The Tides That Join Us Together

Chapter 7: In Due Time

Cameron

"And then, you dunk the ball in the net like this." I said to Taj, showing him a game I was playing on my dad's phone.

"Cool." he said. "Can I try?"

"Yeah, go for it." I said, handing him the phone. I watched as he kept messing up. I tried so hard to stifle a laugh, but I couldn't.

"Shut up." Taj said to me.

"It's okay to suck sometimes." I said back to him.

"I can do this." he said. "I know I can."

"If you say so." I say back.

"At least I don't cheat to win." he says.

"I'm not a cheater. You all really just aren't strategic." I say back. I had absolutely no clue where my parents were taking us. I just hope it wasn't somewhere boring. Looking up, I saw the sign for Six Flags Magic Mountain. "Taj look!"

"No way!" he says. "It's about to be lit." We haven't been here in about a year. I was starting to think the memberships my parents paid for were going to waste, but I guess not. Parking in the huge parking lot, we got out and joined the large line to enter the park.

"We have to ride the Batman!" I tell Taj.

"Yeah and then we can ride Tatsu." he says back to me.

"Definitely!" I say back. We finally got to enter park. "Let's do Tatsu first actually."

"Be careful please." my mom said, kissing the both of us on our foreheads.

"We will!" I say before we run off. The wait in line wasn't that long.

"Hold on." Taj said to me. "I gotta put my hair in a pony tail so it's not in my face." After he did that, we took our seats. We smiled at each other as the ride operator closed and locked everyone in. My adrenaline started pumping as the seats started leaning forward so we could face the floor. I knew Tatsu was Taj's favorite ride, so I wanted to do that with him first.

I watched as the ground got farther away as we went up.

"Nervous?" Taj asks, smirking.

"You wish." I say. "You know I ride this with you all the time."

"Just make sure." he said, laughing. We were reaching the top and Taj started screaming.

"WOOOOOOOOO!" he screamed. "LET'S GET IT CAAAAAM!" And just like that, we were going down. I put my hands up, let the wind flow freely through my hair and body, not that I had a choice. There were so many G forces present on this ride. One moment I was being pushed up into my seat and then the next I was experience weightlessness.

As the ride came back into the station, Taj and I were laughing, giving each other a fist bump. As we exited the ride, he said to me,

"Man that never gets old."

"It sure doesn't." I say back. "Batman?"

"Of course." he says, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Then we can do the Superman."

"You know I won't ride that." I say.

"It's not as bad as it looks." he says back.

"You're at a whole 90 degree angle in the air! What if I slip out?" I ask.

"You could of on Tatsu, but you didn't." he says. "You'll be okay." I was excited as we took our seats for the Batman. The loops were my favorite.

"Nervous?" I asked Taj as the ride started, mocking him from earlier.

"Cam." he began. "This ride isn't nothing I can't handle."

"Okay, just make sure." I smirked as we reached the drop. I looked at Taj who immediately closed his eyes.

"Dang it Cam!!" he screamed.

"I thought you weren't afraid????!!!!" I yelled as I was pushed all the way into my seat from the loops and cork-screws.

"Well!" he began, his eyes still closed. "I lied!"

"I can see that!" I say, giggling. Taj and I rode almost everything we could in the park. We went from the Superman, to the Green Lantern, to the Justice League Coaster. We did the Roaring Rapids, not caring that we got wet, followed by the Twisted Colossus and then Goliath. I swear Taj passed out on Goliath. Those drops were no joke. We went to a little shop and bought ourselves some souvenirs and something to drink.

Finally, we met back up with my parents because we were tired as heck and hungry. The both of decided that we didn't want any food in the park and I guess my parents did too, since they also complained about being hungry.

"So what are you boys in the mood for?" my dad asked as we got in the car.

"Honestly." I said. "I don't really care this time. I just want to eat."

"Same here." Taj said.

"How about we eat at Texas Roadhouse?" my mom suggested.

"Ooo yes." I say. "I want their rolls."

"Taj?" my mom said, waiting for him to answer. She turned around to look at him when he didn't. He was already fast asleep.

"Man that boy can sleep." my dad said. I kept my eyes glued out the window as we drove to Texas Roadhouse. China and I loved to eat their together. She always got the pulled pork dinner, but I always had to have a steak. I love steak so much.

I shook Taj awake as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant to let him know that we were here. Dinner was really good, better than the last few times we were here actually. Taj burped very loud at the table, causing some heads to turn.

"Sorry. Excuse me." he said as his face turned a bright red. I couldn't help but giggle as I felt my own burp coming, just as loud as his.

"Excuse me." I immediately said. All I could think about on the ride home was being able to call China again. It wasn't too late so I know our parents wouldn't be opposed to it. "Mom. Dad. When will I be able to go stay with China?"

"In due time." they both said as if they knew I was going to ask the question.

"What?" I asked confused, not knowing what that meant.

"In due time." they said again. I shrugged, leaning my head against the door and falling asleep. When we got home, I immediately ran inside to wash my hands and pick up the phone.

"Dang Cameron." Taj said, smiling. "Can't wait to talk to Chi again, huh?"

"Yeah.." I mumbled. "And if you try anything, I will kick you in your nuts."

"You better not." he said. "I need those to go to the bathroom."

"Then stay away from me while I'm on the phone!" I say, dialing China's number.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hi." I said as a smile made its way across my face. "I told you I would call you back when I got home and here I am."

"I'm glad you didn't lie." she said, smiling. I couldn't ever lie to you, I thought to myself.