“Boy you guys are lightweights. That ride was nothing,” Sam said, laughing at us.
By the knowing look on Shawn’s face, he knew that it wasn’t the ride that had messed with Mark and me.
I felt my face begin to heat up. Instead of answering Sam, I followed meekly behind her as she dragged us toward the next ride. The next ride must be one of the favorites at the park if the long line was any indication. Shawn used his connections to get us to the front of the line.
Sam cracked up at the disgruntled mumbling of those waiting in line. “This is so cool,” she squealed. “I feel like a V.I.P.”
We chattered about mundane things while we were walking to the front of the line. I studied the ground under my feet as we walked to conceal my continuing embarrassment from before. Sam seemed oblivious to anything and kept the conversation flowing.
“Have you been on this ride before?” I asked Mark, finally able to look at him without fearing I would embarrass myself again.
“Sure, lots of times. Like Sam, I’m kind of a speed freak.”
At his words, I started to question the sanity of riding the roller coaster. High speed acceleration did not sound like something I wanted to try. I searched my head trying to come up with a valid excuse to skip the ride, but not wanting to look like a wimp, I saw no way out.
Sam’s excitement grew as we boarded our cars. I felt my heart jump to my throat when I saw the steep incline, followed by the even sharper decline. The roaring sound of the cars combined with the screaming riders as they rocketed by was enough to make my forehead bead with sweat. There is no way I can do this, I thought to myself.
The others seemed unaware of my inner torment as they compared notes on the wildest rides they had been on. I looked at them like they were speaking a foreign language.
I shifted in my seat; it was now or never, if I didn’t say something quick, I would be stuck riding. Mark reached for my hand as we sat in our seats. His touch was as soothing as ever and most of my nervousness faded away. Maybe I could do it. The ride wasn’t that long; if I kept my eyes closed, it would be over before I knew it. Then he will never know what a wimp you can be, I thought. I gripped his hand tightly as another attendant came by lowering the lap bar. My palms started to sweat and my legs started to shake from nerves as the lap bar was lowered over us. Finally sensing my dread, Mark reached over and placed a strong arm around me, pulling me tightly against his side. He placed his other hand on my knee to calm my quaking and leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize rides scare you,” he said softly.
“I’m not scared I’m just really…”
As the ride began to move forward, I blanched realizing there was no turning back now. Mark pulled me even closer, whispering in my ear. Sam turned and looked at us as the ride picked up speed. She looked at me questioningly, but I stared right through her. The car picked up speed and before we turned the first bend, Sam looked like she was trying to ask me something, but I heard nothing as the roller coaster started its slow chugging climb to the top of the first drop.
I couldn’t remember a time that I was as terrified as I was at this moment. I had never admired kids that buckled under peer pressure, but here I was a victim of myself. I squeezed my eyes closed and gripped Mark’s hand on my knee. The emotions I was feeling were just another downfall to being oversensitive. Luckily, Mark’s touch distracted me enough that I was no longer sure if my heart was beating wildly form the ride, or the fact that his hand was on my knee. The ride was over within seconds and I was proud of myself for not throwing up.
“You made it,” Mark whispered in my ear. I turned my face and felt his lips graze my cheek. My knees started trembling again and it had nothing to do with the ride.
“What should we go on next?” Sam asked as she bounced along beside us.
“I’m out.” I said finally, deciding not to be a follower.
“What? Are you kidding?” Sam asked, like I was nuts.
“You guys can go on whatever you want, but these kinds of rides scare me,” I said with more conviction than I felt.
“We should take a break anyways,” Mark interjected before Sam could protest. “Besides, we’re really here for another reason,” he said, looking pointedly at the beach in front of us.
“Oh yeah, I guess I got caught up in the moment,” she said, grabbing onto Shawn’s hand.
We had all decided that the best starting point for figuring out what tied us together was to go to where it all seemed to have started. We needed to see how we would all feel being on the beach together.
Mark and I walked a few paces behind Sam and Shawn as we headed toward the concrete stairs that would lead us to the beach. I could hear Sam’s excited chatter, but could not distinguish the words.
We all paused about 10 feet past the concrete wall. There was no mistaking the surge of electricity that seemed to shoot up through the sand and into our bodies. I looked at the astonishment on the other’s faces and knew I was wearing the same expression on mine.
“This is insane,” I mumbled to Mark.
“This whole week has been insane. First, we find out that the people we have dreamed about our entire lives really exist, and then we all end up in the same city, at the same time.”
Mark’s words did little to soothe me.
What other surprises could we possibly discover? I thought to myself as I removed my flip flops.
“I have something I want to show you,” Shawn piped in. “I was waiting until we were all here together, at this spot. It’s a picture I’ve had since I was little. Sam has already seen it,” Shawn said, revealing yet another surprise. >“I’m glad she’s there with you, I worry about you after the dream ends each night.”