“I don’t, but we aren’t going into the ocean. His cousin is going to put some little fish in the pool for me to see. You know I like fish, and his cousin works there, so we get to do it for free.”
“What happened to keeping a distance?” He asked sternly.
“I am. After I go see the fish tomorrow.” Monique continued typing in her phone.
“What are you doing there?”
“Texting Atlas.” Monique said.
“That’s distance?” He asked.
“Just seeing what I had to bring tomorrow.” Monique sighed deeply, and then got up and walked to her room.
~*~
The next day Monique showed up in the hills in her gray and gold one piece swimsuit. It was designed like a sailor girl outfit; the bottom was even styled like shorts. She had a large Hawaiian style button up shirt over it and gray sandals.
She walked over to Atlas and a boy who looked to be around their age. His hair was cut short, very low, unlike Atlas who had enough to put into small ponytails, he was also more built. She wouldn’t normally have noticed, but the two were in swim trunks and neither boy was wearing a shirt. Atlas was also a bit shorter, his eyes bigger, and face rounder.
“Aloha, Monique.” Atlas said, “This is my cousin Willie.”
“Aloha.” Willie said shaking her hand. “I’ve heard a bit about you.”
“Hey.” Monique said.
“So, let’s go start your scuba training.” Willie said.
Monique looked at Willie, then at Atlas, “Training?”
“The pool is usually for scuba training, or little kids.” Willie explained.
“Training means that you intend to learn how to do the real thing, which I don’t intend to do.” Monique followed the two boys down the hill to the marina.
“She is a feisty one.” Willie said teasing Atlas. “Does she have a sister?”
Atlas laughed, “Just her and her dad.” He said simply.
Monique rolled her eyes. She knew the comment was meant to be overheard, so she decided not to give them the satisfaction of a retort.
Atlas looked at Monique, “It’s not a real training. Willie put some fish into the setting pool so you can look at them.”
“Once you get bored with this you will be ready for the ocean, so it’s training.” Willie said. He opened the gate behind the building and led them to the three foot pool of water that held many fish of seemingly every possible color. He went to a closet against the building and returned with two towels and two pair of goggles.
“I have some work to do, if you need anything call me or Trey, he should be back soon. He took a boat out with some tourists.” Willie explained.
“Trey is his older brother.” Atlas offered, “The two are a year apart and look like twins, but once you get to know them you’ll know who is who.”
“Yeah, I’m the fun one.” Willie said laughing.
“He is the crazy one, and Trey is more quiet and serious.” Atlas explained.
“I’m no more Lolo than you, bradah.” Willie said.
“Never mind him.” Atlas picked up the goggles off the table where Willie had placed them and handed a pair to Monique. “The stairs are over here.” He said walking over to them.
Monique looked at the water, and then at Atlas, “I said ankle deep water.”
“The fish need water to swim around in; this is just above your knees.”
Monique set her shirt by the towels and took the goggles following behind Atlas. “I hope you know CPR in case I drown.”
“It’s been four years since I took that class, but Willie knows it.” Atlas said.
“Your cousin kissing me, no thanks.” Monique said.
She walked slowly into the cold water. Stopping for a few minutes on each step. She stood still so long on each step the fish felt safe enough to swim right against her.
She stopped on the second step and sat down on the top one. “This is as far as I’m going.” She said.
Atlas was swimming around, it had been over a half an hour already and she was still on the steps.
Atlas chuckled, “I give up now on getting you into the ocean. Is it the fish?” He asked.
“No, the fish are the only reason I went this far.” Monique said.
“Not for me?” Atlas said walking over to her. He pouted and looked up at her from his knees, “Is there something else you’d like to do?”
“Can we just sit and relax?” Monique asked.
Atlas stood up and sat beside her. “Sure.” He said. “We can even go look at the fish in tanks inside.”
“In tanks?” Monique said confused.
“Like these.” Atlas said. “My cousins collect the colorful ones and sell them to tourist. They also breed the ones they have to increase their stocks.”
“Interesting.” Monique said. “Let’s go see.” She stepped out the pool and got the towel drying off.
Atlas followed her lead and did the same. “You like fish?”
“I once had a fish bigger than your head. My dad got it for me when I was five, I raised and cared for it for over ten years.”
“Where is it now?” Atlas asked.
“After the incident with my mom I was always forgetting to feed it and clean the tank and so my Dad gave it to my aunt. She had little gold fish.” Monique explained.
She put her shirt and shoes back on and turned to Atlas. “So both your cousins work here?”
“Yeah, their dad owns it.” atlas said.
“Then why don’t you work here?” She asked.
“You don’t like my job?” Atlas asked.
“Just wondered why you don’t work with family.” Monique said shrugging her shoulders.
“Because Willie is only three months older than me and I don’t want him as my boss.” Atlas said, “But, really it’s their dad’s family. We are related by our moms, they’re sisters.”
Monique started laughing, “I would do the same.”
“Now, let’s see these fish.” Atlas said. He opened the door Willie went through. “Willie, we’re done. We going look at the fish.” He shouted not seeing his cousin.”
After an hour looking at the fish Monique decided she was ready to go.
Atlas walked her home, “How come you do so much walking?” He asked. “I know everything is close, but still.”
“Well, I don’t see how you could be on a bike all day.” Monique said, “But, I used to march with my dance class when I volunteered, so I’m used to it.”
“So, why’d you stop dancing?” Atlas asked.
“The ballet outfits are cute when you’re little and mistakes get you a, ‘try harder next time.’ As you get older though it gets serious and it isn’t so much fun.”
Monique frowned as she spoke, “Plus, I’m no sugar plum fairy anymore.” She giggled.
“You still look like a fairy to me, sugar plum, strawberry, coconut.” Atlas laughed.
“No, you’re the coconut.” Monique laughed.
Atlas laughed, “I’m not crazy, I just don’t see a reason to take things so seriously.”
“Joking around is fine sometimes, but life isn’t a joke. People in the real world aren’t as nice as the ones in your head.” Monique sighed. She walked up to her porch and got her keys out.
“I’ll come to your job from now on. Just no more scuba.” Monique said.
“It’s a deal.” Atlas laughed, “How about next time we do a little star gazing?”
“I guess we can when you get off of work.” Monique said.
“Aww, it’s like you’re trying to be nice.” Atlas teased.
“Don’t make me change my mind.” Monique said as she cut her eyes at him.
“Yes, let me leave while I’m ahead.” Atlas said.
He kissed her cheek and walked away. “I’ll text you when I get home.”
~*~
“Monique!” Her dad shouted when she entered the house.
“What are you doing here?” Monique asked surpri
sed.
“Everyone was sent home early.” He said simply. “Now what was that about?”
“It was just a kiss on the cheek.” Monique said rolling her eyes and going to her room.
“Monique, don’t do anything dumb!” Her dad shouted.
“I can do whatever I want, you don’t care anyway. What I do won’t interfere with your job so why the fuck do you care!?!”
“Monique!” Her father yelled.
Monique turned on her laptop, opened a music file, slapped on her headphones and blasted the first song on the first playlist available.
~*~
Four weeks passed and Monique found spending time with Atlas her daily routine.
She’d meet him around teen on the hill and relax, then they would go by his grandmother to eat lunch, then he’d head to work and she’d go home at about a quarter to one, then at six she would go to his job for the show. After he got off the two would then walk to Monique’s house and do a little star gazing on the way.
Wednesday was Atlas’s only day off and it was spent doing whatever the two had been talking about doing during the week. Normally it meant doing something Monique enjoyed, cooking with Tutu, or relaxing doing a puzzles. Simple things, but time treasured.
During these few weeks Monique had gotten to know Atlas’s grandmother like she was her own, and she loved having her over. So calm, and quiet and helpful; Tutu had actually become one of Monique’s closest friends, and the two loved to tease Atlas about it.
Willie was also a little jealous. He thought Monique was cool, but didn’t like how rarely Atlas came by now that she was in the picture. He wasn’t one to do anything about it since he had female friends of his own, but instead turned to teasing Atlas about being in love.
It seemed like Monique was discovering a way to make the island a home. It was almost like she had always been there and would always be, but at the end of everyday when she went home and saw her father she was reminded of her reality by two simple words: not today. Which meant the company didn’t make her Dad’s transfer official and that she might be returning home to Chicago and would never see Atlas again.
The weeks passed and then came the day of his reunion. His family who lived on the main land came to his grandmother’s for a big party. Atlas’s grandmother, Willie, and Trey all knew her very well and like her, even Atlas’s mother who only seen her a few times thought she was a nice girl. Though she knew a few people there, there were still many faces that were totally unfamiliar.
Atlas was running around helping his grandmother, mother, and aunt get everything together. So much so, that it seemed he was the only one helping. Willie was in the yard with their three uncles and grandfather, Trey was preoccupied with his girlfriend, and all the other cousins were under the age of ten.
“Are Hawaiian parties always at night?” Monique asked as she followed Atlas into the living room.
It was four o’clock and people were still cooking and setting things up.
“The party started this morning.” Atlas replied. “They are just preparing the feast for tonight.”
“Monique! Aloha!” Willie said walking over to her and Atlas sitting on the porch. “I knew you were family.”
“Shut-up.”Atlas said playfully pushing Willie away.
“Your mom told me to come tell you she needs you to go home and get her swimsuit and stuff. She said the bag was on her bed.” Willie said.
“Alright.” Atlas said. “You coming?” He asked Monique.
“Duh.” She said and followed behind him.
“Are you scared of my cousin?” Atlas asked once they had started walking down the road. “You act like you don’t want to be around him without me.”
“He seems like a pervert.” Monique said.
Atlas started laughing. “A pervert, maybe a little. He says freaky, but I never did understand the difference.”
Monique shook her head, “If it’s only with his girlfriend he can be freaky, but not to every girl. That’s just a pervert.”
“He might want you to be his girlfriend.” Atlas teased.
“Or he might only want me because I’m with you.” Monique said.
“You’re with me?” Atlas said acting crazy, “When did this happen?”
“I think when you started kissing me.” Monique said.
“I told you those were invitations.” Atlas said.
“I don’t need an invitation every night to do the same thing the next day that we did every day before.” Monique giggled.
“So, you’re my girlfriend?”
Monique nodded, “Depends, are you a pervert like your cousin?”
“I thought you said it was freaky if it was just with the girlfriend?” Atlas asked continuing to tease her.
“So, you admit that you’re a freak?” Monique asked.
“I never admitted to anything, I asked a question.” Atlas said. “Do you want me to be?” He asked.
Monique was happy they had reached the house. “Go run get your mom’s bag, I’ll wait here.”
Atlas started to laughed, “Are you scared of me now? Won’t even come inside with me?”
“Go ahead and hurry.” Monique laughed.
Atlas shook his head then went get the stuff.
When he got back they started walking back to his grandmother’s house.
“You didn’t answer me.” Atlas said. “Are you scared?”
“You never answered me,” Monique countered, “Are you a freak?”
“And you never answered my other question either,” Atlas said, “Do you want me to be?”
Monique huffed, “No, I’m not scared of you.” She said simply and picked up her pace.
Atlas laughed as she started walking faster and did the same to keep up, but changed the subject.
“Any news of if your dad will be transferred out here?” He asked.
“He hasn’t told me anything.” Monique said. “We don’t talk too much unless something is going on, I need something, or he wants me to do something. Like when he wanted me to get a job while I was out here.”
“You should have told him you have a job.” Atlas said.
“I don’t lie to my dad.” Monique said.
“It’s not a lie. Your job is keeping me company.” Atlas said. “You give me something to do.”
“Sounds more like you found a hobby - me.” Monique said.
“You are fun and amusing.” Atlas said and smiled.
He grabbed Monique’s hand and stopped her.
She turned to see why he had stopped and was pulled into a kiss.
“What are you inviting me to now?” She asked.
“My room at my grandmother’s.”
Monique’s eyes got big, but she said nothing and just turned and continued walking.
~*~
Monique sat on the porch and watched as Atlas walked around talking to everyone. She was tired from the walk and needed to rest.
While she was resting she was also thinking. She had a week and a half left before she would leave for home. Atlas’s invitation weighed heavy on her mind. She got up and went into the house and upstairs to his room.
She had been up there a few times before and knew exactly where it was. The second of the two upstairs rooms, his grandmother’s room was downstairs.
Atlas used to stay at his grandmother’s over night when his mother worked the night shift at the hospital and most days he was there when not at school. It was his second home. Even now when he was old enough to be home alone he would still stay at his grandmother’s.
She lay down on the bed hugging the pillow that held his scent.
Atlas knocked on the open door, “Are you ok?” He asked.
Monique looked over at him then rolled from her stomach to her side.
“Yeah, why?” Monique asked.
“Willie said you came inside and went upstairs. Thought you may have been mad at me.” He walked in and sat beside her on the bed. “I don’t want to push you into
anything.”
Monique shook her head, “It’s not you, or that.” She got up and went to close the door so no one could hear them talking. “I don’t want this to change how we are.” She said.
“Change how we are. I don’t think anything can change you, and I don’t plan on changing.” Atlas said. “I guess it’s just been bothering me with Willie teasing me.”
“Teasing you, about me?” Monique asked.
“No, and yes.” Atlas sighed. “Willie hasn’t been a virgin for almost two years, and I still am.”
“Oh, I understand,” Monique said. “When my friends lost their virginity I lost friends. They changed.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Atlas asked.
“Part of it.” Monique said.
“What’s the other part?” Atlas asked.
Monique shook her head and put her hands on her waist under her sundress and slipped off her pink panties. She then laid down on the bed.
Atlas watched in amazement as she did this then he laid beside her.
“Are you scared?” Monique asked.
“Well, my whole family is down stairs and just outside.” Atlas said.
Monique got up and pulled Atlas into a seated position on the bed. She straddled his lap and began kissing him as she loosened the strings on his swim trunks.
Atlas laughed as they kissed and then laid her down on the bed, rolling smoothly on top of her and began planting kisses softly down her chest. He slid down his shorts and pulled up her dress.
Monique was breathing heavily, but tried to hide it by talking. “Do you know what to do?” She asked.
Atlas laid against her chest, “I know enough.”
He could feel her heart racing, but his was beating fast as well.
Monique chuckled then just stopped.
“Monique?” He asked and kissed her, but she didn’t kiss back.
He jumped up.
“Monique?” He turned her head, but nothing.
He quickly pulled up his shorts and put down her dress and ran out of the room to the stairs. He saw Trey at the bottom of the stairs.
“Trey, go get my mom. Something is wrong with Monique.”
He walked back in the room and saw Monique panties on the ground. He quickly slipped them on her and fixed her clothes before continuing to try to get her to respond.
Her heart was barely beating, which was strange since just second before it was racing.
His mom rushed through the open door and over to Monique. She checked her pulse first, “She has a pulse.” She said and took out her cell phone calling a friend, who was also a nurse, at the hospital to let them know they were bringing her in.