1.24 Here we run again

"Oh no. Hell no!" I exclaim as I examine the vast golf course in front of me. As my luck would have it, I was peacefully sleeping when Ari came barging into my hotel room so early in the morning to tell me about a field day. Every year level against each other for HPH's Foundation Week, and I'm one of the Junior representatives for track and field. I guess this is just one of those things in my life that I have no control over these days, including inter-island travel.

"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 threaten as I turn towards him. 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 judging from his stark white jumpsuit, I'm assuming he doesn't expect much from it—the bastard.

"Why? Would you rather be in the martial arts tournament? Sorry, you're going to have to postpone beating someone up today. You have to be in their club to join, you see." he informs me, clearly taunting. And I thought we were past our previous violent encounters with each other.

"Aren't we supposed to be friends now? " I say, reminding him of our conversation the night before.

"We are. That's why I took the liberty of signing you up," David replies, grabbing both of my shoulders as he leaned his head towards mine. I hold my breath. I don't know how he can be so casual about touching me like this. The fingers that touch my bare shoulders are steady and warm. "I know you can do it," he tells me, holding in a laugh.

My heart starts to beat rapidly, and I shrug off his hold. "You're gonna pay for this," I say, though it's without much conviction. I figure if David's back to messing with me again, he must be feeling a bit better about his grandmother's condition. This is good. It doesn't make it suck less for me, though.

"Hey! Your name's on my list." Brad approaches me, frowning over a clipboard. "Why is your name on my list?"

"Dina's part of your team, captain. Show her the way, will you?" David says, pushing me towards Brad. "Ari and I, on the other hand, will be on the other side of the course for soccer."

"What? No--wait--I--" I start towards David, but he just gives me another infuriating grin before disappearing into the crowd.

"Go, Juniors!" I hear Ari shout, and soon, she's gone too.

"You better not mess up," Brad says behind me.

I roll my eyes heavenwards. "I won't. I'm not participating in your stupid game."

And that was it, I run the hell away from him. What do they expect? Nobody gets to tell me what to do. It's like they never learned anything from me before.

I weave my way quickly around the crowd, never giving myself a chance to slow down. Behind me, the program emcee energetically pumps up the crowd as he opens the ceremony.

"Dina?!" a familiar voice calls my name, and I stop running, almost tripping on my feet. "Oh my God! Why are you running? What did you do this time?"

"Mom?!" I screech, my voice breaking a bit. My Mom is here, and she looks angry. What is my Mom doing here?

"Darling, why don't we..." Arnold suddenly appears behind my Mom, trailing off as he spots me. Jeez. He's here too. What is happening? "Dina!" Arnold greets me happily, oblivious to the scathing glare that my Mom has turned in my direction.

"Arnold!" I try to match his tone but fail miserably. 'Wh--what are you guys doing here?"

"There's a bonfire with parents and kids tonight! David and your other friends invited us." Arnold announces. Great. Yet another arrangement that I'm not aware of has happened.

"Only you would be excited about something like that, dear." Mom shudders. "Ugh. I can't believe I have to travel at night on a ship. We should've just declined the invitation."

"Oh, come on. The ship ride was fun, and you'll even have more fun tonight." Arnold replies.

I look at my mother's reaction. Surprisingly, she has a smile on her face. I feel a familiar pit in my stomach. If that were my Dad, the disagreement would be longer.

"But Dina, you didn't answer my question." Mom turns to me again, adjusting her grip on her handbag. "Why are you running? Please don't tell me you got into trouble again."

I open my mouth to answer, but someone interrupts me, "She did nothing wrong, Mrs. Moon. She was just messing with one of our friends." It's David, looking a little disheveled in his white tracksuit as he approaches us. From the firm set of his jaw, I immediately know that something is wrong. That, and he's here when he's supposed to be in soccer by now.

"David!" Arnold greets David in the same way he does everyone. "Good to see you, my boy!"

"Hello, Mr. Moon," David answers half-heartedly. He seems to be sitting on something, wondering if he should say it or not. Finally, he turns his attention back to Arnold, "Sorry, Sir, but can I talk to you for a second?"

"Of course, of course." Arnold agrees easily, putting his hand on David's shoulder as he ushers the younger man aside. My forehead knots, curious. I wonder what happened. I hope everything's alright.

"What David said about you running. Is that true?" my Mom says to me once Arnold and David are out of earshot.

I sigh, "Sure, why not?" I reply vaguely. I don't want to owe David anything for his poor excuse.

"Dina Marie..." my Mom starts, and I gear myself for a lecture. But it does not come as the men get back to us, and they look too depressed for Mom and me to waste time arguing.

"What's happening?" I ask them, suddenly scared. My Mom must be feeling the same as they now have her full attention.

"It's David's grandmother. She got rushed to the hospital this morning." Arnold answers. I look at David, and he turns his gaze away from me, swallowing.

"Dear Lord, I'm so sorry to hear that, Dave," Mom responds first. "What happened?"

"She tripped and fell getting into the bathroom earlier today," he tells us, his face getting more upset by the second. He runs his fingers through his hair, his grip tight in frustration. "She's been sick at home for days now, getting these headaches almost every day. We should have been more careful in watching her."

"N-no, David. It's not your fault," I feel so bad for him. And he was in such a good mood earlier.

"David will be using my chopper to get back home," Arnold says. "Dina, you're coming with him, right?"

I pause. It's not that I don't want to go. I've been itching to get out of this place since day one. I just don't understand why I should go with David. Just then, David's sad eyes meet mine, and I remember. Right. I'm supposed to be his girlfriend. I guess I can't tell my parents that I've broken up with him now, after all. What kind of person would that make me?

"Of course," I answer Arnold's question. I move closer to David and squeeze his arm comfortingly. I don't even realize what I'm doing. I just moved. He turns towards me, removing my hand from its grip. For a moment, I feel a surge of disappointment well within me. But he grabs my hand instead, holding it tight and closer to his body. My heart skips a beat, and I look down in case it shows in my face.

"What about us, darling? If Dina's not going to be here tonight..." my Mom is asking.

"We'll be right behind them. I'm sending another one to pick us up too." Arnold answers, and I try not to react to him talking about sending helicopters here like they're nothing. My Mom may have quickly adapted to this lifestyle, but it's still preposterous to me.

"Alright," Mom says. Arnold then distances himself from us to call someone on his phone.

"I'm sorry about the bonfire, Mrs. Moon," David speaks up after a while, clearing his throat. "If you want, I can go by myself. Dina can stay here with you."

"No, Dave. Don't apologize for that. I'm sorry about your grandmother. Of course, she has to come first." Mom assures him. "Plus, you need Dina now more than I do."

Her last statement gives me a start, and now my cheeks feel warmer than before. I feel David's gaze land on me. "Yes, I do. Thank you, Ma'am," he says softly, and I allow myself to believe his words, just for a moment.