Floating by

Chapter 5: New Friend

Once out of the common room, Kayla looks left and right then down at Margaret.

"So now that you're free, what do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. I don't even want to be here, much less with you."

"Alright then, disco it is!"

Kayla turns left then walks to the lifts and they take it to the fourth floor.

They step out and head to the disco room.

"Why are you doing this?" Margaret suddenly says.

"Cause you looked all sad and grouchy cooped up in that room."

"I am NOT sad or grouchy."

"Sure you aren't."

"Stubborn girl."

"Grouchy old lady."

"Hmph."

They reach the disco room and enter. Strobe lights are flashing and the dance floor is made up of multicolored squares with a disco ball hanging above it . A Bee Gees song is playing loudly but no one is dancing on the dance floor.

Kayla pushes Margaret straight to the dance floor and starts dancing with the wheel chair. She stands in front of Margaret with one hand on her hip and the other pointing up to the sky and then down across her waist enthusiastically. She then switches to her fingers making the peace sign and horizontally pulling them across her eyes, one hand after the other. She starts to do the the sprinkler when she hears a loud laugh coming from Margaret and she smiles widely.

She takes this as a sign to grab Margaret's hands and they start dancing with just their arms. At some point, Kayla stands behind the wheelchair again and spins them around. They both end up in a laughing fit and tired.

Kayla pushes them out of the disco room and into the corridor where they continue laughing towards the lift.

Once they calm down a little, Margaret speaks.

"I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun, let alone laugh."

"Me too Margaret, me too."

As they wait for the lift, Kayla speaks up.

"We still have about an hour left, do you want to see my favorite place on this boat?"

Margaret turns around in her chair to look up at Kayla and smiles.

"Why the hell not."

They ride the lift up to the sixth floor, the highest, and Kayla wheels Margaret past all the luxury rooms towards the exit doors. Once out, she takes a right which leads them to a small open deck. It's above the pool, so they can hear people enjoying themselves but quiet enough to think. They just sit there in silence, taking it all in.

"I found this place yesterday while walking around. It's a nice place to think and reflect. But if I look over, sometimes it makes me sad."

"Child, you're what, 16, 17? What do you have to think and reflect about?"

Kayla looks down towards the pool and spots two people she regonizes.

"First of all  I'm 17 and see those two people there? By the diving boards? A guy in red shorts and a girl in a pink bikini?"

Margaret takes out her spectacles and looks down at who Kayla is referring to.

"Yeah, I see 'em. Who are they?"

"That would be my ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend."

"Ex? As in not anymore?"

"Yeap. As of about four days ago."

"Why?"

"He cheated on me with her. Kinda seemed like a no brained to end both relationships."

"Well that bites. Did you love him?"

"I did, I think I still do. I'm not sure."

"Well what do you love about him?"

"He was always nice to me. He knew everything about me. I thought I knew everything about him. He took care of me. He was there when I needed him."

"That's it? No butterflies? No sparks?"

"There was, I think. I don't know."

"Crazy girl. Those things you listed sounded like you were talking about your brother, not a boy you're in love with. Maybe you just thought you loved him."

"I don't even know anymore Margaret. What if I never know what love is?"

Kayla starts to sob a little, unsure of everything that's ever happened in her life. She knew Margaret was right, that's not what love is supposed to be and she's never felt those butterflies or sparks with Rick. It was always just, nice.

"Oh. There there."

Margaret awkwardly pats Kayla's back, making Kayla laugh.

"You're really bad at this comforting thing aren't you Mar."

"Mar?"

"Yeah, you're new nickname."

"I think I preferred grouch."

Kayla laughs a little then looks down at her watch.

"We should head back."

Margaret nods and Kayla pushes her back to the lift and then back to the common room.

As soon as they walk in a few nurses follow after to take them all to the cafeteria. Kayla offers to push Margaret but she declines.

"That's okay. I'm sure you've got other things to do."

"I don't, but if you're sure."

Margaret nods her head.

"Okay. So, I've got nothing planned tomorrow, I was thinking maybe we can do something else."

"You don't have to pretend like you'll be coming back. It's okay. I had fun today."

"What are you talking about? Of course I'll be back. Just you wait and see Grouch."

Before Margaret can answer, Kayla has walked towards Principal Jones and Margaret is wheeled out by a nurse.