All At Sea by Pepper Ellison Page A

anyone even remotely like you and that’s what makes me lash out and get snotty with you. That’s why I ask too many questions. I’m frustrated with the need to know more. I want to know what you’re doing when we’re not together and I want to know what you’re thinking when we are. I can’t even begin to guess what goes on in your brain. (Strike that...except when you’ve had too many beers, then I’m pretty sure I know.)
    But I’m not completely friendless and closed-off. At least not as much as I used to be.  I think Cristina genuinely likes me and I genuinely like her. She invited me for a sleepover. Probably sounds dumb, having a sleepover, but it was fun. We did nails and played bowling on her old Wii. We ate dim sum on the lanai and her grandmother explained the spirit of Aloha to me. There were younger siblings and cousins everywhere, running around, and crawling all over us. It was wonderful. We’ve never had weirdness between us, and it could be very easy to have weirdness between us considering her mom cleans my room and does my laundry. So maybe there’s hope for me in the friend department. Last I counted, I have three of what I hope are real friends now. And if what you’re saying is true and there is more to Jacqueline than meets the eye, that could make four. That’s more than I’ve ever had at one time so I think I’m off to a good start.
     
     
    Thursday 6 th March 9.25am
    —Koa Boxing Club & Gym—
    You can be a really cool chick, you know that?
    But I still can’t come to the party.
    I’m at the gym right now. Lachie gets me to spar with him. Or at least I hold pads and he smacks the shit out of them and frightens me. This place is a perpetual armpit. Sweat and blood and lugies. Pressed metal and Amity Affliction.
    The thing is the bro code. You know the bro code? Lachie called dibs, like I said. I couldn’t call dibs, for obvious reasons. And he’s punched me enough times to indicate that he requires my absence in order to work his magic with you.
    Also I saw the two of you the other day in the florist shop.
    Lachie! In a florist shop! Blew. My. Mind.
    I had to go into the jungle and swing in a hammock and think about it for a while. Like Hemingway, without the genius – just the gin. (Although I really did have business to attend to. You don’t totally run my life.) I am thinking I should take you up there one time. You would like Sasha. She has, like, this radiant energy.
    Lachie really likes you. I think. Maybe I was wrong.
     
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.16pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Hey, you! You came! I can see you by the keg. O_O  Look up, I’m on the balcony. *waves hello*
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.18pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Nice shirt, btw. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a shirt. Very Aloha-without-trying-too-hard. :P
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.25pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Yeah ta. I’ve been here for ages. You look like you’re having a good time. Might go soon anyway.
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.43pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    You’re not going to come up and say hi to me?
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.43pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Wouldn’t want to cramp your style.
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.44pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Slap the beer out of my hand at least?
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 10.45pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    Slap your own self. Oh that’s right. You only wanted my advice when you were paying for it. That will be twenty bucks.
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 11.01pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    We’re doing shots up here, sure you don’t want to join us for a toast? Seal the deal on the bro code thing?  Hawaiian Shooters. Yum.
     
     
    Saturday 8th March 11.12pm
    —Private Residence, Honolulu, Oahu—
    For a thoroughbred you don’t have very nice manners. The first time I met you, you had