Project Lazarus: Paradise Island

Chapter One: Welcome to Paradise

The sweltering summer sun beats against my face so hard that it feels like Satan himself had been put in charge of the Earth's thermostat. The lazy rocking of the boat had lulled me to sleep some time ago, but a particularly large wave that buffets the front decides that now would be the best time to wake up. And who doesn't enjoy being awoken by gallons of salty water being dumped all over your lap and blinded by the ball of evil light shining through the clouds?

"Morning, sleeping beauty!" The chipper voice of my best friend greets me as I sputter and spit salt water out of my mouth. "Enjoying the water already, I see!"

I groan, sitting up and taking my baseball cap off to shake out some of the water and slicking back my short hair. "Oh yeah, I'm lovin' it right now. You should take a dip too, I don't want to hog up the experience."

"Nah, I'm not wearing my swim trunks and the world isn't quite ready to see shirtless Ethan just yet."

I flick my wet hat at him, flinging water droplets on his shirt as I grumble out, "Oh go soak your head."

Laughing, Ethan barely has to move out of the way to avoid the meager attempt of a splash. "Aw, did someone wake up on the wrong side of the lounge chair?"

"You know, the only thing stopping me from throwing you overboard to the sharks is the fact that I wouldn't have any friends after they eat your giggly corpse."

Ethan laughs, boisterous and obnoxious, but it makes me smile anyway.

I've known Ethan since the both of us were in diapers. He's the kind of guy who would be easy to fall in love with had we both been born different people. We've been splashing around in dirty puddles and running around the city, getting into places we shouldn't be getting into practically since we were born. For a month, we dated when we were fifteen, but that was before we figured out that, well, what we really wanted was something that neither of us would ever be able to provide for one another. Now, he's my platonic soulmate if ever a thing were to exist.

We both had decided to go to the same college, me pursuing a photography career and Ethan going into business; he's always had the unique skill of talking with people, whereas I prefer the company of my camera. Our plan was to start our own photography business, taking pictures of landscapes and cities as people mill about in their day-to-day lives. When you take a photo of someone who isn't aware of a camera pointed at them, that's when you capture their true face, who they really are when they aren't posturing for anything. Since coming into our own and realizing things about ourselves, Ethan's become the popular guy everywhere we go. By association, I have the misfortune of being well-known, too.

It's uncomfortable if I'm honest. Mostly, everyone knows me either as Ethan Summer's best friend or "that chick with the camera." If I had my way, I would simply be a nobody, expertly blending into crowds and people-watching. Ah, the existential dread of being known. It has its perks sometimes, however. Leaside Private University had hosted an academic competition open to all years and I had managed to win third place, which netted me additional funding for the Yearbook committee and an all-expenses paid ten-day vacation to Paradise Island Resort two weeks before it opens to the public for the first time.

Needless to say, I think I may have secured a vote for yearbook committee president for a third year in a row thanks to that.

"Aww, you do value our friendship!" He pokes and prods at me teasingly as I swipe away his hands. "And here I thought Tinman didn't have a heart!"

I pretend to gag, sitting up as I wring out my sleeveless shirt. "Ugh, gross. Maybe I should push you off the boat."

Another laugh at my expense as I stand up from the lounge chair, flicking water at him once more as he flinches, that goofy grin on his face still.