XX

W e d n e s d a y, 17/4/19

Dear Diary,

And that was basically the beginning of the end.

As that very day drew to a close, the first month of my stay in Hawaii officially came to an end.

The next few days were a spiral of the aftermath of my kidnapping and near-death experience. It was just me and Dad in the huge, empty house that was smack bang in the middle of the Marsden estate.

Dad, after his release from the hospital, just laid around on the couch or on his bed, thinking, crying and musing. He had really loved Sabrina and, through the rose-coloured glasses he had worn, he hadn't been able to see the real snake that had been playing him all along. Since he had had no clue whatsoever about what Spencer and I had been suspicious of the entire time, it came as a real shock to him. It would be a while before he would recover fully and be able to date again.

Spencer, the lovely, easygoing, loud-mouthed lass that she was, was a beacon of light in my darkness. Whenever I needed a listening ear, a packet of cookies or a shoulder to cry on, she was there. During the weeks that followed, she and the lifeguard Rick became a lot closer. Rumours spread that the two were dating but I didn't pay any heed to them until she confirmed the news herself. I had to admit, the two of them made a very cute couple.

Spencer and her father, Mr Waldesh, hired Luna as a permanent member of their household staff. While working part-time at the big house, Luna also took care of the Foleys' surf shop and took Daisy and Camden under her wing. She came up to visit us occasionally with a bottle of iced tea or an esky filled with an array of cold drinks.

Daisy continued to work under Rick as a junior lifeguard in return for her free surfing lessons. She caught on very quickly and, a month or two into the sport, started training for her first big surfing competition.

Camden, on the other hand, didn't enjoy the water as much which was understandable after his mother's death. But he was a supportive brother and, after getting over the initial anger and surprise that followed the discovery of his sister's new passion, he always turned up to cheer her on and watch her from the sidelines.

The tension between him and I faded with time but it was only a week before I was due to return to Australia that he actually plucked up the courage to come and have a good talk with me. He still cared for me, I could see it in the lingering spark in his eyes, but he also knew that I was leaving soon and that he couldn't have me, no matter how much he wanted too.

And, as for Tiffany, she was taken to court under drastic charges concerning her involvement with Sabrina and the Russian mob. After a long and complicated struggle, in which Mr Waldesh, who was a lawyer, played a big part in, Tiffany was given a twenty-year sentence behind bars and shipped off back to the cold isolation of Russia.

And, as for me, I was torn between two places, two worlds. I desperately wanted to stay in Hawaii, to explore my new-found friendships and to be with Camden but I knew I also needed to return home, to be with my grandparents and to help support them as they had dutifully done for me my entire life.

So, with tears running down my face, I booked my plane ticket back to Australia and packed my bags.

On the set day, as Dad's limo driver was shoving my stuff into the boot of the vehicle, I stood outside of Dad's estate for the last time. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, revelling in the scent of the blooming wild-flowers, the cool spray of the water fountains and the fresh smell of the newly-cut grass.

"I'm going to miss you, Daddy," I breathed as I opened my eyes and turned to face him. "I wish I didn't have to go."

"You don't!" he argued. "There's a great school right down the road from here that you can attend and there's the beach, the diner and a multitude of shops and restaurants and parks to fill up your free time. You don't have to leave. You can stay here for as long as you want."

"You know I can't do that, Daddy," I shook my head sadly. "Grandpa and Grandma need me. They're getting old and whose going to take care of them? I'm not going to ship them off to some nursing home in the hills and visit them twice a year or something. I can't do that to them."

"I'll move them here!" Dad cried desperately. "The fresh Hawaiian air will do them both good."

"Grandma spent her entire life in Australia, Dad," I spoke quietly. "She would hate to leave everything she knows behind. It wouldn't be fair on her...or Grandpa. But, I promise, that I'll come back next summer and spend a few months with you."

"That's a very long time from now," Dad groaned.

"You can always come and see me," I raised my eyebrows. "It doesn't matter what you've done in the past, Dad, you'll always be welcome at our house."

Dad smiled and I swore I saw a tear glistening in his eye. "Come here," he ordered as he held out his arms.

I stepped forward into his hug and nestled my head on his shoulder. I would miss Dad. My whole life I had resented him for leaving me but now I was just glad that I had him back again.

"Goodbye, Dad," I whispered as I pulled away and scooted into the back of the limo.

As the car pulled out of the driveway, I turned and looked through the window, watching Dad wave after me.

Then, we rounded a corner and he was gone.

As I checked in and unloaded my bags at the airport, I texted Grandma, telling her that I was on my way. I could imagine the look of pure delight that would spread across her face when the message popped up on her phone. She had rang me almost every single night since I had left, babbling on about how much she had missed me.

It felt good to finally be going back home but I knew that a part of my heart would always be in Hawaii.

As I was getting into line to board the plane, I distinctly heard my name being called. Surprised, I turned around to see Daisy, Spencer, Rick and Camden raising towards me, shouting and waving their arms around.

I laughed. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We've come to see you off, doofus, what else?" Spencer rolled her eyes as she slung an arm over my shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you, cuz. You're gonna come back soon, aren't you?"

My eyes landed on Camden and a nervous chuckle forced its way through my lips. "Huh. Maybe. Hopefully. I'll see if I can sneak away during the upcoming holidays."

"That's so long away!" Daisy complained loudly. "Like....three months!"

I smiled fondly down at her. "Yeah, well I'll keep in touch. Before you know it, I'll be back with you all again."

"I hope so," Camden spoke up, his tone laced with sadness. "Spence is right, Jo. We're all gonna miss you...especially me."

I paused and stared deep into his dark, chocolate-brown eyes. "I - I..."

"Oh, for heaven's sakes, just kiss already!" Spencer yelled.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, trying to stop the heated flush filling my cheeks. "Spence!" I reproved.

Camden just let out a short laugh. "Why not?"

I raised my eyebrows in surprise but before I could refute him, he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me close to his chest. I lifted my head and gazed up at him. Our lips were only a inch apart - our breaths were mingling. Our skin was brushing against each other - electric shocks were bouncing through us. Our bodies were so close - we could feel each other's radiating heat.

I felt like I was in some cheesy romance movie or something.

Smirking at my embarrassment, Camden bent down and pressed a kiss in the corner of my mouth before trailing his lips across mine.

"I love you, Jo Marsden," he breathed, "And I'm gonna miss you like hell."

"Me too," I returned softly before closing the distance between our lips.

As we pulled away, we were met with whistles and cheers and applause from our onlookers.

"Now that's what I call a steamy relationship," Spencer teased as she playfully elbowed Rick in the side. "Don't you agree, babe?"

I rolled my eyes. "Like you can say anything about us! What about you two?"

Spencer shrugged. "At least we're a couple."

At this, a great sadness overwhelmed me and I nibbled on my lower lip as my eyes trailed across the faces of Rick, Spencer, Daisy and Camden.

Crap.

I better not cry.

But I did. In the plane. After I left my friends behind in the airport.

I wish my fate could've been rewritten. I wish the story could've ended differently. I wish, more than anything, that I could've stayed.

Right now, I'm sprawled across the floral comforter of my bed, looking out of my bedroom window at the majestic sunset painted across the horizon. A feeling of longing tugs at my heart and my eyes water a little as I write the last line at the end of my diary and snap the cap over my pen.

My dog, Sally, is lying on the floor at the foot of the bedstead, watching me with bright, eager eyes. She wants to go outside for her daily walk and, as I get up and search through my drawers for her leash, she jumps to her feet and her tail starts to wag.

Grandma is cooking dinner downstairs in the kitchen. I can smell the delicious aroma of sausages and onions. Grandpa is reading her an article from the newspaper he has opened in his lap. They are laughing and talking as heartily as they've done every evening for years.

I finally locate the leash and hook it onto Sally's collar, trying to push Camden out of my mind. I wonder how he's doing. Is he back at school? Is he managing the surf shop with Luna? Is he walking along the beach with his sister, Daisy? Is he finally ready to start surfing again? Does he miss me as much as I miss him?

Heaving a deep sigh, I straighten up and beckon Sally to the door. As I do so, I chance a quick look at my open diary that is lying face-up on my bed. My eyes trail over the last words that I scribbled across the bottom of the page.

" T H E E N D "