Endless Summer // Choices

7 - The Universe Is Listening

Grace pulls me aside briefly.

"Hey, Rowan, can we talk a second? You seem like someone I can trust."

"What is it? Look, if it's about Aleister, don't take it personally-"

"No it's not that, It's..." She interrupts. She pauses for a second, a wave of apprehension crossing her face. "Sorry, never mind. I should go..." Clearly Grace knew something, but I didn't want to pressure her into sharing, in case that scared her off more.

"Hey, it's okay to keep it to yourself. I trust you. I'm sure you'll do the right thing, and when you're ready, you'll share." Grace bites her lip... then pulls something out from under her sweater. It looks like a sharp tooth, around the length of my forearm, and browned with age.

"I found this out by the pool before we left. It was right by the fence... and the bars there were... twisted. Whatever it came from, it's big. I didn't want to share it because I thought it would scare some people, the way it scared me. But you made me realise that we're all in this together, and everyone should know." I smiled at how I had made Grace feel better, and it made me feel better too. We rejoined the group and showed the, the large tooth.

"No way. Theres nothing with teeth that size these days. It has to be a fossil, right?" Questions Jake, seemingly doubting himself. Everyone fidgets, unsure what to make of it.

"So after all this, we're saying we still have no idea where the staff and guests went?"

"All we've got is more questions."

"So? What do we do now?"

Different voices fill the otherwise silent lobby. Nobody is getting anywhere.

"You go to bed."

I wheel around to find the quiet, mysterious girl standing right next to me. Everybody stops, staring at her, as this is the first thing she's said.

"Night has fallen, you should get some rest."

Lila rushes forwards, her bright yellow shirt a sudden rush of colour.

"Estela! There you are! Where have you been?"

"Lookin' around. Same as you." She says this nonchalantly, as if nobody should be concerned that she's been alone in a weirdly deserted hotel resort. Michelle asks if she found anything.

"Nothing that matters to you people."

"Hey, shouldn't you let us decide that?" I ask, annoyed at her cold nature.

"...We've all got secrets."

This seems like the end of this exchange, Estela doesn't seem to want to deliberate any further. She give the group a pointed look before vaulting the check-in desk. She snatches a room key off the wall. With that, she paces off around the bend and disappears, leaving the rest of us in confused silence. Sean and Craig deliberate over what she meant, while Lila begins fiddling around behind the desk.

"Okay all, it is getting late, and we'll want to be ready to greet everyone when they return from... wherever. Please take the key to your assigned room and head off!"

People begin to move, yet Zahra stays in her spot.

"Assigned? Ha. Good one." She scoffs. She reaches higher up and grabs a key that looks like a queen chess piece. "I'm taking a penthouse suite! Hotel's empty right?" Some of the others pluck more decorative keys from the wall. This actually seemed like a good idea. I'm not going to ever afford one of these fancy rooms by myself, so why not? I look over to the wall and pick a heart shaped key, encrusted with red jewels. It was labelled 'honeymoon suite'.

***

I ride the elevator up to the penthouse level and place the key in the lock. The door swings open, revealing a sprawling suite with a balcony overlooking a moonlit beach. Rose petals and wavering scented candles lead all the way to the bed. I marvel at the amazing decor and coziness of the room.

There's a knock at the door. I open it carefully, without an exact idea on who it could be, yet I hoped...

"Sup."

Diego bursts into the room, breaking my trail of thought. I greet him carefully, trying to mask the slight disappointment.

"Were you expecting someone else?" He asks, with a knowing smile. He's my best friend- so he knew how I was really feeling and what I was thinking the majority of the time.

"I know you too well Rowan, if you're crushing on someone here, I'm gonna figure out who it is, don't you worry."

Surveying my room, he comments, "Okay, no fair. How come you get your own private hot tub? That is definitely gonna come in handy. Is it too late to trade?"

Diego flops onto my large four poster bed, sighing with exhaustion. I sit down beside him.

"What do you think is going on here?" I ask after a few seconds of silence. He sat, thoughtful for a second then replied.

"I know this is only because I watch an unhealthy amount of movies... but remember when I said that I wanted this week to be an adventure? One that will stay with us forever? Maybe... just maybe the universe is finally listening."

He shakes his head, laughing at himself.

"Though, given my luck with the universe, I'll probably be back in reality getting bullied again, come morning."

"Well, I think that sometimes you've gotta force the universe to listen." I add, it making sense to me, yet most likely not to anyone else.

"And you say I'm the ridiculous one."

Diego laughs and grabs a pillow from the bed, whacking me lightly. I hear the soft sound of something falling from my bed. Looking underneath the bed, I find a folded piece of paper. I open the old, yellowed slip with worn edges. Written on it in beautiful, looping ink...

I must see you one last time before tomorrow. Meet me at our spot in Neptune cove, Midnight.

The note was sealed with a kiss. Diego points out the other side of the thin paper, which has more, in different handwriting.

I'll be there.

"Sounds like a steamy rendezvous. Neptune cove's on the other side of the island. Real secluded and romantic. Hey, could that be where everyone went?" He wonders aloud. I point out that the letter looks years old, so it's unlikely.

A few seconds later, there's pounding on the door. It's Craig.

"What up, what up, what uuuuup!"

***

Oops I need to start updating regularly. Also I passed 1000 words on this chapter woop!
-Rosie