13. Just friends

"Please don't look at me like that," Ari tells me as she enters my room. She has my letter in her hand. As instructed, I wrote her a letter as soon as I got to the hotel room and snuck it under her hotel room door. "You're really mean," she observes as I continue to glare at her.

"No, you're mean. You tricked me again." I answer, referring to her plan to bring me on this island without my knowing.

"Oh, come on. I just thought you might need a break. David said you were really sad after visiting your Dad." Ari tells me. "David really needs this too. He's been feeling stressed since Grandma fell ill. But not even Grandpa could convince him. It was only when we promised we'd make sure you go that he agreed."

I pause, suddenly self-conscious. I don't know what to think about David taking the initiative to cheer me up.

"Where is he now, by the way? I haven't seen him since--" I start to ask Ari, but I catch myself.

"He's at our favorite place here at the hotel, along with our other fri