Ever After

Steam

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This chapter is in Mark's perspective.

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According to Google, Baysports is an Irish water park - I have no further knowledge on the subject, so please don't quote me on whatever is in this chapter! Enjoy!

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I could tell that I was becoming more and more like Jack the longer I stared out the window, finding it impossible to pry my eyes away from what was beyond it. The rest of the world was a blur, whizzing past as Mrs. Jefferson steered her car recklessly, seemingly having no tolerance whatsoever for the rules of the road. I didn't mind the fact that Jack hadn't spoken a single word to me yet, but I did find it the slightest bit awkward whenever she took a sharp turn, forcing Jack to lean against me, pushing me to the window that I loved so much.

"Can you fucking slow down!?" Felix roared, reminding me that he had actually decided to tag along on the field trip. Although he'd stated that it was a "gay prize" and that he didn't want to go with a bunch of "fucking nerds," he'd joined the Shakespearean quartet on their way over to Baysports anyhow, somehow smart enough to know that coming on a field trip was much more interesting than sitting in a stuffy classroom under order of a supply teacher.

"There's no such thing as slow on the highway!" Mrs. Jefferson demanded, not caring of the fact that she'd just turned sharp enough to spill the cup holder's coffee all over Wade's pants. (For Wade's sake, I hoped that that event wouldn't end up with the two of them kissing under a tree downtown.)

"My pants!" he squealed in horror, mesmerized by the sight of the stain.

"Relax, honey," Mrs. Jefferson grunted. "You'll be wearin' a speedo in two seconds' time."

I couldn't even begin to question Mrs. Jefferson's sanity within the minute it took us to get there, her promise to Wade of how quickly we'd get there truthful. It took even less time for us to bound out of the minivan (finally free of the stench of cat piss and disappointment), grab at our bags and run into the building, welcomed by the new scent of chlorine and wet towels. Men and women of all ages lounged in arm chairs, slipped and fell into the pool, and (I think) one even winked in my direction, sending my heart aflutter. Immediately the feeling dropped, however, for Jack had caught up with me after having retrieved his bag, walking in line next to me, surveying the surroundings just as much as I had been.

A quick change in the change rooms (a change that didn't involve stolen clothes and smashed cellphones) soon sent us out and into the swimming area, where Mrs. Jefferson said that we were "free to do as we wished," making me wish she hadn't said such a thing. I felt as if everyone were capable of doing whatever they wanted, leaving the possibilities endless; for all I knew, the field trip could end with Bob and Wade stuck in the water slide, Felix drifting away in the lazy river with no control of where he was headed, and Jack's lips against mine underwater. Although I couldn't mind the last part no matter how hard I tried, the very thought of what could happen terrified me - I tried not to think much of it as I turned to Jack, the only one standing near me. Felix had gone off to "chill" by himself, Bob and Wade to see who could stay underwater the longest, and Mrs. Jefferson to the saunas.

"What d'ya want to do?" Jack asked, clearly just as knowing of what to do as I was.

I shrugged in response, not having a clue as to where to go first.

Then, suddenly, a loud howl of laughter erupted from the bottom of a water slide, one that shown bright red, revealing two girls who had just dived headfirst into the water on their way out. Jack, intrigued, grabbed my wrist instantly (our only form of transportation) and began lugging me towards it, his feet jumping two tiles at a time, forcing me to keep up.