⋯ TWO: THE ENCHANTED TIKI ROOM! 

NATALIE KAU'HANE AWAKENED WITH HER GUT TWISTED. The morning's warm light bathed her face in a peach sheen. She groaned to herself as sweat dripped thickly down her hairline—another hot day on the island. Summer has finally arrived on Maui's sands. Natalie exhaled with a drawn, sleepy sigh, the temporary morning chill of the tropical breeze cooling her skin from its sluggish humidity.

"Oh, perfect," she grumbled. The twist in her stomach tightened into a pit of frustration, entangled in the suffocating, thick bind of comforters. Natalie tossed herself from them, ripping her overheated body from its confines with a whispered curse. In the next moment, she tipped off the elevated mattress, falling gracelessly and painfully upon the hardwood floor beneath. "Ow!"

Finding her nerves shot and tingling from the rough wake-up call, Natalie became overcome by silence. All she heard was her mother's voice, which had been fuzzy over the phone and filled with intense pain. She was hurt.

Natalie's breath whispered a soft panic, constricting her throat as her hands slid down to her collarbone. She was urging her heart to slow down. All too quickly, the dark demons of anxiety crept in, all painting portraits of her mother, bloody and broken, unmoving and cold. Natalie shook off a shiver, scattering the ghosts of her new nightmare. Still, as she attempted to regain control, the echo of her mother's last words slipped through her mind like water over a smooth stone.

Never stop looking.

The girl wasn't sure what that meant, though it felt significant. But what was she supposed to look for? Surely it was a hint—where would it lead? Was it a secret message or a stupid, useless goodbye? All that followed were further questions, which didn't stop the nagging unease that followed. Something was wrong.

A knock startled Natalie from her thoughts, her ruminations scattered on the morning tide. She gasped and glanced up at her digital clock, lying mundanely on her bedside table. 8:15.

Right, she had work today. She sighed.

"Lilo, are you up?"

"Yeah," Natalie tightly called, untangling herself from the heap she'd made on the floor. With a jolt, she realized—had she just laid spread out like an idiot on the floor? At Savanna's chagrined tone, she cursed her stupidity and fumbled to get ready.

"Well, damn!" Savanna laughed. "What's taking so long? I have places to go, and I still have to drop you off! Hurry up, bitch!" For an extra push, her fist knocked hard on Natalie's door as she turned to retreat down the hall. "The bus is leaving."

With barely a thought for Savanna's plans, Natalie rolled her eyes. A surge of exasperation swept over her. Savanna's schemes typically resulted in covert engagements with eligible single men. This month, the honor went to Noah Keahi. It wasn't Natalie's business what her sister did on her own time—or who Savanna did. Among the numerous acts of rebellion against her father, she viewed this as yet another. Typical.

When it came to Savanna's misdemeanors against the family, shoving them into the back of her mind was the only way she could deal with them. She hoped every day that her elder sister would be discreet. Nevertheless, every day Natalie found news of Savanna being caught again. Last week marked a total of six times in the past month. She didn't have the heart to describe these infractions but trust me. It's bad. The young Kau'hane's sanity was hung by a fine thread, thin as a spider's web. She simply did not know how much more disappointment she could stand before it killed her.

Anxiety at what would become of today set Natalie's teeth on edge as she climbed into her ocean-mist blue 1951 Ford Woody Wagon. Call her an old soul, but she loved the vintage surfer jalopy.

It was a bit beat up, and the windows were dusty and cracked, though the ride was comfortable. She painted the exterior of the car herself and decorated the interior of the console and dashboard with several tropical trinkets. She used her own hard-earned money to purchase them. Since Savanna had been the designated driver of the vehicle, Natalie could see the not-so-secret dents in the hood and how one of the headlights was fissured with notable cracks. Somehow, they still worked, which was a miracle in itself.

She often thought that if she drove her car, she'd take better care of it. However, that notion only furthered the pit of scorn that grew every time she witnessed Savanna's unsavory driving techniques.

She could count on her hand how many times Savanna tried to cart her off to random island kickbacks in the dead of night. Her eyes were always alight with excitement and mischief at the possibility of being wrapped in teenage euphoria, boozed out with her friends. Natalie was often subjected to drinking games at these parties, even sampling a few joints. Among other incidents that guilted her severely, forget that.

Ultimately, she tried not to care about any of it, as it was difficult enough to see her own sister waste away on the toxic lifestyle she forged in rebellion. Whatever the youngest teen had tried to remember the next morning came through fuzzy. At every opportunity, though, Natalie went with hardly any complaint, not wanting to risk Savanna being put out. Later, the girls snuck back home, dawn on the horizon, slipping into their bedrooms before their dad rose for the day. Such was the partner in the crime routine. Natalie only hoped that she wouldn't be slammed behind bars for being an accomplice.

Say what you will; between attempting to placate her father and sister, Natalie may have become a people-pleaser. She would work on that. Eventually.

"Couldn't you just let me drive my car for once, Nani?" Natalie whined as she slid across the wide front bench beside Savanna. The puckering rumble of the engine starting was all she got for an answer. As she groaned and slumped in misery against the seat back, she listened to Savanna's indifferent, lilting giggle.

"You drive so slowly," Savanna remarked, her eyes flickering brightly. Her tanned fingers were dangerously loose on the vintage ivory steering wheel as she pulled the car out of their driveway, the edges swathed in dense jungle flora. Natalie's heart lurched, trying to keep her focus on the rising sun, committing the apricot hues of the sky to memory. The rousing color painted the high, skinny palms in a sweet cottony pink that spilled over the small patch of lawn in the front yard. As her house disappeared, the car puttered along the short way to the resort. Natalie regretted just fleeing early enough to walk, saving herself the torture of a ride to work that was altogether unnecessary. "If you drove, you'd be late for sure. I'm taking the car today so you can keep your job. If you're late again, you'll be fired. Besides, you drove this thing yesterday."

Savanna just kept babbling; Natalie suppressed a roll of her eyes as she sat up, hearing her sister's claims. Ire spilled under her skin, scorching her.

"Last week!" Natalie objected. Leaning forward, she studied Savanna closely. Eyes and speech are clear, and motor functions are smooth. Sniffing prudently, Natalie could smell Savanna's orange hibiscus and amber perfume and none of the telltale mustiness of earthy substances. Natalie stared so long that Savanna had to smack her hand away when she prodded her cheek.

"What?" Savanna asked, jolting at a stop sign, kitty-cornered from their family bungalow.

Natalie glared. "Are you high?"

"Excuse me?" Savanna's eyes widened into caramel disks, and she stepped on the gas shakily as she turned to squint at her. "How do you even--?"

"I may be the youngest here, but I see things, Savanna. I know what you do behind Dad's back and when you think I'm not watching, and then you pretend you're little Miss Perfect when suspicions are raised. It's pathetic, just like your acting skills!" Natalie found her voice rising a few octaves in frustration, noting that, again, Savanna's expression was wiped clean of anything, save for how her lips tightened into a line. Assessing her gaze as bland and vacuous like that of a typical liar, Natalie paused before continuing her rant. "How can you forget everything that happened except yesterday?" Then again, it may not be drugs. Her sister may just be a skank, so addicted to sex that her brain can't function anymore. "Is Noah that good at fucking you? He isn't even that cute!"

Natalie's temples flared, her head pounding as she listened to Savanna's natural reaction of spouting bullshit.

"Shut up!" Savanna cut herself off, all but screeching in the small space the car gave them, mortified at her little sister's knowledge. She thought she was getting better at hiding their extracurriculars. "It's not even about Noah!" It was, as per usual. "It's... he's--" Savanna pointedly looked out the windshield, seeming to freeze. When Natalie raised a questioning brow, she shook her head. "Never mind."

Natalie frowned. "What?"

"Never mind, Natalie," Savanna growled suddenly. Her sea-green eyes flared the next moment when a car drove by. Natalie thought it had been the flash of the neighboring car. The open driver's side window blew her raven black hair lightly to cover her cheeks, and she ripped her manicured fingers through it, scraping the stray hair away from her eyes in quiet annoyance. Natalie felt that fishing for an answer and pushing Savanna could do her more harm than good.

And so, Natalie then resolved to lean back against the wood-coated door and watch the island breeze by her window. She'd always adored Hawaii's flora and fauna, with its bright hues and sweet aromas delicately incensing the island air. At the moment, however, it seemed the outside was a loud, abstract kaleidoscope, pulsing and leeching, draining away her tentative delight. It was no secret that Natalie disapproved of Savanna's habits. But she loved her despite the things she'd done, and today was just an attempt at lighthearted teasing. The aura Savanna held lately weighed heavily on her. Natalie wasn't blind.

The silence continued with the girls the rest of the way to Natalie's workplace. The deadened air floating inside the wagon was enough to make the young girl peel her skin off; the distant whine of the engine permeated the stillness, grating on her nerves. She opened her mouth to say something, apologize—anything, but the jolting stall of the classic car threw her hard into the dashboard. Natalie was sure she'd go straight through the windshield, tumbling out and splattering grotesquely on the asphalt, had it not been for her seatbelt anchoring her hips to the scratched, beige leather seat.

"Shit," she cursed softly, effectively shaking. Natalie recovered herself, noticing vaguely that Savanna had stopped in the parking lot of The Jade Tropic and that she needed to vacate the vehicle immediately.

Savanna was tapping her tanned palms on the steering wheel, her leg bouncing with impatience. She rolled her peach lips into her mouth as she swiveled her expectant green eyes over to her stationary sister. It was only when she raised a prompting black eyebrow that Natalie thawed.

"Thank you, Sav. I..." Natalie swallowed back her ready apology. I'm sorry. "I'll see you at home." Savanna nodded as she looked away, her gaze like emerald stones. "I can walk home tonight. Don't worry about picking me up." She added a half-hearted smile. Her sister seemed to soften as she allowed herself to smile genuinely back, the emeralds in her eyes mirthful.

"Cool. Be careful coming home, and have fun today, okay?" Savanna prodded Natalie's arm with good nature. Natalie reached to get out of the car, but Savanna grabbed her wrist, pressing her fingers into the bones gently, imploring. "Hey, I'm sorry for snapping back there. I'm just having a day." Then she shook her head, backtracking. "No, it's Dad. He makes me crazy, you know."

"Yeah," Natalie sighed in reply, knowing all too well. "At least he's leaving, right? It'll be just us all next week!" Natalie grinned, pushing enthusiasm into her voice as she saw Savanna deflate. Placing her fingers over her sister's light grip, her elation solidified. "He loves you; he loves us. It'll be fine." Savanna nodded silently. Her eyes neglected to meet hers, and Natalie's heart cracked. "Bye, Nani. See you later."

Natalie climbed out of her car, only to watch Savanna gun the engine and spur in a rough turn back onto the main road. Natalie made a rude gesture while the car drove away. Then, she sighed and walked to the hotel.

The girl yearned to be pulled to the blissful distraction of work. While the images of Savanna's uneasy expression moments before circled her mind, Natalie decided to table it for a later time. She vowed to speak about it with her sister once she'd had ample time to herself, knowing Savanna hated being tied down by any form of responsibility. On the contrary, Natalie found it purposeful and a good time to focus. Hence the reason why she hastened to check in to the Employee's Alcove and threw her bag quickly into her locker. All the while, she felt an impending sense of foreboding sweep over her. Although Natalie's best friend was presently nowhere to be found, Mackenzie had to be lurking around here somewhere. 

Whatever, she'd find me, Natalie thought as she stepped behind the Amenities desk. She worked as a reservations agent for the Jade Tropic, showcasing the wonders of the Maui island to paying customers. Despite her being out of obligation to her father, Natalie loved her job, especially with all the exclusive hotel events every week. Namely, the summer luau that Friday. She had been actively staying after hours to help Mackenzie West, the recent seasonal intern, with the event planning after her shift. 

Her friend was a force of nature, and even now, she could see her running around in the back pool area, her hands clutching a clipboard, and yelling at her design team as they scattered around doing her bidding. Natalie herself found mirth blooming in her chest as she worked to lay out the day's stack of pamphlets in the clear display, sitting empty on the marble counter. Mackenzie's talents caught the eye of the management team, becoming so popular that the hotel manager, Julia, just had to hire her immediately. 

Since then, Mackenzie has been the top in creative design, always the first choice in event planning. As a condition to the new hire, Kenzie did set down a few rules of her own. One was that Julia let her have free reign in everything for the hotel. Top to bottom, in any remodeling or decorating, she could do whatever she felt she wanted. The second was, Natalie had to be part of the team. With her goal-setting techniques and ingenuity, every project went off without a hitch and was completed in a perfectly timed manner. So, in the six months that Mackenzie had been promoted, Natalie had been able to donate most of her graveyard shifts to assist her best friend when she was especially swamped.

 Most of the time, these acts of charity brought her home at the most ungodly hours, but Natalie never minded extra time with her friend. She loved the chances to catch up on the latest gossip and trouble Mackenzie had found herself in, and vice versa. And, the extra cash for Natalie's efforts was never left unappreciated. 

Today in particular, however, had left Natalie less than enthusiastic to play volunteer. Her mind as she set up her station behind the reception desk, was rampant with anxiety over the memory of the night before. More specifically, her mother. She found herself vacant and numb to the slow incoming traffic of patrons milling through the cozy waiting area. Each new voice grated on her ears echoes that added to the tension resting on her shoulders. Even though she glued on a polite and professional mask with every new face, Natalie was drowning in the pressure that Jackie's parting words left on her mind. How would she tell her father, Savanna?

 How would they react? What was she doing in the Outer Banks, anyhow? The growing fear of uncertainty weighed heavily on her mind, incessant and demanding for attention. Could she even tell them, when Natalie couldn't shake the notion that Jackie left her with an unfinished mission, something only for her, alone? After the first wave of guests, Natalie was left distracted and tapping her pen relentlessly with indecision; the view of her computer desktop screen faded in and out in an unfocused blur. 

"Nat! Thank Jesus you're here. Julia has been breathing down my neck for hours! I swear she's gotten an extra dose of Bitch Juice this morning.  If I wasn't working for her, I would call the police for employee abuse--"

 Mackenzie's hastened and relieved greeting hardly made any difference to Natalie's inner turmoil, as she just continued in her crazed, nervous tapping of her pen. Mackenzie frowned at the image of her best friend's stature, frozen and quiet. She studied her pen, which nearly vibrated in the familiar tell of an anxious train of thought that she knew so well. Natalie had been so lost in her perplexity that she nearly tumbled out of her chair, feeling a hand press gently into her shoulder. 

"Oh, my God," Natalie exclaimed breathlessly. She shut her eyes, at the mercy of a startled, racing heart. She placed a delicate hand against her chest, the tips of her classy pink manicured nails pressing softly into the fabric of her uniformed lavender shirt. "Kenzie? You scared the shit out of me!" 

"What's got you so twisted this morning? What happened?" Mackenzie plowed ahead, her eyes imploring and full of concern, her ruby-painted lips frowning for her friend. "Is it Savanna again?" She raised a chestnut eyebrow as Natalie slowly turned to face her completely. 

"No," she began softly, her mind reeling. Her heart squeezed at the possibilities; was Jackie hurt, alone, or worse?  She suppressed a cold shudder. "I-It's...I--" Natalie blinked quickly and swallowed hard. "Actually, yeah. You know how she drives me crazy. Whatever, I'm cool." 

Natalie flashed her a white smile so quickly that Mackenzie's frown deepened. She knew when her best friend was bothered--whether it was because of boys, family, or otherwise. Mackenzie just knew.  Natalie hated that she couldn't hide anything from her friend; even through tight, fake smiles, empty expressions, and faking a relaxed posture. It was impossible. 

Luckily, Mackenzie only nodded, pushing brightness into her reply, "Alright, if you say so, babe."

"I do say so," Natalie said, not without bite. She inwardly cringed, but turned back to the computer, busily logging into the hotel's database of available rooms and her pop-up game of solitaire for her break. 

A ghost of confusion rumpled Mackenzie's brows. The way Natalie spoke was always so gentle and demure. A far cry from the recalcitrant nature of the elder Kau'hane sister. With a sigh, she set to work answering the morning calls for room service, the ringtones buzzing through the room's silence.

The reception at the Jade Tropic hotel was quaint, but teeming with the beloved wildness of Maui flora. Because of the rampant good-natured gossip running through the island, they nearly never had an off day at work. The business had grown and boomed into a brand based on family, comfort, and tradition. Everyone loved uniquity—something built from the ground up with love and humility. Therefore, nothing about the Tropic boasted, gloated, or demanded. It was a small empire, thriving on the little joys of life. The rewards of such efforts brought a great flow of tourist traffic.

The quiet of the morning soon morphed into a thrumming din, consisting of customers, friends, and everything in between. People conversed and laughed in the lounge area. The low tan leather couches provided a simple place to rest, talk, and admire the island's beauty from the ample front windows. The desk at which the girls worked consisted of a high natural marble counter, which allowed them privacy in a sunken workspace where they handled reservations and calls. Small, blooming palm trees sprouted from all corners, and the natural bamboo tiles shone in the combination of sleepy low lighting and morning sunlight glinting upon them from the windows. Among the various eclectic island decorations inside, a large circular chandelier hung over the reception nook, wide and flat in appearance.

The noise of the day floated past Natalie as she dealt with each demand of her guests. With everyone, she pushed her festering chagrin further down, her eyes turning vacant and cold as she took each customer with perfectly poised perfection. Natalie fought to control her breath, her heart thrumming hard behind her sternum. She couldn't let Savanna bother her; she couldn't dwell on her mother too much. It was fine. It was fine. As the people dispersed, the girl allowed herself a brief reprieve. Her taut body thawed, and the blood under her skin screamed of stress. Her eyelids closed for a long moment as the next family came to meet her.

It was a pair—a mother and her son. The woman herself seemed a strict, if not constipated, female with ebony hair, cold eyes, and a piercingly sharp frown. Such an expression seemed to drip down her jowls and ride down the sags of her skin. Natalie felt a flash of frustration in her study of her; such a presence would bring many issues. She was dressed in a cleanly pressed business suit with a loudly colorful scheme tailored to precise curves. Natalie caught herself blinking several times as she then took in the next member of the party. This one was way better on the eyes, both with roguish, if not mainstream, good looks, cropped, bleach-blond hair in a crisp short-sleeve polo shirt, and, just as she thought, khakis. Natalie bit back with an amused smile, her eyes raking him down in a steady appraisal. The boy met her gaze with a charmed, boyish smile that she could admit sent her uneven heart racing a bit.

"May I..." Natalie began slowly, clearing her tight throat. The boy's smile broadened, watching her flounder in her words. "Welcome to the Jade Tropic Hotel. May I help you?"

"I certainly hope so. We've heard of your establishment through the grapevine." Natalie internally bristled at the blunt condescension in the woman's tone. "We have a family villa just down the road that is under remodeling, and we were forced to stay here." The woman's gaze swept the area judicially, her sagging, ugly frown creasing her face further.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay," Natalie said flatly as her eyes bitterly hardened. Her fingers paused on the keyboard in her search for their room number.

"Not without trying."

"Too bad," Mackenzie interjected coldly, her eyes hardening in irritation as she went to Natalie's aid. She moved her gaze to the frigid woman. "What can we do for you, then? Since you clearly seem to hate the lower class and are sad to waste your gold on us."

"Excuse me?" The woman exclaimed, putting a hand to her heart, feigning shock and oozing that wicked sense of entitlement. "Do you treat all your patrons this way?"

"Only the ones that deserve it," McKenzie snapped. Natalie swiftly grabbed her arm in warning, fixing her with a cautionary glance.

"I'm sorry for her," Natalie added quickly, aiming to diffuse the amount of tension rising in the space. "The coffee machine broke today and she couldn't get her fix. Been cranky ever since." Mackenzie scoffed and softly cursed her, words that went ignored. "Is there something we can do for you two, today?"

"Yes, I'm sure," the woman continued tightly as she adjusted her spotless blazer, flustered. "We heard there was a party event happening by week's end. Might we get passes to that, if you please?"

Rather not, Natalie thought in irritation. She went to work typing, the small, monotonous sound carrying softly through the area. With quick professionalism, she indeed found the party to be paying guests. She wondered how much of a fuss this woman caused their sweet housekeeping staff. "Yes, it appears you are eligible for spots at our event this Friday evening. I can go ahead and reserve you for two guests.

"Dear, we have a very expensive villa down the road," the woman reiterated. As if that meant something. "We did not want to stay here in this hole by choice. Surely we should receive VIP access and amenities."

"I beg your pardon." Natalie froze, anger birthing under her skin. She heard Mackenzie spin around in her chair, shocked. Of all the rich, selfish, vexing idiotic assholes! Natalie sighed audibly and shook her head. As she stifled the incredibly real urge to slap the woman, she spoke up with even measure. "Ma'am, it does not matter just how much money you have. Neither funds nor status add any favoritism here at the Jade Tropic. I can book you regular guest invites, just like everyone else. Nothing more."

Mackenzie gives her a wide-eyed look, clearly questioning her friend's sanity. Are you serious? Natalie rolls her eyes and extends her palm for the vouchers. Once she feels the stiff paper hit her skin, she turns to the pair. To her delight, she finds the woman appearing thoroughly irked by her response. As she carefully wiped any emotion from her features, she handed the passes to the teenager.

He gave her a glittering smile, all the while taking hold of the vouchers and steering his mother away. She felt her heart squeeze as the flash of his white teeth and warm eyes replayed in her mind's eye. With his broad back facing her, the boy leaned into his mother as they walked shortly to the waiting area. He discreetly voiced what appeared to be frustration and shame at his mother's behavior.

"You should apologize to those girls, Mom. That was ridiculous!" All his mother did was scoff, turn, and frown at Natalie, then stalk outside in a flurry. As she passed the desk, Mackenzie flipped her off with a coldly sweet smile.

"Mackenzie," Natalie warned, her eyes sweeping the area for Julia on instinct. Her own hand shot out to catch Kenzie's, grounding the rude gesture before any guests could see. "Chill!"

The Kau'hane girl turned to find the teenager at the counter, his expression apologetic. "Hi," she blurted out, coming up short. Her heart picked up the compassionate light gleaming in his handsome eyes. Her eyes studied the tanned planes of his face, fixing them minutely on his mouth for a fraction of a second. "Did you forget something?"

The boy placed a toned arm across the polished marble, an action that upon further inspection of the swell of his bicep, made her throat dry up. When Natalie met his gaze, his smile dazzled her. She cursed at the way her mind instantly emptied of any rational thought.

"I think I did," the boy replied. "Two things." Natalie nodded, silently inquiring. "First, my name—it's Topper Thorton; and this." She looked down at the soft sound of paper--his invitation--which met her fingers. The Jade Tropic would like to invite you to the annual Summer Luau on on Friday, May 13th, at 7 p.m.

"Your invitation?" Natalie asked dumbly.

"As my plus one?" Topper asked innocently, his eyes wide and endearingly brown. "As an apology for my mother, I hope you can make it." He grinned smoothly.

"I'm on staff; I have to attend," Natalie explained, a smile playing on her lips. She could feel Mackenzie staring holes in her back. Then, it hit her.

"So, I'll see you there, then." It wasn't a question. Topper looked at her hopefully, imploring her for what was evidently a date.

"I suppose you will," she answered his silent plea. As he nodded, he extended his hand for a parting goodbye, which she accepted. "I'm Natalie."

"Natalie." With that, he was gone, and Natalie rounded on her best friend, who, to her credit, appeared completely innocent. She bit back an excited smile as she shoved Mackenzie's shoulder, her friend's triumphant giggle echoing through the hall.

"You absolute bitch!" Natalie laughed, her chest bursting with mirth. "You switched his ticket?"

"You deserve a good time, Nat. Maybe that hag will unclench if you date her son." McKenzie looked out to see where the woman was heckling the pool boy. "That's a heavy ask, though." Natalie couldn't help but agree as they both got back to work. The promise of that night hung glittering in the air, and she found she could not wait to see Topper again. After all, she was due for a celebration and a little bit of fun.