The Sunlit Tides Surfing Academy

Sunday (part 2/3)

It is still raining in the afternoon. Matiu takes the two students highest in the diving skill to a level four diving spot, The Shark Gods.
https://i.imgur.com/O33sNtS.jpg

They get ready to enter the ocean. The rain won't make any difference once they're underwater!
https://i.imgur.com/Kg5QI3K.jpg

Meanwhile at the boarding school, the other four students put up Snowflake Day ornaments.
https://i.imgur.com/7SNiZ3B.jpg

Jeanette and Valiant just happen to catch one another under the mistletoe.
https://i.imgur.com/m5Xz3co.jpg

The Tiki fireplace gets decorated with hanging stockings. Rascal is disappointed they are high up where he can't chew them.
https://i.imgur.com/kIJkQbJ.jpg

Before diving in, Matiu gives Lilinoe and Ruru a serious warning. The diving spot is called The Shark Gods for a good reason. If they see a shark, they must not provoke it by watching it - they should resurface and swim towards the shore.
https://i.imgur.com/5Q4JIut.jpg

Even as they are preparing to go underwater, ominous silhouettes appear under the surface. One passes right under Matiu, as if he were a shark rider!
https://i.imgur.com/So9OCSF.jpg

They dive down to the ancient sculptures of the gods, said to be guarded by sharks.
https://i.imgur.com/zRVZ8yn.jpg

They spot a shadow gliding across the sand. is it a shark? No - It looks like it's half human!
https://i.imgur.com/AvdV0g7.jpg

It's in fact, Brook, the elder mermaid they have met before. She is swimming above them, as if watching over them.
https://i.imgur.com/hHBn3aL.jpg

But there are also sharks in the vicinity, and Ruru and Lilinoe sense them and... they both have a little accident. They are mortified.
Matiu pretends not to notice and continues telling them about the history of the god statues.
https://i.imgur.com/Hgy8gPM.jpg

The mermaid joins them for a chat. The students feel braver now - they know mermaids are stronger than sharks.
https://i.imgur.com/UWqiaa1.jpg

By the time the three of them resurface and return to the shore, the rain has stopped and the sky is clear.
https://i.imgur.com/VIE4GlR.jpg

On the beach across the street from the boarding school, William and Mindy manage to use the surfing stations before sunset.
https://i.imgur.com/vThKZJj.jpg

Sunday (part 3/3)

After Matiu, Ruru and Lilinoe return to the boarding school, Lilinoe falls victim to one of Jeanette's traps. Jeanette is triumphant.
https://i.imgur.com/6qeM2oT.jpg

"Serves you right for awaking me so early in the morning!" she says.
Lilinoe reacts with disbelief. "You are still angry about that? I don't have the energy for this. I was swimming with sharks today!"
This just makes Jeanette more irritated. "Ooh, look at me, I'm so cool, I go swimming with sharks!" she says in a mocking voice.
https://i.imgur.com/t2kS1Ik.jpg

Their argument escalates into a pillow fight...
https://i.imgur.com/0bIAAtc.jpg

... but then they both start laughing. Lilinoe didn't want a fight in the first place, and Jeanette understood that her mood swing was making her overreact.
https://i.imgur.com/zaNdbkw.jpg

Soon they were both peacefully reading by the fireplace.
https://i.imgur.com/3NAdTDe.jpg

The boarding school is decorated with hanging lights.
https://i.imgur.com/gnhlxVj.jpg

Ruru makes minnow sushi for supper, and they all sit down to eat in a good mood. Matiu tells the students that their regular school would host a formal dance on Wednesday.
The news makes them both excited and anxious - they all want to go, but they have only three days to find dates.
https://i.imgur.com/hBmMmTv.jpg

After supper - just when the teacher went to town to run some errands - the fire alarm blares. They have left the fire in the fireplace burning for too long, and the stocking ornaments caught fire.
https://i.imgur.com/5IfW7eP.jpg

A firefighter arrives and bravely tackles the fire.
https://i.imgur.com/Ib6oSJP.jpg

To be honest, I think he is a little annoyed by the screaming teens, because he sprays them with water too.
https://i.imgur.com/qrtKg2a.jpg

While all this is going on, William's crush Oliana drops by.
https://i.imgur.com/q6FROoz.jpg

William gathers the courage to ask her to be his prom date. She says yes in a haughty way, as if she was doing him a favour...
https://i.imgur.com/AK6kMRO.png

But as she is leaving she suddenly lets out a very loud "Yes!" She has obviously been hoping he would ask!
https://i.imgur.com/844MPlL.jpg

Monday, the second day of winter.

It rains heavily during the night - this is the shipwreck site near the big island.
https://i.imgur.com/oCbjAAz.jpg

Between breakfast and the arrival of the school bus, there is just enough time to have a birthday party for rascal, who is about to age up to an adult dog.
https://i.imgur.com/ZZBtiba.jpg

One moment he is a puppy... the next moment he is a large ball of black fluff. (Rascal's mother is a Labrador - his dad was probably a smaller mutt. As Labradors go, he still looks like a puppy!)
https://i.imgur.com/gwGbFbU.jpg

The teens take turns wishing Rascal a happy birthday.
https://i.imgur.com/DYojyTa.jpg

The schoolbus arrives just as a beautiful red sunrise starts.
https://i.imgur.com/2yr4CKM.jpg

At the same time, the Sunlit Tides Winter Festival opens. The winters here may not be snowy, but hot chocolate still looks appealing!
https://i.imgur.com/78zMq1a.jpg

Rascal's first wishes are to visit a beach and a park, so Matiu takes him to Surf Point beach across the street.
https://i.imgur.com/NCdBtrh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3ssY2he.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/H5aLCxr.jpg

Next they visit the dog park, where Rascal meets a cat named Socks and socialises with her.

https://i.imgur.com/iQ27WAp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QO91ZuH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/x9OPy09.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Yb3W1za.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mp5Axjv.jpg

The teens return from school accompanied by three townie teens. As always, are proud to show off their Surfing Academy.
https://i.imgur.com/gkPyYYh.jpg

They aren't forgetting that prom is coming up in a few days. Ruru catches a private moment with Mindy to ask her to the prom...
https://i.imgur.com/U4l8Vr4.jpg

... and Jeanette asks Valiant later, in the sunset, because who can say no in such a perfect setting?
https://i.imgur.com/kh69IFW.jpg

Both Mindy and Valiant say yes - so now five of the six kids have prom dates.

Tuesday, the third day of winter

It snows a little during the night, and the snow even covers the ground very briefly, but it disappears with the sunrise.
https://i.imgur.com/NwIsKfy.jpg

In the morning the snow turns into heavy rain.
https://i.imgur.com/bKjVoIS.jpg

At one point the rain creates a beautiful rainbow - a symbol of a new life, perhaps? Prom, graduation and adult life will soon be coming for all the students.
https://i.imgur.com/VDykavf.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lTveyoZ.jpg

When the students left, Matiu calls his girlfriend Noelani and invites her over. He has an early Snowflake Day gift for her that he wants to give her in private.
https://i.imgur.com/8TLVCt0.jpg

He puts on a freshly ironed shirt and makes sure the hall is spotless when she arrives.
https://i.imgur.com/e1hFQPw.jpg

When Noelani arrives, they both just accidentally happen to stand under the mistletoe.
https://i.imgur.com/xfTmB3U.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Txc0bLS.jpg

But then Matiu calls her over to the decorated tree, where he has hidden a small box.
https://i.imgur.com/0Gr0aBj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rxAWzpe.jpg

"Will you marry me, Noelani?"
https://i.imgur.com/ZSO5PTe.jpg

"Yes! I will!"
https://i.imgur.com/MMH2WLh.jpg

They spend the next few hours cuddling on Matiu's bed and watching the rain from his window.
https://i.imgur.com/H3vEbiZ.jpg

In the boys' dormitory, Rascal also lies on one of the beds and watches the rain outside.
https://i.imgur.com/mhyMW6C.jpg

Meanwhile, the students are on a field trip to the police station. A few of them misbehave (a police officer gets locked into a cell at one point!) but it is still an educational trip.
https://i.imgur.com/dmrmsMu.jpg

Can’t wait for the next update!

Thank you, @Destin2016 ! :)

@PalmArrow Although I was mostly caught up from the other thread, it was nice to look back over the last few updates to refresh my memory :)
The light night snow is very pretty!
Gorgeous rainbow! I would like to try Seasons one day but am too afraid to install it on this laptop so will have to wait until I get my act together and get a desktop. It's more a space thing than not being able to buy a desktop. Room would need to be cleared and I still have boxes of my mother's belongings filling the room I would like to use for computers.
Awwww I love how Matiu made everything perfect for the big question :)
Noelani's expression is cute under the mistletoe!
Congrats on their engagement :)

Thank you, @Mikezumi ! :)

Tuesday (third day of winter), part II


The teens come back from school and work on their homework.
https://i.imgur.com/ctVNDtq.jpg

It is raining heavily and the beach doesn't look inviting.
https://i.imgur.com/MzeYySe.jpg

However, in the Emerald Tides resort not far away, a couple is ignoring the rain and having a private marriage ceremony outdoors. The bride is even barefoot!
https://i.imgur.com/3TUf2uW.jpg

By the time the teens finish their homework, the sky has cleared. They call a taxi and ask to be taken to the Salon. They need new formal outfits for the Prom tomorrow!
https://i.imgur.com/DcjtE0m.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YLMV27X.jpg

Mindy and Jeanette immediately start choosing fabrics.
https://i.imgur.com/qVNnCWW.jpg

But Lilinoe has a more important task first. She has invited her girlfriend Luna to the salon to ask her to be her prom date.

To her astonishment, Luna tells her: "Sorry, but I already have a date. You can go with one of my friends."
https://i.imgur.com/aqBzrUk.jpg

This is an unexpected blow.
Lilinoe is due to age up to YA on Snowflake Day, which is just one day after the prom. She thought she would have Luna's emotional support through all this, and suddenly she finds herself alone.
https://i.imgur.com/31cJhOY.jpg

She breaks up with Luna, who seems more annoyed than saddened by this.
https://i.imgur.com/cQ702ef.jpg

Mindy is the first to use a styling station and choose a prom outfit.
https://i.imgur.com/Kf8uGyl.jpg

She decides on a blue dress and blue flowers in her hair.
https://i.imgur.com/ijumOUO.jpg

Lilinoe chooses a batik fabric, but with a sequined layer for added glamour. She may have to go to the prom alone, but this will not stop her from looking and feeling her best!
https://i.imgur.com/Pqk6DjR.jpg

The boys choose suits which make them feel slightly awkward, but this is a rite of passage they understand they have to go through.
https://i.imgur.com/NvbaW6H.jpg

Trying on her new pretty dress cheers Lilinoe up.
https://i.imgur.com/Gf6wjTQ.jpg

The sky is now clear and starry, and there is a hour and a half left before curfew, so the teens visit The Hot Spot before going home.
https://i.imgur.com/kWVcaiE.jpg

Lilinoe has wished to meet someone new, and an elegantly dressed pianist is sitting alone at the bar. Flirting is out of question because she is still a teen, but she can introduce herself.
https://i.imgur.com/wiRuSxs.jpg

The pianist, who has the awesome name Siddhartha Rose, likes her amusing introduction.
https://i.imgur.com/ds62N43.jpg

The barefoot bride from the resort is here and she has started a jam session, so William and Ruru join in and play until it's time to return to their dormitories.
https://i.imgur.com/xmBo1Uy.jpg

How sad that Luna knocked Lilinoe back for the Prom :( The kids' formal outfits look great :) Good luck with the pianist, Lilinoe!