02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales (37 page)

“You don’ know what you’re missing. I’d love
to turn you on to Indo,” he said, “You could go pro fo’ real.”

“The surfing sounds great,” I said, dreamily,
“But no competitions. I’m really not interested.”

Kimo just shook his head at me.

“Where you from?” he asked me.

“I traveled a lot with my dad, so I grew up
all over,” I said, listing off some of the countries we’d lived in,
“But my dad and I have an apartment in San Francisco.”

“How come you’re a city girl, but you surf
like a Hawaiian?” he said.

“I guess I simply have an affinity for the
water,” I mused.

“You talk funny,” he said. Now I laughed at
him and he joined in.

“Whatchu doin’ in Aptos?” he asked.

“I’m living with my aunt for a year while my
dad works on a research project in Afghanistan,” I felt another
little twinge of worry pass over me.

Our conversation was cut short by a massive
onslaught of food. Hannah brought us a tray loaded with enough food
for an army, along with two big iced coffees.

I smiled up at her, inspecting it, “Cha siu
bao- pork buns... and shu mai, right? But what’s that?”

“You’ve neva seen Spam musubi?” she asked
with incredulity. She smiled to herself as she headed back into the
kitchen.

“Isn’t that mystery meat?” I asked Kimo under
my breath. He threw his head back and roared with laughter. I
looked around to see the whole place looking at us. My eyes landed
on the familiar face of Long Khang. He was sitting with a group of
surfers from school, all of them watching our table in fascination.
I noticed other tables of surfers were watching us as well, and I
realized that they all idolized Kimo.

“So you’re pretty famous, huh?” I asked him,
making him laugh even harder.

“Jus eat” he said, wiping his eyes.

Kimo urged me to try one of everything on the
plate and I did. I was hungry after our long day of surfing and
everything tasted delicious. I ate more than usual and leaned back
in the booth, stuffed full.

“That was great,” I said.

Hannah approached with two huge plates of
food, “House special Kalua pork,” she announced proudly, and
hurried off. I looked at the giant mound of shredded pork and
cabbage on a plate with a huge scoop of white rice and an even
larger mound of macaroni salad.

“You’ve
got
to be kidding,” I said,
looking across at him in shock, “I can’t eat any more!”

Kimo laughed at me again, “You betta eat some
or she gets her feelings hurt.”

I picked at the delicious smoky pork and ate
a few bites of rice before I put down my fork and pushed back the
plate with a groan. Kimo managed to make a big dent in his but even
he couldn’t finish. I could see why the surfers liked this place.
The phone in my purse rang and I jumped.

“It’s okay,” said Kimo.

I looked down to check. It was Abby.

“I need to get this. Please excuse me,” I
said as I got up went out in front of the restaurant to answer
it.

“Marina, where are you? Are you okay?” Abby
sounded worried.

“I’m fine, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“We have dinner ready and we’re all here
waiting for you.”

I remembered her saying something about it
this morning and I felt terrible.

“I’m sorry Abby, but I went surfing and I
forgot... I’m not going to make it tonight.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, “Ethan’s
here...”

“I’m sorry,” I felt like I had been plunged
right back into a pit of despair. I had escaped being sad for
almost a whole day and it hit me all at once. Now I had
disappointed Abby too. I hung up and went back in.

“Sorry about that,” I said.

“The boyfriend?” asked Kimo, watching me
carefully.

I shook my head no, “My aunt,” I replied.

All my lightheartedness vanished, and I sat
there imagining what Abby was telling Dutch and Cruz... and Ethan.
They must all think I was rude and thoughtless, after everything
they had done for me. My throat felt tight and my eyes stung. I
looked up and met Kimo’s piercing stare.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

I nodded and he paid the bill, getting
another round of kisses and hugs from Hannah. She looked at my
plate and cast me a reproachful look.

“Everything was wonderful,” I said sincerely,
not wanting to disappoint one more person.

She looked at me and softened, “Don’ be sad,”
she said, and hugged me goodbye, patting my back reassuringly.

I drove Kimo to where he was staying, seeing
black sedans everywhere I looked. I put it out of my mind, deciding
they couldn’t all be reporters. Kimo directed me to drive him to a
house up in the hills by the university, explaining that he stayed
with friends when he passed through town. The van was parked out
front, along with a couple of motorcycles and sports cars. I could
feel the thumping bass of the loud music coming from the big
house.

“Wanna come in?” he asked hopefully.

“I have to get going,” I said, “Thanks for a
really great day.”

“I’m outta here Tuesday... you wanna go surf
again? Good swell comin’ our way tomorrow.”

He had found my weakness, “Uhm... I have
school tomorrow”

“Come on,” he said, his deep voice seductive,
“After school.”

“Where?” I asked.

“How ’bout the point? My brahs wanna check it
out.”

“OK... I’ll meet you there,” I smiled,
“Thanks again.”

“Good,” he replied, moving in closer. I
realized he was going to try and kiss me and I turned my head
away.

He sighed, “Not finished with the boyfriend
yet, eh?”

I shook my head, “No.”

He leaned over and kissed my cheek, “If you
were my girl I’d neva let you outta my sight.”

I smiled ruefully, “See you tomorrow.”

“Aloha nui loa,” he said as he climbed out of
the car.

I drove around aimlessly for a while, afraid
to go home. I saw another black sedan behind me but I took a few
tight turns on the backroads of Aptos and lost it. When I finally
pulled into the driveway I climbed out cautiously, checking up and
down the street. There was no black sedan in sight, but there was
no blue truck either. Ethan was gone, and the pain in my chest
flared up again. I would be forced to see him at school in the
morning, and now I was really dreading it. I tried to sneak into
the house stealthily, but Cruz was watching television in the front
room.

“Hey Marina,” he said, sizing me up. My heart
sank, for if Cruz was going to be all weird I was truly lost.

“Hey Cruz,” I looked down.

“Are you okay?” he asked, getting up from the
couch.

“Yeah,” I said.

He walked over to me, “I just want you to
know that Megan and I will be there with you at school tomorrow...
it’s gonna blow over.”

I forced a smile, “Thanks.”

“Let’s go pick you out some clothes for
tomorrow,” he said, “You’re only as fierce as you look.”

I gave him a big hug, drawing a ragged
breath. Thank goodness I still had Cruz.

He walked me to my room with his arm around
my shoulders. He picked out a pretty pale blue dress, pairing it
with a matching cashmere cardigan. I sat on the edge of my bed and
looked up at him gratefully as he turned to go.

“Just remember,” he said with a wry smile,
“If the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off.”

I was completely exhausted, ready for the
escape of sleep. I flopped down on the bed. A faint familiar
perfume filled my room and I sat up, looking around. I realized my
window was open a crack and looked out to see a huge Angel’s
Trumpet was planted just outside, its night blooms powerfully
scenting the air.

I opened the window wide and inhaled,
remembering the first time I smelled one, coming out of a
restaurant with Ethan. That night seemed like it happened a
lifetime ago, and I felt as though I had become a totally different
person. Did Ethan feel it too? I was touched by his gesture but I
wondered if he knew how utterly pointless it was.

He was already the last thing I thought of at
night, and the first thing I remembered in the morning.

CHAPTER TWENTYONE

Jealousy

I turned into the school parking lot,
dreading the hours ahead of me. I had explained to a sweet but
hovering Cruz that we needed to take separate cars because of my
after school plans. I loaded my surfing gear up before I left home
and wore a swimsuit under my dress, knowing I’d need to be in the
water immediately after school. I could use a good surf right now,
I thought.

Glancing in my rear view mirror, I could see
Ethan pulling in directly behind me. I parked, watching as he
pulled up beside me and jumped out, rushing to my door before I
could get out. I rolled down the window and met his eyes as my
heart started pounding in my throat.

“Marina,” his voice was strained, “Please
talk to me... I want to know what’s going on...”

He looked so sad I wanted to take him in my
arms and kiss him. Instead, I looked away. I could see the surfer
clique standing in a group watching us with intrusive stares.

“We have five minutes,” I said, “Why don’t
you get in?” I was grateful for the tinted windows. He climbed in
the passenger side purposefully, with controlled movements. He
turned towards me slowly, sizing me up before he spoke. I got the
impression of an animal trainer trying to approach a wary wild
beast.

I tried to remind myself to stay angry, to
keep my distance and guard my heart, but when he was close to me I
just wanted to touch him.

He looked at me fearfully, “Everything that
happened... it’s what Fatima told me at the party. If she’s right–
someone bad is looking for you.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage.

“Is Shayla right? Are you being
followed?”

I nodded, “Reporters,” I said. My voice
sounded funny, as if it wasn’t me speaking.

“Tell me what happened in Greece,” he
said.

I swallowed hard and looked at all the other
students rushing to class, “We’re going to be late. We’d best go
in...”

He reached out and put his hand on mine, “I’m
sorry I wasn’t there for you... I miss you.”

I looked over and met his eyes, falling into
them.

Emboldened, he leaned towards me with an
intense look on his face.

A rap on the window snapped my head away from
him.

“Marina?” It was Cruz and Megan, squinting in
with concerned looks on their faces. “Are you okay?” Cruz asked,
“We’re gonna be late for English...”

“We have to go,” I said, taking my bag over
my shoulder and slipping out the door in one quick move.

Megan smiled reassuringly at me, “Welcome
back to school,” she said with a touch of sarcasm. She embraced me,
and looked up to see Ethan coming around the car.

“I’m sorry I missed your first night at the
restaurant,” I told her.

“It’s no big deal,” she said, patting my
back. I could see her eyes flicker up to Ethan’s and she hesitated,
as if debating whether to stay or not.

“Could you guys give us a minute?” Ethan
asked. Megan and Cruz looked at each other and then at me, inquiry
in their eyes. I nodded my permission, and watched as they walked
off, casting a few glances back at us.

The parking lot was deserted as the last few
stragglers rushed to class. Ethan moved in close to me, and with a
face tense and serious he stepped up and put his arms around me,
bending to speak in my ear.

“Please...” he said, his lips close to my
ear, “Please listen to me...”

It felt so good to be near him again I froze
for a moment. I had forgotten the way he could bring me back to
earth, and actually make me forget everything for a little while. I
relaxed a bit, and he pulled me closer slowly. I pressed my face
into his chest and inhaled, lifting my eyes to look over his
shoulder with a start. The black car was cruising across the lot
towards us.

“What?” he asked looking up, and followed my
eyes to the car.

“That’s the one,” I said, backing up. Ethan
turned and advanced on the sedan, trying to look inside the
darkened windows as the car picked up speed and pulled out of the
lot.

“I have to go,” I said, and left to hurry
away to class, Ethan chasing after me.

“Will you talk to me at lunch?” he asked,
effortlessly keeping up with me.

“OK,” I said, darting into class just in time
to take my seat and answer, “here”.

The rote memorization and busywork of school
was actually a comfort, keeping my mind off the mysterious black
sedan and Ethan. I focused with determination, and finished both my
classwork and homework at my desk. Cruz and Megan were supportive,
shepherding me through the day, sticking by my side like glue.
Nobody at school seemed to have stumbled upon the internet
postings, and I started to relax and hope that maybe things were
going to blow over after all.

Now I was actually looking forward to talking
with Ethan. I don’t know if it was Abby’s words resonating with me
or simply the passage of time, but I was finally starting to let go
of my anger. My feelings were still hurt; I always suffered a stab
of pain when I remembered the scene at the restaurant, but I
thought of it less and less. I suppose time really did heal all
wounds. Even as I remained cautious, a tiny flicker of optimism was
growing in my heart.

Just before lunch Ethan approached me at my
locker, and I looked up to see that his face was stony, his jaw set
in anger. He stood watching me tensely, rigid with emotion. He was
so completely different from the person I talked to this morning it
was scary.

“What happened?” I asked, alarmed.

“So you’re going out with Kimo now?” his
voice sounded hurt but his eyes were angry.

“Kimo and I are friends,” I said calmly, “We
went surfing yesterday.”