“Welcome to Hawaii!" a very pretty woman greeted me as I got off the plane putting a lei around my neck. I thanked her and found my way to the baggage claim area. After grabbing my bags I asked the nearest employee for directions to the Honolulu Airport Inn where I would be staying for a week. Of course I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel on the famous Waikiki beach you see in Hawaii Five-O, but my budget wouldn’t allow that.
Making it to the hotel in one piece, happy it wasn’t too far away, I was greeted with another lei. They really like to give lei’s around here but they smelled beautiful and were free so who was I to complain? I checked in and made my way up to my room. Once there, I ran to the window, flung open the drapes, and looked out to find…a free way. Oh well, I would get to see all the beach I wanted tomorrow when I went on my first day of exploring. Besides, who cared about what I was looking at with weather this beautiful? The sky was a nice clear blue with little to no clouds above which allowed the sun to shine brightly. Just looking at it warmed me all over.
That night I ate in the hotel restaurant and watched a really pretty hula dance. See, I was already getting exposed to some culture like I wanted. So why was I feeling lonely?
It’s not like Deke and I left on bad terms. We were actually very mature about it. We thumb wrestled to see who would have to say good bye first. I lost.
It was so hard to do, I felt like I was leaving a big part of me behind. I promised to send him postcards of everywhere I went and to call him whenever I had a chance. I told him to have as much fun as he could.
He told me to do the same and that he would be thinking about me all the time. I knew he would find someone else though, Deke was a catch and too good to be alone. I wanted him to find someone to make him happy. I really did. Okay, I didn’t, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
We kissed and it was filled with all the love and sadness we felt inside. He gave me one last hug with a peck to the cheek and we parted as friends.
I just missed him so much.
I headed up to my room to rest in hopes that my bus ride to Waikiki tomorrow would cheer me up.
It didn’t.
If anything it made me miss him more. Seeing the beauty all around me and not having him to share it with sucked the life out of my adventure. Then there were the couples, they were EVERYWHERE! Kissing, hugging, and just being in love. Most were on their honeymoons, some were celebrating anniversaries, and after taking a wrong turn I stumbled upon a beach wedding. It’s like someone was throwing in my face what I gave up to go on this trip.
Feeling hot, tired, and depressed, I headed back to my hotel and took a shower. It helped a little but I still felt lost. Sitting in the middle of the bed I started to think about the rest of my trip but couldn’t find the enthusiasm I originally had. Closing my eyes I tried to see all the beautiful places I planned to go but all I saw were warm brown eyes, and a smile that haunted my dreams. I yearned to see that smile in person, and then it hit me!
I could’ve put this trip on hold and waited until Deke and I were through with college. Then we would be able to experience it together. Why was I so determined to do it now? Why was I being so dumb?
I knew what I had to do. I was searching frantically for my phone so I could find the earliest flight home. I finally started to feel the excitement that I lost since being here. I searched everywhere but came up empty.
Then I remembered I took it with me when I showered and left it on the bathroom counter. I rushed there nearly falling on my face when there was a knock on the door.
Okay, I don’t know anyone here and if it was a maid they would have said, “Housekeeping” right? I’ve seen way too many CSI episodes to know that single women staying at hotels by themselves are always targets for crazy killers. I tip toed to the door not making a sound, maybe I could convince them no one was here. I braced my hands on the door and looked through the peep hole. It was completely black! Whoever was out there was holding their finger up to the hole. It was definitely a crazed killer!
Not sure exactly what to do, I reached for the nearest weapon, a tiny coffee pot found in all the rooms so you can make a complimentary cup for yourself. Not a very good weapon but it would have to do. I quickly unplugged it, raised it above my head and faced the door before saying, “Whoever’s out there, I have a weapon and I’m not afraid to use it so remove your finger from the peep hole so I can see you or I’m calling security!”
It was quiet for a second and then I heard laughter, male laughter to be exact. Just great, he was a psycho crazed killer! I started to run to get my phone when a familiar voice filled with laughter said through the door, “Kaylah, I know for a fact you don’t carry a weapon around with you so you’re probably holding something in your hands that wouldn't harm a fly!"
That voice, that sexy voice belonged to the same owner of those warm brown eyes and charming smile I was missing not five minutes ago. Dropping the coffee pot I rushed to the door, pulling it open and jumping into Deke’s arms. I then kissed him so passionately my toes curled.
He picked me up never breaking our kiss and walked into the room kicking the door shut. He laid on the bed with me and just held me in his arms with his face buried in my neck as if he was savoring the smell of me. After a minute more he raised his head and looked me in the eyes, “I told you I was gonna miss you so damn much." he said smiling.
“I missed you too, so damn much. What are you doing here?” I asked returning the smile.
“I couldn’t stay away any longer. I pulled all the money I had saved together and with some help from my mom I have enough that I can travel with you for the next two months before having to go back in time for orientation.”
My happiness was overwhelming.
He continued, “I know it’s going to be hard to say good bye to you again when that time comes but this time it’s going to be different. I want to continue our relationship no matter how far apart we are. I promise to remain faithful to you and I hope you’ll do the same for me and when your traveling is done I hope you decide to go to school with me but if not that’s fine with me. Whatever you choose is fine as long as we stay together.”
He was nervous, I could tell. But he had nothing to be nervous about. I already knew what I wanted to do.
“You won’t have to say good bye to me, because I’ll be going back with you after those two months are over.” I surprised him.
He looked confused for a moment, then his eyes lit up, only to dim again. Not exactly the reaction I was looking for. It made sense when he spoke his next words, “I don’t want you to resent me, Kaylah.”
I made him look at me, “I won’t, I already decided before you surprised me, that I wanted to go back home. Back to you. I realized that we can finish school together and travel later, maybe as a college graduation present to ourselves.”
“Wait, did you say finish school together?” he asked confused.
“Yeah, I didn’t tell you but I applied to USC too as a back up in case my traveling didn’t pan out. I got accepted so all I have to do is register, there should still be enough time to do that right?!”
Deke whooped before jumping off the bed and spinning me around, “If there isn’t we’ll pull whatever strings we have to, to make it happen! I’m so happy and I love you so much!”
I laughed, “I love you too Deke, and thank you for flying all the way down here to be with me.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He said with all the love he felt for me in his eyes.
We were going to have an amazing summer, followed by an exciting college experience. I’m not naïve, I know there would be future obstacles for Deke and I to face, but we would face them together.
My year started off with a heartbreak I thought I couldn’t survive, but if I hadn’t experienced it, I wouldn’t have the love I now know..
The End.
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I want to say a big thank you to all of you who have stuck with me through the end of my very first story! Whoo-hoo I did it! I hope you all liked it and got the ending you wanted. If not, feel free to picture it however you want, I'm all about encouraging creativity:)
