Nightmare Island (A Partial Draft)

Chapter 2

Ren Kaiser had never been the sort of person who enjoyed staying at home and doing nothing. But even with that, he didn't like disobeying the law, which was technically what Emersyn O'Dell was asking him and the rest of the gang to do by making them go to Dreamland Park.

He didn't want anyone to know he was there... and another thing getting in his craw was that damn Lexie Kirkwood,.. with her chin-length brunette bob and the slight dimple on her left cheek... the sweet scent of her perfume... her gorgeous blue eyes, huge sapphires which twinkled in the light. And as much as he didn't want to, he found her compelling. They hadn't gone to school together; she'd gone to another branch of the university due to her current family situation. Her folks were going through cancer treatments and she wanted to be closer to the hospital. Now, both of them were in remission... which was wonderful.

The first time Ren met Lexie was at Emersyn's 21st birthday at a place called Paradise Springs. It was a place with burgers and elevated pub food as well as mixed drinks and seafood. Lexie was the only person besides him who only drank one alcoholic beverage. Of course, Emersyn was already half-buzzed by the time Lexie got there (she had a late class and had to run home and change first). Her hair was a little longer then, and it was dyed pink. When he asked her about it, because she didn't look like the type to dye her hair an odd color, she replied that Emersyn had bet her that one of their neighbors, Justin Brogan wouldn't make a pass at her at the football game. For some reason, that guy gave Ren the creeps. He was very secretive, but he also took everything too far whenever he engaged in somewhat normal activity. If he wanted to date a girl, he would flirt shamelessly and attempt to get enough information about the girl to stalk her online. And that was something Ren didn't want to happen to Lexie.

As the group walked around the old amusement park, it was more than a little creepy. He didn't like to admit it when he was afraid, but Ren was sort of scared. The longer the group walked around, the more Ren got the feeling they were being watched. Of course, he'd look around and nothing would be there, but that didn't stop the feeling of unease he got in this place.

Whenever they were fortunate enough to be rid of Emersyn, Ren would look over at Lexie and ask if she experienced the same things he had. Now, Kyla was standing right with them most of the time, and occasionally, she put her two cents in, but it was clear that she was aware of the sexual tension between Ren and Lexie, and didn't want to intrude. Eventually, while she still stayed closer to them than Brent, Maddox, and Emersyn, she gave Ren and Lexie some space so they could be together.

To be honest, while he appreciated the thought, Ren felt all-the-more nervous for it. The longer he spent with her, the friendlier he wanted to be with her. And for one thing, he still wasn't sure he wanted to be in a relationship with anyone. He also wasn't sure that she would ever be able to break away from Emersyn long enough for them to truly have a shot. He was beginning to really resent Emersyn.

And Lexie was obviously afraid of disappointing her friend... and she didn't seem to want to rock the boat at all. But just as soon as he was chiding her in his brain for being such a push-over, he had to remember that Lexie and Emersyn had been friends since the beginning of time, and they were almost siblings. He also had to take a step back and admit that Lexie wasn't the only one bowing to Emersyn's schemes. He'd come to Dreamland just like everyone else had. So, he was no better than anyone else. He couldn't stand there and point fingers at anyone else if he weren't willing to point the finger at himself as well.