What about today, p.1
What About Today, page 1
WHAT ABOUT TODAY
Dawn Lanuza
About What About Today
Aiden's stuck working for his family's amusement park, Funtastic World , for the whole summer. Nothing amuses him, until he met this terrified girl.
Gemma's stuck in Funtastic World thinking she could handle the park's rides. She couldn't. Good thing she met someone to guide her.
As the day comes to a close, Aiden and Gemma ask themselves if one day is ever enough to decide if they were better off as friends or strangers.
What About Today
Dawn Lanuza
Copyright © 2015 Dawn Lanuza
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Contact the author:
dawn.lanuza@gmail.com
Cover design by Reginald Lapid ( http://society6.com/reglapid ).
What About Today
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
ABOUT Dawn Lanuza
To Ilia, A + G’s biggest cheerleader,
Maan for the ride
ONE
Aiden’s only doing this for that wildlife trek he’s signed up for. He’d been dying to wake up to a different view. If it wasn’t for the fact that Happy Adventure Land opened this year, people wouldn’t be freaking out so much.
Life before was so much better: no one asked him to work at Funtastic World ’s office for the summer. No one required him to punch in and out of the office, Mondays to Fridays, 8am-5pm. More importantly, no one sent him emails with the subject “Pls Complete This TODAY”.
He hated e-mails. E-mails are the worst. He couldn’t see the point of them when there were chat threads. Video messages, even. It’s faster to say things that way. It could go as quick as this:
Alec: Pls complete this TODAY
Aiden: No
But that was what life was like for Aiden that summer. Three weeks in and he’s still not used to waking up early. So yes, he punched in at 9:30 instead, wore slacks and leather shoes, long sleeved shirts and ridiculous ties. He tried to make it fun by buying cartoon character neckties but he got a memo for that.
So yeah, plain neckties it was.
That day, he wore a plain white long sleeved shirt with a red necktie and whatever slacks. He’s sure it’s from some tailor but whatever, he just picked it up from his brother’s closet. Aiden didn’t really own much of those kinds of clothes. It’s not like he went to school looking like he came from the set of Mad Men . That’s what he loved about his school; they didn’t have to wear a uniform so Aiden pretty much comes to class wearing plain shirts, cargo shorts or jeans, and his sneakers. So he’s not planning to get a job that would require him to wear anything but that too.
He had 389 unread e-mails. Most of them were spam. Some were newsletters from all the apps he’d downloaded on his phone. He didn’t read them, much as he didn’t want to read the e-mail that would require him to actually work on something today.
Aiden leaned forward to stare at his monitor, checked other e-mails that didn’t come from Alec, but nothing registered. He braced himself and finally clicked that e-mail, and held his breath.
Aiden,
I’ve already reminded you of the fireworks situation. We’re running out of stock, and you’re in charge of following up the orders. I don’t want you to leave this task to someone else before you go on your trip. This is a fairly easy task.
Please don’t let me call Pa. We are not kids anymore.
DO THIS TODAY. We’re down to one set.
Thanks,
Alec
Aiden pushed his chair back and let his chair swivel. He felt squeamish just reading that e-mail. “ Please don’t let me call Pa ”? He wished Alec would actually call their father, so he’d know what a complete shit that summer gig had been. Maris, a middle-aged woman who sat next to his desk, threw him a glance.
He straightened his back, “Have you had breakfast yet?”
She nodded. Aiden frowned. Maris had been in this office since they opened. That’s a good and solid decade. Sometimes he pictured her feet growing roots into the floor. She never left her desk. She ate lunch on her desk. That may have looked like dedication to some, but in reality, it’s just an extreme addiction to Minesweeper and Solitaire.
He should probably have told her that she could download other games in her computer. Then he wouldn’t have been so bored watching her play her boring games.
“I’m gonna get muffins,” Aiden sprang out of his chair. “Do you want some?”
“No.”
He pouted, “You sure? They’re banana flavored.”
Maris ate bananas during lunch breaks. Aiden watched her eat next to him on his first week in the office.
Maris just opened a window. Solitaire. Aiden winced, “Okay. So I’ll be right back.”
She scoffed as she dragged a Four of Cloves next to a Five of Diamonds. She learned not to care about the vacant seat next to her as much as he learned that no amount of computer games could entertain him in this office.
***
She’s seventeen, and it was not looking well for her. Was it because she had high expectations? When Gemma was a child, one of her first favorite songs was from an artist named Janis Ian. She released a song named “At Seventeen” back in 1975.
Since learning that song, Gemma’s grown what one could say as an unrealistic expectation for her seventeenth year of existence. Clearly, she didn’t understand that song well. But no matter, there were other songs about being seventeen that made her think that it’d be the pinnacle of her life.
There was The Beatles with “I Saw Her Standing There” and ABBA with “Dancing Queen”.
But so far, seventeen wasn’t boding well for Gemma.
For starters, her best friend Jane was slipping away from her. Ever since Jane auditioned and made it as a member of that all-girl band The Maria Claras , it’s all she’s talked about. It’s where she’s been mostly that summer.
Secondly, she’s stuck in Funtastic World . But that wasn’t the worst part. It’s actually the fact that she did this to herself. Voluntarily. Willingly. Purposely. She dragged herself out of bed to endure a 2-hour bus ride to get to this amusement park, which frankly, did not look like the park she had in mind anymore.
It’s looking a little rusty. But she was seven when she came here first. She decided that everything was just bigger and more impressive for her then.
She thought: she’s seventeen, she can handle being alone. She’s an only child. Her parents both work during the day so she’s learned how to microwave meals at seven. She’s a very capable girl. So really, how hard could it be to ride a roller coaster alone?
She asked herself this question as she stared at The Big Red Dragon , the 40-meter high ride that runs 54.9mph in speed with 6 stomach-turning inversions.
Gemma felt her throat close up. So far, it’s looking like the answer is very hard. She couldn’t even drag herself to line up to the ride.
So she turned her back from The Big Red Dragon and looked at The Eagle Eye , Funtastic World ’s Ferris wheel. It might be best to start off with that. For one thing, the capsule is air conditioned. She wouldn’t get sunburn. Also, Ferris wheels weren’t supposed to be that horrendous. Sure, she’d read some Ferris wheel accidents that happened in other countries as preparation for her day, but comparatively, Ferris wheels were supposed to be safer.
She can start with that.
Gemma walked towards the ride and found a small line. She’s only four people away from riding the enclosed capsule that would take her up in the sky (150 feet high to be exact), with no option of backing out in case she changed her in mind.
She sucked in air and convinced herself that she won’t change her mind. She’s seventeen; she can handle a ferris wheel.
Three more until her capsule would slowly ease into position.
A boy about her age cackled, catching her attention. He stood in front of the capsules, talking to the attendant. At the corner of her eye, she noticed the next capsule sliding down for the next couple in line. She felt her heart thump out of her chest.
Gemma closed her eyes and decided that she needed a pep talk. She thought about Jane auditioning for TMC. Winnie Foster running away from home and living with the immortal Tucks. Lucy entering that wardrobe to Narnia. Katniss Everdeen volunteering for the games to save Prim. Tris choosing the Dauntless. Hermione Granger pretty much doing everything. Every young adult heroine took a risk before their stories started.
She could start with The Eagle Eye .
She wasn’t sure where that would lead her but she could figure out her real risk later.
Gemma opened her eyes just as the boy in front of the capsules craned his neck. He paused when he caught her eye, and then did the stupidest thing. He smiled at her the way that just reminded Gemma of toothpaste commercials. Or mouthwash advertorials. Just this really big, toothy, ha-ha (yes, with sound!) smile that completely threw her off her stance.
She felt a frown form in her face. Boys, she thought sourly. Gemma turned b ack to the capsules and kept her literary heroes in mind (plus Jane). She stepped on the platform and watched her own capsule come.
The attendant greeted her with, “Just you?”
Gemma’s heart beat faster, “Why, is it bad if it’s just me? Do I need someone to balance the whole thing off?”
The attendant smiled at her, “No, you’ll be fine.”
But he didn’t look like he was convinced enough that she will be fine. Plus he looked like he was just a couple years older than she is. Is he qualified to say that? Did they check the ride this morning?
Gemma squinted her eyes and took a moment to gauge the guy’s facial expression. He has a smile plastered on his face. It looked like he was trained to smile at people that way all the time. So she turned the other boy, the one who dopily grinned at her earlier, and asked him, “Is he sure?”
His eyes widened, seemingly shocked that he’s now included in this conversation or that she’s finally acknowledged his existence. “Yeah, but don’t do anything like dance around the capsule.”
The attendant insisted, “Hop along, please.”
“So it really swings?” She wasn’t ready yet. She needed all the facts before she could surrender.
“Of course it does.” The boy answered matter-of-factly.
The attendant closed the door and waited for the next capsule. “Okay, next one. You’ll be fine, don’t listen to him, he doesn’t work here. And he never will.”
He talked to the boy, “Go back to the office. Your break’s over.”
“But you’ve never had people stuck up there, right? Or you guys have a really good PR person so no word of horrendous deaths ever got out?”
The boy’s lips slowly spread out into a smile.
“Oh my god,” She heard herself say. “Somebody died in here.” Gemma looked at the other people in line, alerting them. “Somebody died here.”
“Oh, hey,” the boy grabbed her arm softly to turn her attention back to him. “Nobody died. No, wait somebody did die but it’s not because we forgot to close the door or the wheel got stuck. He was just a really old dude…”
The attendant cleared his throat.
The boy pressed his lips together and gave her that same trained smile as the attendant’s. The generic everything-is-peachy smile. “Nobody died. You are safe. Please get in.”
Gemma took a deep breath, took a look at the capsule and then decided, “No.”
She ran as fast as she could to the exit and bit her fingernails. Who was she even kidding? She had that many literary heroes for one obvious reason: she’s a reader, not a doer. She’s lived all her life vicariously through fiction.
***
She’s a runner. She must be. She zoomed past him and never looked back.
“Nice work, Sir Aiden.”
Aiden frowned at Manuel, The Eagle Eye ’s designated attendant. He didn’t like being called ‘sir’. Plus Manuel’s older than him. He had been working at the park since the previous summer to help his parents pay for school and he’s probably the only friend Aiden had there. “What?”
“It’s not our job to scare the customers,” He smiled at him glibly.
“I didn’t scare her, she was obviously scared even before.”
Manuel shrugged, “Well, you didn’t help so much.”
He turned to the next group of teens riding the capsule and greeted them.
“Can I just man The Eagle Eye ?” Aiden asked. If Alec made him work outside, he wouldn’t actually hate him for it. The outside world was so much better than the office. There were people out there. He could hear people’s conversations. Not that he’s eavesdropping, but it’s so much better than the sound of the water cooler bubbling up every fifteen minutes. Or Maris’ keyboard or mouse clicks.
“There’s not much to do here,” Manuel told him.
“Same thing inside,” He pointed to the office, not too far away from his sight. He’s had his muffins. He had been outside for more than three hours.
Manuel opened the door to let three girls inside the capsule. “You’re okay with opening and closing doors for other people?”
“I can do that.”
“Of course you can,” Manuel laughed at him. “I think you’re overqualified for the job.”
Aiden tilted his head, “I’m overqualified? Do I have an extra set of hands that I did not know of?”
“You’re the boss’ son. You can’t be a rides attendant.”
“Well, I’ll make a better rides attendant than an office bitch, I’m sure of that.” He ran his hand through his hair, reminding himself that he needed a haircut. That summer’s one of the hottest he has ever had; he couldn’t believe he’s out there wearing a tie.
“Well, I need this job.” Manuel concluded.
“I know,” Aiden’s eyes travelled back down and found the girl who ran away from The Eagle Eye . “I’m not gonna let you lose your job here. You’re my friend.”
The girl stood right in the middle of the park, looking like one of those missing three-year-olds. She was definitely scared. Who asks about deaths while you’re next in line on the ferris wheel?
“What do you think is up with her?” He heard Manuel say.
Aiden observed her as she hesitated to take another step further. “I don’t know.”
The girl turned around and paused, bit her lip, and shut her eyes.
Aiden felt a smile spread across his lips. “I think I’m gonna find out.”
“What?”
He tapped Manuel on his shoulder and ran to the exit, the way she did.
“Sir Aiden!” Manuel called out. “You have to fix the fireworks!”
He raised his hand to say I heard you but didn’t look back. Has Aiden ever talked to Funtastic World ’s visitors before? Sure. Plenty of times. It’s how he killed time. One time, he spent an entire afternoon babysitting a toy poodle for a family. He didn’t mind that job; if he could be the park’s official pet-sitter then he’d never have to drag his ass out of the bed.
He slowed down when he’s finally near her. She still had her head bent down, eyes closed, as if in prayer.
He stopped right in front of her, panting his ass off. She opened her eyes at the sound of his breath and stepped back.
“Hi,” Aiden huffed.
“How long have you been standing there?” She asked defensively.
“Not long,” He answered. Her eyes are huge. Not Japanese manga level, but unusually bigger than any pair of eyes he’s ever seen. And wasn’t like a bad thing. It looked cool. He could see his reflection in her eyes if he looked closer, but with the sunlight beaming down on her, they’re distracting and distinctively brown. Her forehead was wrinkled and she had her arms covering her chest.
“Okay?” She finally said, awkwardly taking another step away from Aiden. “I’m going now.”
Aiden watched her as she started walking.
“Where are you heading?”
“Home?”
“What, without riding the The Eagle Eye ?”
She closed her eyes again as if he brought up a very touchy subject. She then opened her eyes to give him a polite smile, “No, thank you.”
“Because of what I said?”
She started walking again but paused when she noticed that he was walking with her. She’s looking at him as if he’s giving a stranger-danger vibe. And what’s up with her hand gripping her bag? Did she think he was going to steal it? Instead, she asked him, “Do you work here?”
Aiden casually shrugged, “Yeah, I guess.”
“What do you do?”
He groaned, “Don’t do that. Don’t ask me what I do. There are other interesting things about me than what I do.”
She kept her mouth pressed tight.
“Have you tried The Flying Herons ?” He asked.
She let the words drag on her mouth, “Nope.” It sounded like, nnnnnnnnooooooooope .
“ Big Red Dragon ?”
“Nope,” She answered quicker this time.
“ Free Fall ?”
She took a deep breath, “Let me save you some time and say nope to everything.”
“Everything?” Aiden’s voice raised a little. She looked ashamed of it, so he cleared his throat and asked instead, “Do you have friends around or are you one of those badass chicks hanging out on their own?”
