Rising Tides

20

They found Sam and her date sitting on a bench a few feet away from the Ferris Wheel, talking and holding hands, and Sam let out an adorable giggle. She wore a cute yellow sun dress and white sneakers. Thomas, a handsome young man with light brown skin and thick dreadlocks that hung to his shoulders, wore simple jeans and a basketball jersey. He smiled at her as she giggled and leaned close to whisper something into her ear.

Sarah stood there awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt their cute moment. After several minutes, Sam noticed them. "Oh! Sarah! Rowan! You came after all." She stood up and rushed over to give her a hug.

"Rowan convinced me to come." Sarah said, giving her friend a squeeze.

"Hi, Rowan." Sam said to him with a sweet smile, dimples flashing. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you too, Samantha."

"Please. Call me Sam. This is Thomas. Thomas, these are my friends Rowan and Sarah."

"Nice to meet you." Thomas approached them and stuck out his hand in front of Rowan, who shook it politely, and did the same to Sarah.

"Likewise." She said.

"Hi, guys!" Came Danni's cheerful greeting. "Looks like the gang's all here! Awesome!"

"Let's go for a ride." Said Sam eagerly, pointing at the Ferris Wheel. "The line is much shorter now."

"Okay."

They dragged their boys with them towards the ride and took their places in line. Rowan raised an eyebrow at Sarah. "Wanna go for a ride?"

She shrugged. "Sure. I can just prop my crutches against a tree or something so they don't get in the way."

They stood behind their friends and waited until eventually, the ride stopped spinning and it was their turn to be seated. "Next!" Shouted the ride operator. He helped Danni and Jason find a seat, then Sam and Thomas, then Sarah and Rowan. Sarah set her crutches against a nearby tree and limped up to the ride.

"This way, folks." The operator guided them to an empty seat and checked to make sure the safety bars were securely shut, then returned to his station. "Here we go! Please enjoy the ride."

He pushed a button and the Ferris Wheel slowly started spinning. Soft classical music started to play. Sarah tensed up nervously as she watched the ground move father and farther away as their seat ascended. The nerves eased when she felt Rowan take hold of her hand and give it a comforting squeeze.

After the ride was over, they went to a small club on the beach. Before joining their friends, Sarah and Rowan went down to the beach to warn the lifeguards about the shark attacks.

"Don't worry about it." Said one lifeguard nonchalantly. "If an attack happens, we have medics and guards on standby."

It was the best they could do to keep people as safe as possible. They rejoined their friends at the club. The sky was darkening darkening and twilight was upon them. A couple bright stars twinkled in the still-light  sky. A crescent moon glowed above them. Loud music could be heard blaring from outside the building, the bass vibrating and booming and making Sarah's teeth rattle in her skull. Inside, people were on the dance floor, bumping and grinding and jumping around like horny kangaroos. Loud elecrtonic dance music was played by a DJ. People crowded the bar and made out in random places. It was utter mayhem.

Sarah felt overwhelmed by all the noise and gyrating bodies, and incredibly vulnerable. Hobbling around in a crowded club on crutches wasn't going to be easy for her.

Sensing her anxiousness, Rowan wrapped an arm around her waist and shouted to be heard over the music. "Come on! Let's go somewhere quieter!"

"Okay!"