Land A Stranded Novel Read online

  Chapter 3

  Alex stared off into the distance. She could see people walking along the monorail track away from the now stationary train suspended up in the air. “I would have hated to be stuck way up there when it stopped.” she thought. She just couldn’t understand Emily. After choosing Mason over her friends all these months and she was now choosing him for a life or death journey. Alex didn’t feel like she knew her friend at all anymore. It felt like a piece of her had just been snatched away. It was bad enough that Mrs. Moore wasn’t coming with them but now Emily also splitting away was just too much to bear. She had heard all of her friends trying to get Em to change her mind but it didn’t sound like it was working.

  A tap on her shoulder made her look around with the hope that it was Emily but instead she found David with an unsure look on his face.

  David was a great guy. A little quiet compared to Josh and not as outgoing as Quinn but a stable addition in their group. You could always count on David for anything. Most of the time you didn’t even have to ask him, he just seemed to know what was needed. Alex knew that David had a thing for Emily. She didn’t know if he was in love with her but he had definitely been crushing on her for years. When Emily had started dating Mason, David had been in such a funk that he barely talked to anyone. For the first three weeks, he walked around in a sulk. It wasn’t until Alex had talked to him about it and shared her feelings with him that he started to come around. They had both decided that Em was just trying out a new crowd and once she really got to know Mason and his jerk friends, that she would ditch them and come back to her real friends. That conclusion seemed to be very wrong now that Emily had made this huge choice.

  “You okay?” asked David with concern.

  Alex thought if she tried to speak she would end up crying so she just gave a tiny shake of her head. How could any of this be okay?

  “Listen, Alex, I don’t think she’s going to change her mind. Even Mrs. Moore took a crack at her and had no luck. So the only thing I can think of is, I have to go with them. I don’t think I could live with myself if I let her go off with those three assholes alone. What do you think?”

  The only thing Alex could think at that moment was how could Emily be so blind to this guy? So instead of replying she just leaned in and grabbed David in a tight hug and breathed into his ear, “Thank you.”

  She felt David stiffen just as she heard a tentative, “Lex? Can I talk to you?”

  Alex let David go and with a deep breath turned around to face her best friend. She couldn’t think of anything to say to her so she just waited.

  When it was clear to Emily that Alex wasn’t going to say anything she began, “I’m so sorry Lex! I know you must think that I’m a fool or crazy but,” at a loss for words she stopped.

  Alex took pity on her friend and tried to help, “But why? I don’t understand why you would go with them. You don’t know anything about sailing and those guys are so self-centered. At least with us you know we would do anything to keep you safe.”

  “Well, that’s one of the reasons. I don’t think they would make it on their own. They bluster and brag so much but I think they are pretty clueless outside of their shallow high school world. So I think they need help. And I know I don’t know anything about sailing but I’m the best swimmer in the whole school. You know I was on track for the National’s and then maybe the Olympics so that will help. I don’t think Mark even knows how to swim. Alex, I know you don’t like Mason but I really believe he cares about me and will try to keep me safe. He comes off as such a jerk but when it’s just the two of us he is a totally different person. Please, I need you to trust me. This is something that I have to do.” She begged for understanding.

  With a groan of frustration, Alex replied, “I do trust you Em, it’s them I don’t trust. I know how stubborn you are under that mop of blond hair. How can I go on this epic adventure without my best friend and what am I supposed to do if we make it and you aren’t there?”

  Emily gave a cheeky smile and said, “You know what an adventure really is right?” and in unison, Alex and Emily cheered, “Far away from home and fucked up!” both girls broke out in laughter.

  Alex’s older brother Peter had once told the two girls to be careful and safe when they went on their first solo camp out. And when Emily said it would be a great adventure he had replied with the famous line. The girls had never forgotten and anytime they started off to camp they would yell it out into the forest.

  After they stopped laughing they just grabbed on to each other and held on tight. After a while, Alex pulled back and stared into Emily’s blue eyes. “Okay Em, I guess I get why you’re going but it scares the hell out of me. The only thing that makes it semi ok is that you aren’t going alone.”

  At Emily’s questioning look Alex explained that David was going with them to sea. Seeing the embarrassed look on David’s face she quickly put in “David is good with motors and thinks he can help get a boat started. And he’s very worried about his mom and little sister. He thinks going by boat will get him home faster.” She made that up on the spot. While not really a lie, David was good with cars, he was always working on his old Mustang and with his Mom being all alone at home with an eight-year-old to watch over he must be worried. It was all Alex could think of in the spur of the moment to help David save face.

  Emily turned to David and gave him a quick hug. “That would be so great David. I feel a lot better with you along to help out.” and she gave him a sweet smile. Just then the rest of the group joined them and Mrs. Moore took charge. After David told her he was going with Emily she seemed very much relieved.

  “Time to go, we have wasted too much time. It has now been just over an hour and the masses out there will be starting to get nervous. Mason, Emily, David, Lisa and Mark it’s time you got on your way. Remember everything I have told you and be safe. When you make it home please tell your parents that I am sorry I couldn’t do more for you. Good-bye, or as you are going by sea, Bon Voyage.” With that, she turned away and discreetly brushed a tear away.

  As Mason’s group stood by waiting, Quinn and Josh said their goodbyes to David and gave some last minute advice. Alex and Emily just stood looking at each other. Finally, Emily started with, “Well this should be a piece of cake.”

  Alex came back with, “Nah, a piece of pie.”

  And together, “Just not a banana split!” which was another childhood saying meant to break the tension. With sad smiles, the girls gave another hug and whispered, “Love you. Love you more.” To each other and parted ways.

  As Emily walked away with Mason and his friends David came up and put his arm around Alex.

  “Bring her home David and you. Both of you get home safe.” David gave her arm another squeeze and followed Emily out of Disneyland.