Harbor Docks: Chepe's Birthday

Leaving the mall Lena kept laughing to herself glancing toward the passenger seat getting a look at Chepe and his colorful face, stained with ice-cream that he either didn’t see or just didn’t waste his time trying to wash off. Lena was actually covered in the sticky mess so much so that she had to peel her sticky fingers from the steering wheel. Being dirty didn’t bother her, actually her mind was one something much different. She didn’t know why but it kept wandering back to that kiss…had he only kissed her to pull one over on her? Pushing the thought far from her mind, a smile spread across her lips as they pulled up to their next destination, The Harbor.

Although Tatawala Harbor was normally packed with dock workers, sailors, and your everyday tourist there was this small dinky floating dock off by itself. Normally only kids and your occasional group of hooligans hung around that area, but for the most part it was normally abandoned. Lena and the Still siblings had come here a couple times during the summer instead of the beach, since Kyren never took too kindly to crowds. They would eat taffy and dip their feet in the water until the sunset. Enjoying each other’s company… it was place Lena came to escape. She wanted to share it with Chepe and his sister, and maybe get a little revenge on him. Running down to the end of the dock Lena waved them over to follow her.

Chepe looked over at Lena, smiling as she drove. He just couldn't stop watching her, during the entire drive. He wondered why they were at the Harbor when the car stopped.
Getting out of the car, Chepe ran after Lena, his sticky hair plastered down with ice cream. Catching up to her on the docks, he carefully placed his guitar near the dock. Tesanee had followed and was sitting on the sand, waiting. Chepe went up to Lena and looked at her, smiling again. "Something tells me we're ending up in the water." he said, teasing her a little.

Well he was a smart boy.

“Of course! What better way to clean off?” She asked kicking her shoes off. Grabbing the bottom of her shirt she pulled it off revealing her light blue bikini, which she remembered to put on although she was running late that morning. “Plus a little birdie told me you loved to swim.” Lena shimmed out of her jeans kicking them off to the side of the dock. Coming around Chepe -a smile on her face hinting that she was up to no good- Lena slipped her hand into his front pocket, retrieving his cellphone. Holding the phone out of reach she gave Chepe a big enough push to send him over the edge of the dock and into the crystal clear water. Calling out a heads up to Tesanee she gently tossed his phone to her, where it would be safe from ending up hanging with the fish in the ocean.

"Wh...whoah!" Chepe said as he went over the edge of the dock into the water.When he resurfaced, spluttering and spitting water out of his mouth, he reached up and grabbed Lena's ankle pulling her off the dock, into the water, being careful so she wouldn't hit her head. He realized he was wearing his stained shirt still,so he removed it, pulling it over his head, and dropping it on the dock. He scratched his shoulder. He took off swimming quickly, looking behind him to see if she was following him or not.

Tesanee caught Chepe's phone and tucked it into his guitar bag. She sat on the edge of the dock watching them. She really wanted to leave, so she yelled at them. "You guys want to do 'truth or dare'?" she asked. She planned to use that game to get away from them, and she figured they could do it in the water. She had no problem going for a walk, and she wanted to leave her brother alone. She planned to walk a while then go back to her dorm.

Getting pulled into the water hadn't been part of Lena's plan. Surfacing she splashed at Chepe as he swam away. So there was someone that could keep up with her crazy antics. She liked that. Hearing Tesanee call out to them Lena swam closer to the dock holding onto the edge of it. "Truth or Dare, huh? Sure I think I can go a round or two. If your brother isn't to scared that is." Lena teased looking over her shoulder to see if he was coming back.

Tesanee smiled. "So who's going first?" She asked, dangling her feet over the edge of the dock, watching her brother swimming around. She saw him heading back toward them and smiled a little.

Chepe turned and saw Lena swim to the dock where his sister was talking to her. Swimming around a little more, he headed back toward the girls, wondering just what could be so interesting. When he made it to the dock he silently tread water while staying behind Lena, motioning for his sister to be quiet. His hair was soaked and was sticking to his wet skin. He was trying hard not to laugh. He inched a little closer to the girls.

“Well how about we let the birthday boy go first.” Lena’s said treading water near the edge of the dock her eyes currently on Tesanee who seemed to be looking passed her for some reason. Cocking an eyebrow Lena followed her gaze beginning to turn around to see what the little girl had been looking at.

Chepe waited until Lena had turned completely around and could see him before sending a wall of water her way.He laughed, still treading water. Using his right hand he rubbed his left shoulder above the red and black nautical star tattoo there. "And just what are we playing?" he asked, curiously. He looked over at his sister. "What did you decide to do?" He looked nervously from his sister to Lena and back again.

Tesanee smiled sweetly at her brother. "We decided to play truth or dare....and YOU have to go first!!" She said, laughing at him. "So...come on big brother. Who is it gonna be?" she asked him. Tesanee grinned, glad she was dry. Staying dry was part of her plan to escape-they really didn't need her there, and if her plan worked once she'd gone they would be able to start getting to know each other. She really loved her brother, but sometimes SHE thought he could be really stupid, even though it might not be true.

Lena had only a second to react as Chepe –the sneaky little bugger- sent a wall of water her way. Swimming towards the dock she managed to escape most of his surprise attack. Swiftly pulling herself onto the edge of the wooden dock Lena dipped her feet into the water soaking up the warmth of the sun. Playfully kicking her bare feet, sending small minuscule splashes in Chepe’s direction Lena responded, “Yep just an innocent game of truth and dare, so who is going to be Chepe?” The word innocent should never be used when referring to Lena, but she knew what was acceptable in the presence of a young girl. She wouldn’t go overboard while Tesanee was present; she was quite fond of her. Running her fingers through her drenched curls, Lena waited for Chepe to start off the game.

Chepe laughed. "So you two decided this all by yourself, huh?" he said, lying back in the water floating. He closed his eyes against the sun. "Okay...fine. Truth or dare little sis." His hair was spread out in the water like a black cloud. He waited for Tesanee to answer.

Tesanee was a little surprised. She was sure her brother would have asked Lena the first question. She grinned. "Okay fine." She said. "Dare." she ran her fingers through her black hair, wondering what he was going to make her do.

"Ok, tes," Chepe said, still with his eyes closed, floating, "Then I want you to go get my guitar and try to play a song." He smiled a little. "Just by trying to do it you will have completed the request." he knew she couldn't do it so he made it easy for her on purpose. He could never have asked her to play an actual song...he would have felt awful for setting her up that way.

Tesanee looked at Chepe. Oh no she thought. Getting up, she went over to her brother's guitar bag, unzipped it and pulled out the guitar. Slipping the strap over her head, she positioned herself like she'd seen her brother do so many times. She attempted to play the instrument, laughing at the horrible sound she was making. after a few minutes of the noise, she slipped the guitar strap over her head again and put the guitar away. Making her way back over to Chepe and Lena, she sat again. "Okay..." she said, looking at Lena. "Lena, truth or dare."

Granted the sound Tesanee produced as she tried to play the guitar wasn’t very appealing, but all that mattered was she gave it a shot. Lena clapped her hands applauding her attempted, “Bravo! That was much better than anything I could have done! Mine would have made you guys cry.” Lena joked leaning back on her hands. She didn’t just tease others she could even poke fun at herself if the moment called for it. Flashing a smile at Tesanee she figured she would go all out. “Dare! What do you got for me little one!?”

Tesanee grinned. "I dare you to keep this game going once I leave. I plan to go for a walk and then go back to my dorm. I'll call you when I get there!" She laughed before jumping up and taking off down the harbor, toward the car. Passing it she disappeared around a corner, her hair flying out behind her and was gone in seconds.

It would be an understatement to say that Lena was shocked at Tesanee’s Dare. It was out of left field. What was Chepe’s little sister planning? Before Lena could even answer the little girl was already at the other end of the dock running off with a cunning smile plastered on her face. Scratching the back of her head Lena looked at Chepe still in the water, “I know it was a dare and all, but is it really okay to let her take off alone?” Lena had the urge to get into her car and go find Tesanee, though she was already probably long gone. It worried her…remembering her dad coming home many times before talking about kids disappearing from the island when their parent’s had taken their eyes off them. As feisty as Tesanee seemed it didn’t mean something couldn’t happen….maybe she was just over thinking it. Lying down on her stomach Lena decided to make good on her dare. “Alright, well what will it be Chepe? Truth or Dare?”

Chepe's phone started ringing in his guitar's bag.

Chepe looked in the direction tesanee had taken. "I think she'll be fine. I'm sure she'll call when she makes it home." He closed his eyes again. "Dare, I guess." He wondered what she was going to make him do. He didn't figure it would be anything he'd have a problem doing. He started swimming again, thinking it was odd she was still sitting up on the dock when it had been her idea to come here. He was interested to see exactly what she was going to say. He really didn't care what she wanted him to do.

Sitting back up Lena smirked glancing over her shoulder at the crowded harbor. “Alright I dare you to go up to a random person and tell them it’s your birthday today and that it’s time for your birthday hug….you can’t stop until someone agrees to hug you.” Lena laughed remembering the day she totted Emma along telling everyone one the same thing. Trying to break the small brunette of her shyness, she’d never seen Kyren so mad when he heard how many guys were more than willing give his little sister a hug. Now it was far better, seeing as Chepe was dripping wet. Plus if he couldn’t find someone who was willing to get a little wet…she wouldn’t mind helping him complete the dare, after all she did give good hugs.

Chepe climbed up on the dock next to Lena. Standing up next to her, he looked over at several people he saw scattered over the harbor shoreline. He yelled "Today is my birthday and it's time for my birthday hug...Any takers?" laughing as he said it.

Unable to hold in her amusement Lena got to her feet laughing at the sight of Chepe -- standing up at the end of the dock his arms opened wide asking for any takers for his hug. She hadn't expected him to be so enthusiastic, it was rather cute. A few people stopped and stared seeing there was no way they were hugging a boy who was dripping wet Lena wrapped her arms around him from behind. “Sorry everyone, his hugs belong to me!” She announced, pulling him off the end of the dock the two of them crashing into the water.

When Lena pulled him off the dock..again...and he had resurfaced, he looked at her, laughing. "You like doing that, don't you?" They had let go of each other when they hit the water so they could right themselves. Chepe moved closer to her again and put his arms around her, giving Lena a hug. "I'll hug you any time." He looked at her face, grinning. "Truth or dare, Lena?" he asked.

Chepe’s arms press against the small of her back as he pulled her into his embrace. Luckily he was a good swimmer since Lena was a having a little trouble treading water with his arms around her. Not the one one to pass up a hug – especially not one from Chepe- Lena wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer, her bikini clad body pressing against him. Her voice was at his ear when she replied with her choice.

“Truth...”