*~*Zacky’s POV*~*

Oh fuck. My head hurts. I should have taken some aspirin before I passed out. I need some water. Who the hell is on me?

I looked down and saw Kamalei curled up onto my chest softly snoring. It was cute. She was cute.

Can’t think of that now though. It’s bad enough I have a boner already from it just being morning…

I looked on the other side of her and Jimmy was sprawled out half on the couch and half on the floor with us. Brian and Kelly, who were passed out on the couch next to us, were missing. It was quiet so I guessed everyone else was still asleep. I did notice that we weren’t moving anymore, so I figured we were in Huntington.

I carefully slipped a pillow up under Kamalei’s head as I shifted out from under her. She was so gorgeous just lying there, her hair a mess and in her face. I leaned over and gently brushed some strands behind her ear. She stirred a little, mumbling, “No Micah…”

I stood up and looked at her wondering what she was dreaming about and what was her boyfriend doing to her. I looked at my watch. 11:30. Not too bad. My head continued to pound so I made my way to the bathroom to get some pills and take a piss, hoping that would ease my morning problem.

I came out of the bathroom as quietly as possible before hearing someone call my name quietly from the outside window. Brian stood there cigarette hanging from his lips beckoning me to come out. I grabbed my pack from my bunk, noticing Kelly across the way in Brian’s bunk bundled up in blankets, and headed quietly past Kamalei and Jimmy outside.

The sun burned my eyes and I instantly regretted not having my sunglasses or at least my hat. I walked around the bus to see Brian on the other side waiting for me.

“How’d you sleep sleeping beauty?” he teased.

“Fuck my head feels like it went thru the blender. How are you not hung over?” I asked him squinting in the California sun lighting up.

“I’ve been up for a few hours and already went thru what you’re going thru now. I’ve had enough water and aspirin to kill a horse. I saw you all cuddled up to Lei this morning. You’re lucky Matt isn’t up.” He said.

I nodded. “I know. We must have passed out mid-movie. I didn’t even feel her move closer to me. I mean it’s not like anything happened. Hello… she has a boyfriend.” I said looking down at my feet.

“Yeah. I saw how much that pissed you off.” Brian smirked.

He knew. He knew it drove me fucking crazy.

“I like her Brian. I like her a lot.” I admitted.

“I know bro but you know you can’t let Matt hear you say that. He’d skewer you.” He said placing a hand on my shoulder.

“He almost did last night. He caught me snowboarding last night.” I told him.

“I figured that’s what you went to go do. Thanks for the invite by the way buddy?” He replied sarcastically.

“It’s better you didn’t. He was already pissed at just me for it. No sense in getting him mad at you too. He’s right though, we shouldn’t be doing that around them just yet. I mean I know that they know we are rock stars but, it was the first day on the bus with us. I just kind of lost it a little there.”

“Yeah I know. It was rather obvious. At least I knew why. No one else figured it out. That’s why you’re my bro. I always know what’s going on in that fucked up little head of yours…” He said pulling me in a head lock and giving me a noogie.

I wriggled out of his grasp, finishing my cigarette.

“What do I do Brian?” I asked taking a deep breath.

“Brother. I don’t know. Maybe she’ll leave him for you. She didn’t look too thrilled when Matt asked about him. Maybe he’s an ass. Kelly told me she doesn’t even like him. She said that she hardly sees Lei when he’s around. I guess he doesn’t really like her going places without him.” Brian said.

“She’s been with him for 4 years. I don’t think she’s gonna leave him Bri…”

“Well you can always tell her how you feel but, I don’t know what will happen next. She could totally bail on your friendship and that would be a shame because she seemed to really get along good with you. Choices, Zacky boy. Choices. Either way, you better not let Matt catch wind of any of it.” Brian said opening the door to the bus and stepping inside.

He’s right. I can’t ruin this. I’m going to have to just swallow my feelings. She has a boyfriend. I’m just her brother’s friend. I like being around her. I can still be her friend. At least I could talk to her and hang out with her that way. I will take that over nothing. I can be her friend and just keep her safe and happy. That’s good enough right? Right?

I followed Brian onto the bus. Kamalei and Jimmy were still passed out all over the place. Brian walked to the back and jumped into his bunk with Kelly.

I heard her murmur something to him before he said, “Shh. It’s just me Brian. Go back to sleep. I’m gonna sleep some more too. No one’s up anyway.”

I walked over Lei and went to my bunk. Looking over, Brian was curled up with Kelly wrapped in his arms fast asleep again. He just gave me thumbs up before I smiled and turned around to find my iPod in my bunk. After sticking the ear buds in I walked back out and sat down next to Kamalei’s sleeping body. She looked so at peace. I took my iPod and snapped a quick picture of her sleeping with the camera.

That’s for me.

Matt rolled out of his bunk with a thud on the ground. “Ow.”

I watched him get up and stumble into the front taking a peek at what was going on. He looked at me and mouthed ‘Is she sleeping?’ I nodded and he went into the bathroom.

I was surprised he wasn’t going to yell at me again for being a fuckup last night. He must have really known I wasn’t going to jeopardize his relationship with his sister over some cocaine. I’m glad he knew I was better than that.

He came out and wandered thru the kitchen area before reaching into the cabinet and grabbing the Lucky Charms box. He sat on the couch behind me, waiting for me to pull one of the ear buds from my ear before speaking.

“I’m scared Zee.” He said to me munching away on the dry cereal, “I’m scared for her. What if what my dad has to say is something horrible? What if what he tells her makes her hate us…?”

“M. She’s not going to hate us. She already loves you and she met you yesterday. I have a feeling you are the only family member that hasn’t lied to her and actually gives a shit about her. If she hates your dad, then so be it. You can’t think she would hate you too because of him.” I answered reassuringly.

“I hope you’re right Zee. I do love her. She’s my baby sister. I can’t really even say she’s my little sister. That’s more Amy. She’s a baby to me. 8 years Zack. 8 years. Fuck I wish I knew what the fuck my dad did. I want to go soon so I can get some fucking answers.” He said before standing up, “Hey, thanks Zack. I appreciate you listening to me last night… and now.”

“No problem brother.” I replied as he walked to the back to find clothes before getting into the shower.

I looked down at Lei. I didn’t want to but I knew I had to wake her. I slid down lying next to her again, removing the pillow that took my place before. She shifted a little pulling me closer to her as she breathed inhaling my shirt deeper. I hoped she couldn’t smell the cigarette from earlier. I turned my head to make sure Matt was still in the shower before lightly pressing my lips to the top of her head. I softly put my fingers thru her hair brushing it away from her face, as her eyes started to flutter open.

“Morning sunshine.” I whispered to her earning a smile from her.

“Morning Zacky. I’m sorry. I must have fallen asleep during the movie…” she quietly apologized.

“It’s ok. I didn’t mind.” I said as I heard the water in the bathroom shut off.

“Your brother might though. I better get up.” I said quickly getting up just as the bathroom door opened, Matt dripping wet standing there looking at me.

The guilt must have been written all over my face.

“Did you wake her up?” He asked me as he watched Kamalei slowly gather up blankets around her, rubbing her eyes.

“No. He didn’t Matt. I got up on my own. My head is killing me…” she replied before I could say another word, grabbing her forehead.

“Here. Take like 5. Then get ready. You get to meet Dad today.” Matt said reaching back in the bathroom and tossing her the bottle.

She missed the catch and the bottle hit Jimmy in the back of the head. He just kept snoring on.

“Well he’s not getting up anytime soon. Hahaha.” She said laughing quietly before getting up off the floor and sitting on the couch nearby.

I walked over to the fridge and found 2 bottles of water, handing one to her. She thanked me and opened the bottle taking a handful of pills and chugging half the water.

“I don’t know how you guys do this all the time…” She said closing her eyes and leaning back.

“Don’t feel bad. I have the same headache you do. So does Brian. He went back to sleep though.” I told her.

“Where’s Kelly? I swear her and Brian passed out first right here.” She asked.

“She’s in his bunk.” I said hesitating at the look on her face, “With him.”

“What?! Oh God… What kind of a friend am I? I let her just jump into bed with a guy she doesn’t even know…” She started.

“Hey, I’m not that bad.” Brian said walking out, rubbing his eyes, “Nothing happened Lei. Cool your jets. I woke up in the middle of the night and carried her in there. It’s more comfortable than sleeping sitting up on a couch. Especially these couches…”

“What’s going on?” Johnny mumbled staggering out from his bunk.

“Ah he has risen from the dead! The true living Johnny Christ!” Brian said throwing his hands up in the air.

“Come on guys let’s get going… We should stop and get some food before we head over to my parent’s house.” Matt said walking out fully dressed for the day.

“You. Shower now. Before the boys take up the rest of the hot water.” Matt said pointing to Kamalei.

“Alright…” She said sauntering back to get her clothes from her bag.

While she was back there I saw her reach up and wake up Kelly. “Come on bitch. Shower with me. Save the hot water and whales and shit.”

Kelly slowly got up and jumped down from the bunk, grabbing her things and followed Lei into the bathroom. All of us kind of stood there and stared. We never thought that happened in real life. It was more like something we expected from a porno. When the water started, Brian ran over to the door pressing his ear up against the door.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Val asked running a brush thru her hair.

“The girls… the girls went in there together… to shower… together…like with each other…” Brian stammered on.

“So what? Save the hot water. Duh.” She said walking to the front and sitting at the table with a bottle of water.

I loved the way Val always brought it back to reality. “Someone gonna try to wake up the zombie or what?” she asked looking at Matt.

“Not me. Fuck it let him sleep.” He replied. “If we wake him he’s just going to be grumpy all day. He’ll get up by the time we get back and be ready to party again. Johnny write him a note.”

Johnny scribbled down a note and left it on the table. I walked to the back and grabbed some fresh clothes for the day and waited with Brian for the shower to open up.

“What and the fuck is that?” Kelly yelled from inside the bathroom, all of us turning to look at the door.

“Shut up will you. Please? Just be quiet will ya?” Lei was pleading with her.

What the hell is going on in there?

Val took the initiative and walked to the bathroom door, knocking “Girls, is everything ok?”

“Look what you did you fool… Uh, yeah.” Kamalei replied thru the door.

“Let me in.” Val said before the door unlocked and she went inside.

“Oh my! Hunny are you alright? What happened?” Val’s muffled voice was full of concern.

Matt started throwing daggers at me with his eyes.

Does he really think I did something to her? Really man!? After our talk this morning you really think I did something?!

I couldn’t make out the words but I could tell it was Lei talking to Val.

Val just replied, “Alright. I won’t. I promise. I’ll be out here. Be careful ok?” before she came out of the bathroom.

“What’s wrong?” surprisingly Johnny asked first.

“Nothing. They’re fine. Don’t worry about it… it’s a girl thing.” She replied quickly looking down and walking to the back to get her things.

Valary is such a horrible liar. I know Matt knows it too. She promised her something. It’s none of our business. Especially mine. I should let her brother deal with it. Ignore it…

Before long the girls came out fully dressed. Kelly wore black shorts and a plain white tank top with a blue plaid shirt unbuttoned, opened over her white tank top. Kamalei wore black shorts too showing off a tattoo that ran up the entire outside of her left leg. It was beautiful yet so simple. There was a straight line of triangles pointing up going from her ankle all the way up her thigh and what seemed to be under her shorts. In the middle of the triangles, just above the side of her knee, there was a break and a single round symbol made to look like a spiky ball made out of more triangles. She wore a deep purple tank top with a gray lacy top over that.

“Wow sis. That’s a pretty extensive leg tattoo…” Matt said pulling her closer turning her, so he could look better.

“It’s a family tattoo. You get it done the old way…” she said turning her leg more to show everyone better.

“You mean like a needle and a stick?” Brian asked.

“Yeah pretty much. It’s a tradition to get it done in a tribal way. It's more like a chisel and hammer. It hurts like hell when they do it, but it’s worth it in the end…at least I think so.” She said looking down at it.

“What is that?” Matt asked pointing at the spiky ball thing.

“That’s a ha’ue’ue (Ha-oo-ee-oo-ee). It’s a sea urchin. My family comes from Kuau (Koo-ow) which is by the ocean.” She replied.

“Cool. My sister is SO Hawaiian…” Matt said as Brian walked to the bathroom to shower.

He was taking so long that I wasn’t in the mood to wait anymore. I took my clothes to the back room shut the door and changed. While I was changing a small bag of white powder fell out onto the floor. I picked it up and stared at it, standing there in nothing more than my boxers.

This got me in so much trouble yesterday. One little bag. I won’t need it today. I can tell it will be a good day. I woke up with a beautiful girl in my arms.

I stuffed it back in my pocket of my jeans from yesterday and changed the rest of my clothes. I neatly folded up my clothes and went out to set them on my bunk, just as Brian came out of the shower.

“Ready everyone. Let’s go eat.” Matt said like the ringleader he was sometimes.

We all followed him out into the bright California sun, walking down the street in Huntington to one of our favorite places to eat.

Now to show 2 island girls our hometown of Huntington Beach. This would be interesting for them I’m sure…

Notes

Thank you everyone for your comments! I love hearing what everyone thinks! This one is a little long but it would be too weird to break it up into more chapters. I have included some pronunciations to help out. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it! Much mahalos for comments ;)