The Past

It’s a hot spring day, a few days out from summer. Kailani's sitting on the deck catching some rays, when the sliding glass door opens.

“Hey, I figured you’d be out here.”

Kailani looks over to see her twin brother, “Hey Kam.”

“Gotta get some sun, huh?”

“Yup.”

Kamden pulls a chair over, sitting next to Kailani, “Summer makes me miss Hawaii a little more.”

“Really? ‘Cause winter makes me miss it.”

“Well summer reminds me of it, winter is completely different.”

Kailani nods, “I can see that.” she sighs, “I miss it too.”

“Dad was so young when he left the island, do you think he felt the same?”

“Probably.” Kailani sits up, faceing her brother, “Do you feel weird missing them?”

“Mom and Dad? No, why would I feel weird about missing them?”

“You know, they didn’t like that you’re gay. Doesn’t that make you grieve them weird?”

“I’d like to think if they got the chance, they’d be accepting by now. People can change, I know they would’ve eventually accepted us. It sucks that they weren’t able to.”

Kailani sighs, “I dunno, it seemed so ingrained in them, Dad especially.”

“We were all so close, I can’t imagine them being unaccepting forever. They weren’t bad people, just… misinformed.”

“Remember how I found out you were gay?”

“Oh,” Kamden laughs, “How could I forget! But hey, our parents let us throw parties, a lot of parents don’t let their kids do that.”

“But they also didn’t let us lock doors, or take unclothed baths when other people were in the house.”

“Would you rather take unclothed baths with the doors unlocked?”

Kailani lets out a chuckle, “I guess not.”

~Years ago, at said party~

“Uno!” A blonde teenage boy yells, sitting at a round table with a group of other teenagers.

“Well Danny, the rest of us will make sure that card won’t leave your hand.” A black haired asian boy places down a wild card, “Blue.”

The play goes around the table finally getting back to Danny, “Well Nathan,” he looks at the boy sitting next to him, “Thanks for changing it to blue!” he smacks down his last card, a blue 6.

“Aw no!” Nathan facepalms then looks up, “But good timing, I have to pee.” He gets up and starts to walk towards the bathroom.

“You want in on the next game?” Danny asks before he leaves.

Nathan shakes his head, “Nah, go on without me.” He makes his way to the bathroom, opening the door to the small blue room, walking in.

Splash 

Nathan pauses, “Hello?”

A voice comes from behind the curtain, “Uh hi?”

“Kamden?”

“Yeah.”

“What in the world are you doing in the bath?”

“Uh so the snowcone machine spilled all over me and I’m sticky, so my mom told me to take a bath.”

“Do you want me to leave?” Nathan turns for the door.

“It’s the only bathroom, so, if you gotta go…”

“Well that's a conundrum, I just held my pee the whole uno game.”

“Look at you using big words, nerd.”

“You’re seriously making fun of me while you’re in the bathtub at your own party?”

“Fair.” Kamden pauses, “But seriously I can’t see through the shower curtain I promise, if you need to go, go on.”

“This might be the weirdest thing to ever happen.” Nathan shakes his head.

After Nathan finishes peeing and washing his hands he starts for the door.

“Uh wait before you go, I uh don’t have any clean clothes with me, could you grab some?”

“This just keeps getting weirder!” Nathan laughs, “Fine.”

Kamden pokes his face out from behind the curtain, “Thank you.”

Nathan looks at Kamden, “Are you… wearing clothes?”

“I said I didn’t have clean clothes.”

“Yeah, I got that but are you taking a bath in clothing?”

Kamden sighs, “Weird, right?”

Nathan nods, “Very.”

“Okay so my parents took the locks off of all the doors, they don’t believe in them or something, so whenever we have visitors over, they made it a rule that we have to shower and bathe with our clothes on.”

“That doesn’t really surprise me, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” 

Kamden rolls his eyes, “Just go get me something to change into!”

“Hmm, I get to pick out your outfit? Alright.” Nathan leaves before Kamden has a chance to respond. On his way out he places a chair in front of the door, writing a note that says ‘out of order’ and placing it on the chair. “This is so weird,” he mumbles under his breath. He makes his way to Kamden’s room and starts opening dresser drawers.

“What are you doing?”

Nathan freezes at the voice, looking across Kamden’s room to see who it is, “Oh Kailani, uh your brother needs clothes.”

Kailani leans up against the doorframe, “Okay… why?”

“He’s taking a bath, a clothed bath.”

“And you would know that because?”

“Because your house has no locks, and I walked right in.” He resumes digging through the drawers, “Don’t worry, the curtain was up.” He added.

“So what are you looking for?” Kailani walks over.

“Clothes.” Nathan looks at her, “Wasn’t that obvious?”

“No dummy, I meant what exactly are you looking for. You’ve already found clothes.”

“Oh.” Nathan blinks, then resumes, “Well I figured that since he’s fully relying on me to… clothe him… I would either give him the best outfit, or a wacky one.”

“Oh definitely wacky.”

Nathan scavenges through a drawer, finding a bracelet and pausing, “Huh.”

Kailani peers at the bracelet, “What?”

“Oh uh, I just uh,” Nathan pauses, “Well I made this for him.”

“Oh, that’s nice. It’s very colorful, not really like him.”

“Hence the rocks, they’re neutral colors, they tie it together.” He slips the bracelet in a pocket of his pale purple pants.

Kailani smirks, “Why don’t we try to make an outfit based on it?”

“You mean a colorful outfit? Where am I going to find color in Kamden’s room?”

“Think of it as a challenge.”

Nathan smiles, “You know I can’t back down from a challenge.” He starts looking around more fiercely. 

Kailani starts helping, starting with the closet, “Oh hey I found this!” She holds up  a pale green shirt with yellow and purple mismatched sleeves with blue accents.

“Perfect!” Nathan grabs it from Kailani, “I think some khaki shorts would work with that.” 

Kailani nods, “Alrighty, well there’s plenty of those in here. I promised I’d get in on the next game of sharks and minnows, so gotta run.” Kailani sprints out the door.

“Okay.” Nathan goes over to a drawer he’s already gone through and pulls out a pair of khaki shorts. “Uh, anything else?” He ponders, “Oh uh… underwear I guess.” He looks around. “This is still weird.” He mumbles as he fumbles around. Once he finds a pair of underwear he makes his way back to the bathroom, luckily everyone else was outside by now, probably playing sharks and minnows like Kailani said.

Nathan knocks on the door before entering the bathroom.

“What took you so long!” Kamden lets out a sigh of relief. 

“Finding you the perfect outfit.” Nathan plops the clothes on the ground.

“At this point I was worried I’d be stuck in the bathroom forever.”

“It’s like your life depended on me.” Nathan smiles.

“Ah yes, thank you, you’re my hero!” Kamden says sarcastically. 

“No need to thank me, all in a days work.” Nathan stands heroically.

 

“Now hand me that damn towel.” Kamden points to a towel on the towel rack.

“Not only did you forget clothes you also forgot to grab a towel?” Nathan grabs the towel,  “I’m disappointed in you” He says as he hands it to Kamden.

“I wasn’t planning on taking a bath!” Kamden barks back, smacking Nathan with the towel.

Nathan laughs, “Alright, I’ll keep guard outside so you can get dressed.”

Kamden smiles, “Thanks Nate.”

“Of course.” Nathan walks out of the bathroom, sitting down on the chair he placed in front of it.

“There you are Nathan!” Danny walks over, “We’re playing sharks and minnows wanna join?”

“Not right now.”

“Alright, well can you move, I gotta go.”

“No can do.” Nathan holds up the out of order sign.

Danny scuffs, “Well that’s the only bathroom!”

“Go piss in the ocean or on a tree or on a bush, just not here.” Nathan shoves the out of order sign closer to Danny.

“Fine.” Danny walks away.

A few minutes later Kamden opens the door, “Phew.”

Nathan moves the chair out of the way, “Here have this,” He hands Kamden the out of order sign.

Kamden laughs, slapping Nathan with it.

“Hey I fought off many a-beast with that there weapon!”

Kamden slaps Nathan again, “I could hear you, you only told Danny to go pee in a bush!” He laughs.

“Or the ocean!”

Kamden rolls his eyes, “Fine, thank you.”

“Hey if anyone else walked in on you taking a clothed bath, would it have gone this well?.”

“No, I guess not.”

“See, I’m your mighty hero!”

“You picked out the brightest, most colorful clothes in my room, you are not my hero.”

“I’m stretching your fashion taste, you’ll thank me later.”

“Now that I have clothes, I’m off to my room to change shirts.” Kamden walks away.

Nathan’s mouth drops open, “How dare!”

Kamden comes back out of his room, this time in a flowy white shirt, with the colorful shirt in his arms, “I changed because I bought this shirt for you stupid.” He hands Nathan the shirt.

“Ah it did look an awful amount like my other shirts.”

“It still has the tag on it, which is very itchy, you should cut it off before wearing it.” Kamden points.

“Well thank you.”

“That’s your… you know… “ he pauses, “two month anniversary present by the way.” Kamden whispers.

“Well shit now I feel bad!”

“Your fault!” Kamden walks outside.

“You can’t just- ugh.” Nathan rolls his eyes then follows Kamden.

“You’re back, where have you been?” Danny asks when he spots Kamden.

“Uh I was-”

“Fixing the sink, that’s what was out of order.” Nathan chimes in.

“Yup,” Kamden nods, “That damn sink.”

Kailani elbows her brother, “Oh, a little handyman!  Well we’re about to start a fire, if you care to join.”

“Oh yay smores!” Nathan smiles.

They all walk over to the fire pit.

“Oh,” Nathan reaches into his pocket, “I found this,” He holds the bracelet out in front of Kamden.

Kamden smiles, “Where did you find it? I’d lost it. I was worried it was gone forever.”

“In one of your drawers, you really need to look for things better.”

Kamden sticks his tounge out at Nathan, “Well I’m never taking it off now.” He says as he slides it on his wrist.

“You better not.” 

As the night winds down, people begin to head home.

“It was great hanging out, Danny!” Kamden waves goodbye as Danny bikes off.

Kailani yawns, “You two wanna head inside?”

Kamden looks over the still ocean water, the star speckled sky reflecting on it, “Nah I’ll chill out here for a bit.”

“I’ll stay out too, go on in without us.” Nathan smiles.

Kailani stays put for a moment.

“What?” Kamden looks back at his twin sister.

Kailani walks over, “I’ll stay out if you two want.”

“Oh, you don’t have to.” Nathan reassures her.

Kailani crosses her arms then looks up at Nathan, “I’ll stay.”

“Alright.” Nathan sits down on the cool sand, looking over the beach as the small gentle waves lap at the shore.

Kamden sits next to him, painfully aware of Kailani’s presence behind them, “It’s a beautiful night.”

“Yup.”

Kailani walks over, “You two aren’t going to talk about it?”

Kamden looks up at her, “Talk about what?”

“You didn’t actually fix the sink did you?” She sits down.

Kamden looks at her, “You know?”

“Oh yeah,” Nathan chimes in, “She picked out the shirt.”

“Yeah, the one you aren’t wearing.” Kailani lifts up her brother’s arm, letting the flowy sleeves of his white shirt be carried by the breeze.

“Am I not allowed to change clothes?” Kamden picks.

Kailani shakes her head, “But it’s weird, you aren’t even going to talk about it?”

“Walking in on him taking a clothed bath? Yeah that’s weird.” Nathan laughs, “But I’ve come to expect something weird.”

“Yeah but shouldn’t you be.. I dunno more weirded out?” Kailani asks.

“Uh,” Nathan looks at Kamden, “ I guess?”

Kamden looks at Kailani, who is staring deep into his soul, he lets out a sigh, “You don’t have to be a protective older sister.”

“Well I am.” She huffs.

“She’s only older by 12 minutes though.” Nathan chimes in.

Kamden lifts his finger up towards Nathan, “Not helping Nate.” 

Nathan smiles, “Well it’s true.”

Kamden looks at him, “Shut up,” he whispers.

Nathan nods, shifting to the side, he looks over the calm water.

Kamden looks back at Kailani, “What?”

“What what?”

“You’re thinking something, what is it?”

“Okay,” Kailani pauses, “If it had been anyone else who was at the party who’d walked in on you, would it have been extra weird?”

Kamden nods, “Yes.”

“And it wasn’t weird because it was Nathan, who you apparently call Nate?”

Kamden cocks his head, “I do?”

“You did.”

Kamden sighs, “I did…”

“I’ve never in all of the years you two have been friends, never, not once heard you call him Nate. I’ve never heard anyone call him Nate.”

“Really? Good job Kamden.” Nathan chimes in.

Kamden flashes a look at him, “Shut your pie hole and look at the ocean.”

Nathan lets out a small laugh as he turns his head towards the water.

Kamden looks back at his sister, “It’s… new. A new nickname.”

“A nick-nate if you will.” Nathan jokes.

“I said shut up!” 

Nathan laughs, quickly standing up then runs over to the ocean.

Kamden rolls his eyes as he turns his head to look back at his sister, “Nerd.” He mutters under his breath with a smile.

“What was that?” Kailani asks.

“I called him a nerd, it’s another thing I call him. Do you want a list?”

Kailani’s sight shifts back and forth from Kamden to Nathan, “I just don’t get it.”

Kamden awkwardly fiddles with his bracelet.

Kailani’s focus keeps shifting between the two teenage boys, but she says nothing. The silence engulfed Kamden, overtaking the sounds of the ocean next to him. The stars in the sky grow dim, all that’s left is Kailani’s shifting stare and silence.

Kailani’s eyes finally settle back on Kamden, but for a few more moments she says nothing. Then finally, “Are you-” she pauses, “gay?”

The word strikes Kamden, feeling like a knife stabbing him but also, freeing?

Nathan, standing a few feet away at the shoreline, with his back towards the water, is staring intently at the twins.

Kamden nods, “Y-yes.”

Kailani awkwardly clears her throat, “Um okay.”

Kamden stares at her, “Okay?”

Kailani slowly nods, “Yes, okay.”

“Okay.” Kamden begins to smile, the world slowly coming back to him, the water lapping at the sand, the gentle breeze playing with his hair, the bright stars in the sky, and Nathan. He looks over at Nathan, who’s still staring at him, but has a huge smile on his face. Kamden nods and Nathan immediately rushes over to him, scooping him up off the ground in a big hug.

“You did it!” Nathan smiles as he flings Kamden up off the ground.

Kailani’s sitting, bewildered.

Nathan sets Kamden on the ground, holding his arms, “I’m so proud of you Kam,” he gives Kamden a big hug.

Kamden sinks into the hug, then stiffens.

Nathan lets him go, “What is it?”

Kamden walks over to Kailani, “Promise me you won’t tell Mom or Dad.”

Kailani looks up at him, caught off guard, “Um, I promise.”

He folds his arms, “You better.”

“I swear, I won’t tell.” Kailani stands up, “Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry I kinda made you.”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you since I figured it out, I’ve just never known how, and was too scared.”

“Are you out to anyone else?” she asks.

“Nope, just you, well and Nate I guess.”

“So are you two dating?”

Nathan walks over, putting  his arm around Kamden.

Kamden looks over at him and smiles, “Yes, yes we are.”

~Back to the present~

“That was one hell of a party.” Kailani admits.

“Sure was.”

“I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out.”

Kamden shrugs, “Guess that means I did a good job at hiding it.”

Kailani sighs, “You shouldn’t have had to.”

Kamden shakes his head, “But I did have to. Remember what Dad did when he found out?”

~Years prior~

The Akina family: Kamden, Kailani, their parents Iolana and Amosa, and their aunt Maile, are all sitting around the firepit, with a small fire burning. 

“-And that’s when your mom fell overboard!” Amosa laughs, remembering fondly. 

Ionana laughs, “Your dad then jumped in to get me, as if I couldn’t swim!” 

Nathan walks up to the family, “Aloha!” He waves hello.

“Aloha ahiahi! Good evening Nathan!” Amosa greets him.

“Glad you could join us Nathan!” Aunt Maile scoots over to make room next to Kamden.

“Hello.” Kamden smiles as Nathan sits down next to him.

“Hey there.” Nathan smiles back.

Kailani gets up “I’m going to grab the stuff we need to make smores. Does anyone need anything while I’m up?”

“Can you grab me a water Lani?” 

Kailani nods, “Of course Makua Wahine.”

“I’ll come with you.” Aunt Maile stands up to join her niece.

The two walk inside the house to the kitchen, Kailani walks towards the pantry, Maile leaning on the wall next to her.

Maile sighs, “It’s their anniversary right?”

Kailani nods, “Two years.”

“It sucks that they can’t properly celebrate.”

Kailani glances at her aunt, “And by that you mean…?”

“They have to hide it. They shouldn’t have to.”

Kailani grabs the graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars out of the pantry, “But that’s the way it is, Maile. You know that.” She shuts the pantry door.

“Maybe they can stay over at my house tonight, I’ve got that pull out sofa.”

Kailani shrugs, “You’d have to run it past our parents.”

“I know that, ku'uipo. I’m not going to sneak them across the inlet to my house.” Maile laughs.

“It’d be a cool story if you did.” Kailani jokes as she opens the fridge. 

“I’d like to stay on your mother’s good side.” Maile smiles, “And to do that I will ask her beforehand.”

Kailani shuts the fridge, “And if she says no?” 

Maile smiles, “Then I will whisk them off across the inlet, but I will ask first.”

The two of them walk back outside.

“Kamden,” Maile taps him on the shoulder as she walks past, “Come with me.”

“Uhh okay,” Kamden stands up and follows his aunt toward the shoreline.

“I was wondering if you and Nathan would like to come to my house tonight, I’ve got that pull out sofa, sleeping bags, the whole shabang.”

Kamden’s eyes seem to glow in the moonlight, “Really?”

“Of course, Kammy.” Maile wraps an arm around her nephew, “I want you to have a good day.”

“Thanks Aunt Maile.” He hugs her.

She scruffs his hair, “Now of course, I still have to run this by your parents.” 

When the two head back to the campfire, Kailani’s set up the Smore Station (™). 

“Smore time!” Nathan grabs a marshmallow roasting stick off the table.

Kamden grabs one, then smacks Nathan’s stick with his, “Avast ye!” He laughs as the two begin sword fighting.

Malie looks at the boys then at her sister, “I can take those two off your hands for the night if you want.”

Iolana looks over at her son and his friend, “They do seem quite rambunctious tonight.” 

“I already asked Kailani, she said she didn’t want to join.”

Iolana smiles, “Sure.” She looks at Kamden and Nathan, “If you two don’t hurt each other with those metal sticks, you can sleepover at Maile’s house tonight!”

The two immediately stop, then high five each other.

“Yeah!” Kamden smiles, “Sleepover at the cool aunt’s house!”

“Hear that, I’m the cool aunt,” Maile smiles at her sister, “Wait, I’m your only aunt!” She hollers over to Kamden.

He walks over, “You’d be the cool aunt even with competition!” He smiles at his mom, “Thanks for letting us sleep over mom.”

Iolana hugs him, “Of course, sweetie, just be sure to behave.”

“Will do,” Kamden nods, “I’ll go get my stuff ready.” Kamden makes his way into the house.

Nathan’s sitting at the campfire roasting a marshmallow, “Dude isn’t going to eat a s'more first?” He shakes his head, “S-more for me I guess!”

Kailani rolls her eyes, “That, that was a bad joke.”

“It had to be done.” Nathan stands up, then walks over to the S’more Station (™). He carefully slides the roasted marshmallow in between a graham cracker and a square of chocolate that's sat on top of another graham cracker. He smushes the top graham cracker down, causing the warm marshmallow to ooze out the sides. He stares at his masterpiece, in awe of the golden brown marshmallow warming the chocolate below it, “This might be the greatest thing to ever have been created.” He takes a bite, nodding his head in agreement with himself.

Kamden walks back over with a tote full of stuff to bring to his aunt’s house, “Enjoying that s’more?”

Nathan nods in response, “Very much,” He says between bites, the marshmallow and chocolate dripping down his chin.

“Now you’re going to be all marshmallow-y and sticky!” Kamden shakes his head.

“I’ll wash up, don’t worry.” Nathan licks his fingers, trying to get all the sticky marshmallow off.

 

After Nathan cleans up, him, Kamden, and Maile head off to her house.

“Seriously thank you Aunt Maile!” Kamden gives his aunt a big hug after setting his stuff down.

“Of course,” She squeezes him back, “You two deserve to spend time together today.” She smiles at Nathan.

They start the evening off by playing card games, board games, and even a game of charades.

As the night winds down Maile pulls the couch out into a bed, “This is an old couch so don’t go too crazy on it.”

“Oh?” Kamden looks at Nathan.

“Uh…”

“Aw shit I made it awkward. Whatever boys, have a good night.” She kisses Kamden on the forehead then heads off to her room.

Kamden sits down on the bed, “Sorry about that.”

Nathan sits next to him, “It’s alright, it’s actually a nice change.”

Kamden laughs, “She’s a little too overly accepting sometimes.”

“She’s making up for your parents I guess.” Nathan yawns, “It’s getting late.”

“Alright,” Kamden reaches for the basket of blankets next to the couch-bed, “Which blanket do you want?”

Nathan paruses the selection of blankets, “Green?”

Kamden tosses the fluffy green blanket to his boyfriend, “Here ya go.”

Nathan smiles, “Thanks Kam.”

Kamden’s face practically melts into a smile as he wraps his arms around Nathan, “I love you.”

Nathan kisses him on the forehead, “I love you too.”

The two lay down, Kamden’s head resting on Nathan’s chest, arms still wrapped around one another in a cocoon of pure bliss. They quickly fall asleep in each other’s arms.

As the sun rises, Maile goes to make a pot of coffee, she finds the boys asleep, intertwined. She smiles as she goes about her morning routine, careful not to wake them, knowing they should have as much time together as possible. She walks out her backdoor to read a book while sipping on her coffee. 

An hour passes, she’s encapsulated by her book, the warm sun surrounding her. Her empty coffee mug sat on the table next to her. A door creaking pulls her out of her bubble, “Must be one of the boys,” she whispers to herself and goes back to reading. Suddenly the warm sun is blocked by a wall of shadow, she looks over expecting Kamden or Nathan, “Hey there how did you slee-”

Amosa is glaring at her, his large muscular arms folded, “Excuse me?”

“Oh hi,” Maile plays it cool, “What are you doing over here?”

“Well I came to see if you all would like to join us for breakfast, but what in the hell is going on in there?”

“They’re still asleep right?”

“In the same bed!”

Maile blinks at Amosa, “Yeah?”

“I-” Amosa starts to pace, “Maile, I trusted you. You know I don’t support that”

Maile shuts her book, “I’m confused?”

“They’re wrapped up in each other under the damn covers like they’re fucking gay!”

Maile looks towards her backdoor to see Kamden standing wide eyed up against it, she quickly looks back to Amosa, “Umm…” her sight drifts back over to Kamden.

Amosa follows her gaze, “Kamden!” he yells, “What the hell are you doing?!”

Kamden’s stuck, unable to move, unable to talk, almost unable to breathe.

His dad angrily walks closer to him, “Answer me young man!”

“I- standing.” Kamden manages to whimper out.

Amosa glares at his son, “You know what I mean!”

Kamden starts shaking, like the whole earth is crumbling beneath him in an earthquake.

Nathan’s peeking out a window, but ducks down before Amosa can spot him.

“You’re going home.” Amosa grabs Kamden by the sleeve of his shirt.

Kamden’s knocked off his feet by his dad, he slides down the wall and starts crying.

Amosa stands over him, “I said you’re going home!”

Maile stops him, “Give him a second, please.”

Amosa opens his mouth to retort, but stops as Maile glares at him.

“Go inside, sit down, take a breather.” Maile opens the door, “Go on.”

Amosa reluctantly walks inside, glaring at his son.

At this point Nathan’s gone out the front door and is headed around back, making sure to dodge the windows so Kamden’s dad can't take his anger out on him. 

Kamden looks up, tears streaming down his face, as Nathan approaches.

“Oh Kam,” Nathan envelopes him in a hug.

“You got him?” Maile asks Nathan.

He nods, “Of course.”

Maile takes a deep breath, “Alright, I’ll go talk to Amosa then.” She pats Kamden on the head as she makes her way inside.

As Maile steps inside the house explodes with anger, disappointment, and loud argumentative voices.

Nathan looks around, “Alright, you sure as hell aren’t going to feel any better with that.” He stands up, offering Kamden his hand, “Come on.”

Kamden takes his hand and Nathan pulls him up, “Where are we going?”

“Anywhere but here,” Nathan starts running into the trees, Kamden on his tail.

Eventually they reach a secluded beach, surrounded by trees.

“This seems good,” Nathan sits down, “Now come here.”

Kamden sits down next to him, practically flinging himself over onto Nathan, “I knew this would happen,” he mutters through tears.

Nathan sighs, “He was going to find out eventually.” He rubs Kamden’s back, “I’m so sorry.”

Back at Maile’s house, she’s trying to reason with Kamden’s dad, “Things have changed Amosa! You should too.”

“No matter what society says I know deep down in my soul that it’s not okay!”

“But he’s your son.”

“Exactly! I must protect him from this!”

“No,” Maile slams her hand down on the table, “You must accept him no matter what! That’s what being a parent is, being a safe haven for your children amongst the turmoil of the world.”

Amosa gasps, “What do you know about being a parent! My job is to protect him from evil, this very evil!”

Maile’s mouth falls open, “How dare you. You know I would do anything to be a parent.”

“Maybe you can’t be because you support this.”

Maile tosses her hands up, “That’s it! I’m bringing my sister into this,” she storms out the front door.

“That’s my wife, she'll side with me!” Amosa storms after her.

Inside the Akina house, it’s peaceful, Kailani and Iolana are sitting at the table waiting to start breakfast.

“I’m glad Aunt Maile offered the boys a sleepover,” Kailani comments.

Iolana smiles, “Me too, I hope they enjoyed it.”

Kailani lets out a chuckle, “I bet they did.” She sips a glass of orange juice. 

“They seem mighty close, don’t you think?”

Kailani shrugs, realizing she might have come off too strong, “Well there’s only so many people at school.”

“I guess you’re right.” Iolana stands up just as the front door bursts open.

“Your dimwit husband made fun of the fact that I can’t have kids!” Maile rushes over to her sister.

“What?” Iolana freezes, “He would never!”

Amosa runs through the door, “She let them sleep together!”

Iolana looks at her sister, “What?”

“They slept in the same bed, that's all! I made sure of it.” Maile retorts.

Amosa’s face turns red with anger, “Did you see them? They were interwoven like a basket together!!”

“My house is cold.”

Amosa shakes his head, “Bullshit, I was in there.”

“After the sun came up!” Maile stomps her foot.

Kailani stands up, “Where is he?”

Maile sighs, “Still at my house.”

“I’ll go talk to him.”

Amosa stops Kailani before she even takes a single step forward, “No the hell you won’t.”

“Why not? He’s my brother!”

Amosa dismisses Kailani, “Go to your room.”

“No, I want to go talk to Kamden!”

“Kailani,” her mother starts, “Listen to your father.”

Defeated, Kailani turns to go to her room, as the fight starts back up again.

“What were you thinking Maile?” Iolana asks her sister.

“All I did was invite them to spend the night! We had fun, played games and shit!”

“You should’ve kept a better eye on them!” Amosa yells.

“That’s not my job!”

“Because you aren’t his parent!” Amosa retorts.

Maile stares at Amosa, “Now you know I love these kids like they’re my own.”

“But they’re not.” Amosa snaps.

Iolana tries to turn the conversation back around, “Maile, you know how we feel about this! Did you know this beforehand?”

“I-” Maile’s eyes dart between her sister and brother-in-law, “No, okay, I didn’t know.” She lies, “I’m sorry.”

Iolana crosses her arms, “She’s lying.”

“What?”

“You’re doing that thing with your foot.” Iolana points down at Maile’s foot which is tapping anxiously, “It’s your tell.”

Amosa angrily grunts, “Is that why you invited them over? Did you actually ask Kailani? Because I’m sure she would’ve loved to spend time with you.”

Maile sits down defeated, “I just wanted them to have a space to be themselves,” she puts her head in her hands.

“So you did know,” Iolana sits down in front of her, “You went behind our backs!”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Amosa grills.

“Because I knew you would act like this!” She throws her hands up, “Kamden doesn’t deserve this much anger and resentment.”

“How long have you known about this thing between them?” Iolana presses.

“I-” she pauses, “I don’t think that’s my place to tell you.”

Iolana and Amosa exchange glances. 

Iolana looks Maile in the eyes, “We’re his parents, we need to know.” 

“I don’t think you do, actually.” Maile sits up, “Just because he’s your kid doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything he’s ever told me.”

Kailani’s sitting in her room, ear pressed up against her door, listening to every word said. Once she’s heard enough she escapes out her window, “I have to go find Kamden,” She jumps into the water below, swimming across the inlet to her aunt’s house as fast as she can.

“Kamden?” She walks around Maile’s house, “Are you here? It’s me, Kailani.” 

After looking around the entire house twice she figures he’s not there. She goes to the back porch. Looking into the undergrowth behind the house, she spots two sets of footprints, “There you are.” She dashes over to the trail, picking up a branch and trailing it behind her to cover the tracks.

Eventually she finds Kamden, wrapped in Nathan’s arms, sitting on a hidden beach, created by the island’s many inlets.

‘Kamden,” Kailani walks over to her brother.

Kamden jumps at his name, but calms down the second he sees it’s his twin sister.

Kailani wraps her arms around him, “God Kamden, I’m so sorry.”

Kamden sniffles, “Did Dad tell you?”

Kailani sighs, “And he told Mom. They and Aunt Maile are arguing over it, I couldn’t bear to just sit in my room. I had to come check on you.”

Nathan looks at Kailani as she sits down, “What do you think is going to happen?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing Maile much.” She sighs, “They were really grilling her for answers when I left.”

Kamden leans on his sister, “I hate that I dragged Maile into this.”

Kailani smiles at her brother, “She’s fighting for you.”

“She shouldn’t have too, I shouldn’t have told her.”

Kailani shakes her head, “Kamden, you needed to tell her. You needed an adult to trust, you deserve it.”

“And I brought you both into this too,” He looks at the two people surrounding him, “I knew this would end badly, I shouldn’t’ve ever dated a guy.”

“Nope,” Nathan scoots closer to Kamden, “No you don’t get to say that. It was my choice as much as it was yours, we knew the possible consequences going into this.”

Kailani nods, “I’m so grateful that you trusted me enough to tell me.”

Kamden stands up, walking towards the ocean, “I… I can’t go back.”

Nathan looks over at Kailani, who looks over at him anxiously. He stands up, grabbing Kamden’s arm, “Hey,” he pauses, “You’ve got an army of people who support you; Kailani, your aunt, hell even Danny and like half the school. My dad too. You can face this.”

Kamden shakes his head, “I’ve ripped my family apart…”

“You don’t know that.” Kailani joins them, “Maile could’ve talked some sense into them by now.”

“And the likelihood of that?”

“Hmm..” Nathan pauses, “I’d say a 43.37% chance of that.” He smiles trying to lighten the mood.

“That’s almost half,” Kailani shrugs, “Seems like pretty good odds to me.”

“You don’t have to go back home right now,” Nathan holds Kamden’s arm, “But you do eventually.”

Ring ring.

“Aw shit-” Nathan fumbles with his phone, “It’s my dad, can I answer it?”

Kamden shrugs.

Nathan walks off answering his phone.

“Hi Dad.”

“Hey kiddo, Amosa just came over and asked me if you and Kamden were at my place, why’s that?”

“Oh uh, we’re just hanging at the beach.”

“Amosa seemed upset, is everything alright?”

“Uh,” Nathan pauses, “Well he may have found out about Kamden and I’s relationship.”

“Oh buddy…”

“Kamden’s having a hard time with it. I don’t know what to do.”

Nathan’s dad clears his throat, “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks Dad.”

“Anything for you kiddo, love ya.”

“Love you too.”

Nathan hangs up, walking back over to the twins.

Nathan hugs Kamden, “My dad says he’ll try to help smooth things over, it’ll be okay.”

Um,” Kailani interrupts, “Just so I’m clear, Dad made it seem like you did more then just hang out last night.”

A quiet laugh escapes Nathan, “Uh well I’m ace if that answers your question.”

Kailani nods, “Yup, clears that right up.”

Kamden sighs, “I’m doomed…”

Kailani hugs him, ‘No, you’re not. Even if they don’t accept you now, they’ll learn to because they love you.”

“They’re just doing what they think is right.” Nathan adds.

Kamden shakes his head, “Even so, it hurts like hell.”

“I know,” Nathan hugs Kamden, “I know.”

“You two hang here, I better get back before they realize I’m gone.” Kailani stands up, patting her brother on the back before swimming off.

“Smart, no footprints that way.” Nathan remarks.

As Kailani gets back to the house her parents are on the front porch.

“Where have you been, missy?” Amosa scolds her.

“I was looking for Kamden, he’s not at Aunt Maile’s house, I’m worried about him.”

Iolana sighs, “We can’t find him either.”

“He’s probably so scared…” Kailani looks around.

Amosa scuffs, “Nathan seems to be with him, Stanley said he wasn’t home.” 

At the mention of his name, Stanley appears on the beach walking towards them, “Aloha, is everything alright? Are the boys still missing?”

Iolana shakes her head, “We don’t know where they are.”

Stanley walks up onto the porch, “Why would they have run off?”

“They’re gay, Stanley.” Amosa puts it frankly.

Stanley nods, “Okay? Why would that mean they ran off?”

“You knew?!” Amosa storms off.

Stanley looks at Iolana and Kailani, “Let’s just focus on finding them, it’s a big island, they could be anywhere. They could be hurt.”

“Do you think they’re hurt?” Kailani worries.

“I don’t know.” Stanley shakes his head.

Kailani looks around, “Where’s Aunt Maile?”

“We sent her home,” Iolana walks onto the beach, “I’ll start walking this way, Kailani you look on the small islands around since you’ve already been in the water, Stanley you check the other direction.”

Kailani nods. She jumps in the ocean, knowing exactly where they actually are, she makes sure to not head in that direction.

Stanley starts off keeping parallel with Kailani, once they’re far enough away he walks over to the shoreline, “Are they okay?”

“They’re safe, but I wouldn’t say they’re okay. Jump in, I’ll bring you to them.”

Stanley gets in the water, looking over his shoulder to make sure he’s out of sight of Iolana.

Kailani takes Stanley the long way, meandering around like she’s searching. Once she spots the boys on the shore she points Stanley in their direction, “I’m going to keep on ‘searching’.”

“Alright. Thank you Kailani.” Stanley nods.

The two go their separate ways, Kailani swimming off in a random direction, and Stanley making his way to shore.

Nathan spots his head and rushes up to his, kicking waves of seawater up, “Dad!” He smashes into him, being engulfed in a huge hug.

“Oh Nate,” Stanley sighs, “How’s he doing?”

Nathan turns around looking at Kamden, “Not good.” He sighs.

Stanley walks over to him, “Hey buddy,” He sits down beside Kamden, “You wanna talk?”

Kamden looks over at Nathan’s dad, “I can’t go back home.”

Stanley shakes his head, “Your parents are worried about you. They care about you Kamden.”

“They care about me now,” Kamden looks up, “When I’m not there, but once they find me I’ll hear the worst of it. They’ll yell my ear off.” He dips his head back onto his knees.

“It’ll only be for a bit,” Stanley sighs, “It’ll be rough, but you’ll get through it.”

“You don’t understand…” Kamden shakes his head.

Stanley puts his arm around Kamden, “You’ll make it through.”

Kamden stands up, “I need to leave, that’s my only option.”

“You could stay with us,” Nathan adds.

Kamden shakes his head, “Too close, I need to move to Florida or something.” He starts walking away.

“How would you get there?” Nathan asks.

“I’ll find a way,” Kamden looks back at Nathan, “I’m sorry,” He quickens his pace, running off.

Nathan looks at his dad, “What do we do?”

Stanley pulls his son in, “I’m not sure Nate.” 

“Well I’m following him.”

“What if he just needs space?” Stanley questions.

“I’ll give him space, I just need to make sure he’s okay.”

Stanley nods, “Alright, be safe.” He hugs his son.

“Ouch! Dammit!”

Nathan and his dad exchange glances then bound off towards the noise.

“Kamden!” Nathan skirts to a halt, as he finds Kamden toppled over on the ground holding his leg, “Oh my god are you okay?”

“I bashed my stupid leg on a stupid rock!” Kamden cries.

“Here, here let me see,” Stanley rushes over.

Kamden’s knee is gushing blood, turning the sand next to him crimson.

Stanley takes his shirt and rips the sleeve off, tying it around Kamden’s leg.

“We need to get you inside somewhere.” Stanley looks around but all he sees is dense brush and ocean surrounding them.

Stanley props Kamden’s leg up on a log, “Don’t move, I’ll be back.” He jumps in the water.

“Wait Dad!” Nathan calls out, but his dad doesn’t turn around. Nathan sighs, turning back to Kamden, “You’ll be alright.” He sits next to him, “Lay back, you need to keep your leg up higher than your heart.”

“Didn’t we just learn that in health class?” Kamden mentions as he lies down.

“Yup.” Nathan nods, “You’ll be alright,” He squeezes Kamden’s hand.

“It hurts.” Kamden groans.

“Shh, just listen to the waves,” Nathan strokes Kamden’s hair, “Just listen to the waves.”

The two stay in silence, listening to the rhythmic lapping of the waves along the beach.

Nathan looks at Kamden’s leg, the bleeding still hasn’t stopped despite his dad’s efforts. 

Kamden looks up at Nathan, who’s clearly worried, “Is it still bleeding?”

“Not gushing as much as it was, but yeah.”

“Umm..” Kamden thinks back to that last health class, “There was that plant…”

“Oh! The one that stops bleeding!” Nathan looks around.

“Do you remember what It looks like?”

“Uhh.. kalo! That’s it. It’s got big, pointy, kinda arrowhead shaped leaves.” Nathan scans the surrounding brush, “There!” He spots a kalo plant along a stream running towards the inlet. He digs his heel into the ground to loosen the soil then yanks up the plant, roots and all. He carries it over to Kamden, breaking off a stem, “Here, hold the rest of the plant.” He hands the plant and it’s root ball to Kamden.

“Do you remember what Miss Uʻilani said to do?” Kamden asks.

Nathan nods, “Split the raw stem and squeeze the sap onto the cut.”

“Alright, go ahead.”’ Kamden prepares himself for the sting of the plant sap touching his open wound.

Nathan looks at Kamden, “Ready?”

Kamden nods.

Nathan pinches the stem, causing a foaming sap to form. He squeezes it down until it touches Kamden's cut. 

Kamden winches at the sting.

“Alright, now we wait.” Nathan throws the stem on the ground, then grabs Kamden’s hand, “My dad will be back soon.”

Within a few minutes the sap has worked it’s magic and has stopped the bleeding.

“Okay, but still don’t move, you don’t want to reopen it.” Nathan warns him.

“Wasn’t planning on it.” Kamden sighs.

Nathan lays down on his side next to Kamden, “How dare you get hurt.”

Kamden looks over at Nathan, “Thank you.”

Nathan sighs, “I love you…”

A smile creeps onto Kamden’s face, “I love you too.”

“We’ll get through this, Kam, I know we will.” Nathan throws his arm around Kamden and gives him a hug. The two lay there, taking in each other’s presence, because who knows when they will be able to, if ever again.

A splash makes Nathan turn his head, coming onto shore is his dad, Kamden’s Aunt Maile, and Kailani. A wooden boat is behind them, tethered to a tree.

Nathan sits up, wiping sand off his face, “Man, am I glad to see you guys!”

The three rush over to Kamden.

“Oh Kammy…” Maile shakes her head, “You poor thing.”

“It’s not bleeding.” Kailani remarks.

“That would be because of Nathan and our health class.” Kamden smiles at his boyfriend.

Nathan looks at his dad, “How are we going to get him on the boat?” 

Kailani also looks to Stanley, “Can he walk?”

Stanley shakes his head, “I don’t know if I want him to, that tourniquet and his positioning is what’s helping him from bleeding.”

“And the kalo sap!” Nathan adds.

“Kalo sap! You’re a genius!” Stanley smiles.

“Kamden was the one who first remembered it.” Nathan shrugs.

“Alright, less dillydallying, let’s get him on that damn boat!” Maile shakes her head.

“Alright can the four of us lift him, making sure his leg doesn’t move too much?” Stanley looks around.

Maile nods, Kailani shrugs, and Nathan’s looking at Kamden.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Stanley huddles over Kamden, “Keep his leg higher than the rest of his body, but not too high, and don’t move it too too much, we don’t want it breaking open and to start bleeding again.”

The four huddle around Kamden,”Lift on my count,” Stanley says, “One, two, three!”

They lift Kamden up and slowly walk him over to the boat. They have to walk through some water to get him on, but once he’s on, they all let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s head home.” Stanley boards the boat, then helps Nathan, Maile, and Kailani in.

Maile looks down at Kamden, “You alright Kammy?”

“I’ve got a big gash on my leg and my parents hate me, so yeah i’m doing great.” Kamden replies sarcastically. 

“They don’t hate you Kamden.” Maile reassures him.

“Maybe not right this second…”

“They’re impatiently waiting for you at your house.” Stanley adds, “We’ve got an ambulance that should be there waiting for you.”

Once they get back to the Akina’s house Kamden is loaded up onto the ambulance.

In the hospital, Kamden’s laying in a bed while his parents look on anxiously.

“What were you thinking Kamden?” Iolana asks him.

“I didn’t mean to bash my leg open.” Kamden retorts.

“But why did you run off?”

“Because I thought you hate me…” Kamden admits.

“Oh sweetheart,” Iolana crouches beside him, “You know we could never do that, we love you.”

“We do, however, hate the decision you made.” Amosa adds.

“Amosa, leave it, he’s had a hard day.” Iolana sighs.

“No, I’m setting ground rules.” Amosa clears his throat, “No Nathan. Not at my house, not at Stanley’s house, and not at your aunt’s house. You will only see each other at school, not outside of school, no meet ups, not even at school events. You must stay away from him.”

Kamden’s heart sinks, he’s fighting every muscle in his body to not say ‘That’s not fair! He’s my boyfriend!’ but the last thing he wants is to argue with his dad right now, not while he’s hopped up on pain meds that’s for sure.

The doctor comes into the room, “Good news, nothing’s broken. It’s just a deep cut, you’ll just need stitches.”

“Will it scar?” Kamden asks.

The doctor nods, “Probably.”

“Great…” Kamden rolls his eyes.

“Whoever used kalo sap was smart, you didn’t lose much blood.” The doctor comments.

Kamden lets out a long sad sigh, “Yeah.”

“Well I’m going to stitch you up, I don’t know if your parents want to watch,” The doctor turns to Kamden’s parents.

“They can go.” Kamden blurts out.

“Alright, I’ll get you once we’re done.” The doctor ushers Kamden’s parents out of the room, “Everything alright with you and them? Most kids want their parents in the room with them.”

“It’s a long story.” Kamden looks at the doctor.

“My job is to make sure you’re okay, that means mentally too.”

Kamden looks at the doctor; he’s leaning up to Kamden, his bright blue eyes framed by fluffy eyelashes, with a concerned look on his face. 

“They wouldn’t hurt you would they?” The doctor asks.

“No,” Kamden pauses, “I don’t think so.”

The doctor leans back, “Are you sure?” As the doctor leans back he reveals a rainbow pin on his pocket, spotting it Kamden’s eyes light up.

“Ah,” The doctor looks down at his pin, “I see.”

Kamden sighs, “They found out today.”

“I assume they aren’t all that accepting?”

“You’d be right.” 

“Were you close before they found out?”

“Super close.”

“Then you’ll be close again,” The doctor reassures him, “Nothing can permanently break close families.”

“You sure?”

“I know it’ll seem like it’s broken at first, but it'll get better, I promise you.” The doctor smiles.

Kamden sighs, “Alright.”

“Okay then, let’s get you all stitched up and outta here.”

It’s late once Kamden gets home, and all he wants to do is sleep. He heads straight for his room to find Kailani camped on the floor next to his bed.

“What are you doing?” 

Kailani looks up at him, “I didn’t want you to be alone tonight.”

Kamden lays down on his bed, “Thanks.”

He quickly dozes off to sleep.

The following morning, Kailani’s still on his floor.

“That couldn’t have been comfortable.” Kamden comments.

“It was alright, I’m on your rug,” She slithers out of the sleeping bag, “But it didn’t matter if I was comfy, I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I don’t want to leave my bed,” Kamden snuggles deeper into his covers.

“And you don’t have to, I’ll get you whatever you need.”

“Water would be nice.”

She stands up, “Coming right up.”

“Oh Kailani?”

Kailani pauses, “Hmm?”

“Could you let Nathan know I’m alright, like with my leg and all?”

Kailani nods, “I will.”

~present time~

“Now I’ve got a scar on my leg to remind me of that horrid day.” Kamden looks down at his leg.

“Have you figured out what Nathan’s up to?”

“I think he’s studying to be a doctor? But I’m not sure, we fizzled out after we got banned from even looking at each other.”

“Didn’t he move to a different island?”

Kamden nods, “Couldn’t stand being in the same school as me and not being able to talk to me, and I don’t blame him, it was hell.”

“What would you do if you crossed paths again?”

Kamden pauses, “I… I’m not sure.”

“Would you get back together with him?”

Kamden looks at Kailani, “Maybe? I miss him, but I don’t know if that’s just ‘cause he was my first love or if it’s because we didn’t really end things on our terms. There’s so many ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’, that I don’t think I can give you a straight answer.”

“Kamden I never expect a straight answer from you.” Kailani jokes

Kamden rolls his eyes at his sister's joke, “I’ve never thought about maybe rekindling things with him… I don’t think we’ll ever cross paths again though.”