Ding. The seatbelt sign flashed on disturbing me from my sleep. Dervik, instead of listening to music, was talking to the brunette he was winking at earlier, "So heading home or going to visit?"

She giggled, "I'm part of a research team that is tagging and mapping sharks. It's really thrilling." She was an Aussie. She had the accent

"You actually get into the water with a Great White, Hammer Head, etc. Just like in JAWS and you tag them and see how they're doing or where they are in a couple of months?"

"Pretty much. And it's not like JAWS, equipment-wise. We use chain-link type armor and cages. We're not swimming around naked in shark infested waters." She flipped her hair back

Dervik looked at her, admiringly. Ah, young love.

I remember when Noah used to sneak up in the halls and scare the crap out of me. He'd always get his girlfriend upset by doing that to me. It was an Austin and Ally relationship.

Yes, I just made that comparison.

My seven-year old cousin watches the show and I babysit her. It some of her favorite Disney Channel shows. Actually she's the one who thought it was like Noah and myself since he always came to my parties and she was always there.

The airplane pulled into the terminal. We were at out half-way point. Dervik and I had the stop-halfway-rest-for-about-an-hour-and-hop-back-on, tickets. We left the plane briefly to get something to eat and some magazines. The Aussie came with us and browsed the racks for a Discovery-type or Animal Planet-type magazine.

"You aspiring to be a scientist or something in Biology?" Dervik asked and picked up a pack of gum, placing it on the counter

"Well, yes. I really really really want to be like Jane Goodall except with Sharks and Marine life." She put a stray piece of hair, that fell from her ponytail, behind her ear

"Are there a lot of good cliffs and rocks to climb Down Under?" I absentmindedly asked the Aussie

"Hm? Oh. I believe so. I don't really venture too far out into the outback. I prefer the coast."

"I can tell." I stole a glance at Dervik, "Hey Dervik can I talk to you?"

"Uh, sure."

Pulling him to one corner of the little airport store I smacked him across his head, "I forget in the mess of going to visit Aunt and Uncle but, you have a girlfriend. A loving girlfriend. So what the hell, I ask you, are you doing with that Aussie?"

"One, 'that Aussie' has a name. Two, Courtney's been acting like a drama queen and has started flirting with everyone that walks her way. Oh and I can't forget how air-headed she's become. That 'Aussie' is smart and beautiful." He glared and raised his hand as if he was going to hit me back, "Stay in your own business, Gwen." Turning on his heel, he went back over to the Aussie. I heard laughter a couple minutes later.

I feel bad for Courtney.

Dervik changed his seat for the other half of our journey to Aunt and Uncle's. He sat by the Aussie near First Class. I sat in the back. By myself.

Last time I had seen Aunt Lou and Uncle John was when Noah was still alive. He actually visited Hawaii with me, and that was the last time I saw them. And the last time they saw him. I don't think they know that he's dead. I'd rather they not know. The less pity I get, the better.

"Hi folks, this is your captain speaking. We'll be landing on the Big Island in about half an hour. The weather is slightly rainy and a balmy 84 degrees. Thanks for flying with OhanaSouth."

The seatbelt sign flashed on. Leaning into the aisle I could make-out Dervik and the Aussie holding hands. Taking out my smart phone, I snapped a picture.

Black Mail Anyone?