*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

2 weeks had already passed so quickly since Kamalei was released from the hospital. She had a hard time getting around, so usually one of us gave her piggy back rides everywhere as she refused to be in a wheelchair and her ribs hurt too much for her to use the crutches yet.

The day she got out, Matt decided that there was way too many of us at Kelly’s house and booked us fancy hotel rooms on the other side of the island. The hotel was what you would expect a typical tourist to Hawaii would imagine. Big pools, hot tubs, palm trees, and beaches all visible from our rooms. The rooms themselves were enormous with big spa style bathrooms and humongous beds. Kamalei refusing to have her own room, or sleep alone, shared one with Jimmy and I, after begging Matt to allow it. She would float to different rooms though, and it was a roulette on whose bed she was actually sleeping in. She usually stayed with Jimmy and I sleeping between the two of us. I think it kind of drove Matt insane but he wasn’t going to argue with his baby sister after what had happened to her. I liked her with us because she would toss and turn in her sleep and I could tell all of what happened was having a toll on her whether she was conscious of it or not.

We had drove back to the main town, taking Kamalei to the doctor to have her cast on her leg removed and her body x-rayed. Her ribs had healed a lot, but she was still in a lot of pain with them. Her black eyes were gone as well as a lot of the bruises that had racked her body. Her hand was healing well, and she wouldn’t need to keep the cast on but wear a brace on it for another 2 weeks. Her leg fracture was small enough for them to take off the cast but she would have to wear a brace on it for the majority of the time. She was excited because she could finally go to the beach and the doctor actually encouraged her to do so as the water would help.

“Zacky! I can finally take you to the beach! I’m free of my plaster!” She cried as they wheeled her in a wheelchair out of the office.

“I know. I’ve been here 3 weeks and I’m white as all hell. You have some serious beach time to make up with me…” I teased.

She flashed a smile at me, “You could have gone with everyone else a number of times. You didn’t have to wait…”

“I promised you didn’t I?” I replied.

“Then don’t complain Zee.” She said sticking her tongue out at me.

“Do you want to go to the beach today?” Matt asked her as he took over pushing her out into the parking lot.

“Yeah let’s go. I want to go in the water so bad. It’s been way too long.” She replied.

“Let’s run by the store here in town before we head back to the hotel then.” Kelly said attached to Brian’s hip.

~~~~~Later~~~~~

We made it back to the hotel around noon and the sun was beating down on us. Jimmy carried Kamalei on his back out to the beachfront area plopping her down onto a towel on the sand. I set the cooler down next to her before opening up a towel and sitting next to her. Everyone else had already gone off and ran into the ocean.

“Do you want me to put some sunscreen on you Zee? You’re going to burn to a crisp if you don’t.” Lei turned to me and asked fishing out the lotion from her bag.

“Yeah please. I don’t need to be like that guy…” I said trailing off as we both looked at a guy that looked more like a lobster than a human.

We laughed at the horrible burn the man had as I turned my back to her and took my shirt off. Without warning she poured the cold lotion on my back making me jump.

“Holy shit that’s cold. Damn you could have warned me Lei…”

“Coulda. Shoulda. Woulda. But nope.” She laughed.

Her laugh is so infectious. Hearing her laugh makes me feel so much better. I’m glad she’s happier again. Maybe she’s finally getting over all the bullshit.

“Alright my Zacky boy, my turn.” She said as she carefully laid face down on the towel after handing me the bottle.

“Tell me if it hurts okay? I don’t want to hurt you.” I said scared of her injuries.

“I trust you Zee. You aren’t going to hurt me.” She replied.

I put some of the lotion in my hands and softly rubbed it into her shoulders. She laid her head down facing me, watching me as I put more on her back. I began rubbing from her shoulders down her back and carefully up her sides. She had all the curves in all the right places and I could feel myself losing some control. I looked down at her face and she had her eyes closed. My surf shorts started to get tighter and I shifted on the towel to try to hide my excitement.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Dammit Zack. Get your head out of the gutter man. Thank God she isn’t looking at me still.

I saw from the shore, Matt was heading back towards us, “Ok Lei, you’re all mixed in.”
“Thanks Zee.” She said as she turned over on the towel and took the bottle back from my towel.

She began rubbing the lotion all over her front and I had to look away and pretend to get something from the cooler to avoid getting busted looking at her voluptuous body.

She’s such a gorgeous girl. I don’t see how Micah could dream of hurting her. She’s so beautiful. Fuck if she was my girl, she would know what a real man was like.

“Zack!?” Lei pulled me from my thoughts.

“Yeah? Sorry…” I stumbled.

“You alright?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Could you pass me a beer please?” she asked.

“No you can’t have that.” Matt said.

“Why not? I’m an adult Matt.” She questioned.

“Because you are on pain pills aren’t you?” He said being the older brother.

“No. I didn’t take any today. I’d rather have a beer.” She said nodding at me.

“You can’t have any then. I don’t want you ending up back in the hospital making Brompton Cocktails out here.” Matt said as he sat on his towel on the other side of her.

I reached in the cooler and handed her one. She looked excited for her first beer in 3 weeks. She popped the top off and took a big swig.

“Ahhh… that’s fucking delicious. Just what I needed at the beach.” She said.

We sat and people watched, making fun of the burnt tourists that didn’t understand the importance of sunscreen as everyone else trickled in from the ocean. I was starting to get hungry and didn’t want just chips.

“Is there anything else we got at the store besides the chips?” I asked no one in general.

“Kelly did you get the poke?” (poh-kay) Lei asked.

“Yeah. It should be in the cooler. I got the spicy one you like.” She replied.

“What is that and do I want to even know?” I said thinking to some of the other adventurous foods we had tried over the past 2 weeks.

“It’s fish. It’s good. It should be in a container in the cooler.” Kamalei said, “And pass the chopsticks too please.”

I found what I could only assume was the poke and handed it to her. It was chunky looking with a bright orange color. It reminded me of the color of a spicy California roll. I wasn’t sure about this. She broke the chopsticks apart and rubbed them, small bits of wood flying everywhere. She opened up the container and I leaned over to look at it, as did Matt on her other side.

“Looks weird.” Matt said.

“It’s good I swear.” She claimed.

“I don’t know. Kelly said that about some other stuff and it wasn’t.” Matt added.

Kelly giggled, knowing she had tricked us into some stuff she wouldn’t even touch. Kamalei grabbed a piece with the chopsticks and popped it in her mouth.

“Yummmmmmy….” She said as she chewed it up, “It’s perfect with the beach and beers.”

“Alright I’ll try.” Matt finally said after watching her eat a few more pieces.

She picked up a piece feeding it to Matt. He chewed it up and smiled.

“That’s fucking good. Try it Zee.” He said to me.

“Ok. I guess.” I said skeptical.

“What my Zacky boy? You don’t trust me?” she smirked.

“No I do.” I replied smirking back before opening my mouth letting her feed me a piece.

Damn. It is good. It was like a spicy sushi. Just without the rice.

“Shit. Gimmie that.” I told her, trying to grab it from her.

“Nope. It’s mines. I’ll share it with you though…” she laughed as she held it away from me.

I fell into her lap trying to reach the container. She grabbed another piece and dropped it in my open mouth as I lay in her lap.

“Ahem.” Matt cleared his throat.

Kamalei turned to look at him smiling, “Excuse you.”

She continued feeding me pieces in between her getting her own bites. I looked over and Matt shook his head at me. I knew he was getting mad. He got up and stalked off to the water again.

“What’s up his ass?” Kamalei asked as she looked down at me dropping another bit in my mouth.

“He’s mad because you’re feeding me more than him.” I chuckled as I chewed up the piece.

She laughed and closed up the container, “Well I guess no more for you Mr. Baker.”

“Awwww… it’s so good though…” I said sitting up and putting the rest back into the cooler grabbing another beer.

“Let’s go swim. Zacky carry!” she said putting her hands up like a baby again.

“You’re such a baby. You can walk now. They took that shit off.” I teased her.

“Well help me then.” She whined as I held out my hand and gently pulled her up.

“Here. Put your arm around me.” I said.

“Oooooo… ‘put your arm around me…’ he says.” Brian mocked me as everyone laughed.

“Shut up Brian.” Kamalei snapped more serious than I or anyone had expected, silencing everyone.

She wrapped her arm around my shoulder groaning a little at putting her weight on her previously casted foot. I slipped my arm around her waist to help stabilize her. We walked slowly out to the beach taking one step at a time. I didn’t want to push her and have her get more seriously hurt.

“You ok?” I asked her concerned.

“Yeah, I’m just not quite used to this yet.” She said.

She took another step, before having a misstep and started to fall. I scooped her up in my arms before she could fall down into the sand.

“Whoa. Fast reflexes Zee.” She said looking up at me with her soft hazel green eyes.

“Thanks?” I said not sure of a proper response, “I’ll just carry you the rest of the way. You tried ok? Maybe more solid ground next time first.”

“Alright. I just want to get in the water. I miss my ocean.” She replied softly into my chest as she clung to me.

“Why are you carrying her?” Matt said coldly as he was getting out of the water.

“I almost fell. He caught me. It’s just easier.” Kamalei answered before I could.

“Be careful will you?” He advised but I wasn’t exactly sure if he meant me or her.

I waded out into the small waves as she held onto my neck. I liked this feeling of being so close to her. When we got out to about waist height I felt her let go of my neck and she started to float around.

“Thank you my Zacky boy.” She said as she swam around me, “We can’t play like we did last time.”

“It’s ok. You’re welcome. You know it’s the same ocean but it’s so much nicer here than in Cali. The water is so clear too.” I said as I splashed her with the water.

“Hey!” she exclaimed splashing me back, “I will miss it Zee. This has been my home all my life.”

“It’s alright Lei. I know you are sad about leaving, but we can always come back to visit.” I said not realizing what I said.

“We?” she questioned me.

Oh shit. Did I really say we? I mean I would bring her home here every year if she wanted. Cover your ass Baker…

“Uh…yeah. I mean…like all of us. Only if you want us all to come with you. I mean I don’t know if your brother would let you come alone with Micah here.” I answered.

Great save idiot.

I could have sworn she looked a little disappointed in my answer, “Oh. Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“How do you feel? Are you sore?” I asked her in a weak attempt to change the subject.

“No. I think the water and the beers helped. So you liked the poke huh?” she asked swimming in a circle around me.

I looked down at her, “Yes it was really good. Lei do you cook?”

“Sometimes. I’m not a master chef or anything…” she replied.

“Can you make some of the local food when we go back to California? I think I’m going to miss it.” I asked her.

She giggled at how serious I was, “Yes my Zacky boy. I can make you local grinds in California. You got a taste of the islands huh?”

I nodded my head yes.

Oh Kamalei, if you only knew. If you only knew how much of a taste of the islands I have…

Notes

Ok so I know you all have been patiently waiting and I do apologize. I would just like to say that even reading this I couldn't help but stop and think, "It rubs the lotion on the skin..." lol. Ok anyways, there might be a bit of a slowdown on this story because I have started a new story but I will try to keep updating daily, because you fans are awesome! Love ya guys and please as always leave me some comments and such. Mahalo for reading and <3 <3 <3!