xp_logs | (no subject)

As he promised in his e-mail, Alex calls his grandparents. Deborah even suggests a visit to cheer him up. For once in Hawaii, Alex is really happy.

After shooing Jared out for privacy and flopping down on his bed, Alex picked up his cellphone as he began searching for his grandparents number. With a soft sigh, he hit the send button and held it up as he listened to ringing, a small smile on his face.

The phone rang twice before someone picked it up at the other end. "Hello?" Deborah's cheerful voice asked.

Alex's small smile instantly grew. "Hey grandma."

"Alex!" Deborah sounded joyful. "Oh, I'm so glad you called, sweetheart! How are you?"

He chuckled softly. "I'm doing alright. Classes are proving much more interesting then I thought..."

"Oh, I see," Deborah teased. "You were going just for the surfing, yes? Not the education..."

He rolled his eyes as she teased, running a hand through his still wet hair.. "Yeah well, the surfing was one of the perks."

"So tell me about the dorms, Alex. Are you enjoying yourself? Getting along with your roommate?"

"Well it's too teenage boys living in a closet in a small building right off campus. Right by the beach even, it's awesome. And Jared, my roommate, he's awesome. He's half native Hawaiian and is very into surfing as well. It's nice to having a friend on this end of the Pacfic."

"I'm so glad," Deborah said, then paused for a moment. "Scott told me about the delay in Lorna joining you over there," she said sympathetically.

Alex closed his eyes as he rubbed his temples. "Yeah, she's taking care of a sick cousin back in California. She probably wont' be joining me for a while, or so she likes to remind me whenever she calls..."

"That's such a shame, dear. I know these things happen, and it speaks well for Lorna that she's willing to step in and help family like that, but I imagine it's very hard on you."

"It is." He sighed softly. "I really don't wanna be selfish. but the point was she was supposed to be here with me, to share this, ya know?

"Oh, honey." Deborah was silent for a moment. "You know, I've been trying to talk your silly old coot of a grandfather into a vacation for a while now."

Now that perked Alex up a bit. "Really? You mean, come here, to Hawaii? Really?"

"So long as we wouldn't be distracting you too much from classes," Deborah said with a chuckle. "It would be nice to have you show us Hawaii, actually. After all, we showed you Alaska..."

"Nah you wouldn't be and it would be so awesome to show you guys around my home!"

"Well, why don't you let me talk to Phillip and see what kind of arrangements we can make? I imagine coming down over a weekend would be the best idea, since you wouldn't be so busy... I'll have to talk Phil into letting the boys handle things at the airfield."

"Oh that would be so awesome Grandma..." Alex's exctiement was starting to show in his voice.

"Then that's what we'll do," Deborah said more firmly, her tone giving the impression that Phillip had better not argue with her. "I have to say I like this idea. I can bring you much more in the way of a care package coming myself than what can be easily mailed."

"I've been telling Jared all about your cookies since you e-mailed. He can't wait either. Plus I haven't seen you guys in ages...and I think the sun will do Grandpa good."

"I think it will do both of us good. Sun, sand, some time with our favorite grandson-" Deborah laughed conspiratorially. "Now, don't tell Scott."

Alex chuckled. "I won't. Though he could probably do with a surprise visit. I hear he's forgetting to relax again."

"Did he ever learn in the first place?" Deborah teased again.

"I tried to teach him, but he just didn't seem to get it."

"But we love him, even if he's slow, yes?"

He gave a dramatic sigh, "He is my brother, so I guess so."