Departure Lounge (Completed)

Family Vacay

**Unedited**

There's nothing like a little sun, clears waters and white sandy beaches to give life a whole new perspective. While that may not exactly be the case here but I was definitely having a wonderful vacation. In the background I could hear the girls playing, Ben chasing them up and down the beach. From the outside we looked like the perfect little family and the rest of the world certainly thought so. In the beginning the tabloids had much to say when Ben and I were caught out with the girls, at the park, movies, restaurants. We were the talk of the town for weeks but after a fair amount of time they got bored and move on to bigger and better drama. It's been at least a month since we were last in the paper and with that we thought a family vacation would be a good idea. The original plan was just for Ben and the girls but when my mother got wind of my plans she decided a family vacation was long overdue and that meant the entire family: mother, father, brother- and his current fling-she even wanted to bring a few of the staff.

To be fair the trip had been going quite well, it would seem all my mother needed to mellow out was unfettered access to cocktails in her cabana on the beach. Looking over I see her adjusting her obscenely large hat, which I didn't understand she never bother to leave the cabana so there was no need to block any sun from her face. My dad was sitting next to her reading a novel, Cole rented a jet ski for the day the only time we get a glimpse of him is when he jets pass the shore. April-Cole's fling-laid contently on a lounge tanning her ridiculous skinny figure, I swear I haven't seen her eat more than a leaf of lettuce and a protein bar since we arrived.

We chose to stay at Wailea, at Andaz Residences; beautiful villas with all amenities one could wish for, or better to facilitate a worry-free vacation. We have already been here for a week, we've gone whale watching and snorkelling by Molokini Crater, visited 'Iao Valley and a few of the surround local sights. We decided to spend a few days just doing nothing by the beach but next on the agenda was to get a few cabins out by Haleakala. It was really turning out to be an adventure, fun-packed family vacation, a perfect distraction with the upcoming anniversary of the plane crash.

"Excuse Miss Romanos, your lunch is ready for." Our concierge Jared informed.

"Thank you Jared, would you mind informing my parents while I gather the rest." I stood and walked towards April. "April," I nudged her shoulder to get her attention, spinning her head around she popped out one of her earbuds. "Lunch is ready; would you mind trying to signal Cole to come in?"

"Yeah totally!" She practically squealed in excitement; I was still coming to terms with her degree of perkiness, it was typical of my brother to date the 'model-type' but this was the first cheerleader and I hope the last.

"Thanks much." I smiled at her as she flittered off in the direction of Cole. "Ben! Lunch time." I shouted to them down by the shore. He signalled okay and then turned to tell the girls. From here I could see their protest about having to leave the water; he continued to reason with them and within a few seconds they were running towards me. As soon as they reach me they tackled my legs in a hug. Looking up at Ben I made a face, "What did you promise them I'd do now."

"Nothing much. Just a ride on the glass bottom boat." He shrugged it off and grabbed towel off his lounge chair, "I might have also volunteered you for that parent-kids costume parade at their school." He laughed at me.

"Oh no that's not fair, you that coin toss." I ushered the girls towards my parents to go with them.

"True but I think the girls would the girls would much rather see you in a princess dress."

"You didn't have to wear a dress, we agreed you'd be Olaf."

"Suck it up, you're in the parade." He stuck out his tongue and then threw the towel at me before taking off towards the hotel.