1.18 On the Island

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 wouldn't admit this to anyone, but I'm worried about him.

"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, then gawk at the scene before me. The booths are shaped like basketballs and the floors look like the ones you step on in a Dance Dance machine. Along the walls are expensive game machines, and everywhere, people are either in skates or on scooters just like Brad. This building is more a playground than a diner.

"So, Dina. How do you like The Island so far? Cool, right?" Kier asks me as I slowly approach their table. He hands me a milkshake, which I accept with raised eyebrows.

"Come on. I'm trying to be hospitable here." Kier says, bringing the drink closer to me. I take it from him with narrowed eyes. David, a bit distracted, ushers me into a seat beside him, and I sit down, looking around me. Every member of Hell Park High's Student Council is here, chilling in their diner, in their island, having the time of their lives. I look at David, quiet amongst his chattering friends. Not for the first time, I'm reminded of how different he is from them. How did these friendships even develop in the first place?

"Which rides are we going for?" Calvin asks his friends. For some reason, his Switch is nowhere to be found, so his fingers are attacking the table instead.

"Cal." Ari scolds him gently. He gives her a sheepish grin, hiding his hands under the table.

"We should definitely go for the Pendulum," Sebastian answers.

"No. It's obviously the Splash Ride." Simon pipes in, taking a huge bite of his burger. He seems to be in a relatively better mood than when I last saw him.

"Dude, it's like you've never done this before. You're supposed to save the Splash Ride for last 'cause you get wet." Brad counters. "I vote for the Merry-Go-Round."

Ari groans, "Ugh. Every time. We're not kids anymore, you know. Obviously, it's roller coasters all the way."

"Hey! You step foot on The Amusement Park, you find the kid in your heart." Brad announces, pounding his fist on his right chest.

"Your heart is on your left, you know." I correct him, and a laugh springs from beside me. Everybody stops to look.

Trying to cover his awkward burst of laughter, David clears his throat. "What? It's funny," he tells his friends. I'm sure they were just relieved more than surprised, though. David has been silent since we stepped off the ship. It's nice to hear him laugh. Sebastian opens his mouth to say something. But just then, David's phone rings and he stands up, excusing himself from the group.

Ari turns to me, "This is why you're my favorite person right now." she tells me. There's a shine to her eyes.

"Are you crying?" I ask her, panicking. I don't know what's happening right now.

"He rarely laughs. I think he's laughed more in the last few days than he did his entire life. And now, with what's happening to his Grandma, we were a bit scared, you know." Ari tells me, sniffing. The boys on the table nod in silent agreement, even Brad. I look at David in the corner as he converses with someone on the phone. If what they're saying is true, I know exactly why he's not generous with his laugh as a kid, and now I feel even shittier.

Feeling that pit in my stomach again, I look at the worried faces of David's friends. "I'll go check on him," I tell them because it seems like it's what they want me to do.

Slowly, so I don't alarm him, I approach David. He's off his phone now, forehead knotted in concern, "Is everything okay?" I ask. It's probably a dumb question, considering that his Grandma is sick. But I don't know how to broach a subject like that, so I ask the safest question I can think of.

David turns to me with a smile, "Of course." he answers but it was half-hearted. "Let's go to the haunted house."

"Oh, okay. Look, I--" I pause, belatedly realizing what he just said. "Wait, what?"

"The haunted house. I heard they renovated it," he says, excited as a kid. There's something off about his cheerful voice, though. He's obviously trying to distract himself from thinking about his Grandma.

I stare at him, considering his offer. I came to him, thinking of a way to distract him from his problems, but I can't help but hesitate. The last time I went into a haunted house, I was ten, and it was with people from Black Dawn. They were mean and enjoyed torturing me to the brink of an anxiety attack. It wasn't exactly an experience that I want to remember.

"Only you would be excited about a haunted house renovation," I comment, hiding the apprehension in my voice. To our left, I notice his friends, making a ruckus around the place. I shake my head at them. To think that they were sad and concerned about David just a minute ago. "Maybe you should ask them. They seem to have so much energy to burn. "

David does not even glance at them as he extends his hand towards me. "I want to go with you." I look up at him. If I said yes, this would be the worst idea I've ever had. But I think of all the secrets I'm keeping from him, of what he's going through right now. Maybe it's the guilt or maybe it's my crush on him that made the decision. Either way, I'm putty in his hands.