“I never did like the wet season, Nahlia. It's bad for business and I don't like it,” adds James.

I look over at Tayt and back at his friend James. His full name was James Verhali and we decided to walk around Cepertine with him for a while. James walked around with an antique machine gun from his collection. He said it made him feel like a king.

“Hey Nahlia, are you excited about our cruise?,” smiles Tayt.

“No,” I mumble back.

The cruise had cost me all my money, but Tayt wanted it for his birthday so I chipped in. I chipped in all the way. James was coming with. Tayt wanted him to tag along with us. It was also nearing the end of the wet season. James would be scheduled full-time again at his shop when it was over.

This year the wet season was shorter than usual and I was thankful. I moved out with Tayt some time ago. My uncle still sends me random checks to buy me back. He begs a lot in writing. I have James go pick my check up for me. Tayt and I have an apartment on the ground. I won that argument. Was it hard convincing? Yep. One more battle to go.

I rub my feet in the cool sand as we wait for the ship to come in. It would be a while. Others were waiting near us and the recent rain had left speckles on the beach. It was a bay cruise, so avoid the toxic animals. There's a lot of dangerous wildlife here. I would even add, a lot of it is more intelligent than we are in Cepertine. They hang around the trees and work together. They bite, sting, and hide too.

“Jungles jungles everywhere. Welcome to the jungle gym.”

Several women pass us in a flurry of pastel colors. I check out their mid-drifts and look at their clothing. Too many sharks teeth and too many guns. That's how it is, until you reach the north. Then, you have the war lords who roam the jungles with their orange and magenta uniforms. Their uniforms are glossy like an out-of-place pair of unfriendly lips.

“Hey,” I smile. The other ground dwellers wave back and then shove Tayt out of the way. I loved doing that to him. James gives me a high-five and I laugh.

“Ahh, Real funny,” complains Tayt. “Just wait until I punch one of them.”

“You can't, Tayt.” interjects James. “There's too many of us and not enough punches.”

Several ground dweller girls walk passed us. They had ringed piercings on their lips and hung long strands of fine gold on them, from the corner of their mouth.

“Watch out Nahlia. It's all natural,” shoots out Tayt sarcastically at me. I blush.

“Yeah, it's like expensive drool,” adds James. “My ex-girlfriend used to do that. We broke up, but I always remembered that about her. It's like a fad now.”

I kick at the sand, remembering my old home.

“I think we should head back,” I say softly. “We need to wait in the actual line.”

The sun was finally coming out and starting to warm my face. I liked the cool sand in bits and pieces. I didn't blister my feet from walking all day, when it was hot. I used to tie Tayt's old shirts around my feet. Sometimes my uncle didn't let me back in the house for my sandals and I would wander around like a dummy. I push some sand over the top of my foot. Tayt speaks.

“Hey, don't worry about your uncle. We'll get your stuff back.”

Tayt shrugs at me and I roll my eyes.

I give him an apologetic look that seemed to lighten my purple eyes. I wasn't getting us into any more messes. There was no going back and Tayt pretty much knew that.

We start to head back along the bay-side beach. The sand was even whiter. It was so bright, even with the sun lacking. That's how it was.

Across the way we make it to the cruise line - the actual line to get on the ship. I was still nervous about running into my uncle. At least Tayt and I could relate to each other. I don't think James really cared. I hum a tune to myself nervously. Tayt could tell.

“The dew-lit Neandeleria. We get off just because we can. We get off just because we're one - step away from everyone.”

I stop humming and Tayt gives me a playful shove. More ground dwellers were walking by.

“Don't worry about your uncle. He's not on our stupid cruise. Your uncle isn't going to kill you or me.....or James.”

“Thanks, Tayt,” answers James sarcastically. “Thanks a lot.”

Tayt shrugs and I give him a dirty look.

“He wouldn’t do that anyways, Tayt. It would look bad if news ever got out that my uncle killed me. He'd get fired. Besides, you can’t just kill two people without other people noticing.”

“Yeah right, we’re nobodies. If you’re not face-worthy of the news channel you might as well die without a sound. The companies don't care.” Tayt looks at me bitterly.

The smell of buttery, brown sugar and salty things adds to the greasy air. It was thick enough to make your stomach growl. There were passing vendors selling food and cheap plastic bracelets for us too, while we waited.

“Free coupons. Anyone? Anyone?”

A man shoves me a coupon booklet for a membership somewhere. It was some rip off deal, trying to get me in on something I couldn't afford anymore. I hold the three cruise tickets in my hand. I pick at their shiny corners.

“Your future has been spent, Nahlia.” I think quietly.

I smile back at the man as he tries to hand me a sales catalog. I turn him away.

We finally make it to the ticket man to hand in our tickets. It was at a booth at the bay pier made with imitation wood. There was grasses on the top that rustled with pretty bugs. I look out across the open bay. The waters were dangerous, but I could never tell. Smaller boat were loitering on the surface. They would take us to the ship.

James rips off a voucher from my side. My arm jerks annoyingly. In front of us was a trendy man bored out of his mind at the ticket booth. He looks up at us from his green plastic chair. He sticks out his hand.

“Tickets? Put them on the spot.”

Before the man can finish, James interrupts him

“Hey uh. Give me the family discount here,” points James, holding out the cloth petal he grabbed from me. “They're my siblings or whatever.”

The man stares at James. He stares harder, until James falters.

“Oh, God. I meant to be their dad today."

The man looks at us and I smile sheepishly, while holding up my hands and then touching my body as a joke. I move my mouth with an open and begging grin.

“Take your discount,” smiles the man. He looks at us again and James hands me some change. I shove it in my bag and we head to the boarding boat.