by E. L. Todd
Connected by the Sea (Hawaiian Crush #1)
Connected by the Sea (Hawaiian Crush #1)
Midpoint
Connected by the Sea
Book One of the Hawaiian Series
E. L. Todd
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Connected by the Sea
E.L. Todd
Copyright E.L. Todd 2013
Smashwords Edition
1
As soon as the other employees left Hawaiian Sea Life, clocking out from their evening shifts at the aquarium, Sydney shut down all the lights before she walked down the hall. A large tank was on her left side. Tropical fish and a few small sharks comprised the sealed underwater terrain. An eel was in the crevasse of a rock, its head poking out. His eyes were watching the fish swim by, interested in their presence. The ecology of that tank was more breathtaking than watching people walk through Union Square in San Francisco, a place she used to visit often when she lived in California. Sydney had always been fascinated by the life below the surface of the ocean. If she had to choose between discovering the secrets of the ocean, or the unknown of space, the sea would win every time.
Bubbles floated to the surface from the soil below, and the seaweed swayed in the fake tide. When she reached the end of the hallway, she slid her card through the scanner then walked inside. Her friends were already waiting.
“Take a seat,” Henry said as he handed her a beer.
She sat down in the lawn chair next to him. It was old and rusty with a major hole in the seat of it. All the tools on the deck area were ancient and worn out. “Thanks, my friend.”
He held up his beer and smiled. “You’re most welcome.”
Nancy was leaning back in her chair. “I thought that day would never end.”
Sydney sighed. “Who knew fish could be so dirty? I didn’t know they pooped so much.”
“Those penguins must have eaten some bad fish because they had loads of diarrhea,” Henry said with a disgusted face.
Sydney had her beer pressed to her lips but she decided to put it down. Just imagining the smell curbed her thirst. “At least it’s over.” She looked across the dolphin pool and out to the ocean. The aquarium sat on a cliff face that overlooked the coast. The colors purple and orange mixed together to form a breathtaking sky. The humid wind brushed through her hair and made her relax. She loved living in Hawaii. She was never going to leave.
Henry looked at her, leaning his head back. “Ready for the exam?”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ll probably get the highest score, like usual.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I told you to stop looking at my scores.”
“I can’t help it. I sit right next to you.”
“Well, don’t sit next to me anymore.”
“Then how am I supposed to copy you?” he asked with a smile.
“If you copy me and still fail, there must be some serious issues going on in your brain.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Nancy yawned. “I want to change my major.”
“To what?” Sydney asked.
“Zoology. Molecular biology totally sucks.” She drank from her beer.
“What were you expecting?” Henry asked.
Nancy shook her head. “I studied so hard for that class and still got a B. It’s not my thing.”
“I think it was the instructor,” Henry said. “It seemed like she used random slides from other places, like the textbook or some education site and didn’t understand what she was reading.” He drank from his beer then put it down. “That tuition money was well spent.”
Sydney laughed. “Most definitely.”
The three of them fell silent as they listened to the crashing waves. The fin of a dolphin could be seen on the surface of the water every few minutes.
“Did you feed them?” Sydney asked.
Henry nodded. “Of course. They were practically screaming at me when I opened the door.”
“They are so smart.”
Nancy leaned forward and looked into the water. “And really cute.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “They look just like fish.”
“I think they are cute too,” Sydney said as she stared at the water.
Henry was quiet for a moment. “Yeah. They are.”
Sydney finished her can then dropped it into her lap. “I guess we should clock out now.”
“We’re such good workers,” Henry said.
“Well, being a janitor sucks,” Nancy said. “We deserve some lounging time.”
“I hope I get promoted soon,” Sydney said. “I’ve been doing this for two years now.”
Henry placed his hand on her shoulder then gripped it. “You’ll get there.”
She sighed. “Yeah.”
They grabbed the lawn chairs then stacked them in the corner. They put their beers cans in Nancy’s purse so they wouldn’t be found by the wrong people.
Sydney kneeled down at the pool’s edge and looked into the water. A dolphin broke the surface and screeched at her.
“Hello, Rose,” Sydney said as she rubbed the slippery flesh of the dolphin’s forehead. “How are you?”
Rose kicked her tail and continued to screech.
“That’s good to hear.”
Henry approached her and kneeled next to her. He said nothing while he watched her pet the dolphin. He noticed the look of love in Sydney’s eyes. He reached out and placed his hand on the cold flesh and stroked the dolphin gently.
Sydney paid no attention to him. Her eyes were on her companion. “I wish I could swim with you today.”
The dolphin moved out of the water a little more, sticking her nose toward Sydney’s face. Sydney reached down and kissed the dolphin between the eyes. “Goodnight.”
The dolphin pulled away and disappeared under the water.
Henry stared at her, watching her eyes reflect the light of the heavens. “It’s like she understands you.”
“She does understand me.”
“If you say so,” he said with a laugh.” He stood up then grabbed her hand, helping her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
Sydney waved at the pool before they left the outside alcove and entered the main building. They walked to the locker room and changed before they clocked out for the day. Sydney was relieved to don her shorts and thin shirt. She hated wearing the bulky, heavy clothes required for work.
After setting the building alarm, they walked outside to the parking lot.
Nancy nudged Sydney in the ribs. “Bonfire this weekend?”
“Yeah. Sounds like fun.”
“I’m surprised you can squeeze it in. It seems like you’re always so busy.”
She shrugged. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
Nancy stopped when she reached her old Camaro. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night,” Sydney said with a wave.
Henry nodded to her.
Sydney approached her Jeep Wrangler, which had no doors, and threw her bag in the passenger seat. The wind picked up and blew the strands of her brown hair from her neck. She could smell the flowers and leaves in the air, mixed with the salt spray of the sea. She loved living in paradise. She felt safe on the island, hidden from the rest of the world.
“Can I come over?”
Henry asked.
“Sure,” Sydney said with a shrug. “But I’m tired. I don’t feel like doing anything.”
“Not even studying?” he teased.
“I can’t study anymore,” she said with a heavy breath.
“That’s fine. I wouldn’t mind watching a movie.”
“You really hate your roommates, huh?”
“They are just loud and messy. I like sex as much as the next guy, but I get tired of hearing the headboard slam against my wall in the middle of the night.”
“I love living alone.”
“I’m jealous. Let me know if you ever want a roommate.”
“A male roommate?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m there all the time anyway.”
“I guess.”
“So it’s cool?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you there.”
Henry smiled. “I’ll see you soon, Syd.”
She climbed into her Jeep then started the engine. A few of her friends, particularly Henry, warned her about not having any doors, but she wasn’t worried about it. She was an excellent driver and always paid attention to the road. Plus, she loved having a vehicle that was so open to the elements. The wind would brush through her hair and the sun would beat on her skin. She couldn’t imagine driving anything else.
She left the aquarium and drove through the suburbs until she reached the tiny house she owned on a small plot of land. It was walking distance from the beach, and she could hear the ocean waves through her window. It wasn’t a nice place, pretty run down, but it was the closest thing she would ever come find near the beach. She couldn’t have asked for a better inheritance.
After she parked her Jeep, Henry pulled up in his Mazda a moment later.
“So what should we watch?” he asked as he walked with her to the front door.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. We probably won’t watch it anyway.”
Henry was quiet for a moment. He looked at her, hope on his face. “We won’t?”
“I’ll probably fall asleep.”
“Oh.”
She unlocked the door and they walked inside. Sydney tossed her backpack by the front door then entered the living room. Henry sat down on the couch and turned on the television.
Sydney grabbed a glass of water then lay on the opposite couch. She pulled a blanket over herself then sighed.
Henry stared at her, watching her brown hair lay across the pillow. After a moment, he returned his gaze to the screen. “Can I sleep here tonight?”
“You’re always welcome here, Henry.”
“Thanks.”
“Is it Mitch?”
He nodded. “He’s an ass.”
“You want me to talk to him?”
Henry shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Syd. I can take care of it.”
“If you’re over here all the time, you obviously can’t.”
“Maybe I just like being over here.”
She laughed. “Yeah, okay.”
“What? I like being with you.”
“Well, I’m the lesser of two evils.”
“Or you’re just the coolest person I know.”
She tightened the blanket around her shoulder. “Can you set the alarm? I’m about to fall asleep.”
“Sure.” He pulled out his phone and set the clock. After a few minutes, he rose from the couch then kneeled before her. He pressed his lips against her brow and ran his fingers through her hair, enjoying the silky feel. He stared at her for a long time before he closed his eyes, saddened that she didn’t even notice him. She would never notice him.
2
When the alarm went off, Sydney rolled on her side and moaned.
Henry shook her leg. “Come on. We have an exam today.”
“Don’t remind me.”
He rolled his eyes. “You ace every exam. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
“I would still rather sleep than take a test.”
He laughed. “Come on, Syd.”
She sighed then sat up. Her hair was a tangled mess as she ran her fingers through the heap on top of her head. “I need two minutes.” She walked in the bathroom and fixed her hair before she changed into denim shorts and a halter top. She loved living on Oahu because she was never cold. It was shorts, flip-flops, and t-shirts all year. She never wore any makeup so she walked out the door with Henry. He usually brought a change of clothes when he stayed at Sydney’s place. He was there so often that she considered asking him to move in with her. Henry disliked having roommates because of all the bullshit that went along with it, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about living with a guy, even if he was a good friend.
“Don’t skip breakfast,” Henry said as he tossed her a banana.
She caught it. “Thanks, Mommy.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome, princess.” He got into his car then shut the door.
Sydney threw her backpack in the seat before she climbed inside. When she pulled out of the dirt driveway, she headed to the main road and drove to the campus of University of Hawaii. She found a parking spot and Henry parked right next to her.
“Why don’t we just carpool?” he asked.
She climbed out of the Jeep then walked across the grass with him. “Because we have other things to do.”
“We could drop each other off.”
“Nah.” Sydney liked being around Henry, but she felt like he wanted to spend even more time together than they already did. It surprised her. She didn’t think she was that interesting. Henry was much taller than her at six feet. His brown hair was dark like hers, and he had a slight tan from the shining sun. He was thin and toned with a perfectly straight smile and pearly white teeth. She loved seeing him smile when she made him laugh. That grin was definitely his best feature.
When they walked into the building, students were still studying their notes as they stood outside, cramming at the last minute.
Henry shrugged. “What’s the point? I’m going to fail anyway.”
“Then why did you pick this major?”
He stared at the students who were scanning their textbooks and outlines, saying nothing for a long time. “I enjoy it.”
They walked inside and took their seats in the third row like they did every day. Sydney looked over and spotted Coen sitting alone. He was leaning back in his chair, staring straight ahead. Even though he wasn’t behaving differently, she knew there was something bothering him. His arms were crossed over his chest and his muscles were tighter than usual. His short brown hair was curly at the ends, flipping up slightly. His blue eyes reminded her of the ocean, deep and mysterious. She always thought his body was fascinating. His arms were large but not too big, and his torso was flat with defined muscles. Whenever he moved his arms, she could see the muscles of his back stretch and recoil, showing all the lines and definitions even through his shirt. A tattoo marked his forearm. It looked like a tribal dog. He was definitely the type of guy she shouldn’t be attracted to, but she knew she was. Her lips always opened when she looked at him, wondering what it would be like to taste his lips with her tongue. But there was no possibility of anything happening between them. He had a girlfriend, and even if he didn’t, he wasn’t the right guy for her. He was a player. Still, it didn’t hurt just to look.
“Syd?”
“Huh?”
“Do you have an extra pencil I can use?”
“Oh...yeah...sure.” She dug in her backpack while Henry stared at the object of her desire. He hated Coen. He never spoke to the guy in his life, but he still hated him. Why couldn’t Sydney look at him in the same way? With lust? Why didn’t she notice him? As much as he hated to admit it, he was jealous. She came back up and handed the pencil to Henry. “Here.”
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
Nancy came into the room and sat beside Sydney. “Are you ready for this?”
Sydney shrugged. “It’s just a test. The more you stress about it, the worse you’re going to do.”<
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Nancy rolled her eyes then looked at Henry. “I can’t even talk to her sometimes.”
“Yeah,” he said with a laugh.
Sydney crossed her arms over her chest and faced forward. The rest of the students filed into their seats right when the teacher walked inside.
“You guys ready?” Professor Jones asked.
There was absolute silence.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said as he pulled the exams from his bag. “I like the enthusiasm.”
Sydney chuckled to herself. She always understood his humor.
He licked his fingertips then started passing the sheets down each row. “Please don’t start until everyone has a copy.” Sydney snuck one more glance at Coen. He rubbed his eyes with his fingers before Professor Jones told them to begin.
Sydney went through the multiple choice questions with ease and found her answers quickly. She finished the essay portion then began her practical exam, which took place in the back of the room. She identified the different parts of the specimens while Professor Jones nodded to her in approval, knowing she was proficient in her abilities. When she was done, she was the first to submit her exam before turning to leave. When she looked at Coen, his face was buried in his hands. His test was completely blank. Without another look, she walked out.
She advanced down the hall until she reached the sitting area, a place sectioned off for students to study in the science building. Sydney pulled out the banana Henry gave her and ate it while waiting for her friends to finish their test.
Coen walked out a moment later. His back was straight and his shoulders square. He looked how he always looked, confident and stern, but his eyes were empty. He stared at her for a moment before he walked away. Sydney knew he failed the exam. There was no way he finished that quickly, and if he did, he must have guessed the entire time. Pity rose in her heart. She knew he wasn’t stupid, so she didn’t understand why he was struggling.
Henry and Nancy appeared a few minutes later.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
Henry took the banana from her hand, took a bite, then returned it to her. “I think I passed,” he said after he swallowed.