* * *
The plane landed at the San Jose Airport and Arlana couldn’t wait to get to Santa Cruz. Apparently it was a beach town with a boardwalk that had a roller coaster. She was not a fan of roller coasters but after the past month she figured it would be a breeze. After Prom she and Derek had started dating. She was really starting to like him and then last week she went to his house to take him on a surprise date and she found him in bed with Jillian. She hadn’t spoken to him since then and she decided she never would again. Luke had been right all along. Derek was a jerk. Of course Luke had been distant while she had been seeing Derek. At first she thought maybe Karyn and Luke had hit it off at prom but Karyn said he had been ignoring her too. Thankfully Luke still came with them to Santa Cruz. Finally she could spend quality time with her two best friends again.
The movie company had gotten them a room at a place called the Sea & Sand Inn. It was the cutest place right on the cliff overlooking the ocean, wharf and boardwalk. That first night they found a nice Mexican restaurant in the supposed downtown area of Santa Cruz and then walked along the beach enjoying the sunset.
They walked up the hill to the Inn, Karyn and Luke raced each other up the hill. “Aria? Are you ok? What happened between you and Derek?” Clarissa asked with concern.
Arlana hadn’t told anyone what happened and apparently neither had Jillian and Derek. Everyone knew she broke up with him but no one knew why. Arlana sighed. “I walked in on him and Jillian, um, well you know.” Was all she said and then she walked faster up the hill. Clarissa had stopped and frowned. She worried that her sister was not more upset. It seemed more that she was embarrassed.
As Arlana caught up with Karyn and Luke she heard Luke say “What do you think you are doing, coming here?”
Arlana looked at where Luke was looking and gasped. Derek was leaning against the door to their rooms. “I have come to see Aria. Oh, there she is. Babe, we need to talk.”
“So, talk.” Arlana said. She really hadn’t felt bad about breaking up with him or by the fact that he was sleeping with Jillian. Oddly she realized she didn’t care. She was embarrassed that he cheated on her but like their first kiss the whole relationship lacked passion.
“I would rather we do this in private.”
“Fine, it is late, why don’t we talk tomorrow. I am going to bed.” Arlana walked to the door of the room that Derek wasn’t leaning against and went inside. Unfortunately this was Luke’s room but luckily there was a door that connected the rooms and she tried to open it. Finding it locked on the other side she kicked it in frustration and sat down on the bed. The door to the other room opened and Clarissa walked through. “Are you ok?”
Arlana looked up and smiled. “Oddly enough I am. I just didn’t want to ruin my dramatic walk off with having to walk around to get in our room. Thanks for opening the door.”
Clarissa smiled. “No prob. That’s what big sis’s are for. Um, so I didn’t know that you and Derek broke up and I um sort of invited him with us. Seriously I am sorry. I know I have been the unseen sister lately but this job has been crazy hectic. Forgive me?” Clarissa said in one breath.
Arlana looked at her sister and smiled. “No worries. I really am fine. I am more embarrassed than anything. I’d rather not talk to Derek because I feel bad I am not angry or hurt. I don’t want him to think I didn’t care about him I just didn’t care enough to be hurt. Am I totally heartless or what?”
Clarissa pulled Arlana into a hug. “I am glad you aren’t hurt and no you aren’t heartless. You are rather lucky. You were able to find an out before you had to do something awful like break up because it just wasn’t right.”
Arlana laughed. “Yes you are right, I had the perfect out.” They walked into their room and closed the door behind them. Clarissa went to the outer door and told Luke his and Derek’s room was vacated.
Arlana, Clarissa and Karyn stayed up late chatting about everything. When Arlana went to sleep that night she had a strange dream about being lost in a mangrove forest. She kept hearing the sound of a waterfall. When she finally reached the waterfall there was a girl there. She had dark Auburn hair and hazel eyes. “Arlana? Is that you? Oh my goodness! It is you isn’t it? Father said our family has a dream walker each generation. He said you might be powerful enough to dream walk. Arlana, I have missed you my dear sister. I am sorry I didn’t believe you. Grandmother came by one day and told me that you are immortal because you are the eighth child.”
Arlana looked at the girl and frowned “Um, so… like… this is different. Who are you?”
The girl gasped. “No, I thought maybe in your dreams you’d know me. Father really did erase your memories. Don’t you remember me?”
“Um sorry chica, I, like, have no idea who you are but this is so weird. I’d like to either dream about that hot guy or wake up now.” Arlana opened her eyes. That was the weirdest dream ever she thought.
The sun was just starting to seep through the shades and she could hear Karyn singing her heart out in the shower. There was a note on the bedside table from Clarissa saying that she had to meet with the director's crew today but she left boardwalk passes and some money for food and that she would be back late. Arlana was looking forward to spending the day with friends but not with Derek, she wished she could somehow skip past that part.
Karyn came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel with a huge smile on her face. “I am so excited; this is going to be such a fun trip! We won't let Derek ruin it for us. You should just have it out with him first thing and then we'll ditch him for the rest of the day.”
“Ugh! I don't want to talk to him.”
“Well let's get ready and maybe we can slip out before he gets up. Just because we're almost 18 doesn't mean we have to act like grownups and deal with things responsibly,” Karyn giggled, “Hopefully we can sneak Luke away with us.”
Karyn and Arlana wore sundresses with flip flops. Karyn had bought them matching Smurfette flip flops for the trip. They brought sweaters with them because they heard that there was often fog in Santa Cruz in the mornings and evenings. They tread lightly past the room that Derek and Luke were staying in.
“How are we going to break Luke out?” Arlana whispered.
“Don't worry, already taken care of. While you were showering I called their room. Luckily, Luke answered. He is going to meet us in front of the Giant Dipper in twenty.”
“Yeah sista!” Arlana gave Karyn a high five.