Chapter 26

A day on the beach...what will happen to the gang as they rest the day before they head home? Part 4/5 of the Vacation mini-arc.

Why did this all feel so familiar, like a sense of deja vu? He was sitting in his English class. He was in eighth grade again. Sitting to his diagonal right was Taira, a girl with long blonde hair and shiny blue eyes. He had been watching her for the past few days. He noticed she was smart-something he always looked for. She was also outgoing, something he had always tried to be since his mom had died.

"Now class,"the teacher said,"You may pair up and study for your vocabulary test tommorow. Just make sure you're actually studying."

Everyone began splitting into groups. Victoria, Ralph's best friend, immediatly went to him and vice versa. They always seemed seperated from everyone else.

Ralph looked back to see Taira watching everyone splitting into groups. She almost seemed entertained by the groups people went into, but Ralph could sense a small hint of longing and sadness her in eyes when her gaze went over him and Victoria.

"Just a sec,"Ralph said and he walked over to Taira.

"Do you want to work with us?"Ralph said and she looked up from her vocabulary list and looked at him. She seemed to be considering his proposal. He noticed her face seemed almost unemotional.

"Sure,"Taira said and she smiled at him and stood up to join him and Victoria.

Suddenly, time seemed to move forward. He was standing in the school gym with Taira. They were at the Christmas dance of that same school year.

A country song started to play and Taira's face became lit up with glee.

"I have an idea!"she said and she randomly turned to a girl and said,"Will you do something with me?"

The girl looked at Taira and said "Sure".

"Good,"Taira said, dragging Ralph over."Me and him are gonna spin. Then he's gonna pass me to you, okay?"

The girl laughed and nodded and Taira grabbed Ralph's arms and began spinning, their elbows hooked together. She slipped out of his arm and went to the girl who joined in happily. Ralph watched as Taira enlisted random people into her dance.

He gave a small sigh. He had to admit, she was an interesting person alright. Would they really get along in the long run?

The moment changed again. It was the last day of eighth grade and he had taken Taira to her class, knowing he would not see her after that.

"I'm really gonna miss you,"he said, looke=ing down at her, a sad smile on his face.

"Yeah,"Taira said."Don't worry. I have a feeling me and you will see each other again. I'll try and call you, okay?"

Ralph nodded and he hugged her tightly.

The moment changed again. It was the summer going into 10th grade. He was standing at the doorstep of Taira's house. He was about to see her again after more than a year. They had finally contacted each other again during the previous school year. It had taken a while, but they were finally going to see each other again. He was also going to meet her family for the first time ever.

The door opened and Taira looked at him, almost breathless with excitement.

"Come in,"she said with a nervous smile and he smiled at her and took the invitation.

"Ralph!"a voice suddenly yelled. Where was that voice coming from?

"Ralph!" Are you even listening?"

Ralph opened his eyes and sat up. Where was he? And what was with the dream he just had? It seemed so real, almost like a lot of memories mixed...

"Are you finally awake?"Rene asked, looking at him. Then he remembered where he was. Rene, Amber, Daniel, and himself had gone to the beach that day. He had laid down in the sun and apparently fallen asleep. At least he didn't get sunburned from being in the sun all day. That would have been painful due to the fact that Rene was poking his arm.

"Are you fully awake yet?"Rene asked. Ralph looked at her and nodded wtih a huge yawn.

"So what were you dreaming about?"Rene asked.

"Nothing,"Ralph said, stifling another huge yawn.

"Taira?"Rene said.

"How did you know?"Ralph asked in suprise.

"You said her name at least twice. The first time you said 'I'm sorry, Taira' and the second time you said 'Hi, Taira'. What were you dreaming about?"

Rene looked at him curiously.

"I'm not sure,"Ralph said honestly."They were like memories but...I don't remember the things ever happening to me."

"Maybe it was just a dream of events you THINK have happened,"Rene suggested.

"No...,"Ralph muttered quietly.

"Well, excuse me for trying to help!"Rene said angrily, crossing her arms and glaring at the ground.

"What's the matter?"Ralph asked.

"Nothing!"Rene muttered. Then she exploded.

"I always try to help and you always just dismiss my ideas as useless, but when your precious boy-toy Daniel suggests something, you're all 'Oh that's probably it!' or 'Thanks Daniel for helping me figure it out!'"

Ralph just stared at her. She had just looked away angrily. Was she really that jealous of his friendship with Daniel?

"Are you mad at me?"Ralph asked, putting a hand on Rene's shoulder.

"No!"Rene said, shrugging his hand off of her.

"Rene, you do realize me and Daniel are just friends, right?"Ralph asked.

"Friends? Ha!"Rene said, finally looking at him again."He told Amber, who told me, about yesterday before room service went into your room! That seems more than just friendship!"

"He said he was bored,"Ralph said defensively."I was just entertaining him! He knows that! Amber knows that, actually!"

"Entertaining,"Rene said angrily,"Right."

"Rene, we're just friends, I promise!"Ralph insisted.

Suddenly, Rene stood up and looked at Ralph who looked up at her.

"I don't ever want to talk to you ever again!"Rene yelled and she stomped off, leaving Ralph to stare after her, very confused and shocked.

"Gotten yourself in quite a pickle, haven't you?"a voice said from behind him. He looked back to see Amber and Daniel standing behind him.

Ralph suddenly stood up and glared at Daniel.

"You just can't keep things to yourself, can you!"Ralph said angrily.

"Pardon?"Daniel said, getting angry immediatly.

"Why'd you tell her!"Ralph said, pointing at Amber.

"It just came up in conversation!"Daniel said angrily.

"What kind of conversations are you having behind my back?"Ralph demanded.

"They're not behind your back, they're just talks!"Daniel said.

"Yeah, right,"Ralph said."Any day now you'll let it SLIP"-Ralph put great emphasis on the word-"that I'm still here to Michael, huh?"

"How dare you?!"Daniel yelled."I've tried my hardest to keep your secret safe! I can't believe you would accuse me like that!"

"It's not an accusation if it's a proven fact,"Ralph said coldly.

"What proven fact?!"Daniel demanded.

"That you have a big f*****g mouth!"Ralph said.

Daniel's fist came out of nowhere and hit Ralph in the cheek, knocking him to the ground. Ralph looked up in shock at him.

"I've kept your secret for at least a month and a half,"Daniel said furiously."I've lied to Michael so much for you! And this is how you repay me?!"

Ralph stared up at Daniel. He looked so angry that Ralph was actually afraid of him.

"Ralph, I completely, utterly, HATE YOU!!"Daniel yelled and he turned and left in the same manner as Rene.

"Daniel, wait!"Amber called after him. She looked at Ralph and shook her head.

"Idiot,"she muttered and she followed Daniel, leaving Ralph to rub the very painful bruise on his left cheek alone.

Author's Note

Keep this chapter in mind during Part 3. It comes into play a lot(though in a way you wouldn't expect lol). Thanks for reading ^_^

Reviews

[Victoria Thornton]

You put me in your book!!! I feel so damn special right now!!!!!
Damn he HIT him!!! F**k!! They should just kiss and make out already, they know that they want it!!!! And for Ralph, dude having flash backs, he needs to just fess up to Michael already, jeez whats there to f*****g hide!!!!!

GO BUNNY!!!!!

[Sseoni]

Whoa! Totally dramatic and actiony! I loved it! I can't wait to read more! Full support from me all the way! :D