Where it all Began . . .

While Chepe waited for Chuck he decided he may as well get their food going. He quickly got together the ingredients for their lunch. Chepe planned to make beef stew, so he took out beef, carrots and potatoes. he put the meat in a skillet with a little olive oil and left it to cook while he put the potatoes and carrots into a metal dish. when the meat was cooked through, he added it to the dish as well, with the water and beef broth. after he put it into the oven he made Angel's food. He called Lorilynn again and was talking to her while the food was cooking. after about half an hour the food was done, and Chepe was still on the phone with lorilynn. He hung up the phone, peeved that Chuck had not come back and he shoved the food in the fridge and went to bed. He woke up early the next morning. Chepe showered, fed angel and ate breakfast after getting dressed in black jeans and a green shirt, before heading to the courtyard with Angel.

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Aaron sighed, and rolled off his bed. No. Really, off the bed. "Ouchhh..." he said, rubbing his head, and looking around his small room. "I'd better get ready..." he said, standing up, again, buuuuuut, tripping over his own feet and falling down again. "I hate being so tall.." he said, getting up again, and stepping out of his room. He went over to the washroom, and washed his face. Gosh, he looked like a panda. He brushed his teeth, and hair, hoping that it was all okay. Aaron sighed, and went out of the washroom, closing the lights, and heading towards his room. 'Maybe a little bit of sleep won't kill me....' Aaron thought, plopping down on his bed, and closing his eyes. 'OH SHOOT...' he thought to himself, falling down the bed, and scampering to his closet, "TODAY'S SCHOOL, HOW CAN I FORGET THAT?" he questioned himself on how late he was going to be when he got dressed. He wore a black undershirt, and a red vest. He had flow-y jeans, and wore his nike shoes. He grabbed a bag he prepared yesterday, fulled with a pencil case, and a notebook. He closed the door in the dorm, and headed towards the school.

Chepe opened the dorm door and hurried inside. Angel ran on ahead of him, her chubby body wiggling from side to side, her silky ears flopping, as she jumped on Lena and wagged her tail at her. Chepe stood a little ways away from them, pulling his guitar out again, unnoticed by Lena, who was petting Angel. The thunder was getting louder and more dangerous sounding. He took the little tape player out again as well, and set it to the prerecorded music his friends had done for him.

Chepe started singing again, smiling as he played, his hair falling down into his eyes, as he watched Lena.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0729fcEsEk&feature=player_embedded#!

No wonder it was so expensive to dorm at Valevay high, their rooms were like mini apartments. Fully equipped with everything the student’s living in them would ever need. Not wanting to get caught gawking at their living space, Lena gave her full attention to the chunky little dog bouncing around at her feet begging for attention. Before she knew it the dorm filled up with music, the sound bouncing off the walls as the melody melted within itself. Picking up Angel Lena walked over to the couch sitting down, resting the puppy comfortably in her lap, her eyes never leaving Chepe as he sang. The expression on his face was one she had yet to see since their reunion, he looked like he was really enjoying himself. It was captivating.

Chepe was really enjoying playing for Lena. He didn't feel awkward at all. When the song ended he considered not doing any more. He wanted to go sit by her and talk with her. He decided to ask her if she wanted him to play another one. "Lena, do you want me to do another one? I mean before we start talking?" he smiled.

Did she want to hear him play some more? Absolutely. Actually she could probably listen to his music all day long if he let her, but glancing out at the storm she knew she would have to head home soon. Getting stuck in her car wasn’t very tempting. Leaning back into the soft cushions of the couch Lena snuggled Angel kissing the top of her head before answering. “How about we talk a little? Since I will have to head out soon.”

Chepe smiled. "Sounds good." He sat on the couch. "So tell me anything you want me to know," he grinned at her as she was sitting beside him. "Do you have siblings? Where are you living now? I'm interested in everything." he laughed. "When you're ready to go, I'm walking back to your car with you. It will probably be raining and I want to make sure you get there okay." He leaned back. "I have an umbrella we can use." he said, as he let his fingers rest gently on his guitar. Lifting the beautiful instrument from his lap, he carefully put it back in it's bag next to him on the couch.

“Siblings? Ha! No…” Lena laughed, the thought of her parent’s giving her a brother or sister had crossed her mind many times before. However, they didn’t have enough time to spare for her let alone to be intimate with each other, not that she even wanted that thought anywhere near her mind! “Emma and Kyren Stills are the closest things I have to siblings. Although, I think I’m more of a nuisance to Ky more than anything else.” Kicking off her shoes Lena pulled her bare feet –decorated with rosy red nail polish- up onto the couch, tucking them to the side of her as she curled against the large cushion. Her gaze watched with interest as Chepe delicately returned his guitar to its case. Folding her hands over her stomach, head slightly tilted in order to rest comfortably against the cushion Lena asked, “ Why did you guys leave the island all those years ago…and well…what’s brought you back?”

Chepe glanced over at Lena and noticed her toenails as she pulled her feet up on the couch, and smiled a litle. Sighing, Chepe said, "The only reason I was ever told why we moved was because my dad wanted to see what else was out there, besides our little island. I hated it. I wanted to come back so many times, and I was always trying to convince my parents. They laughed me off, never taking me seriously." Chepe looked at Lena. "It was really hard not being here." Chepe blew the hair out of his eyes. "My sister and brother and I all moved back here to live with our aunt and cousin because our parents died in a car accident. I was able to rescue my sister...swam with her on my back to shore. But I wasn't able to save our parents...they drowned. We had to leave our home....I miss the house but I was hoping to see you when we got here. I was afraid your family would have moved before I got back here."

Lena’s chest tightened upon hearing that Chepe’s parents were killed, she told herself that she must have heard him wrong…it couldn’t be true that such wonderful people were no longer in this world. A lump formed in her throat the thought almost bringing Lena to tears. She could remember them like it was yesterday. Whenever her parent’s had to work late they invited her over for his mom’s delicious cooking. They were such a tight knit family that even at the age of 6 Lena envied them.

The look on Chepe’s face had changed as he spoke, sadness overcoming him. Unable to hold still Lena instinctively reached out for him. She hated seeing him in pain. Now on her knees she pulled him into her embrace. She wasn’t going to tell him she was sorry for his loss... he didn’t need that, surely already receiving more than he could handle. Instead she wanted him to know, although she didn’t understand completely what he was going through, or would she ever….she would be there for him. Hugging him close she whispered, her voice strained from the lump that had formed in her throat, “I’m here for you…whenever you need someone to talk to. I'm not going anywhere.”

Chepe leaned into Lena's hug, putting his arms around her and holding on like he would never let go. "Thanks," he said, quietly. "It's hard...and my parents always liked you too." Chepe was fighting to keep from crying. He didn't want to do it in front of her. There would be plenty of time to cry later, in private. He was a little surprised she had hugged him, but he was happy she did.

Lena eased back as far as his arms would allow her. Looking down into his gorgeous green eyes she smiled replying honestly, “I really liked your parent’s too. They were good people Chepe.” Brushing his dark locks from his face she chuckled softly, “I’m tempted to sneak in here and cut your hair, if it keeps falling in your face like that!” Joking with him in hopes of cheering him up…if only just a little, Lena moved in a little closer. “You shouldn’t hide a handsome face like yours.”

Chepe looked at Lena, now actually crying, but silently, tears streaming from his eyes. He blinked and looked away from her. At the same time he laughed at the idea of her sneaking into his dorm with a pair of scissors. He could just see her sneaking through the door of their ground level dorm to cut his hair. Chepe smiled a little at her compliment. "My parents would want me to tell you that you grew up to be a stunning girl if they were here..." he said, a little unsure if she would take it the wrong way. "They always thought you were a cute little girl. They loved having you over." Chepe was trying to stop the tears from coming anymore. "They liked you so much."

Stunning? Hardly…but the comment was appreciated, bringing a warm smile to Lena’s lips. “I was six years old Chepe, of course they thought I was cute, but thank you. Someday I’ll have to go see where they were laid to rest, and properly thank them…for all the kindness they showed me.” Tracing her fingers along his cheek she brushed away the trailing tears. She could only imagine how hard it has been for him and his siblings…How long had he held back his tears in order to be strong for Tesanee? The last time Lena had seen Chepe’s little sister she was barely a year old, she must have been devastated. Giving him a comforting squeeze, Lena offered him her shoulder. She wasn’t planning on leaving until she knew he was feeling better, or he asked her to of course.

Chepe said, "I planned to have them moved here to be buried as soon as I can...They did love the island and were going to come back before. But then the accident happened. I couldn't stand the thought of never being able to visit their graves." He looked at her, still with a trace of tears in his eyes. Chepe smiled slightly at Lena "I can see that you don't believe you're as petty as I say you are..but you really are." He smiled slightly at the feel of her fingers on his cheek, wiping away the tears. "Sorry about losing it in front of you." he said. "I don't generally cry in front of people." He used his hand to wipe the long hair out of his eyes, resting his head on her shoulder. He was happy that she was still living on the island.

Tesanne didn't know what to do when she realized she left her key in her dorm room. She hurried to her brother's dorm, through the lightning, rain and thunder. When she got there, she saw the door was open. She pushed it open. "Chepe? are you here?" she asked going in to get out of the rain.

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind.” She said waving away his concern about letting a few tears escape. This wasn’t the first time Lena saw Chepe shed a few tears, the day he told her about his parent’s decision to move she could have sworn she caught a tear in his eye. She ended up hugging him back then too…and if she had a choice, her 7 year old self would have never let him leave. Thinking back to it now that had been the day she first kissed a boy, on the cheek of course. A lot had changed since then…but why not give him the same treatment. It seemed to make him feel better the first time.

A cunning smile spread over Lena’s lips, as she bumped his head up a little with her shoulder. Cradling his face in her hands she leaned in planting a small soft kiss on his cheek, “I hope you feel better soon.” She said letting her hands drop from his face. Smiling at him she added, “Oh and welcome back.”

Lena was pulling away from Chepe, as the voice of a young child reached her ears. Turning she saw a little girl, with an unmistakable resemblance to Chepe, walk into the dorm. This adorable young girl had to be Tesanee, and what beautiful young lady she had become.

Chepe looked at Lena a little surprised. Then he remembered the day he'd had to move. He's been crying then too, and she had done the exact same thing to him then. He smiled a little. Having her kiss his cheek now sure was different from how it had felt back then. Her lips were soft on his cheek and her hands felt warm on his face. He blushed a little. It did help him feel a little better to remember the first kiss she'd given him, as a friend, that day so long ago. Smiling a little at Lena, he turned to Tesanee. "Hi, Tes," he said. "Why are you out in this storm? You really should be back in your dorm, out of this storm." He looked at Lena again, "Tes, this is Lena...you probably don't remember her because you were really young when we moved."

Tesanee looked up. "I left my key to my dorm AT my dorm and now I'm locked out. I came here because I didn't know where else to go." she said. "I still need to plan your birthday party!" she said sadly. "But I won't be able to if I can't get back to my dorm." Tesanee turned her attention to Lena, her gaze traveling over the bright red curly hair and dark blue eyes. She noticed the freckles across her cheeks and nose. "You're pretty." she said shyly. "Lena's a pretty name." she looked up at Lena.

“Well thank you Tesanee. You have grown into beautiful young lady yourself.” Lena said smiling at the small girl as she got up from her spot on the couch. Not missing the mention of Chepe’s birthday Lena knelt down in front of her. “Well, Chepe is one lucky brother to have such a caring little sister. You know it must be hard to plan a surprise all by yourself,” lowering her voice making it difficult to be overheard Lena whispered, “How about I give you my number and tonight we can plan it together?”

Tesanee smiled at Lena, a big smile spreading across her face. "I would like that." she said softly. "I wan to surprise him," tesanee looked at her brother and grinned. "He's watching you Lena...." she said. "I think he likes you." she smirked a little. She looked at Angel jumping on the couch, trying to climb up.

Aaron finally came back to his dorm after a long time of dozing off. He sighed, and unlocked the dorm room, calling in to it, "I'm back!" he said, taking off his shoes, and heading to his room, "Hello Chepe, Nee, and..." he tried to remember her name, 'she was Cho--cho..uhh..Cholana? Cho..lena? Ehh...' he thought to himself, going with the second choice, "Hello Chepe's friend." he said, giving them a slight wave, and going into his room. Hosting time was coming.

Upon hearing from Tesanee that her brother was staring, Lena couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. Indeed he was looking, but of course he would be seeing as his little sister was right there…locked out of her dorm. Flashing him her pearly whites Lena came back to the couch digging through her purse for a pen. Once she found one she grabbed Tesanee’s hand scribbling her number on the back of it. “Call me later and we can talk about it all night long. Okay?” Putting the lid back on the pen, she patted Tesanee’s head gently. “Until then maybe your brother can help you get back into your dorm. I’m sure he can find a way to open your door. As for me I need to head home before the weather gets too bad, and I get stranded in my car.” Lena winked at Chepe, wishing his good luck with his sister’s locked dorm door. Grabbing her purse she said her goodbyes, bending down to plant a kiss on Angel’s head.

As she headed towards the door one of Chepe’s roommates had arrived. Luckily she was much better with names then he was. Smiling she reached up ruffling his hair as she exited calling out over her shoulder, “Have a nice night guys, you too Aaron.”

Chepe said to Tesanee, "Be right back." Grabbing an umbrella he followed Lena out of the door to walk back to her car with her, just as he said he would. He wanted to make sure she got back all right. He held the umbrella over her head so she wouldn't get wet, but he was soaked in seconds, his clothes soggy and sticking to himself. His long hair was plastered to his head and was dripping water in his eyes.



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