, my siblings treat me like a maid, I used to cut myself, all the kids at school hate me except the janitor, I'm smart but terrible at music, and I'm friends with a rock star named Brendan who lives in that big house down there."

"Wait seriously?" she exclaimed.

"Yup, "I said.

"I mean I'm sorry about all that stuff but a rock star down the street!"

"Well he's actually incognito so don't tell everyone, "I said.

"I won't I promise, "she said, "now can we go get some ice cream? It's so hot!" I laughed as I stood up and we raced back to her grandmother's house.