I stretch my arms up overhead, trying to soothe the tension in my shoulders. I am holed up in my room, trying to prepare for an English quiz that I do not even care about. But I need to get into my Mom's good graces. I need her permission to visit my Dad, since I'm having no luck finding Uncle Fern. I have so many questions for him. Starting with his name randomly tucked in David's wallet. As if summoned by my thoughts, I hear Mom's characteristic knock on my door. "Come in," I call out. I know from the tired look on her face that she just got off the phone with Dad. She always ends up this way whenever she has to interact with him. It's been years since their divorce, but they still can't deal with each other. "Did you talk to him? Can I see him now?" I ask Mom as she enters. "Come on. It's Saturday." "Don't you have a quiz you're studying for?" Mom inquires, glancing at the mess on my desk. "I'm already halfway done. I'll finish the rest of the coverage when I get home." I
"Not going to happen," I tell Boi, my mother's younger brother. He's knocking loudly on my old bedroom door, and it's not helping my mood. After visiting Dad, I couldn't bring myself to face David, so I escaped from him and immediately headed to our old apartment, which Boi now occupies after Mom and I moved in with Arnold. "Dina. I swear to God I will break down this door. I need to change. That's not your room anymore, remember? " Boi says from the other side of the door, his voice faint. Sighing heavily, I slowly drag myself out of bed. I open the door an inch, peering at my uncle. "You look like hell," he observes. I ignore him and open the door wider, gesturing for him to come inside. I try to step out to give him space. But I am reminded of my dilemma again, so I end up flopping back down on the bed. "Dina Marie. I said I need to change." Boi looks down at me reproachfully. He has a towel wrapped around his lower body and another around his head. His dark skin glistens with
"Dina?" David asks softly, rousing me from sleep. I feel his hand gently touch my cheek and I lean into it. He caresses my nose and my lips, coaxing the drowsiness out of me."Hey. We're here." "Aaagh!" I scramble out of my bed, almost falling painfully to the floor. Damn it. Of all the things that I can dream about, it had to be about David. I wipe the dirt from my eyes and stretched my sore muscles, thinking of bumping my head into the wall, too. What the hell is wrong with me? Is this what it feels like to be in love? Because this is just stupid. Whatever. I need to prepare for school (and leave before David arrives), but before that, I need to do an early morning check of the mail, too, which will not be easy. I have to sneak past Arnold and Mom, who has a clear view of the door from the breakfast table. Thankfully, with my feet on the slightest of tiptoes, I manage to pass that hurdle and make it out of the door without Arnold noticing me. I had trouble opening the massive g
The Amusement Park. That's the name of the amusement park here on the island. I look up at the gigantic sign in front of me, a bit slighted. I've been doing my head in thinking which amusement park they meant. Whoever thought of this name, he's not funny at all. "Dina! Come on." Ari calls me, gesturing for me to come with her inside Richie's, a fancy-looking diner near the entrance of the park. David and the others are already inside. I hang back a little, thinking if I should come with them. It doesn't take me long to decide though. It's not like I know anyone else in this school. Plus, there's David. He's been doing a pretty good job trying to convince everyone that he's okay, but anyone can see that whatever condition his Grandma is in, it's taking a toll on him. I'm worried. "Incoming!" Brad yells just as soon as I enter the cafe, missing me by just a few inches as he rides his electric scooter around the place. I scoff at him, but then gawk at the scene before me. What in the c
"Dina, come on. Look at me." David tells me, pulling my arms away from my face. My elbow hurt. I must've hit it somewhere when I stumbled out of the haunted house, just right after kissing him and shoving him forcefully to the side to fight off my embarrassment. I grip my spinning head. I want to run away from him again, but my weak legs won't let me. So now I'm stuck in this position, trying to save the rest of my dignity. "You know it's only going to get awkward if you act awkward," David says, attempting to meet my eyes again. I look further down. I don't know what to tell him. Frankly, I don't even remember what I was thinking when I did that. Kiss him, I mean. But I do remember the feeling, and it's scaring the hell out of me. "L--let go of me," I tell him weakly. Heaving, I feel my stomach churn, and I immediately turn towards the side, ready to let it all out. But David pulls me back. "Oh no. You're going to run away from me again," David says, keeping a tight grip on my wr
"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
"Oh no. Hell no!" I exclaim as I examine the vast golf course in front of me. I was peacefully sleeping when Ari came barging into my hotel room so early in the morning to tell me about a field day. Apparently, it's every year level against each other for HPH's Foundation Week, and I'm one of the Junior representatives for track and field. Without my consent. What the hell is wrong with these people? "Not my idea. David signed you up for this." Ari tells me. "He did what?" I scan around the people around me, trying to spot the traitor. "Come on. It's perfect for you." I hear his amused voice behind me. "You like to run, don't you?" My hands curl into fists, "David. I swear to God." I turn towards him and felt equal parts frustration and admiration. He looks good, as always. His skin is a bit tanned from standing on the ship's deck for hours yesterday. His eyes are alert, despite the glare of the early morning sun around us. Also, I don't know which games he's assigned to, but judg
"Um...what should I call you, sir?" I ask after an awkward silence with David's grandpa. I still can't believe I'm in the hospital cafeteria, having lunch with him. I toy with the food on my plate, wishing he'd stop being so kind. Ever since we started eating, he has been refilling my plate non-stop. He reminds me so much of David, always thinking of those around him. "Oh, just call me Gramps. All of Dave's friends do," he tells me, smiling warmly. He scarfs down his rice. One might think he's too hungry and cheerful for someone whose wife is in the hospital. But we all cope in different ways. "Those kids are wonderful." I beg to differ, but I nod in agreement. "The food here is good, huh?" he tells me, and I nod again. It is good. I've eaten quite a lot myself. "Though we probably should slow down a bit, or we'll be done before Dave gets here." "Should we call him?" I ask. "Nah, he'll be down in a minute." Gramps says, "Why don't you tell me about yourself? Dave has told me about