First Collision
I’ve been Ill for the last three days, dealing with a persistent and annoying runny nose that just won’t quit. The constant heat in the past two weeks on this island is making it harder for me to breathe. I lie in bed, trying to drift off, but even after sleeping non-stop for the past few days, the throbbing headache and overwhelming exhaustion is still here.
I listen to the floorboards creaking, signaling someone hurrying up the stairs. It’s not aggressive, more like the impatience of someone in a rush to reach the second floor. The door swings open with force, it’s so loud for a moment I think I’m being raided by the police. Startled, I jumped up in bed, only to find my mom standing on the other side of the bed. She boasts long, sleek dark hair, petite yet captivating eyes, and full lips that conceal a stunning set of pearly white teeth.
She greets me with a warm smile, “Maya, still feeling like you’re on your deathbed?” I reply with a pained moan, “I’ve got a slight feeling this might be my final resting place.”
“If you keep up with the drama, you’ll miss out on the party tonight.” She says, throwing open the shutters, sunlight flooding in and blinding me. I shield my eyes with a pillow and fall back on the bed. “Mother. I could not possibly care less about that party.” She exclaims, “But you were so excited about it!” Her tone shoots up a bit too high, making my head pound even more. “Lower the volume, please,” I grunt.
“Sweetheart, your dad invited us to join him for the grand opening of the Daniels family’s new hotel tomorrow. Just a heads up, let’s be mindful of the number of cocktails.” She gazes out the window, and I say carefully, “Honestly, right now, I’m not in a great condition to attend that event.”
From his office next to my bedroom, my dad shouts, “You’re going!” I groan into my pillow, shouting back, “But why?!” I hear him walking towards my room.
“There are important people you need to meet. My new business partner has children, and with new streets being built on the island, there are plenty of business opportunities coming our way. I need you, Maya. Your bright smile and charm make connecting much easier.”
“So, you’re using me.” I try to portray myself as a victim, hoping for some mercy. “Naturally. You’re my daughter,” he says sarcastically, flashing a tired smile with his gray stubble and dark, short hair, worn from work.
My mother supports my father while he sips his coffee. “Your dad thinks it’s beneficial for you to get to know those boring people. They might get you into a great college you know. There are a bunch of fancy Italians in the new estates.” I exhale into my pillow and ask, “you mean up on Berkeley Street?”
“Yeah, so try not to go too wild at the party, please,” she says again. Gotta admit, she’s the most transparent, protective and over-controlling mom I know. But she means well. “Alani’s pumped for the party, not me. I’d rather crumble and fade away right here,” I mumble into my pillow.
“Oh, tonight, we are fading, getting hammered, smashed, the primary goal is to get wasted.” A cheerful, warm voice echoes from the hallway. I hear my father walking away to his office again. I lift the pillow from my face, and there’s Alani in the doorway. Her radiant dark skin gleams, and her brown eyes transform into golden hue in the sunlight. I didn’t even hear her climb the stairs; she deliberately sneaked up to eavesdrop, as she always does.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Take it easy. Your goal is to have fun and get home safely,” my mom begins, widening her eyes as she looks at both of us. It’s as if everything Alani says is automatically my responsibility. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to defend myself before she continues, “And I really hope you won’t be running off with some guy, no matter how good he’s at dancing or whatever else he might be doing with you at that party!” I protest, “Mom, please!” feeling uncomfortable by the whole conversation.
Alani laughs, so vibrant and loud, it never fails to bring a smile to my face. I don’t know how she does it, but her energy quickly envelops me—both safe and adventurous. “Okay, Hannah, my bad. I’ve been waiting for this party the entire school period, and I let myself get carried away,” Alani raises her arms in surrender. Maya’s mom gives Alani a brief, playful side-eye before exiting the room, saying, “I’ll be preparing lunch; I’ll leave you guys alone.”
Alani vigorously closes the door shut. I wish she could share some of that energy with me right now. There’s no escaping this; she’ll drag me to that party if she has to. “So, what are you wearing tonight?!” Alani shouts with excitement as she opens the large wooden closet. Maybe I can navigate around it by emphasizing my ‘first-time-heartbroken’ card.
“Alani…” I start. “What if he’s there?” I gaze at her, attempting a hint of sadness in my eyes. Alani dramatically spins around, giving me a skeptical frown. “Who’s gonna be there?” I glance at my bedsheets and mumble, “Tarek.” Alani dramatically flops onto the bed. “Uggggh, you’re not seriously worried about that guy, are you?” I glance to the side, shrugging slightly.
“You’re coming with me to that party, whether you like it or not. And if Tarek is there, I’ll make sure he stays at least 20 feet away from us at all times,” she declares, shaking her head. As I get out of bed, I reply, “Okay… don’t be dramatic.”
“If it’s what I gotta do, I will do it,” she says confidently.
I gaze out the window, and as usual, the island looks stunning. The sun is shining, the air is crisp with the scent of salt and sand. People stroll down the street at a leisurely, peaceful pace, like everything here. The wind rustles the palm trees and makes t-shirts dance in the breeze.
Alani, eyeing the dark green dress in my closet, remarks, “Plus, I thought you were totally over that guy.”
“I am. I just really don’t want to go to the party,” I say, exhaling heavily.
“Oh, come on. After some good watermelon and a beach date with me, you’ll feel refreshed! By the time you hear the music, you’ll be smiling and enjoying the night. I’ll be making sure you’re gonna have a good time, ofcourse.”
The annoying thing about Alani is she’s super convincing, relentless until she gets her way. “Fine. But I’m wearing your brown heels.” I negotiate. She squeezes her eyes at me, a moment of silence. And then: “Fine.”
***
I take a deep breath with my eyes closed. The crisp sea breeze feels nice on my skin, carrying gentle splashes of water with it. As I stand on the sandy shore, my feet gradually sink into the soft grains, and the soothing waves create a refreshing sensation. The cool water gives me goosebumps, yet it’s incredibly energizing in this heat. The wind also makes me shiver a bit. When I open my eyes, I notice Alani already wading deeper into the water. She lifts her arms above the water and approaches me.
“Not up for a swim?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I still don’t feel great, you know,” I mumble, looking at the water with a look of disgust. If I attempted to eat anything at this moment, I can guarantee it wouldn’t go down easily, and it likely wouldn’t stay in my stomach for very long. And the waves are starting to make me feel dizzy. “Alright, let’s head back,” Alani says as she emerges from the water, making her way toward our beach towels. I followed suit, observing the bustling activity on the beach today. It’s the final weekend of spring vacation before the upcoming school period. All three volleyball courts are being played by high schoolers enjoying the game fanatically.
“Wow, it seems like the whole school decided to show up today,” I remarked. “Well, who wouldn’t? Gotta make the most of it before we’re back to the trenches.” Glancing around, I see many people playing, even the surfers are taking a break from the amazing waves to join in. I observe them with an uneasy and bothersome sensation in my stomach, yet I don’t know why…
The ball rolls closer to me and Alani, prompting a guy to run up behind us and retrieve it. Although we keep walking, I can practically sense this guy glaring at us. I silently hope he won’t say anything. Alani leans in and whispers, “Strange, uncomfortable, and blatantly obvious person staring at us. 6 o’clock.”
“I know, let’s keep it moving,” I quickly reply.
“You’re dreamiiiinggg!” Yells echo from the nearby court, mixed with laughter from afar. I glance over; a girl is watching someone behind us, but I won’t fully turn around to see. Because that would open up the gate for him to engage with us, and that’s precisely what I’m hoping to steer clear of.
Even though I don’t really get what’s going on, I feel uncomfortably involved in the unfolding scenario. I’m starting to feel anxious so I just stay quiet. Resisting the urge to turn around, I hear another girl, “Come on, Koa! Hurry!” His hurried footsteps in the sand reach my ears as he runs towards them again. I settle down on my towel as my heart finally starts beating at a normal pace again.
“What was that about?” Alani’s eyes widen as she sits in front of me on the towel. “Stay seated like that,” I ordered her, glancing past her to the court right behind. He’s on the far-right court, everyone’s yelling and clapping as he’s about to serve. The energy is high, and he hits it over the net. Alani waits patiently for a moment as I continue to stare at them, him… really.
“ANALYSIS, woman!” Alani impatiently yells. I startle and shoot her a silent glance, urging her to be quiet. Reporting back to her, I share the details: “Dark medium-long hair, a little spiked on top, a bit buzzed on the sides and back, clearly a daily surfer with that bod, and a solid tan to match.”
“There has to be more; that’s a description of every male on this island,” Alani pleads, disappointed. “Unfortunately, I can’t gather more information right now,” I respond, squinting my eyes in an attempt to see clearer. “Okay, enough, you’re making it too obvious,” Alani cautions. I laugh a little as I lean back on my towel, Alani glances at me, smirks, and says, “I think they’ll show up at the party tonight.”
“Seriously? You should already know I couldn’t care less about a bunch of spoiled, sun-kissed surfer boys. My focus is on getting into a good college; I’ve got a ton of work to catch up to still,” I explain. Alani sighs dramatically and remarks, “Geez, you really know how to drain the life out of… life.”
I look at her with a disappointed face and say, “Alani, don’t be mean.”
“Alright, alright,” she responds.
“You know this is important for me.” I continue.
“Yes, I know, I’m sorry. It’s just…” Alani slumps her shoulders in frustration. “These guys have been eyeing you since 7th grade, you’re just out here pretending you haven’t noticed,” she says.
“Eww, no. I already figured that out. But seriously, I’d rather not think about it,” I respond awkwardly, glancing over at the guys from 7th grade she’s talking about. “I have a good reason—to pretend I haven’t noticed. Do you really think they’re genuine?” I frown at Alani.
“Come on, what’s up with you?” Alani starts giggling while naming people: “David, Tom Kekoa, Jeremy - oh yeah, Jeremy!” She interrupts herself with laughter, unable to hold it in any longer.
“You’re such a prize, you know that right?” I responded disappointed. “You don’t have to remind me. That’s childhood trauma, that’s - you can’t bring that up okay?”
Alani sprawls on her beach towel, letting the sun dry her: “Go ahead, cry all you want, but ya can’t deny they’ve grown up quite nicely,” she says in a Liverpool accent.
I stretch out on the towel beside Alani, soaking up the sun, with the ocean’s voice ever-present in my ears. We lay out in the sun for what feels like hours. I get thoughts of tall buildings, busy streets, people running to the metro, loud conversations and noise enters my mind.
Alani brings me back: “Earth to Maya. Let’s go home.” The wind and heat of the sun surround me as I get up and pack my things. I fold up my sandy towel and head towards the wooden path. The hot sand hurries my steps, and I notice someone on my left feeling the same discomfort.
Down the path, I spot the same guy from before. He just came from the volleyball court, can’t believe he was playing for that long. Luckily, he’s just far enough that starting a conversation isn’t possible. And it also doesn’t feel awkward that he arrived at the same time, but he’s definitely there. Maybe I’m thinking too much. Regrettably, I dig my own grave by staring a bit too long, and he catches my eye. Brown eyes. Big eyes. A soft smile follows.
A volleyball smacks his side, and he swiftly turns around, chasing after the ball on the scorching sand. “Agh! Fuck! Cassie! Stop throwing the ball—” I lose interest in him, strolling towards the showers where Alani is already standing beneath one. “I thought for a moment you’d start a conversation, you flirt!” she teases, rinsing sand off her shoulders. “You’re the most delusional person I’ve ever encountered in my entire life,” I declare, my tone calm. I take a shower next to hers.
Alani, answering my comment with a smirk, continues: “My dad just texted we’re barbecuing tonight, of course you’re joining. We can get ready together after.” I notice Alani’s gaze fixed on something or someone behind me, and a sense of unease washes over me. “What? What’s going on?” She’s definitely tracking someone, and they’re headed in my direction—that’s what she silently mouthed.
Here we have six showers lined up in a row, all occupied. Now, you might be curious about the odds of this man, the guy, showing up and casually strolling over to Alani, flashing a smile brighter than the sun, and uttering in the calmest, coolest tone, “Hey.”
You see, I thought the odds were zero, but here we are.
“Hey, stranger.” Alani teases at him, with a bright smile she returns.
“You’ve been under there forever. When’s my turn?” he grins, playfully frowning. Alani glances at him and then at me, a playful surprise in her eyes. “Well,” she starts, glancing at the line of people waiting for a shower, “I wouldn’t want to keep all these folks waiting.” She winks at me in a ridiculously obvious way. I grit my teeth, doing my best to ignore him as he steps under the shower.
Now, I’m ready for anything. Keeping it short and simple for this guy, I grab my shampoo to rinse off the sea salt from my hair. He’s still silent, but he will start any second now. Maybe he wants me to start a conversation? Is that what he’s expecting? This dude is nuts.
His gaze locks onto me, and I can practically feel his eyes lingering on my shoulder. I’m aware he’s ogling anything he can, and it’s making me nauseous–can’t believe Alani did this. My heart is racing, and I just want to escape this situation as fast as possible. Still he’s not saying anything.
Confidently snagging my towel from the hook, I remark, “All that effort for the showerhead, but can’t come up with anything?” Leaning on the shower pole, he watches me walk away, I glance back to find him grinning with a wide smile, frustrated, I turn away, yelling, “Creep!”
Strolling from the beach to the parking lot, I spot Alani by her dad’s olive-green jeep. She’s wearing sunglasses, already chewing on some gum, and wearing a beach dress. “So, how’d it go?” She asks casually. “I’ll make you suffer for this,” I declare in a monotone as I hurry towards the passenger seat. She’s already in the driver’s seat but pauses before starting the car. “What? What happened?” Her grin persists, and it feels like sparkles are practically flying out of her eyes. I want to scream at her.
“He’s a perv,” I state. “Why now? He seemed nice to me,” Alani replies, starting the car, her tone becoming calmer. “He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me,” I explained. Alani looks over at me, attempting to make eye contact, but I keep my gaze forward.
Alani remains silent for a while, very strange and different from her usual demeanor. It unsettles me a bit, so I ask her softly, “What is it?” She takes a deep breath before responding, “Honestly, sometimes I don’t understand why you deflect literally any kind of affection or kindness that is given to you. If you won’t let…” I cut her off, saying, “Affection? Kindness? He’s just fucking around and you know it!” Alani lifts her fingers from the steering wheel, signaling she doesn’t want to get into it. “Sorry, maybe I’m over analyzing.”
“Maybe you are,” I react angrily as she drives over the roundabout. “Alani. I get it. But honestly, this guy doesn’t give me any green or even white flags. He just seems like a little boy looking for amusement.”
Softly, she asks, “We’re still going to the party, right?”
I laughed and playfully hit her arm, “Yes! The infamous spring break party at Nick’s! I’m so ready for it,” a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
To be continued...
