When Water Burns

by Lani Wendt Young

  Leila! Now who was interrupting? Keahi and I both looked around. It was Simone. Standing there next to us with his hands on his hips and outrage on his face. Leila. What are you doing? You stop that right now. Get away from that boy. Aww heck. I rolled my eyes. Would I never get to be the boss in my own dream? Who was going to show up next? Mele? Mr. Raymond? I shut my eyes tight, wishing for Simone to disappear. But his voice kept calling me.

  Leila. Leila. Get up. Leila!

  I opened my eyes. Simone was standing by my bed, shaking at my shoulder. This wasn’t a dream anymore. There was an urgency in his tone that frightened me. “Leila. Wake up. You gotta come see this. Wake up.”

  I sat bolt upright. “What is it? What’s wrong?” I looked around fearfully, wondering what was lurking in the messy room, the closet, the house.

  Simone stood beside my bed. He shook his head at my fear. “Nothing’s wrong.” He stepped back and looked at me suspiciously. “I’ve been trying to wake you up for ages. You were asleep with a huge smile on your face. What were you dreaming about?”

  The slightly demented dream rushed back and I flushed with embarrassment, glad that Simone couldn’t read minds. “Nothing. I wasn’t dreaming. Just really tired that’s all.” I checked the clock on the bedside table and groaned at the time. “Simone! It’s only six in the morning. Way too early. What did you wake me up for?”

  “Stop whining. Get your lazy butt out of bed and come with me.”

  “I’m not dressed.” I looked down at my boxer shorts and skimpy singlet, but he only waved at my sleepwear ensemble with a dismissive gesture.

  “Who cares. It’s six in the morning, there’s nobody looking.” He waited impatiently for me to stagger after him out through the living room. He threw open the front door with a dramatic gesture. “Look.”

  “Look at what?” Grumpy and rude, I pushed past him, muttering about annoying flatmates and then came to an abrupt halt. The complaints died in my throat as I was consumed by color. Fire. Wonder.

  We’d had a visitor during the night. And whoever it was, they had left a gift. Flowers. An exuberant wealth of fire colors. Red and orange hibiscus. Scarlet ginger. Crimson heliconia. Garlands of bougainvillea and frangipani were draped along the railing. You couldn’t see the tiled floor for all the scattered teuila petals. A single potted plant – a rare burgundy orchid – sat on the outdoor table and a note was tucked into its branches.

  Clapping his hands with delight, Simone pranced across the verandah to carry the cream-colored envelope back to me. “Daniel is sooooo romantic, so hekka vela!”

  I couldn’t help my smile. Or the sting of happy tears. Standing there, enveloped in the lush scent of frangipani, it was so easy to believethat Daniel loved me. He wanted me back. I didn’t know what had changed his mind, but I didn’t care. The last few weeks of painful distance and emptiness without him – it was all swept away in a blaze of tropical blossoms. Still dazed, I took the envelope, opened it, and slid out the card. On the front was scrawled – ‘I’m sorry.’

  Simone, reading over my shoulder, cheered with a kind of muffled yelp. “He’s sorry. And he didn’t even do anything wrong. Oh he is just too perfect.” He threw me a dark glance, “Girlfriend, do you even deserve this boy?”

  I didn’t answer. Because I was reading the words inside the card.

  No more chokeholds, I promise.

  No magic abs in this apology.

  Just all the colors of the fire you light in me.

  Forgive me?

  All of my delight was washed away in a cold deluge of realization. The flowers weren’t from Daniel.

  Disappointment was bitter and biting. Eyes narrowed, I walked off the verandah, searching everywhere for a sign of the boy who had left this splendor of blossoms as his apology. The front gate was still locked. Simone came to stand beside me. Puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I turned to stalk back into the house. “Daniel was right. That fence is way too low.”

  Simone called after me. “What are you talking about? Girl, where are you going?”

  I came back outside with the broom and a garbage bag and set to work, sweeping up all the petals. Simone was angry now. He came after me and grabbed the garbage bag out of my hand. “You stop that right now. This foolishness has gone on long enough. Whatever you two were fighting about, he’s apologized. He wants you back. I am not going to let you still be mad at him.”

  With gritted teeth I explained, “The flowers aren’t from Daniel. They’re from Keahi.”

  A freight train of different emotions raced across Simone’s face as he tried to decide which to pounce on first. Confusion. Anger. Shock. He went with anger. “I knew there was something going on with you and that boy. Right from that first night at Sails when you were outside getting up close and personal with him. I cannot believe you are choosing that freaky stalker over Daniel.”

  And now I was getting annoyed. “I’m not choosing him over Daniel. How could I possibly‘choose’ Keahi over Daniel, anyway, when Daniel took himself out of the picture. He broke up with me. He wanted a break from me.” It was the first time I’d confessed that to Simone. I don’t know if it was my anger or the threat of my tears that was more convincing to Simone, but he backed down.

  “So what are all the flowers for then?” He asked suspiciously.

  And so I had to come clean. To an extent anyway. In the most neutral of terms possible, I told Simone about Keahi volunteering at the Center and that we’d had an argument during a training session because he had been too rough.

  Simone looked pensive. His gaze took in the abundance of blossoms. “So this is how Keahi apologizes…I didn’t think he had it in him. Flowers. A note. An orchid plant. It’s not what I would have expected from someone like him.”

  I sniffed, misery at war with curiosity. “What do you mean? What would you have expected?”

  A shrug. “Oh, I don’t know. A crate of beer maybe?” He ran his fingers lightly along the orchid flower. “There might be some potential in this boy worth exploring…”

  I followed his gaze. “The flowers are beautiful. And he did go to a lot of effort to set this all up.” Even if it did edge on the border of creepy stalker behavior.

  I don’t think Simone liked my tone of appreciation because he quickly changed the subject, placing an arm around my shoulders, “Why didn’t you tell me that Daniel had broken up with you?”

  I gave him a helpless and hopeless shrug. “He said he would spend the rest of forever loving me but he needed to have a break from us because he needed to think about stuff. He wasn’t happy about the way I was keeping secrets from him and doing things on my own. He said I wasn’t being fair to him. At the time, I thought he was being an egotistical male jerk. But now, I’m not so sure.”

  Simone gave me a slight shake and turned me to face him. “Listen here, we are going to put our heads together and come up with a plan to fix this. Daniel loves you. I know he does. Everybody knows he does. You messed up but we can fix this.” Excitement was making him jittery. Uh oh. I could tell Simone was going to pour his heart and soul into bringing about a Leila and Daniel reconciliation. And pity the poor fool who dared to stand in his fabulous way.

  “Thanks Simone. What would I do without you?”

  He waved a careless hand, “I shudder to imagine.” He went to the door, “Come on, the first step is to make you a dress. One that defies the laws of physics, logic, and everything else that has laws.”

  “You go ahead. I’ll come in soon. Let me finish cleaning up the flower explosion.”

  He went inside and I started to gather armfuls of color when the phone rang. Simone yelled, “Leila, it’s for you.” He opened the door to hand me the phone with a distracted look on his face. He was in design planning mode and hated being disturbed.

  I took the phone and walked across the verandah. “Hello?”

  “So am I forgiven?” His voice was caramel smooth but with a raspy catch to it like cocon
ut rough.

  I faked distance. “Who is this?”

  A low laugh. It sent a thrill of electricity down my spine without my permission. Which annoyed me. “It’s the boy you left standing naked in the middle of the Aleisa bush yesterday. The same boy who spent most of the night picking flowers in the dark for you. It wasn’t easy you know. I bumped my toe on a really big rock. And I got bit by my neighbor’s dog while I was stealing frangipanis.”

  I caught my laugh in time and forced sternness into my voice. “Good, I’m glad. I hope it hurt. A lot.”

  “A little bit. Not as much as you got me hurting while I wait for you to forgive me.” He paused, “Hmm, maybe you don’t like flowers?”

  My smile was soft, unbidden, and blushed with the myriad of color that enveloped me. “I do. I love flowers.”

  “Does that mean I’m forgiven?”

  “It means I’m thinking about it.” I breathed in the sweet scent of frangipani and placed one pink-tinged blossom in my hair. “I’m still mad – but it was a beautiful thing to wake up to. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. In flowers and not much else, you’re a beautiful thing to wake up to.”

  There was tenderness in his voice, something I had never heard before. I didn’t know how to respond. And then something made me look up. Wait up…that means…

  Keahi was standing outside the front gate, leaning over the metal frame. Looking right at me while he spoke on his cellphone. Catching my gaze, he raised an eyebrow and gave me that slight, enigmatic smile. And then he cut our connection, slipped his phone into the back pocket of his jeans, turned, and walked away. A moment later, the roar of an engine,and a gleaming black motorbike went past.

  I stood there with a frangipani in my hair and watched Keahi drive away.

  I’ll give him this much. The boy knew how to leave a girl speechless.

  The next day, Simone and I were ready with a plan. Operation Reignite Daniel. Luckily I only had one lecture, first thing in the morning, and then would have the rest of the day to put the plan into action. With a little help from Simone and the others. I raced to catch my class. The last person I wanted to see was Keahi. Which is why it made warped sense that he would be the first person I ran into when I got to the university. Only he wasn’t alone. Walking through the parking lot, with my mind on my assignments, I almost bumped into the couple leaning against one of the cars, making out with an almost frenzied intensity. Keahi – and Mele?

  My surprised brain registered who the girl was entwined around him, almost at the same time as they both recognized me and pulled apart. Mele’s eyes shot daggers at me as she pulled her shirt down and back into place while Keahi only smirked at me. I backed away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you two here.”

  Keahi called me back, “Hey, Leila wait up. I want to talk to you.” He dismissed Mele with a jerk of his head, “You go on ahead to class. We’ll catch up later.”

  She didn’t like it, but she obeyed, reaching up first to kiss him on the mouth with a stamp of possession that only amused me. Don’t worry Mele, I don’t want him. He’s all yours. She gave me one more vicious glare before strutting away.

  I waited for her to be out of earshot before I spoke. “I didn’t know you were friends with Mele.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Oh, so you just swap saliva with random girls in the parking lot every day then?”

  He was dismissive. “Only if they’re pretty and put out.”

  I was disgusted. “You’re sick.”

  “And you left me butt naked in the forest, miles away from anything. I’d say that counts as sick and twisted.” This time, there was an unwilling gleam of admiration. “You’re a bit feisty aren’t you?”

  “And you’re cruel.” I nodded in Mele’s direction. “Tell me, do you even know how to be friends with a girl? How to treat her with respect? You jumped me and put me in a chokehold so you could force my Gift to ignite yours. Even with the flowers, I don’t think I’m ever going to trust you again.”

  “You’re exaggerating. You weren’t really angry the other day. You were just scared because you like what happens when we collide. Something happens when we’re together – it’s something big, powerful, and exciting. I’ve got something you want. And it’s freaking you out.”

  I could not believe the magnitude of his delusions of grandeur. “You’re unbelievable. Insane. You’ve got nothing I want. Or need. Your pathetic flickers of fanua afi are laughable. Your power is nothing compared to mine.” Wrath ripped through me. “I can speak to volcanoes, move the earth beneath your feet, carve a chasm of fire through this parking lot, and turn this whole school into a raging inferno. You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

  He didn’t look freaked out at all. Rather, his eyes lit up eagerly, “Exactly. But you saw what happened yesterday. You’re the catalyst for my flame power and we would make the perfect team. Imagine what we could do, together.”

  “You’re not listening to me. There is no way I would team up with you to do anything. You’re on your own. Go spit out some sparks and light a candle somewhere.”

  I turned away from him, but he wasn’t done. “Is this about your pretty boyfriend? The one who dumped you for being a fire goddess?”

  “He did not dump me. We’re on a break.” Even as I said them, I knew the words sounded lame.

  His face twisted in a mocking grin. “Is that what he’s called it? Haven’t you seen that movie, ‘He’s just not into you’? I guess you gotta tell yourself whatever makes you sleep easy at night.” And then the grin was replaced by serious intent. “Just remember this, Leila, I have no problem with doing a fire goddess. None whatsoever. Remember that when you’re ready to be with a real man.”

  There were no words adequate to express what I was feeling. I walked away instead, struggling to contain the vortex of heat that roared inside me. Keahi was wrong. About me and him. About Daniel. And tonight, I was going to prove it.

  Evening was creeping in when I drove up to the workshop. Daniel and Okesene were working overtime, both welding a pair of gates out front. Both of them cut off the welders and raised their visors when I approached. I was gratified to see that they looked a little stupefied by my appearance. Simone had gone all out to transform me into a girl who was worth paying attention to. The white elei printed two-piece sheathe dress set off my tan nicely, and Lesina had woven white gardenias into my hair, which was then left free to tumble in dark waves down my back. There was a silk band of white fabric loosely tied around one arm. I worried that I looked like I had stepped out of a bridal catalogue but Simone had been vehement, “No, white is the new black. It’s sensual and sexy in a virginally contrasting way. And in the moonlight you will be a vision of light. Like Masina, the moon goddess!” So here I was, trying my best to be sensual and sexy. A mental wince. Even the words made me feel icky.

  Okesene’s face broke into a huge smile, “You look beautiful, Leila.”

  “Thank you.” I carefully stepped over steel beams and made my way over to stand in front of Daniel, who wore a distant expression.

  His voice was curt, “So where are you going dressed like that?”

  I smiled bravely up at his coldness, “To see you.”

  He was confused. “What about?”

  “I want to ask if you’d please go for a ride in the Jeep with me. There’s something I want to show you.”

  He refused, “Thanks, but we’re really busy over here and I can’t leave.”

  Okesene jumped in, “I can handle it, boss. You go.”

  Daniel looked irritated but I took his hand anyway, giving Okesene a grateful smile, “Thank you. Come on Daniel.”

  He allowed himself to be escorted to the Jeep but then pulled his hand away once we were out of Okesene’s sight. A sigh. “Look, Leila, what’s this all about? I thought you understood we’re having a break from each other.”

  “Yes, I know that. But all I’m asking is that you go on one drive with me. That’s all.
Please?”

  “Fine. But we need to hurry back. I’ve got a lot of work to do.” He climbed into the Jeep and slammed the door shut. He wasn’t enthusiastic, but he had agreed and that was enough for me. For now.

  I got in the driver’s side and produced the blindfold. “Here, put this on.”

  He was incredulous. “What? No way.”

  “A while back, you took me for a drive in your truck and you asked me to wear a blindfold. And I did it. Even though I was new to Samoa and had no idea where you were taking me, or even what kind of person you were. I went with you because I had spent the night talking to you and crying on your shoulder, because I trusted you. Now, I’m asking you to do the same for me. Put the blindfold on and trust me.”

  I couldn’t gauge his expression in the dim light inside the Jeep, but wordlessly, he tied the blindfold on.

  “Good, thank you.” I started the Jeep and drove in silence to our destination. Samoa College. It was deserted, as I knew it would be, looming shadows in the night. As I drove in the gate, I waved at the security guard who had been generously persuaded to act as my accomplice. He waved me past, giving me the thumbs up sign. I parked the Jeep and went to help Daniel out, warning him, “Remember, don’t take off the blindfold until I say so.”

  “You’re so bossy.” I thought I heard him mutter, but I ignored him. I was too busy scanning the area, checking that everything was in place. Yes it was. It was a still night, without any wild winds to knock over my props.

  I guided Daniel to a particular wooden bench underneath the flame trees, savoring the chance to hold his hand in mine, to have him close to me. “Here, sit down.”