The night blooms with the best music, everyone's feeling the moment, the nights of partying, sightseeing and experiencing a new city. It's everything Eric wished Hawaii to be like.
He's not a drinker nor a lover of smokes but since Emma's arrival he's been on edge, afraid he'll not be good enough for her. The poor girl has suffered so much and she needs someone to shoulder her pains not add to it. He hates himself for not being a better boyfriend, for not checking up on her as he'd promised he would before his departure.
He watches her from afar with the rest of the people dancing on the white sand as she swings her hips to the beat. She and her roomie Kendal have suddenly become very close, he deduces, from the way they've been hanging around each other like Siamese twins.
Kendal, Landon Brookes puppy as his teammates referred to her. She's never been a relevant figure to him. She was never his class and she could never measure up to the caliber of people he hung out with plus, she's besties with his sworn enemy Landon Brookes.
Landon who thinks Eric snatched his ex Shania from him. But the truth is that Shania got tired of his boring ass and the fact he has a lapdog around him all the time. They almost got into a number of fist fights if not for the intervention of friends and teammates.
Emma rushes over to him like a child in ecstasy. He's quick to throw the blunt away and gulp down a drink.
"Babe wassup?"
"Why are you sitting over here alone Like you're sulking? Come join us on the dance floor" she sings, dragging him by the arm.
He overpowers her strength and draws her to his laps before she could drag another word he's kissing her, with passion.
His able arms roaming around her rear causing her to cup his bony jaw and deepening the kiss, she melts into him.
Einstein puffs off a long swirling smoke, his cloudy eyes could still see them from where he sat. His heart clenches in jealousy, the nice feeling he got from the blunt wasn't nice anymore.
"I'm disappointed in you dude" Philip says beside him.
"I don't care"
"I can't believe you really like her!... When did you become soft?"
"It's none of your business Phil, just let it go already"
"No I won't!... We promised to stay off girls and love but you've broken those promises so quickly. Have you forgotten how fucked up they can be? Have you forgotten my mother?... Yours too?!" He barks in rage.
"No, I haven't forgotten! All these girls you sleep with what's with that too?_"
"We didn't swear celibacy, Stein we swore never to get attached, never to be vulnerable to these things. I respected you cos of that and of all people it's that rottweiler!"
Einstein bolts from his position and gags his friend by the throat.
"I'm warning you for the last time Phil, don't call her names in my presence or else I'll give you a serious wound that you'll live to remember. Get it?!!" He yells pushing him away. Phil stumbles to the sand coughing out.
"I've decided to be more mature than I was" Einstein says before leaving his friend to a more peaceful place.
Yvonne chunks down her fifth bottle of Ciroc hoping it would give her the courage she needs to pour out her mind. She's been dying to do so for a long time and no other time than now. At least his girlfriend is miles away. She staggered to where Landon stood with his friends playing pool.
She latches her arm in his dragging him to a corner for the sake of privacy.
"What's the meaning of this Yvy?" Landon began.
"I um..." She gulps down, clearing her throat for better speech.
"I'm listening" he encourages when she doesn't speak.
Yvonne taps her foot on the sand wearily unsure of how to begin. At this point she knows she's not drunk enough to say her mind.
"I think I need another drink" she throws her hands in the air, trotting off to get one. Landon follows suit behind her.
When she takes a second swing of the alcohol Landon Brookes can't take it any longer, he snatches the bottle from her.
"Drinking yourself to stupor isn't gonna solve it yuuno?... You might as well dive into the ocean and drink it all up"
"I swearrr, I need something... Something lak thath" she blurs. Her wavy hair is in a mess as she continues to play with it in a ruthless manner.
"Now you're drunk, I guess I should get you inside. Wait here don't go anywhere you hear me?" He says before rushing off to get help.
Landon returns with Mindy for assistance but Yvonne doesn't want to retire just yet.
"Can we... Can we sit for a moment please?"
"We need to get you inside Yvy, you're drunk" Mindy advises holding onto her friend. But Yvonne pushes her off and lurches herself on a beach bench close by.
Her face was in her hands and she suddenly began to heave, whimpering like a wounded kitten. Landon and Mindy are concerned.
"Yvy? Are you crying?" Mindy asks, kneeling beside her.
She raises her head to meet their shocked gazes and tears fill her face.
"Why? What happened?" Landon soothes her by placing himself next to her, she takes the advantage launching herself at him in a bear hug. She inhales his scent like a hound dog throwing him off balance, he manages to stay put.
She cups his face with teary eyes and lurk their lips together, with ravenous efforts, she tastes him in everyway possible leaving the poor boy breathless.
Landon struggles himself off her hold. "What's the meaning of this Yvy?"
"I love you... I still love you so so much Landon Brookes that I regret ever letting you go. I regret every bit of my actions then. I want you back babe_"
"Babe?... What the actual fuck?" He hiss in horror.
"I Know this might sound strange and stupid but I've not gotten over you since after we broke up. I just didn't want to come between you and Jess. But now it's over I have to let you know."
"Over?... Who says it's over between me and Jessica?"
"Then why isn't she here with you Lan? Don't shit me about her not affording to do so cos I know how generous you can be. Look Lan, I love you_" he interrupts her.
"_Yvy I don't love you! Don't you get it? We ended on a very bad note and I don't want anything to do with my exes. It's horrifying!" He stands, Yvonne mirrors him too.
"Wait Lan" she cups his face again. "I know it's all crazy and stuff but I'm sure deep down in that heart of yours you still feel something for me. I know it! We're meant to be together. We were supposed to be future prom King and Queen, remember?" Someone scoffs behind them. She turns to see Mindy holding up her Camera, filming the drama all along.
Yvonne lashes out in anger, smacking the gadget to the sand. "Bitch! You're filming me at this point?!" She barks, but Mindy isn't letting her own anger simmer. Rather she shrugs, picking up her belongings, she tries to avoid her friend.
"And don't you dare put that in your stupid vlog or I'll sue you for privacy encroachment" She threatens. By the time she returns to Landon he's far gone and she feels humiliated.
***
"Why are you sulking in here? I went back to the dance floor and you weren't there"
"I just... I wanted to be alone. I'm tired and I think I need rest" Kendal says, changing into her night wear.
Emma pauses for a while in awe of the girl she's sharing a room with. On their first encounter she'd thought they would end up in a cat and dog fight but Kendal is actually a nice peaceful fellow. They surprisingly became good friends and would sneak out after lights-out with her boyfriend King Cairo for ice cream. What an awkward name she thought.
What she loved most about Kendal Levy was her slim nature. It reminded her of mummy Joana and how she'd wished she got her mother's slim model-like features. She wasn't sure why people called her a tomboy because it was the coolest thing she'd ever seen in a girl. A mixture of feminine and masculine energy. Kendal was a rare species.
"Are you done moping at me?" Kendal sighs in melancholy.
"Was I?... Sorry" she smiles jumping on her bed. "So you're not gonna tell me why you suddenly lost all vibe. I miss the party you though" she sighs and tuck herself into the duvet.
"It's my best friend... He doesn't approve of my relationship with King" she says in a low tune.
Emma turns with interest at her friend.
"Why?"
"I don't know, he's so overprotective of me and he thinks he knows King more than I do but he doesn't. King is such a sweet guy except that he doesn't like PDA which is totally cool by me. The point is... Both of them mean a lot to me and I can't risk losing them both. I wanted to keep King in the dark about it but Landon already told him about his non approval" she rants picking her finger tips.
"Why does your Best friend have a say in what you want?... Did you have a say in this?" Emma asks, sitting up.
Kendal shakes her head in a no.
"Then he doesn't have to! His job as a friend is to support whatever decision you've made whether it suits him or not. I don't understand guys and their ego"
"It's not about ego, Emma. Landon is my childhood friend and he's the only one who's been with me through all the rough times. I used to get bullied in junior year but he became my protector and best friend. He's really a nice person and I don't want him to feel like I'm shutting him off because of King"
"You love him don't you?..."
"What?_"
"You don't have to deny dear, I can see it in your eyes" Emma gives her an encouraging smile. "That's why you can't seem to forget him"
"I used to," she confesses.
"Used to?..."
"Yeah but he never felt the same for me and I didn't wish to tell him how I felt for him too cos I was afraid it'd ruin our friendship."
"So why are you still scared? Now you're with someone else it doesn't matter anymore"
"It's complicated"
"Yeah sure it is... I know Eric would understand if things were so complicated"
"Is he your boyfriend?" Kendal asks in curiosity.
"Yeah, we've been dating for a month or more now. He's everything one can ask for in a boyfriend though I think I might have a little crush on his twin_ shush! Don't tell anyone I ever said that" she warns.
Kendall's mind is somewhere else, fixing the puzzle together.
"He's the one you were kissing on the beach just now?" She asks again.
"Yes?... Why?"
"Oh no it's nothing"
"Tell me. Did you think I'll make out with a stranger? Hell no!"
"Not really. I didn't know he's your boyfriend, I thought... I thought he's with her_"
"With who?" Emma is tense. "What are you talking about?.."
Kendal is fidgeting as it is and unable to look her roomie in the eyes.
"Kendal look at me!... What's going on?"
She shakes her head. "I know It's not my place to tell but... I've had enough of hiding things from loved ones. Maybe this time around saying something will make things right" she blabs on.
"Kendal!! Tell me what it is already" she snaps.