“It wasn’t a problem,” I say, even though hewon’t believe me. “I never thought I’d actually ask for a favoranyway. But this was the right thing to do, and he knew that. Ibelieve in second chances as much as I believe in the light of Hinaand the mermaid colony of Starlight Cavern.”
He laughs. “I’m lucky that you’re my nextdoor neighbor and not someone else,” he says. “Imagine the life I’dbe building if you weren’t around.”
I’m thankful for the night sky right now sohe can’t see my cheeks blushing. A wave rolls under us, and I lookup at the white caps pummeling toward us.
“Second wave of the set is always best,” Iremind him. “Hurry. You still have time to paddle!”
He doesn’t hesitate. With true surferinstinct, he turns his board around and punches his arms into thewater, paddling into the wave with impeccable timing. He pops up,carves into the water, and sprays a fan of salt water over thelip.
I don’t know if it was the mermaids or themoon goddess or just a change in the tides that sent that wave, butthe aloha spirit is alive right now, and no one deserves it morethan the boy surfing into shore.
Chapter Thirteen – Kale
Community service isn’t so bad when the girlnext door tags along. I check in and grab my gloves before we headdown the beach to a new section of sand to comb through. After mydebt to society is paid, I may still stroll the beaches and pick uptrash just out of habit. Emily always wanted to start up her ownbeach cleanups back in California. She had it in her head that shecould save all of the turtles.
It makes me sad that I let her down. She wastied up in the middle of that whole administrative leave ordeal atDrenaline Surf until they could figure out who the true culpritwas. I’m certain Vin let her have her job back, but I wish I couldapologize to not only her but her boyfriend too. Miles deserves anapology. He was always the innocent bystander who got sucked intoTopher’s games and apparently mine as well.
“You okay?” Leilani asks, bringing me backto Hawaii and out of California. “You seem like you’re a millionmiles away.”
“Not a million,” I say, reaching down for atiny piece of plastic. It’s amazing how easily I can spot thesenow. “Just California. Thinking of all the people there who hate menow.”
“Don’t do that,” she says, bending down topick up a bottle cap. “In time, things will change, even for them.They’re still reeling from the whole thing. Eventually, they’lllearn to forgive too. Even Colby Taylor.”
We stroll along, talking about her plans forcollege and how she’s only going to please her parents because sheactually wants to work at Surf-N-Swells with her brother. As weclean up, a group of kids with surfboards walk by and one inparticular waves at me. It’s Tao, his dark hair standing out amongthe blonde kids he’s walking with. He holds up his board, a proudsmile on his face. There’s a Hurley sticker and a bright greenSurf-N-Swells logo with an orange hibiscus flower sticker.
“That’s the kid I helped find a board forthe other day,” I tell Leilani. “I was nervous about helping him atfirst, in case he knew who I was, but he didn’t react, so maybehe’s too young to know. He knew about John John Florence,though.”
She laughs. “I dare you to find a Hawaiianchild who doesn’t know who John John Florence is,” she says. “He’sa legend now. Two-time world champion? He’s a superstar of thesport.”
He was also Topher’s favorite surfer. Healways wanted to be better than his idol, to get on tour andcompete against the best of the best. Even with all that’shappened, I hope he does. I hope he wins a world title, and I hopeit happens at Pipeline so I can hide out in the crowd and watch ithappen in person. I can already see Miles chairing him up thebeach, American flags flying all around them.
Someone shouts in the distance, and Leilaniand I both spin around to see what’s going on. There’s a commotionin the water. And then I see it spike up above the waves. A loneboard with a Hurley sticker, an orange hibiscus flower, and thewords Surf-N-Swells in bright green.
“Tao!” I shout, ripping the gloves from myhands and running toward the water.
The ocean engulfs me instantly, my shirtclinging to my body like an extra layer of skin. I hear nothing asthe water rushes into my ears. I blink a few times before duckdiving under a wave and propelling myself forward with Spartanwarrior strength. I pop up long enough to look around and grabanother gulp of oxygen. The board rocks around in the water.
I duck back under, scanning the water forTao. A panic settles into my chest, reminding me of the nightTopher wiped out and went under. I froze that night, scared out ofmy mind that I’d never find him in the dark waters. But Haley wasthere that night. She was able to channel the calmness before astorm and find him.
Right now, I don’t have Haley, but it’sdaylight, and I do have Vin’s nickname for her – sunshine. I focusand swim ahead, letting my eyes absorb the glittery particles ofwater as the sun beams down, casting a spotlight under the sea. Ispot his surf leash and paddle toward him.
I latch my arm around the kid’s waist andpull him to the surface. He chokes out, spitting water, and gaspsfor air. I don’t have time to say anything to him because a flockof surfers have surrounded us, helping pull him above the water andonto someone else’s board. I try to catch my own breath as theycarry him into shore.
“Are you
