We walk up the plank onto the riverboat. Burgers, hot dogs, fries, and coleslaw are spread out on banquet tables. The coleslaw probably has mayo in it and the fries possibly could’ve been fried in animal fat, so I can’t risk eating them. I do not see any vegan options. Not a surprise.
Max scans the food. “This sucks. What are you gonna do?”
I pat my purse. “I have snacks.”
He passes me his camera bag for safekeeping. “Meet you outside? We can grab a table on the deck.”
I walk out to the stern, pulling my sunglasses down to cover my eyes. The sun blazes on my skin. The greenish water of the Cumberland River rushes behind the boat. Now this is what I call a field trip. All I need is a bikini and a towel to lay out on the boat deck, and I’d be in paradise.
My classmates are still inside, lined up for food. I sit alone at a table, open my bag, and pull out an apple, pretzels, and a baggie of mixed nuts. I dig in to my pretzels, wishing I had brought one of my almond bars to eat. My stomach rumbles. Being held captive in an escape room is a real calorie burner.
“Wells.”
I look up to find Alex holding a paper carton.
“I brought you lunch.”
“Thanks, but I don’t eat burgers and hot dogs.” I toss a pretzel in my mouth.
He passes me the carton. “I know. When we made the plans for today, I made sure they had vegan stuff for you.”
I open it. Inside is a pasta salad with avocado and chickpeas. It smells delicious. This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.
I glance at Alex again. He’s staring at me. His smile reminds me of the first time I saw his picture. How I fell for his deep brown eyes.
Without thinking, I set the carton down and stand up, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him. He pulls back, his mouth falling open.
I look away from his soft lips. Stare at the waves churning behind the boat propellers. I feel dizzy.
What did I just do?
I kissed Alex Rouvelis.
I should throw myself overboard.
“Shit,” I mutter, bowing my head.
“Hey,” he says quietly, putting his fingers under my chin, lifting it so I am looking straight at him. He murmurs, “Wow.”
“Wow,” I agree.
He wraps his strong hands around my waist and I rest mine on his shoulders, and his body melts against mine as our lips meet again. And again.
Again and again and again.
Part II
May 7, Sophomore Year
Today
Sophomore Class Trip
I’m beginning to think the field trip gods are out to get me.
Roller coasters and heights have always given me motion sickness and vertigo.
So, of course, the sophomore class trip would be to Six Flags Over Georgia, home of ten state-of-the-art roller coasters guaranteed to make you lose your shit.
Using his bullhorn, Coach Rice yells for our class of one hundred to gather round the entrance to the park.
“Here are the rules,” Coach Rice booms into his bullhorn. “Make sure you stay with someone at all times.”
Max, Grace, and I nod at one another, silently agreeing to stick together.
I feel like I haven’t seen Max much lately because he spent the spring semester crashing on yearbook production. I’m excited we’ll be together today. And ever since Grace broke up with Ben, we’ve been hanging out more, especially since she apologized for blowing me off a lot freshman year. Family is family. Besides, she understands what I’m going through. It’s been a rough couple of months for both of us.
Horrible roller coasters aside, it will be fun to spend the day with my friends. The best thing about Six Flags is that it has a water park, and I fully plan to spend a lot of the day sunbathing in the lazy river.
“Everyone should have a partner,” Coach Rice continues. “If you don’t have one, stick with a teacher or chaperone.”
“Coach,” Ryan calls out. “I want to be your buddy.”
Coach Rice ignores Ryan and goes on, “We’re leaving at exactly eight o’clock tonight. Make sure you’re back here in the parking lot by then.”
Mrs. Schmidt, the health teacher, tugs on his arm and murmurs something to him. Coach says, “And don’t forget to wear sunscreen.” She mutters again in his ear. “And make good life choices!”
Once the lecture is over and we each have a wristband that will let us onto park rides, everyone scatters like a confetti bomb.
With a quick, blank glance at me over his shoulder, Alex gets in line with Ryan for the turnstiles to enter the park.
Alex looks as good as ever, wearing navy-blue shorts, a gray V-neck tee, scuffed white sneakers, and his Braves cap turned backward.
It’s hard to believe he won’t be my buddy today, that we won’t be riding the teacups together, making out and feeding each other cotton candy.
I don’t want Alex to think I’m lurking around him, so I stop to study a map of the park that’s as big as one of my bedroom walls.
Grace points at the Hurricane Harbor water park. “I can’t wait for the lazy river.”
“Me too,” I say. It’s supposed to hit ninety degrees in Atlanta this afternoon and my pasty vampire skin could use some sun.
Max’s eyes dart around the map. “My God, look at all these roller coasters. I’m going to ride them all.”
Grace beams. “I’m in.”
The ten gigantic roller coasters take up much of the map’s real estate. God, I hate them. I note the silly baby rides (that I secretly want to ride).
Ultimately I have one goal at Six Flags today: eat a bunch of funnel cakes.
I know I’m vegan, but when it comes to funnel cakes, I cheat. My dad bought me my first one at the county fair in kindergarten, and I’ve loved them ever since.
I point to Boomtown Funnel Cakes on the map. “There it is.”
“Isn’t it a little early for dessert?” Grace asks.
“If I’m going to have at least three funnel cakes today, I need to get started early. Do you think they’d let me take a funnel cake in the pool? Like on a float?”
She eyes my body. “Is that why you wore that baggy T-shirt? So you could eat loads of funnel cakes?”
“It’s a billion degrees out and I want to be comfortable.” I return the favor, eyeing my cousin’s slip dress that doesn’t seem sturdy enough to survive a single roller coaster ride. “Why would you wear that?”