| A Sunset Romance |
| Part 1 |
| By Erinn |
| Linka was on her bed, thinking. She often thought a lot. She thought about her past and being a Planeteer. Being a Planeteer was the best thing that had ever happened to her. It got her out of Russia, her home. She loved Russia; however, she at times also resented the fact that she was born there. She had loving parents, Onya and Peter, though she only knew just how kind her mother was by stories about her and her kindness. Her mother died giving birth to her. Her father died of a chronic illness when she was seven and a half. Since then, it had just been her, her grandmother, and her brother, Mishka. Her grandmother's name was Katya. Even though she had a loving family, she had still lived in Russia. She had seen many dark incidents there. Linka saw friends die of malnourishment and other friends die from alcohol. It was hard living in Russia, the cruel climate and lack of food...Yes, being a Planeteer was the best thing that ever happened to her. When Linka first arrived on Hope Island, she could not help but note how pretty and warm the place was. And for some reason, she felt right at home. When she looked around, she saw very interesting and very distinct teenagers, four to be exact. She first laid eyes on an African male with dark chestnut eyes. He was good looking and seemed to be a very calm man . He had gold bracelets around both wrists and on both arms. He also had gold necklaces around his neck. Next, she saw an Asian girl about two inches shorter than her 5'6" self. She had short, jet black hair and light brown eyes. Then she saw an American boy about a year older than herself. He was nicely built with piercing blue, baby-blue, eyes. He had eyes that could pierce through your very soul. He had red hair, too. She also noted that he was very cute and to be very cautious with this one. Lastly, she saw a South American boy with dark hair and dark eyes. His skin was bronze and he had an arm band with feathers sticking out. He also had a monkey next to him. Linka had grown very close to all of them, especially Kwame. He gave great advice and he knew how to handle her when Wheeler was flirting with some girl in front of her face! He knew Linka liked Wheeler. She just didn't know or didn't admit to that, until recently. Wheeler was a really great guy. She would scold at him about his sometimes carefree attitude, but she really admired him and that trait. She wished that she could lighten up sometimes. Sure, she did have fun a lot, but she never really allowed herself to really loosen up. That is, not until that day it all started... ******************************************************************************************************************* "Come on, Linka. I know you have a thing for Wheeler," Gi said with a chuckle. "Nyet, Gi. I do not! It's all your imagination!" Linka said, annoyedly. They were at the beach on Hope Island. It was night time, and they were star gazing. After Linka answered Gi, there were a few minutes of silence. "Ok, Linka, but I see the way you look at him when he's not looking!" Gi was laughing. "Let's talk about something else, please?" Linka asked, annoyed. "Ok, do you think we should go on that Antarctica expedition?" "Yeah. I love mountain climbing, and I'll love being down there. What about that charity ball a month and a half away?" "Oh, yes. I want to go! It's for a good cause even though it's not for an environmental issue. It's six weeks away in an elegant hotel dining room in New York City." After a moment she said, "Maybe you could ask Greg there?" "Gi!" "I noticed how you looked at him, too. Remember, everyone did, even Wheeler!" "Yeah. I guess I do like Greg. He's nice and kind--" "To YOU, maybe! As I recall he wasn't so nice and charming to the rest of us!" And they both broke out into laughter. ************************************************************************************************************** "I tell you, Ma-Ti, I'll never win Linka over!" BANG! "Have more faith, Wheeler!" CRASH! They were both in Wheeler's cabin, and Kwame just walked in. "Would you two please turn it down!" Kwame boomed. "Ah, Kwame, why don't you play the next game with me?" Wheeler asked, a grin on his face and an eye brow raised. "I have other things to do." Kwame replied crisply. "Yeah!" Ma-Ti chimed in. "Like deciding who to persue, Angela or Georgie!" "Ewwww, ma bro!" Wheeler teased. BANG! "Tough choice," Wheeler continued. "Both are smart and both are scientists. Both are attractive, too." "I know!" Kwame yelled and plopped down on Wheeler's green, comfy Lazy Boy chair. "Which one do you feel more comfortable with?" Ma-Ti asked, curiously. "That's the problem I have! Linka doesn't feel comfortable with me and I can even tell!" GAME OVER! "Ah, nuts," Wheeler thought sadly. "Ha ha! You look like a little lost puppy dog!" Ma-Ti yelled. "Wheeler," Kwame said and then went and stood next to the couch where they were playing Super Mario Brothers, "give her more time!" "I will; I'll give her eternity, but I already gave her a long time. I mean, she knows I like her, right?" Ma-Ti and Kwame just looked at each other in a weird fashon. "What?!" Wheeler asked. ************************************************************************************************************* "Linka, come on. I know you have a thing for Wheeler!" Linka let the words sink in for a moment. She didn't know whether to deny it or not. "Ok, Gi, maybe I do, but I can't love him, ok?!" Tears were rolling down her face. "Don't tell anyone," she said then got up and walked away. "Well, I don't know if Wheeler knows, but I'll bet anything that Kwame and Ma-Ti know," Gi spoke softly to herself. ************************************************************************************************************* Early the next morning... "Guys, what are we going to do? We have to get the ball rolling for Linka and Wheeler." Both boys nodded 'yes.' "But how, Gi?" Kwame asked, a dark eyebrow raised. ************************************************************************************************************* "Come on, Wheeler, wake up!" Ma-Ti yelled. "Is it noon yet?" "What if we told you that Linka's in love with you?" Kwame said. "HELLO!" Wheeler yelled and shot straight up in bed! ************************************************************************************************************* "I like an occassional jog," Gi said, and Linka agreed. "I'm sorry about last night, Gi." "So am I. Just tell me why you can't love Wheeler." "He's not in love with me." She said, sadly. ~I thought she'd say that.~ "You mean because he flirts with a lot of girls the same way he flirts with you?" "Yeah," Linka replied, her cheeks a little rosy. "Yeah, but I see the way he looks at other girls and I see the way he looks at you. It's different, Linka, very much different." They both stopped jogging. "Well...he certainly has a funny way of showing it!" And she started to run away. ************************************************************************************************************** "There is no way that Linka loves me!" "Come on, Wheeler. We all see the way she looks at you," Ma-ti said. "Well...I don't!" "Ha! Ha! My friend, trust us. We see it in her eyes," Kwame said. "Well, half the time I can get away with flirting and the other half she get's angry at me." "Trust us," Kwame said. Part 2 |