Kaylen
Waihehe Island was stunning. It was so laid back and casual, and I thought Auckland was fairly quiet. I wonder what other new opportunities this country holds for a gal like me from the city in England. The ferry ride was so peaceful, even though we were travelling fairly fast, with the water spread out so far in front and all around. Rachel came with me and we bought souvenirs. I sent an online postcard home to Aunt Carolyn from an Internet caf� on the Island. Rachel wrote home to her boyfriend, this is like a final fling before they get engaged � to see if they really should stay together. Considering the only guy we have really met here is Alex, I don�t think he is competition for anyone. He is nice I think, but there is just something �funny� about him. Always with the humour. I read back through yesterday�s entry and I�m sure I come off sounding like some giddy school girl >>�That guy is really funny�<<. I�m not sure I would go to that extreme. I probably still had alcohol in my system. That always happens to me. The few times I drink and my body thinks it has fallen for some guy, just cause he is British and bought us breakfast. And Now! Now he has the nerve to jump in on our trip to Northland. �Oh, I�ll be your tour guide.� Yeah, I got a clue for where you can go Mr Haverty. What is it with boys who think they know everything about everything!? I thought I got away from that when I broke up with Craig, thinking he knew everything I liked just cause he was �down with his bad black self� and knew how to treat �a fine, soft-dark skinned lady�. Men are infuriating!
Kaylen shut down her laptop and slid it into her daypack before picking up her backpack and heading downstairs to meet up with the others at the maxi-taxi hired to take them to the bus station. Waiting with a cheesy good morning bagel was Alex, all exited for the four hour bus ride ahead of them. �We will have so much fun!� He bounced out of the van to help the girls put their bags in the boot. Five minutes later and they were headed through the traffic towards the bus station at Sky City. �Are you sure we don�t have time to run up and have a flutter?� Alex chuckled as they waited in line to put their stuff on the bus. Kaylen rolled her eyes and was caught. �Bags not sitting with Miss Cranky.� It was going to be a long trip.
Averill and Rachel sat together and Alex and Lucy sat together. Kaylen concentrated on the surrounding views. She had come here to see things and to learn about new things, the point wasn�t to act like someone she wasn�t. People couldn�t be happy all of the time. Kaylen was having a bad day, mainly because today would have been her Mother�s fiftieth birthday. She had a valid reason but didn�t feel comfortable telling everyone else, what was the point in ruining their holiday when they had only known her for a few days.
The bus pulled in next to a series of backpacker lodges. All of the bedraggled travellers departed at this point, including Kaylen, Lucy, Rachel, Averill and Alex. They had arrived in Paihia and went through the process of checking in. It happened that the group arrived the same day as a double birthday celebration at the lodge, so a party was soon in full swing after they had set down their bags and grabbed something to eat.
Kaylen was not in the mood for partying tonight, it had been a long bus trip and she just wanted to stretch her legs. As the others began drinking she set off for a walk along the beachfront towards the wharf. Alex had seen Kaylen leave and ran to catch up with her.
�What�s the problem?� He asked once he had caught up.
�Nothing, just wanted some space. There were a lot of people back there, I just didn�t need it right now.� Kaylen stopped and sat down on a grassy slope between the footpath and the beach. The sun was still setting and the view out into the bay was gorgeous.
�What is this stick you have up your butt, Kaylen? Everyone else is having a great time, this is a great place and there are some really great people back there just waiting to meet you!� Alex watched her just staring out at the water in some kind of trance and shook his head; maybe he couldn�t be bothered trying to understand her. Women! Nothing but trouble and heartache, hardly worth anything � well maybe something.
�You have no freaking idea about anyone else on this planet Alex! Do you really care why I have this stick up my butt? Or are you just trying to make yourself feel better?� Kaylen kicked at a small shell with her left foot before leaning forward, picking it up and throwing it onto the sand.
�Oh, now I�m intrigued. Tell me o wise and wonderful Kaylen Knight, why are you being no fun? The other night you really enjoyed yourself.� This girl perplexed him; she was so hot and cold. Infuriating!
�Because today is my mother�s fiftieth birthday! That�s all, nothing more than that. Am I free now to be a bit quiet and want to keep to myself for one night!� Kaylen shook out her scrunched up ponytail and avoided looking at Alex for fear that she would burst into tears.
�Well, now that I know the problem I can work my magic. You know they have these funny inventions called telephones don�t you?� Alex had no idea the can of worms he would open with those few words. Kaylen could not hold back the pain, hurt and depth of feeling that was running through her body at the moment. She knew that it wasn�t Alex�s fault, he didn�t know, but it wasn�t like she could validly avoid telling him, what with her bawling into her sand covered hands while he was sitting half a metre away.
�That would be a great idea if she hadn�t died six months ago, Alex.� The next thing Kaylen knew was Alex putting his arms around her and pulling her into his shoulder. The tears came again. She was expecting him to tell her she could phone her father. Mind you she would have probably laughed at that idea.
Half an hour later, when everything was quiet again, Alex asked if she wanted him to leave. Kaylen shook her head and they began their first proper conversation without the aid of alcohol. They talked about what they had studied at university and the normal stuff about brothers/sisters and the towns where they lived. It was good for Kaylen because it took her mind off her mum. It was good for Alex because he was finally able to gain some understanding about why Kaylen was the way she was, all standoffish and quiet.
Shoes were lying everywhere when Alex and Kaylen made their way through the Lodge. Kaylen bent down and picked up a pair of scandals and exclaimed that they belonged to her. Alex looked around and found a pair of his. They ran down the hallway towards their rooms and found the door double-locked from the inside. Three girls voices were giggling on the other side of the door as Kaylen banged. There was a scuffle between two of the voices and the third, Lucy, opened the door to let an angry Kaylen into the horrendous mess the three drunken hooligans had made of the room. Kaylen�s pack had nearly been emptied of its contents and was spread all over the bunks, the floor and also was hanging out of the window. Alex ran next door to his room and found partly the same mess, except only his shoe bag had been emptied.
�We needed somthin ta wheare,� Averill slurred, �Everyun gt to the pardy spirid. A Shoe Pardy! Yay!� Averill stood where she was and motioned to their feet. All three girls were wearing odd shoes, and they owned none of them.
�Well, that�s all good and well, but now you can just go off get yourselves cleaned up and then go to bed. I am tired and I think we should all take that forest hike to those falls the Lodge assistant told me about this evening. First thing tomorrow you guys find all my stuff and at least fold it up. At least you saved me the job of unpacking. Can�t wait for that hike tomorrow, I thought we could head off about 9am. Get out there before the sun gets too hot!� Kaylen picked up her toothbrush and pyjamas and walked off to the bathroom smiling.
�Man Alex, what you guys do at th beech? Shud we lert th autho- cops? Cause somethin has givn her cheeriness.� Averill chuckled out before all three of them collapsed in a pile on the floor in hysterics.
