more book! :)

I scowled across the water, watching the waves get closer to the black notebook by my side. Images kept surfacing in my mind’s eye- images I had hoped to have forgotten by now. Last night was particularly awful- twice Allie had to bring me back. Some nights I won’t wake up at all; not with light, sound, water, or force. Those nights I end up in the ER so they can wake me up before I injure myself or someone else. They used to think I was having seizures, but they aren’t. I’m just too far gone into the horrible fantasy of my own creation to come back on my own.
    Nights like last night always give me headaches. It makes sitting in the sun almost unbearable, robbing me of my favorite activity. Today, though, the clouds had rolled over the sun so I found myself outside anyways, sitting in the shadows, feeling the cool breeze. It was a relief to feel chilled after spending so many hours, feverish and uncomfortable.
    Allie had offered to come and sit with me, but I didn’t want her company today. I really didn’t want anyone’s company. Especially not my family’s. I feel so embarrassed around them after my rough nights, knowing I kept them up most of the night. It’s like I’m some freak of nature.
    The water splashed my feet and I picked up my notebook. I had to move farther up the beach or I was going to get wet. Glancing up at the still cloudy sky, I realized I might get wet either way. Gray clouds built over the open water, rapidly growing in my direction.
    Great. I thought to myself. Since I knew I was alone, I let myself grumble out loud, placing my fingers over my throat to feel the rumble in my vocal cords. Just what I wanted. A rain storm. Classic.
    I stood up and shook my fist at the dark sky, not stopping to consider the futility of my actions. Grumbling again as I stomped across the sand to my family’s gazebo, rain drops started to pound on my shoulders and head. I shook my head this time. My mood was bad enough I didn’t care if I got soaked. I wasn’t going to quit my sarcastic saunter even if it started pouring.
    My feet started sticking in the muddy sand, disturbing my swagger. I fought to keep a steady rhythm in my steps.
    Darn you, you dirty, rotten, good for nothing rain. We have enough water here already, thank you  very much. You’re re-ruining my already ruined day, soaking my notebook and  making me muddy. Is there anything else you’d like to torture me with?
    The self-satisfied smirk from my rant was wiped off my face as I felt the electricity in the air change. I had about two seconds until the lightening struck- and it was going to be close by judging by the smell. I was forced to stop progress to shelter and duck. Instinct took over attitude.
    About a mile behind me I felt a strike that had to have hit something. I glanced behind me, wiping the rain out of my eyes to see more clearly the black mark on the hillside.
    Fine. You win. I stood and started trotting towards the lattice shack. The thunder following the flash of light concussed the entire beach, making me stumble. I reached out to catch myself with my left hand; the hand holding my notebook. I dropped it and watched it quickly get sucked into the sand and dirt. An angry tear fell onto the cover as I gritted my teeth until they hurt.
    Another electric charge filled the air as I peeled my soggy book out of the hole. Placing it securely under my arm, I took off towards my safe house.
    I was within thirty feet as the sky lit up and a smell like battery acid filled the air. I crouched, ready to run as soon as the thunder passed over. It took close to fifteen seconds for the ground to quit moving.
    As I ran the last rocky beach way to the gazebo, I saw a colorful umbrella emerge out the back door of my house. Once under cover, I watched the figure, trying to guess who it was.
    Mom? No, it was moving too fast for her. It was too tall for Allie or Kyah, and way too tall for Kanye. It was too light colored to be Uncle Paul. Maybe it was Rayna or Kalen, even thought it looked like a boy from the length of its stride.
    I turned my back as they started down the steps to the beach. I was determined not to care who it was or what they wanted. Reminding myself of my awful mood, I resolved not to talk to anyone and sat in a lounge chair with a frown.
    A shiver chased itself down my spine and I looked for something-anything- to dry off myself and my book.
    The damp, metal tip of an umbrella poked the back of my neck, forcing me to turn around and face my intruder.
    It was Keni. Not at all who I was expecting.
    “Looking for something?” He signed, stuttering with his hands. The only sign language he knew was what I had taught him years ago, and he had never paid very well attention.
    He held a towel out to me and I took it.
    “Thank you?” He signed, as a question.
    I sneered. “Thanks.” I could see his amusement at my anger, which just made me more angry. I turned to give him a glare, but before I could he gestured to my book, wanting to talk to me. I gave it to him.
    “Thanks.” He wrote. “It’s a lot easier to use this then to try and sign all the time.”
    I nodded without a word, acknowledging him, but nothing more.
    You’re angry, Lani. Remember?
    “Talk to me, Lani, please.” Once again I got poked to let me know that he wanted a response from me.
    “I’m in a bad mood.” I sighed as I gave him the book, just so he would know how unhappy I truly was.
    “I know. I talked to Allie and Paul inside. They told me about last night.”
    “Lovely.” Allie was going to get a talking to later for having such a big mouth.
    “No. Not lovely.” He purposely ignored my sarcasm. “I’m sorry.” His backpack sat next to him, but I had been so focused on being angry I hadn’t noticed it before.
    “It’s fine.” During my short response, he lifted the bag on to his lap. He set my book on the table in between us and started pulling things out of his backpack.
    I looked out to the ocean,  boiling with heavy raindrops. I had to feign disgust and boredom around Keni, so I buried my curiosity and stared into the blue-gray distance.
    This time I got flicked in the ear rather then poked. I turned my head, my brow furrowed and my tongue sticking out. He laughed and pointed to the table.
    He had placed some things on top of the notebooks and labeled them.
    “Tylenol. From Paul.” A bottle sat on the corner. My uncle knew my head would be sore. “Water, also from Paul, to be used in the taking of Tylenol.” A water bottle. “A beautiful picture from the lovely Kyah.” A folded piece of paper I knew had one of my thirteen year old sister’s amazing watercolors on it. “The towel you’re wearing and the umbrella are from your mom, just like these chocolate cookies. (I already ate one. They’re delicious.) And finally, this is from me.” I glanced up at him pointing to the blank spot the last arrow pointed to.
    He grinned sheepishly and dug a beautiful new notebook out of his backpack. All the stuff on my old book was shoved onto the table as Keni grabbed it to use.
    “I had been keeping this at your house for your mom to give you on your birthday since I’ll be gone. After I saw you fall and drop your black one, I figured you might this need one sooner rather then later. There’s instructions on the first page.” His handwriting shrank as the page filled up and he flipped it over. “You have to do that now I’ve decided.” Keni handed me both notebooks.
    I scanned the pages he had written to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
    “You saw me fall, too? Ever more lovely.” I handed him the black book back so he could respond while I read the instructions on the other book.
    “Hey Lani! Happy Birthday! You’re seventeen now- catching up to me. I have one thing to ask before you fill up all the pages in this book. Write me a word picture for Amala, would you? She loves what you write, and she doesn’t get out much anymore. She helped me pick this out for you, and she made me promise I would ask you. Anyway, I hope 17 is great! Keni.”
    A smile inched across my face. Of course. I’d do anything for Amala, Keni’s little sister and Kyah’s best friend. She had been adopted from Egypt as a baby with multiple spine and leg problems, and her surgeries left her paralyzed from the waist down and very fragile. She loved the beach, but couldn’t get out nearly as much as she would have liked.
    I looked over to see that Keni had long since replied and was watching me with a smile. I grabbed the notebook and slapped his arm, surprising him and making him laugh.
    “It was. Well?” He had answered.
    “Not funny. And of course. Mal deserves it. Now, you said? And didn’t your mom ever teach you that it’s not polite to stare?”
    He laughed as he read the reply. After a moment or two, he stood as he handed me the book back. I watched him walk our from under the gazebo roof and run towards my house, stopping only to turn and wave at me.
    “Yeah, now.” He has written. “I’ll leave you to work. I have to get home now. Kyah is coming home with me to spend the night with Mal, so no hurry. I’ll get it tomorrow. And yeah, she did. But sometimes I just get distracted and forget. Sorry.” He had put a winking emoticon at the bottom.
    My eyes widened and I blushed, grateful he had left.
    Well. He has his nerve. I thought, using one of Grandma’s favorite phrases. I stared out onto the water for a good long time, thinking.
    Yet another flash of lightening brought me back to reality. I shook my head, clearing my mind. I had work to do.
    I gently pried open my new book, reading again the note in familiar handwriting. An eerie stillness crept through the open walls and I looked up, shivering under my towel.
    The rain had stopped, just as suddenly as it had began. That was what living in Hawaii was like- fast changes. A rainbow reflected off the still, gently rolling water. It was perfect time to start my picture for Mal. I turned to the next page, took a deep breath and set my pen on the page.