The Forgotten Island

CHAPTER TWO:

A VIRGIN’S REQUEST

“Ooooooh I can’t wait!” I think to myself as I pull into a back parking spot at the front lot of my school. Only two and a half more months and I would be outta here, and I could practically taste the future possibilities on my tongue. I slipped out of my truck and headed toward a bright pink Prius, a car owned by my best friend of 15 years which she had gotten on her 16th birthday. “Fish!” I beam as I call her from across the lot. Fish had been her nickname since we were four years old and our parents had taken us to a local fair. I remember seeing her bright blonde curls bouncing from around the game tent as I heard her begging her father “Please Daddy!! Fish! Fish!“. When my mother and I had rounded the corner, there she was; the most friendly and chubby cheeked girl I had ever met. I watched her cheat from between my mothers legs as she coaxed the water with her little round fingers to send the small ping pong ball she had thrown from an empty bowl into a bowl that held a fish while the game clerk wasn’t looking. We instantly became best friends, and have been inseparable ever since. Nowadays she was less chubby, standing at 5 foot 8 inches tall with legs that seemed to go on for days. Her eyes were ocean blue, and most days they shone with a lighthearted mischievous gleam. She still had the bright bouncing curls, however, and I always loved the nostalgic feeling I got looking at them happily moving back and forth against her shoulder blades. “Arya!” Fish hollered when she saw me, “Last freakin 3 months girl!“. Fish was a water-born, and like most water-born was easy going and incredibly friendly. I grew up to become a quiet, almost shy person who was mostly overlooked by everyone, while Fish blossomed into a somewhat popular heart-breaker. To say I loved her less than unconditionally would be a stark understatement.

Fish and I shared 4 classes together this year, and first period English was one of them. We chattered amicably as we got ourselves seated and waited on our teacher to enter. My eyes absentmindedly followed Blake as he entered the room, a black haired and olive toned gorgeous girl on his arm. They both sat at the back of the class, obviously oblivious to the rest of the students as the girl whispered something into his ear. “Arya” Fish whispered “Get your hormones under control and stop staring!“. I blushed being caught in the act, and obligingly turned away. Mrs. Grouch, a red haired 60-something year old woman entered the room looking irritated. This couldn’t be good. “Good-morning students” she stated “As I am sure you are aware, the school will be hosting a trip for the Seniors this year before you depart for bigger and better things.” The class stirred at her words, even though the class trip was usually a week long trip to somewhere dull a few hours away, it was a mark of passage, and something we had looked forward to since we were freshman. “This year, the parent committee was able to raise some extra funds, and I am less than thrilled to announce that this years senior trip will be a weeks cruise to the Bahamas, and I will be one of your chaperones.” Silence filled the room. Was she serious? An actual freakin cruise? Abruptly the room erupted with cheers and Mrs. Grouch passed out permission forms with an exasperated look on her face. The rest of the class passed by in a whir, as did the 3 classes after that, till I was meeting Fish in the cafeteria for lunch. “Can you believe it Arrie, we are going on a cruise! It can’t get any better!” Fish gushed to me between bites of a slice of pepperoni pizza. “What am I going to wear? What if my parents can’t afford it? I will just die if I can’t go!” My friends words slowly fade as I looked at Blake across the cafeteria. He walked with a confident air, clearly knowing the affect he has on people around him. Blake was a fire-born, and the epitome of a jock. I had often watched him set things on fire for the amusement of his friends, and conjure beautiful and dangerous fireballs in his palm as he impressed one of his many female companions. I often wished that I was more popular so that I stood a chance with him. Did he even know I existed? A cruise meant possibilities, possibilities I may never get again. Hmmmm, maybe this cruise could even mean possibilities I haven’t yet been brave enough to consider.

“Fish” I say seriously, gazing across at my beautiful friend. “This cruise is the last chance we have to do something bold before we move on from high school. I also turn eighteen in two months and I know what I want to do; I want to give my virginity to Blake. Will you help me seduce him? Do you think I can?”

Fish choked on her pizza, slamming her fist into her chest as she multi-tasked between heaving and taking in my words. “Blake is a fire-born, Arya, you can do way better than that jerk.” We stare at each other, and I know in my heart she wouldn’t let me down, she never has. “Of course I am in!” she giggles “But we are going to need to do some serious shopping. You are never going to seduce a fire-born with lame plant pun shirts. But just so its in the air, I don’t think its a good idea. Oh man, I just remembered my favorite dress shop is having a sale next weekend!”

I once again stared across the room at Blake, Fish chattering happily in the background. I could do this, I thought to myself, I was going to have sex on this cruise with Blake Fischer. I wasn’t going to be an under the radar type of girl anymore. Goodbye virginity, hello possibilities.