7:38 P.M.
Rise and Shine!
St. Thomas here we come!
Ki-Ki, Jo-Jo and I passed through customs first thing this morning and grabbed a cab to the beach. The cabbie first took us to a public beach, and we protested the initial decision. We wanted a more private scene.
He then took us to a secluded beach called Koki point. It was a quaint beach with rastafarians and a beautiful, narrow reef. Our driver said it was prime for snorkeling.
He pointed across the reef to a more secluded beach. Just on the other side of the reef was St. John and the cabbie told us we could rent a jet ski if we wanted to check it out.
We grabbed a bite to eat from a guy serving hot dogs and hamburgers out of the back of his van. Ki-Ki and Jo-Jo were anxious to get in the water but asked the owner of the hot dog stand where they could find a deal on some island grass. The guys were in luck because the guy running the hot dog stand also had his fair share of grass. The guys smoked with the hot dog vender and hung out with the Rasta men for about 30 minutes . They laughed out loud at nothing and then picked up their gear and headed for the reef.
I stayed on shore because the men in the van warned me about the barracuda. They said that the water was swarming with barracuda and they were attracted to shiny things like my jewelry, and the sparkling studs on my fingernails.
Jo dove into the water, jumped up and said he�d be back for me in a few minutes. �Kelly, you�re not sitting this one out. I�m coming back for you and we�re going to do this together. I�ll watch over you and make sure nothing bad happens to you.�
Oh yeah, real assuring. This kid is smoking the dopes, and now he thinks he can protect me.
I had to laugh at him.
I sat up on the shore making sand castles and sipping tropical drinks.
The guys were gone for about an hour and returned with huge smiles on their faces.
�Kelly, there were fish EVERYWHERE! C�mon, you�re going in.�
Jo picked me up as I was kicking and screaming. He carried me into the water and dropped me in. We were only knee deep but I was still afraid of the barracuda�s that were all over the place.
Rasta-man came running down to us screaming, �Get out of the water. She�s got a belly button ring. That barracuda will chomp her in half!�
Jo waived at the man in a gesture to hush him up but the guy kept on coming.
�Girl, you best GET OUT OF THAT WATER!�
Joe said he was in the reef for an hour and didn�t see ONE barracuda. He said the man was exaderating the whole situation, and he told me to relax.
I crawled back up onto the shore and Ki-Ki came over and put a fin on my foot.
�Kelly, my fins are too big. I�ll have to go back up to the shop and trade them in for a size 8. Stay here I�ll be right back.�
I stood up and walked up to the beach where my towel was and I left Jo in the water.
Ki-Ki came over and put the fins on my feet. Jo walked up next to me and threw the snorkel and mask on the sand. �Here, put those on.�
I put on the gear and stood up. I walked down the beach with my gear and everyone started laughing at me.
Rasta-man told me that I would have more luck walking backwards but I continued walking forward because it made everyone laugh at me.
Jo waved me over as he walked into the water and I just kept walking down the beach. He caught on rather quickly and figured out that I had absolutely NO intention of going into the water. I was having more fun making people laugh.
Jo came up behind me and picked me up again. He carried me over to where the reef started and there was a group of about 20 people. There was a guy next to us who was anxious to see my facial expression as I put my face under the water for the first time. I looked around and cupped my fingers over my belly so that if there were any barracuda they wouldn�t see my sparkling ring.
I glanced over to the side of me, and BAM! 3 feet away was a HUGE barracuda!
I jumped up out of the water and ran as fast as I could up to the shore.
Jo was in stitches laughing at me. I didn�t bother to remove my snorkel when I screamed, �Barracuda!�
He laughed and tried to assure me that there was no barracuda.
He dragged me out to the reef again and told me to relax. He held out his arms and draped me over them so I was floating. He pulled me closer into the reef and I saw a bunch of tropical fish. When I glanced around and caught view of another barracuda, it was over.
I jumped up again and ran for the shore.
NOTHING was stopping me this time.
Jo came out of the water about 4 minutes later with an expression of disappointment.
�Well, at least she tried. Let�s go smoke and gather our things. We�ll head into town to check out Carnival.�
The guys went to the end of the island and smoked.
When they came back we took a cab to the city. The ride was absolutely beautiful.
I kept thinking to myself, �I am so lucky to be here right now. This has been the best day!�
Even with the barracuda, I was having a great time.
We pulled into the city and there was a huge festival. As soon as we got out of the van we got some frozen drinks and it started to rain.
We walked around, stopping in all of the shops. Jo was looking for a watch, and I wanted to get a tanzanite pendant to match my ring.
Ki-Ki wanted to buy some alcohol so we stopped in a liquor store. In the back of the store they sold hook bracelets from St. Croix, and Ki-Ki and I both bought one after Jo bargained the price down to 50% of what the merchant had originally asked.
The rain started to let up so we decided to grab a bite to eat in the bar that the Rasta-man had recommended.
While the guys were ordering more drinks, I walked next door to the Hard Rock Caf� and bought them both shot glasses. I gave the glasses to the guys at the table and told them not to forget me.
Lunch was great. We were stuffed and then headed back out to do some more shopping.
Ki-Ki got bored fast and decided to head over to the bar to meet up with some of the other people from our group.
Jo and I went into a shop and purchased a tanzanite pendant for a fraction of the price that was on the price tag.
I don�t know how he does it, but he�s damn good at lowering the prices over there.
We then went back to the store where he saw the watch he had wanted. He haggled the price of the $1,200.00 watch, and I looked at tanzanite in the back of the store.
Jo called me over to see the watch as the store clerk was boxing it up for him.
While Jo was signing the receipt the store clerk came over with a tiffany charm bracelet in his hands. �Are you with him?� He pointed at Jo and I said yes.
I told the man we had come into the store together if that was what he meant.
�Hold out your arm.�
I held out my arm.
�No your left one.�
So I did.
He put the bracelet on my arm and smiled. I sat there quietly. I was totally confused.
Jo picked up his bag and started to walk out the door. I hesitated for a minute because I had not paid for the bracelet. Nor did I plan on buying it.
I told Jo to wait up. �Hey wait a minute. I haven�t paid for this.�
He smiled and told me it was already taken care of.
I looked closer at the bracelet and the little heart charm had a purple stone in it to match my formal dress.
I thanked Jo for the bracelet and gave him a hug.
I wanted to kiss him, but I didn�t.
We walked over to the pub to meet up with our group before returning to the boat.
Kaleb saw me walk in and immediately grabbed my wrist. �What is this? �, as he pointed to the charm bracelet on my wrist.
I told him Jo got it for me and Kaleb turned around and ignored me.
Ki-Ki didn�t seem too happy about the bracelet either.
I guess I had infringed on his pledge of, �Bro�s before hoe�s�?
Ha.
Well John liked it. He gave me a hug and told me to congratulate Shelly who was sitting at the end of the bar.
I walked down to the end of the bar. Shelly was glowing. Scott had gave her the ring and proposed to her.
John leaned over with a smile and said; �Now that bracelet is pale in comparison to her ring.�
I didn�t care. I was on cloud 9.
I was on cloud 9 until Ki-Ki chimed in and said, �So Jo, you looking forward to going back to Minnesota this weekend?�
The reality of the situation set in. Jo lived a million miles away and he gave me this little token to say, �I have no intention of seeing you again, but I won�t be soon forgotten.�
I wanted to cry.
I wanted to cry, but I ordered another drink instead. The buzz numbed the emptiness that Ki-ki�s comment had instilled in me.
After one more drink we made our way back to the boat and got ready for the last formal dinner of the cruise.
Jo came by to walk me to dinner. He had a shocked expression on his face as he said, �you look stunning.�
I was on cloud 9 again.
Ki-Ki came walking up behind him and said, �Ok, lets go!�
Kill joy!
Ki-Ki was a killjoy! He was still drunk and just wanted to get this thing over with so he could drink more.
I ended up sitting at the table between Jo and Brad. We took a few pictures and then ordered filet and lobster for dinner.
Jo went to the potty with Ki-Ki and returned with a blank expression on his face.
Jo was pretty quiet.
He was actually strangely quiet.
After dinner Ki-Ki said he wanted to check out the show so that was what we did.
We walked down the stairs to the front row and grabbed some seats. Jo told me to go find Brad so I got up and looked around the huge auditorium.
I heard Edith call my name from across the room and I went over to say hello.
She said, �I heard you�ve found a guy. What�s he like? Which one is he?�
I pointed down to the front row where Ki-Ki and Jo were sitting, and she told me that she was rooting for Jo.
I smiled and she grabbed my arm as she said, �And what is this?�
She was tugging on the charm bracelet.
Janet and Kevin leaned over to see the bracelet.
I told her that Jo got it for me in St. Thomas and she smiled from ear to ear. �I�m so happy for you Kelly.�
Kevin asked where Jo lived.
I told him that he lived in Minnesota and Kevin had an expression of disappointment.
Janet chimed in, �Look at Scott and Shelly. It could work out.�
The lights in the auditorium dimmed and I had to take my seat.
I sat down next to Joe and he didn�t say a word.
He was silent.
He wouldn�t even look at me.
We sat through the show and then made our way up stairs.
I didn�t want to deal with his lack of mood so I told them I was going to bed early.
My comment seemed to catch them off guard.
Ki-Ki said they were going down to the casino, and they would call me later.
I told them I was going to bed and made my way back to my room.
The phone rang around 2:30 and it was Jo.
�Ki-Ki is having a party and I�m tired of dealing with all of these people. I just want to sleep. Can I come by your room?�
I told him to go ahead.
He came by and we were both sleeping in less than 10 minutes.
We were on extreme opposite sides of the bed, and I don�t know why but we both seemed in a bad mood.
