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"I can't believe this is nearly all over!" Gi sighs sadly. Personally, I can't wait to leave, but I keep my mouth shut. We –all of us Planeteers, plus Laura, of course– are heading down to the beach for a late afternoon swim. I'd rather be curled up in bed but I've resolved not to be a spoilsport for the last remaining days of our holiday.
"Last one down to the beach has to make dinner for everyone!" Wheeler yells suddenly and takes off. Everyone chases him, but I feel listless and don't follow suit. By the time I catch up with them, Kwame, Ma-Ti and Wheeler are already in the water, and Gi and Laura are laughing at something while applying sunscreen. I groan inwardly. So Laura's got Gi on her side, too. As if I didn't already feel alone.
"So, he's gonna show me this amazing place in Brooklyn," Laura is saying. I try to ignore the conversation as I have done the last few days but it's getting harder and harder. "Well, as soon as I get some time off, which isn't any time soon!" she continues, laughing lightly.
I don't feel like swimming any more. But if I go back to the hotel everyone will assume there's something wrong and I don't want anyone's pity. So I stretch out my towel on the sand, lay down and close my eyes, trying to block out everything around me.
"Aren't you coming, Linka?" Laura's voice comes from somewhere above me.
"Maybe later," I mumble, keeping my eyes firmly shut. I get the feeling that if I look at her something inside me might just snap. I hear her and Gi's hushed laughter as they walk down towards the shore. Lying here, alone, I know I should be enjoying myself. The sun is low in the sky, the air is fresh, and the beach calm. And yet…there is an internal turmoil overwhelming everything else. I can't seem to detangle one emotion from another, but whatever is going on, I know I'm not happy and it started here, on this island. If I can just get away, everything will be ok again….
I have been lying on my own for a long time (with none of my friends coming to check on me…not that I need them to; it would just be nice to know they cared), when I feel cool drops of water sprinkle my legs, and someone kneels down beside me.
"You awake?"
It's Gi. I feel disappointed. I thought maybe it would be…never mind.
"Yes. Just reflecting…" I say, raising myself up on my elbows. "Were you having fun?"
"Of course! You know me and the water…Linka you can't sit here all day. It's really great; the waves are just perfect and-" Gi begins excitedly.
"Maybe in a little bit," I grin at her exuberance. "Looks like you don't need me there, anyway," I add, gazing down in the direction of my friends, splashing around.
"Oh, Linka, don't be like that," Gi says, smile fading.
"Like what?" I turn to her, keeping my face carefully blank. Gi opens her mouth to reply but then thinks better of it.
"Forget it," she says finally. "Look, I think those guys are checking us out." She nods her head to the right. I glance briefly in the direction of a group of men playing Frisbee.
"So?" I shrug. I have no interest in them. I look down towards the ocean, where Wheeler has just pulled Laura underwater. Gi sighs then is silent for a long time.
"Linka-"
"They've been under for a long time," I mutter to myself, interrupting her.
"Who?" Gi is frowning at me. I ignore her and scan the scene in front of me. Still no sign of them. I am beginning to get worried. I've heard of powerful eddies drowning grown men…I stand up and begin to head down to the beach, when I spot a glint of red. Yes, it's definitely Wheeler, and, seconds later, Laura's head breaks the surface of the water beside him, laughing, as usual. Seething, I turn back to resume my spot on the beach. Typical Wheeler. I'm sure he thought it would be funny to have the rest of us worry and-
"Watch out!" A voice bellows from behind me, cutting into my angry thoughts. I turn and jump back as a Frisbee lands inches from where I had been standing.
"I'm so sorry!" A tall blond man is at my side, looking extremely embarrassed. I recognise him from the group of guys Gi pointed out earlier. "My friend has really bad aim…"
"Don't worry about it," I say, reaching my towel and Gi.
"I'm Matt, by the way," the blond adds. I nod and bend down to stretch out on my back. There is a long silence.
"Linka!" Gi hisses. I glance at her. She looks horrified for some reason.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse my friend. I think the sun's got to her," Gi apologises, standing up. Great: another person who thinks I've gone crazy. "I'm Gi."
"Nice to meet you, Gi," Matt smiles. I roll my eyes; I can see where this is going and I want no part in it. "My friends and I are gonna set up a barbecue; I know it doesn't quite make up for nearly decapitating your friend…" He turns to grins at me, but the smile fades immediately at the dirty look I throw him. "Well, I can see you're not interested. Oh well, see you around, I guess." He jogs off quickly before Gi can protest. She turns to me, eyes wide.
"Linka, what on earth is wrong with you?" she exclaims, as soon as he is out of earshot.
"Nothing," I say shortly.
"Well, you're giving off a terrible vibe," Gi says, accusingly. "And he was cute!"
"I don't care, Gi," I sigh. "I don't want anything to do with any of those guys. Or any other guy!" I add quickly, as she follows my gaze towards where Laura and Wheeler are messing around in the water. And definitely not that one, I think to myself.
