Chapter Seven: Wild Ride (Rachael and Jameela)

“Help, help!”
Annie and the rest of the dorm woke up abruptly to the sound of Calipso screaming desperately. Within seconds the girls had jumped out of bed and were standing next to Calipso.
“What’s wrong Calipso? Are you okay?” asked a concerned Charlotte as she shook Calipso awake.
Calipso was completely out of breath and took a moment to work out exactly where she was.
“I just dreamt I was...drowning!”
The girls all exchanged worried looks with each other and knew that this meant trouble. The anxious moment was then interrupted by Josephine and the clanging of the bell for breakfast.
“Well, let’s quickly get dressed and hurry to breakfast, we’ll talk about it over a bowl of porridge,” suggested Roxanne.
The girls dressed quickly and made their beds before rushing up to the dining hall to join the breakfast queue. Once they had helped themselves to porridge and toast, they settled down to discuss their dreams.
“I dreamt that we were at Jade’s holiday house and we went jet-skiing, which isn’t such a coincidence since you did invite us all yesterday to stay with you for the long weekend. No big deal right?” said Annie, looking at the others for reassurance.
Jade frowned. “I dreamt that we were swimming in the sea. Suddenly a huge wave was about to break right on top of us.”
Next, it was Charlotte’s turn. “In my dream one of us went under a wave, I think it was Calipso but I couldn’t see clearly, and then...”
“It must have been me,” interrupted Calipso, “because I dreamt that I was drowning and fighting for air, so maybe the big wave from Jade’s dream forces me underwater.”
“Well, I don’t know who it was but I dreamt about a guy, and he was carrying someone along the seashore...how romantic!” said Chelsea dreamily, imagining that she was that someone and Kyle was that guy.
Roxanne cleared her throat and scratched her head. “I don’t really remember much of my dream, but I do remember a few people leaning over someone lying on a sandy shore doing what looked like CPR.”
“Huh,” they all sighed, thinking to themselves about what they’d just discussed.
All of a sudden the speakers screeched to life in the corner of the dining hall as Josephine turned the microphone on. A moment later Mrs Sheraton, now completely recovered from her nasty fall, walked through the doors. She was wearing a grey skirt and a white blouse and her grey-blond hair was in a neat little bun. She made her way to the podium and tapped the microphone.
“May I have your attention please girls,” she said in a raspy voice. The clattering of knives and forks and the hum of conversation died down and silence descended on the room.
“I would just like to say a few words before you all disappear,” continued Mrs. Sheraton. “I know you have all been looking forward to the half-term break after a busy start to our school year. I would like to wish you well; I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable trip to wherever it is that you will be spending the long weekend. Please remember that you are Fernwood High girls, so make us proud, no matter where you are.”
Once they had been dismissed, the girls raced back to the dorm to pack their bags. They were full of excitement and the talk of big waves, drowning and CPR was far from their minds. As they clambered down the stairs, Jade spotted her dad’s Land Rover driving through the top gate. Mr and Mrs Thompson had arrived to collect the Fab Five as they had done many times in the past. This time, however, there was a new addition to their daughter’s little group of friends. They were finally going to meet Calipso, the new girl who they had heard so much about. They weren’t quite sure what to expect as Jade had had plenty to say about her when Calipso had first arrived. But it hadn’t taken Jade long to let down her guard, and Jade’s mom had decided that her daughter and Calipso must share a common interest. That often seemed to be a good reason for two people to become friends. Little did she know what that interest was.
“Well, hello girls,” Mrs Thompson said as she gave them all a huge hug. “The boys are already at home and are looking forward to seeing you all again. Although I’m sure that with this hot weather, they’ve probably gone straight to the beach for a swim,” she said while fanning herself. The girls all giggled when she mentioned the boys and Chelsea let out a squeal of delight at the thought of Kyle in his board shorts. She hadn’t realised that the boys were also going to be spending the weekend with the Thompsons.

***

The drive to the Thompson’s little holiday cottage in Shelly Bay took just under an hour and they were all relieved to finally escape from the boiling hot car.
“Hey Pipsqueak!”
Jade turned around in horror at the sound of the nickname her brother had given her years ago. She was about to aim a fist at his shoulder when he picked her up in a big bear hug.
“Hi Adam,” she laughed, her anger quickly melting away.
Kyle and Stuart came around the corner and greeted everyone with hugs. Kyle hugged Chelsea after he had greeted everyone else and Chelsea blushed immediately.
“Hi Kyle, how are you?” she asked, a twinkle in her eye.
“I’m so much better now that we’ve had a swim in the sea. How are you?” he replied.
“Fine.” That was all she could manage as she seemed to have forgotten how to speak properly.
They walked into the house together, Kyle carrying Chelsea’s bags and pillow.
“Umm, I wanted to ask you something...” stuttered Kyle as they walked alone through the entrance hall.
“Hey dude!” shouted Stuart, “Are you coming jet-skiing or what?”
“Sure, I’ll be there now,” he said, a little disappointed that he didn’t have more time to talk to Chelsea. “Well, I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Sure,” mumbled Chelsea, wondering what it was that he wanted to ask her.
The girls dumped their bags in Jade’s room and changed into their bathing costumes, also eager to swim in the sea. They walked along the cobbled path down to the beach. The sand was hot so they ran straight into the water while watching the boys bounce off the waves on their jet-skis.
“Oh my word, check this huge wave coming!” yelled Stuart. Everyone looked towards the horizon and saw a huge wall of water heading straight for the shore. The boys flew over the top of it before it broke and the girls ran out of the water and up the beach. But Calipso just froze. All the talk of their dreams suddenly came flooding back and she couldn’t seem to lift her legs. She knew what was about to happen but she was helpless to stop it.
“Calipso, move!” shouted Kyle.
It was too late. The wave crashed down on top of Calipso and forced her under the water. It knocked the wind out of her and she couldn’t tell which way was up or down. The others watched anxiously, waiting for any sign that she was alright. Suddenly Kyle jumped off his jet-ski and swam through the water towards Calipso. If there was anyone who could save Calipso, it was Kyle. He was a first team swimmer, a waterpolo player and a life guard. He dived under the water where Calipso had been standing and everyone watched in awe. After what seemed like a terribly long time, his head burst through the surface of the water. He had Calipso in his arms pressed tightly against his chest. Chelsea watched the scene unfold before her and realised that the guy in her dream was Kyle, but the girl wasn’t her and it wasn’t quite the romantic picture she had imagined. She was a little disappointed about that but at the same time she was relieved that Calipso was safely in his arms. He was her hero.
Everyone gathered around Calipso after Kyle had laid her on the sand. After some basic CPR from Adam, Calipso spluttered and coughed up a whole lot of sea water and then managed to sit up. After a little more time she was able to stand. They all decided that they’d had enough excitement for one day and walked slowly back to the cottage. Calipso was carried into the spare room to lie down. Annie sat with her until she fell into a deep sleep while the others started a game of Monopoly to lighten the mood. Kyle made up an excuse and opted out of the game. He then went in search for Chelsea who had disappeared when they returned from the beach. He knocked lightly on her door and walked into the room.
“Calipso seems fine, doesn’t she? Luckily we managed to pull her out of the water so quickly,” he said while sitting down next to her on the bed.
“You, not we,” she said, remembering his heroic act on the beach.
“So, I never had a chance to ask you earlier...” he stopped mid-sentence and looked nervously into her beautiful blue eyes.
“Will you be my date for the Valentine’s Ball? It’s next weekend.”