Uncle Mike got a ride from one of his fellow workers and so Aunt Lana is driving. Aunt Lana's excitement overshadows mine, but I admit, I'm just as excited to be getting out of the house and the idea of going shopping for surfing equipment sounds interesting. Aunt Lana is buzzing as we're making our way into town, the windows are rolled down, the weather is a comfortable warm temperature, even with it being so early in the morning, and everything just seems right.

"I did all kinds of research," Aunt Lana tells me as she makes the right. The buildings are cute and friendly, very laid back and not all too scary and gray. They're warm colors like fuzzy pinks and rich oranges and each has its own distinct style. "I had to go through several websites to understand anything. But, I did find this great little shop - and they practically have everything for a beginner surfer." Eventually we pull up to the shop. It's fairly large, at the corner of the street, beside a little burger place called Mike & Louie's. The store itself is called Rip it. It's a light blue color with a mural of a beach scene painted on the front. There are two windows, with displays of surfers in their attire and holding their boards.

Entering the store, there's not many customers, maybe one or two teenage boys, looking at a pair of swim trunks. The song Johnny Be Good is playing. Aunt Lana is checking out the wetsuit on the display when a short man with creamy mocha skin and long dark hair comes walking from a back room behind the counter.

"Aloha, welcome to Rip It. I'm Mano," he says drawn out like and I immediately recognize the laid back attitude of surfer that he has, "Can I help you?"

"Ah, yes!" Aunt Lana pops her head up and smiles, "This is my niece Taylor; she's looking for a wetsuit. She's learning to surf."

"Oh really?" he asks and his eyes brighten with interest. "That's real cool. We've got quite a lot of suits in the back hear. Pink ones, plain ones, you name it, we have it. You thinking of buying a board yet?"

"My husband is getting one for her," Aunt Lana responds, "Taylor you go ahead, I'm going to check a few of these things out," she says, when her eye catches sight of a few knickknacks.

"Okay," I say before I follow Mano toward the back. We pass a rack of surfboards. A light blue one catches my eyes. It's shiny and glossy, the image of a couple of clown fish are painted along the fin area. They're so clear and pristine, almost real.

"Cool," Mano says. "If you change your mind though, we've got plenty. And we do customizations too. Who's teaching you how to surf?"

I look up from the bard, shaking the daze of how it'd feel to use the surfboard in the water.

"My friend Kai," I say, not sure if friend is the right word - but it's not exactly wrong.

"Kai," he repeats before his face lights of with recognition. "Ah yeah, good looking fellow, smart mouth?" he asks with a grin.

I chuckle and nod, 'yeah - that's him."

"He's my nephew. Good kid, big ego. Is he charging you?"

"No," I say with a smile.

"Good." In front of us are three racks, all filled with different sizes and colors and designed wetsuits. "Take your pick. There's a dressing room right there," he says pointing across the floor of the building, "If you need anything, just holler and I'll be here."

"Okay, thank you." As Mano leaves, I take to the clothing, pushing hanger upon hanger as I scope for the best suit. Aunt Lana comes over soon, holding a dark blue bag in her hands. She smiles, abashed some.

"I couldn't help myself, I saw the cutest thing," she says as she reaches into the bag. She pulls out this little figurine of a dolphin on a surfboard. "Thought I'd get it for your Mom. You know she loves dolphins," she says with a slight shake of her head. I don't know what shocks me more, Aunt Lana's sudden thoughtfulness to buy Mom a gift, or that she bothers to remember small details like that. Putting the figurine back inside of the bag she sighs out, "So, what are you looking to get."

I hold up a light grey one, there are turquoises stripes that zig zap on the sides, and on the right breast is a stitched flower. It reminds me of the necklace I took from home.

"I'm thinking this one," I say, holding it up to my body.

Aunt Lana rubs her chin, "Looks cute. Try it on." Together we head toward the dressing rooms. There are two, sections, one for guys and the other for girls, each side separated by a curtain. Aunt Lana waits for me as I head inside. After undressing and putting the suit on, I check me out in the mirror. It looks nice; I almost look like a real surfer in fact. Striking a pose, I giggle some at myself. This is definitely the one.

Mano gives us a thirty percent discount and some surfboard wax kit for free, urging us to visit any time soon.

Aunt Lana gets a text from Uncle Mike letting her know that he's at home and so is his boss' daughter, she's got three different boards to choose from. As we're driving back, I've caught Aunt Lana's energy bug and I'm internally urging her to drive faster, excited to see the boards.

There's a green pickup truck in the driveway when we pull up to the house. Uncle Mike is talking to a girl, maybe around her early twenties. She's got bright red hair and even from inside the car I can spot the freckles that dot along her shoulders. I leave my bag inside of the car when I get out.

"Hey," Uncle Mike says with a wave as he comes over. He gives Aunt Lana a kiss on the cheek. "Did you guys enjoy yourself?"

"Yeah, we had a lot of fun. Taylor got a really cute suit."

"Great,' he says, "Think they've got something in there I'll like?"

"You have to learn to swim properly before even thinking of getting on a board," Aunt Lana says as we head toward the truck.

"Guys, this is my boss' daughter Rachel. Rachel, this is Taylor the surfer to be and this is my wife Lana." She shakes each of our hand.

"You'll love surfing. It's so liberating." She says to me.

"Yeah, Rachel's going to Alaska to study in Juneau. She's a marine biology major."

"Yeah, won't be much use for the boards out there."

"She's agreed to give us one free of charge."

"Wow," I say, "that's so nice of you. Thanks!"

"No problem. C'mon, why don't you have a look and take your pick." She pulls down the truck door and laying flat on top of each other are three boards. One is a solid red, the other is violet with white stripes going diagonal, and another is a light blue color, with white smudges along it. "The red one was my first one, it's still a bit beat up, but it works good enough. The purple one I got my junior year. It's hard catching good wave son that one, so I bought the pink one. It's my favorite actually, I named her Eleanor. It's a pop out so it has a longer life and is practically indestructible."

"I like it," I say as my hand runs over it, "I think I'll have this one." She hauls it up and passes it over to me carefully like a mother with her newborn child.

"So are you thinking of competing? I know there are a few local meets."

"Nah, I don't think I could ever do that."

"Yeah, well you never know," Rachel says as she smiles at me, nostalgia painted across her face. "Well, I should go. I have some packing to do," she closes the trunk and gives me a look. "Take care of her for me, yeah?"

"I will."

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Aunt Lana drops me off at the beach, "Be safe," she says as I get out. We hooked the surfboard to the top of the car, and worried the whole time we were driving that it would fall off. It feels different wearing the suit, but it's not too bad. Rachel said that it would take some getting used to.

Aunt Lana drives off as I head out onto the beach. I immediately spot Becca and Ida and I'm surprised that they're here.

"Hey," I say when I catch up to them.

"Hey," Becca says over exaggerated as she looks up at me. "Digging the suit," she adds with a smirk.

"Thanks."

"And the board?" Ida questions.

"Oh, my uncle actually got it for me. His boss' daughter surfs, and she was nice enough to give me one."

"Real chill. I bought mine for you, but I guess it's nice you have your own. I can't have my baby getting shredded by your insane surfing ways." I snort and shake my head.

"Where's Kai?" I ask as I look to the water.

"Trying to get a date to the luau," Ida says with a snort and giggle of her own. I spot him talking to two girls by the water. They're all holding surfboards.

"A few weeks from now. You should come, you and your aunt and uncle. It's this big island thing; everyone gets together for food and dancing. You could meet a lot of other people too. Not that you need more than us."

"That sounds fun," I say, making sure to talk to Lana about it. It feels nice to go out, it makes things easier. Mom made a comment about how I shut myself off from everyone and how it wouldn't help, I guess she was right.

"Here comes lover boy now," Ida says. Kai is running towards us, throwing a smile over his shoulder toward the end at the girls he knows are watching and knows are talking about him.

"Baywatch much," Becca teases as he finally reaches us. He playfully kicks some sand in her direction.

"Shut up. At least I have the courage to ask people out." Becca pouts and places her head on Ida's shoulder. Ida consoles her and the two end up giggling from their charade.

"Looking good Blondie," Kai says and my cheeks redden, "But looking good isn't the important part. That comes after. See you got a board," he reaches his hands out and I hand it to him. I'm a fit of nerves now.

"Pretty good, it'll due for now. You two getting in the water?" he asks Becca and Ida.

"No, we'll enjoy ourselves and watch," Ida says. There's this cynical undertone that makes me raise my brow at her.

"Whatevs, c'mon Blondie."

"Taylor," I say as I follow him. He smirks and rolls his tongue against his cheek. "Sorry, Taylor," he drawls out.

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I'm excited to get in the water, really get in and do what I did yesterday, but Kai doesn't want to push our luck. He wants to teach me the basics, and so he has me practice my jumps and stance a hundred times, not even in the water. Frustrated, I groan out.

"When do I actually, surf?"

"When you're ready," he says.

"I am ready." I plop down on the board and cradle my knees. The girls have gone off for something to eat and the beach is pretty empty. We've been practicing for an hour and a half and all I want to do is get in the water.

"You can't just get in and go. You have to get the techniques down. You have to have patience." I sigh out and Kai takes a seat beside me. "Look," he starts, "you've got something Taylor, I can see it in your eyes, you've got the surf bug man. But - you can't fight the sea every time and expect her not to fight back. You want to work with her, every time." He nudges my shoulder some. "I know everyone thinks I can be insane, but I don't want anyone getting killed, not under my care at least. Alright?"

"Yeah," I tell him, "alright." Kai stands up and dusts his shorts off.

"Good, so c'mon - let's take it from the top."

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I walk home with Becca and Ida, but I'm too tired to talk or interact. Inside the house, the warmth only makes me want to sleep more. I manage to work up a few sentences about my first lesson with Aunt Lana, but after she notices how exhausted I am, she sends me on my way.

After a quick shower, I climb into bed. My body seems to melt in comfort. I now know what Becca meant when she mentioned I would feel the effects of my lesson with Kai. Turning on my side, my eye catches sight of the picture that sits on the dresser.

I know, just like Kayleigh, Kai is only working me this hard because I can do better.

"I won't let you down," I whisper before drifting off to sleep.