There wasn't a spot without lush greenery and sweet smelling flowers anywhere and the sunset was a tangerine and a cotton candy pink and blue.

The sea was an amazing cobalt blue and glittered like diamonds.

It was warm despite it being early January.

But the most beautiful thing had to be the huge grin on Noelani's face that she had continued to wear ever since they had touch downed.

Jalen couldn't remember seeing a smile so carefree on her face.

Jalen and her family were sitting in the backyard of Anela's house, a one story gray house on white stilts and with matching shutters.

Her backyard was wide and sandy, due to it being positioned near the rocky coast, with an ignited fire pit directly in the middle of it and a row of lengthy palm trees at the edge.

Every person was either sitting on a lawn chair placed in a circle around the fire, swaying lightly to the music pumping out of the speaker placed in the window of the house or talking amongst themselves.

Noelani and her uncle Kai had disappeared into the house to put the leftover kalua pig away which left Jalen sitting alone in his beach chair.

He tapped the screen of his phone a couple times, then glanced at the fire pit only a few feet away.

Jalen knew he shouldn't be here.

He was lying to Noelani and the guilt inside was quickly turning from a hill into a mountain.

But it was too late now, so Jalen swallowed his guilt as best he could.

Anela, Noelani's mother came to sit in the chair directly next to him, watching as Hanale and Keoni started to play a game of soccer closer to the house.

She was a woman of clear Native Hawaiian descent with thick wavy hair, the same color of Noelani's hair, and tan skin.

"We didn't formally meet. I'm Jalen." He stuck his hand out to Anela who took it with a grin.

"Yes, she talks about you a lot." Anela confessed.

Noelani had inherited her smile directly from her mother was which leaving Jalen a little disoriented.

"She does?" Jalen glanced at the house.

Through the open screen door, he could faintly see Noelani's side as she reached for something that he couldn't see then walked out of view.

"All the time," Anela snickered then covered her mouth, "I probably shouldn't have said that."

Jalen turned and followed Anela's gaze to see Noelani walking purposefully up to them.

"Mom, are you talking about me?" Noelani raised a brow.

"It wouldn't be me if I didn't." Anela responded.

Noelani scoffed playfully then turned to Jalen, "Whatever she said, don't believe her."

Jalen snickered a bit at Noelani's tone as she sat down on the chair on the other side of Jalen.

An unfamiliar song comes over the speaker and Noelani grinned as Kelani, her youngest cousin, a girl about Jurnee's age, came running over, "Dance with me."

Jalen waited for Noelani to stand up but when she didn't, Jalen turned to glance at her.

Kelani's hand was reaching towards Jalen not Noelani.

Jalen simply stared at her hand, a little out of his element.

"Come on." Noelani urged, tilting her head towards the younger girl.

"Okay," Jalen grinned, taking her hand.

The two started to two step and sashay to the beat, hand in hand.

"Nice to nice to know ya, let's do it again." Kelani sang loudly.

At the chorus Jalen lightly spun her around causing Kelani to let out a laugh.

"Alright, that's enough. Time for bed." Kai came back to the backyard and looked down at Kelani expectedly.

Kelani grabbed onto both of Jalen's hands, "Pops, a little longer?"

"No. It's late enough." Kai said in a stern tone.

"We should probably take off too." Makani sighed, standing up and stretching, "Come on, kids. Let's go."

Keoni, Maui and Leilani started to stroll to the driveway and Hanale looked at Kai, "I guess that means that we're supposed to do lights out too?"

Kai nodded his head and Hanale took Kelani's hand from Jalen to lead her back into the house.

A girl who looked like she was in sixth grade followed them and Jalen passed Noelani a curious look, "Y'all lived together?"

"Yeah. Me and mom used to share a room before we divided the house. You'll see when you get in." Noelani continued at his addled expression.

By now the backyard was completely empty.

Now's my chance.

"I need to tell you something." Jalen sat in the chair next to her and took both of Noelani's hands in his.

"The Jordans you gave me for Christmas were fake weren't they?" Noelani nodded.

Jalen narrowed his eyes, "I don't do fake feets. You know this."

"I know. I just wanted your reaction. What's going on?" Noelani raised a brow.

"About... Us. Um, a couple of months ag-." Jalen started to say.

"Noel! You didn't put the mahi mahi in the right section of the fridge! Come and fix this!" Anela called from the house.

"Coming mom!" Noelani called back then stood, "Can we continue this talk later?"

Jalen numbly nodded, sending her a tight lipped smile.

Noelani kissed his forehead then went inside the house and closed the door behind her, leaving Jalen alone to stare at the burning embers with his guilt.

There was something rubbing against Jalen's back as he laid in the guest room of Anela's side of the house.

"Mmm." Jalen hummed, trying to get away from the sensation.

"Lovebug. Lovebug, get up. I wanna show you something." Noelani nudged Jalen again.

Jalen sighed then turned away from the window to spot Noelani in a teal pajama set, complete with shorts and a tank top and a white sarong wrap that covered her torso.

"It's early baby. Can it wait?" Jalen asked in a groggy tone.

"No. Come on." Noelani pulled Jalen out of bed by his hand.

He hit the wooden floor with a thump, "Ugh, really?"

"Come on." Noelani left the room without a second thought.

Jalen sighed but stood and followed her outside to the porch, "The world better be ending right now."

It was still dark outside and a light breeze was starting to pick up.

Noelani giggled, "You're so dramatic. Follow me."

Jalen watched as Noelani began to climb onto the roof via the porch swing next to the front door.

She scrambled onto the roofing then turned and looked at Jalen who was still on the ground, "Well."

"The shit I do for you, man." Jalen mimicked her movements with much difficulty.

"You love me." Noelani reminded him.

"I do." Jalen agreed with a grunt as he planted his knee onto the siding, "If my knees are fucked up and I can't play when we go back, you're paying for my hospital bills."

"Shut up, kid or you're gonna miss it." Noelani elbowed him.

"Miss wha-? Oh." Jalen followed Noelani's finger to the horizon.

The sun had begun to rise, making the sky a magenta and a bright golden color.

The contrast against the brown coast and the blue water made the colors in the sky sharper and stunned Jalen.

"Wow," Jalen whispered.

"I know," Noelani leaned her head against his shoulder and Jalen immediately adjusted to make her more comfortable.

"What'd you want to tell me last night?" She whispered.

"Uh.."

There was no way Jalen could ruin her week now.

No way he could tell her the truth.

"Nothing. Nothing, at all baby."

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