*~*Val’s POV*~*

I fluttered from our bedroom back down to the living room, carrying stacks of clothes carefully down the stairs. We were leaving tomorrow morning for tour and I was trying desperately to get as much stuff together now so I wouldn’t need to in the morning. Papa Gates called out from the front door as I set down another stack of Matt’s T-shirts in his suitcase.

“I’m here for Misses Bella! Bella!” Brian’s father called out for the dog.

She came running from the kitchen to the front door where he was standing, licking and jumping up on him.

“Thank you so much Papa. She absolutely loves to stay with you and Pinkly while we are gone. I know she’s in good hands with you.” I said as he walked in the living room.

“It’s no problem. McKenna loves to play with all the dogs. Your house is looking like my son’s right now… clothes and suitcases everywhere.” He replied.

“Yeah, it’s a mad house around here…” I said before turning to look upstairs, “LEI! Papa Gates is here! Come down and say hi!”

Kamalei’s door cracked open and I saw her peek her head out before stepping out of the room slowly. It was the late afternoon already and she was still in her pajamas with her hair disheveled.

“Ah there’s the little Hawaiian beauty. Come here and give Papa a hug…” He said holding his arms out with a warm smile, ignoring her messy appearance.

She gave him a weak smile as she let him wrap his arms around her, “Hi Papa… are you taking Bella?”

“Yes but don’t worry, she’s in good hands.” He said before tipping her chin up to look at him, “McKenna said to say hi and that she promises she will take good care of Bella and Pinkly. You’re going to have a lot of fun with your brother and the guys. You excited?”

She looked down at the carpet, replying shyly, “Yes. I can’t wait to see everything.”

“Lei, are you almost done packing?” I asked her.

“Yeah. I might need some help later though. I don’t know what all to bring.”

“Alright, I’ll be up in a minute. Go ahead.” I said feeling her desire to escape from everyone.

She gave Papa Gates a big hug before telling him goodbye and heading back upstairs, shutting her bedroom door.

“I see what Kelly was saying. Not any better huh?” Brian Sr. asked.

“No. Ever since the night of the party she’s been depressed. I don’t know what to do. We ask her and she just says she has to get over it. She just stays in her room all day long either playing music or sleeping.”

“Brian told me that Kelly came over to hang out with her yesterday and she wouldn’t come out of her room.” He said as we gathered Bella’s stuff from the kitchen.

“She will come out to eat but Matt has to beg her to and she doesn’t even really eat. Last night at dinner, I caught her sneaking her food to Bella instead of eating. Matt takes food up to her and it will sit there all day untouched. Matt’s worried sick about her and I am too.” I told him in a hushed voice as to not let her hear we were talking about her.

“What about Zacky? She doesn’t call him? They were the closest…”

“She calls no one. She texts no one. Matt went and checked her phone record yesterday when he went to go pay her phone bill. He was scared Micah contacted her and that’s what triggered all of this. Zacky has called and texted her maybe 20 times a day but she doesn’t answer. He called me asking if he could speak to her, but she was out with Matt that day. I told her when she came back but I guess she never called him back. It’s really weird.” I explained.

“Weird is right. Did she say anything to Matt while they were out?”

“No. Matt took her shopping all day and he said they would go in a store and look around for a little bit before he would find her in a corner somewhere wiping tears from her eyes. He said she barely spoke all day. I know she doesn’t like to be spoiled but to see her like this is killing Matt. I just hope with all of the guys and Kelly around she will get back to her happy self while we are out on tour.”

“That makes two of us. Well, I better get going. Come on Bella. You guys be safe out there. Call me if you need anything.” Papa Gates said before taking Bella out the front door.

I sighed heavily as I looked up at Kamalei’s closed door. I could hear her music playing and knew she must be crying. She only played the music to hide her crying from everyone. Hopefully she will cheer up when everyone comes over tonight for dinner.

*~*Kamalei’s POV*~*

I placed some of the new shirts my brother bought me in my suitcase as Evanescence’s ‘My Immortal’ came on from my Bose speaker alarm clock. I let the tears stain my new clothes as they dropped onto the folded pile. This song was speaking to me at the moment, playing on my already damaged emotional state. I sang along to the song as I cried:

I'm so tired of being here Suppressed by all my childish fears And if you have to leave I wish that you would just leave 'Cause your presence still lingers here And it won't leave me alone These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase

I walked over to my phone sitting on the nightstand, picking it up and looking at a number of missed calls and texts from everyone. Zacky was the worst one. He called and texted all day long, every day since the night of the party, almost a week ago but I refused to even look or listen to what he had to say. As I held the phone in my hand, he called for the fourth time this afternoon, his contact photo of the two of us at the beach popping up. I sighed heavily looking at the phone, wanting to answer but telling myself it was better not to. I pressed the red ignore signal and set the phone back down going over to the closet and finding a few nice dresses to pack. I grabbed some other clothes from the dresser before hearing an incoming text. I decided to look at it.

It’s been a week. I can look at one.

I went over and opened the message.

Please Lei, talk to me. I’m sorry. ~Z

I took a deep, ragged breath trying to keep from bursting into sobs. The tears I couldn’t stop but sobbing I could hold back. I scrolled thru some of the other texts he had sent me within the week, all of them along the same lines of ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘Please talk to me’. My voicemail had filled within 2 days of the party when no one heard from me and I had no intention of emptying it anytime soon. It being full meant no one else could bother me.

I was depressed and wanted nothing to do with anything. My friends, my family, everything. I lost my appetite and any motivation I had to do anything more than sit in my room and cry or sleep. Matt took me out two days after the party and everything I saw reminded me of Zacky. He caught me crying in corners of stores all day long and got even more frustrated with me because of my silence on the whole problem.

A soft knock on the door, stirred me from my thoughts as Val’s voice rang thru the door, “Lei? You wanted some help?”

“Yeah. Come in.” I said as she opened the door slowly.

“Alright let’s make sure we get you all you need…” she said as she pulled some of my things from my half-packed bag.

“Val?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for helping me.” I said feeling more tears come on.

“Of course sweetie. That’s what family is for.” She smiled as she looked up and saw my watery eyes.

She set the clothes down and came over to me, pulling me into a hug, “Sweetie, what happened? You’re not yourself lately. I just want our happy little Lei back… What will bring back that bright smile?”

“I don’t know.” I replied.

“There has to be something…” she said as she held me out at arms’ length, “Please Lei, let me help you.”

I shook my head, “I have to help myself.”

“Sometimes you can’t do it all alone. Sometimes we all need someone to just listen to make it feel better.”

“It’s not like that. I don’t want to think about it anymore.” I said shaking my head and turning the music down.

“Okay. Let’s find you some jackets and a few warmer clothes. We are going to some colder cities later in the tour…” she said changing the subject as she went to the dresser.

I went over to the vanity mirror, sitting down on the small bench looking at the pictures in the mirror. I couldn’t choke back my sobs as I looked at the picture of us all in the caves. Zacky had his arm around me and we all were smiling and laughing at Jimmy lying across our lap. I put my face in my hands and cried as Val wrapped her arms around me, rocking me gently back and forth.

“What’s wrong Lei? Please tell me…” she pleaded.

“I… I… I miss my mom.” I lied as I looked at the other picture in the mirror.

“Oh sweetie… why don’t you skype her tonight before everyone comes for dinner in a little bit?” She said.

I looked at her reflection thru the mirror, “What?! Everyone is coming for dinner?”

“Yeah. It’s a tradition to eat dinner the night before tour at our house. All the guys are coming.” She smiled.

I began to panic. I wasn’t prepared to see him tonight. I was barely prepared to see him tomorrow morning. I took a deep breath trying not to let Val realize I was freaking out.

“Oh, well I guess I should call her now…” I said hoping Val would leave me be.

“Alright. Well why don’t you do that and I think you have enough warm stuff now to wear. If you need any more help, I’m in my room okay?”

“Okay. Thanks Val.” I said as she exited.

I grabbed my laptop off the bed, opening up skype and calling my mother.

“Kamalei! My baby! What’s wrong?” she said as soon as the screen popped up.

“What do you mean mama?”

“Baby, you look sick. Have you been eating? Why are your eyes so red and swollen? What’s going on?” she asked concerned.

I looked at myself in the smaller window and saw what she was seeing. I was like a shell of the person I was when I left Maui. My face was puffy from all of the constant crying, my hair was an unkempt mess, and I looked like I hadn’t eaten in a week. This for the most part wasn’t completely untrue.

“I’m fine mama. I just miss you…” I told her.

*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

Goddammit. Sent to voicemail again…

I stared at the phone and debated throwing it across the room out of frustration, but decided I would regret that. I had thrown and broken enough things that had been replaced this week. Her voicemail was full and had been for days now, so I decided I would text her again. I texted her every day and she never answered, but maybe today would be different.

After waiting for about 10 minutes for a text back, I figured she wasn’t going to and headed out of my room, down to my kitchen for a beer. Popping the cap and letting the amber liquid fill my throat, I made my way out to the backyard to play with my dogs. My mother would be here any moment to come and pick them up and I was sad that she wouldn’t get a chance to meet Kamalei like I had hoped.

I had told no one about what happened the night of the party because I didn’t want her to hate me more. Val and Matt asked me constantly what happened and I would tell them nothing every time. Yesterday, Kelly and Brian came over, Kelly giving me the third degree about what happened that night after she went over to hang out with Lei, again she left with no new information.

“How is Lei?” I asked quietly.

“Why should I tell you anything? You and her both are like fucking clams and don’t tell me or anyone anything!” Kelly screamed back.

That was the end of that conversation yesterday. Kelly ended up sulking on the couch as Brian and I played video games. Brian had voiced some of his concerns about Lei with me when Kelly went to the bathroom as to not spark another argument with her. He told me she stayed holed up in her room and wouldn’t talk to anyone, not even Jimmy.

“Zachary!!” I heard my mother call from the house.

“Out back Ma!” I yelled back as she emerged from the patio.

She came over to me shaking her head at me before hugging me tightly, “Son, what’s wrong?”

I pulled away from her, “What are you talking about?”

“What’s wrong? You look sick. Have you been sleeping?” she asked concerned as she ruffled my hair and prodded at me.

“Yes.” I lied.

She looked at me sternly, “Don’t lie to me Zachary. What’s wrong?”

I sat on the patio chair across from her as she took a seat, “Nothing Ma.”

“Did I ever tell you that you are a horrible liar?” she smirked.

“I’m fine. Just excited for tour.” I replied.

“This,” she said pointing at my appearance, “is not excitement. Something is bothering you son and I know it. Is it a girl?”

I sighed deeply as I pulled my pack of cigarettes out of my pocket lighting one, “Yeah. It’s complicated.”

“Is it Kamalei?” she asked and I nearly choked on my drag, “Your brother told me about her. Said she is a nice girl and she’s Matt’s sister.”

“Yeah, she is…” I replied taking another inhale, avoiding scoffing that my brother had the nerve to tell our mother about the girl I love, “She’s pretty and smart. She knows fashion like I do, I even hired her. She’s like my best friend. I really like her mom. I think I even love her.”

“So the problem is?”

“I fucked up. It’s Matthew’s fault too…” I said, catching myself from saying too much.

“Why?”

“Let’s just say something happened and I acted without thinking first. Now she won’t talk to me.” I said putting my head in my hands.

She reached across the table and rubbed my shoulder, “Are you going to see her tonight?”
I nodded.

“Then you can talk to her then. She can’t avoid you forever; you are all going on tour together. Whatever you did you need to apologize and explain.” She told me.

“Mom, I don’t think she’s going to listen to me.”

“She will. She’s your best friend, right?” I nodded again, “Then she will listen to you. She’s probably hurt. What did you do?”

“I made out with some girl.” I told her shamefully.

“Well, you and her weren’t dating right?”

“No, but I told her I would wait for her to be ready to be with me.” I said quietly.

“Oh, Zachary… Why would you tell her that and then blatantly do the opposite?” she smacked me upside the head.

“I got jealous and I was drunk…” I replied as I rubbed the sore spot on my head.

“Well you deserve this then. You made your bed and now you have to lie in it. You broke her trust. She trusted you to wait for her. What did she do to make you jealous for you to go and do that?”

“I thought she was making out with someone but it turned out they forced themselves on her. She didn’t want it and I… I just fucked it up more.” I said shaking my head.

“Yes you did.”

“Thanks Mom.” I said sarcastically.

“Well you did. If you care about this girl like you say you do, then you better apologize and you better make it a damn good one and hope she forgives you.” She said getting up from the chair and hugging me, “I love you son and I hope it works out for you. Have a fun tour and be safe.”

“I will Mom. Love you too.” I said kissing her cheek as I walked her out grabbing the dogs’ stuff and loading it in her car.

I helped load my dogs in her car and watched as she drove away. I shoved my hands in my jeans pockets, grabbing out my phone and checking it again, disappointed when I had no new messages or calls. Looking at the time, I realized I should get ready to head over to Matt’s for dinner. My mom was right; I needed to apologize to her in person.

I just hope she will listen…

Notes

Sorry for such a lag in my updates. Life has been hectic with work and everything else. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Hopefully I can get another up later this week, life permitting of course. Mahalo for reading and for all of your comments! I love reading what my readers think! Much love and Aloha <3 <3 <3 XoXo