Chapter 12 #2
I must have really looked bad, because the nurse running First Aid—her name tag read HELEN, PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA—asked me a series of check-in questions and then pretty quickly showed me to a room lined with narrow blue cots with white sheets, blankets folded on the foot of them.
The room was quiet and dark, and seemed so peaceful I felt my shoulders drop a little bit just looking at it.
She checked my vitals and took my temperature but seemed assured I didn’t have to leave the park and go to the hospital—that I was just dizzy and needed to get my bearings.
“It happens with motion sickness sometimes,” she’d said as she pointed out the cot for me to take.
“Especially on Grad Nite. You kids do the rides over and over again and sometimes the inner ear just can’t take it.
But if the vertigo gets worse, let me know, and we can get you to a hospital.
” She then took my information, and Ms. Mulaney’s information, and then headed out, turning off the lights behind her.
I lay down, curled into a little ball, and closed my eyes. I let myself imagine that, somehow, when I opened them, I’d be back at home, and this all would have been a bad dream.
And with that thought in my head, I drifted off to sleep.
“Cass?”
I opened my eyes and blinked. I wasn’t at home. It wasn’t all a dream. I was in First Aid at California Adventure, on Grad Nite. I hadn’t actually gone anywhere—I’d just taken a nap. Bryony was standing over me, looking worried. “Are you okay?”
“How are you feeling?” Nurse Helen asked as she bustled in, snapping on the light. I squinted against it.
“Better,” I said, pushing myself up to sit. I didn’t feel better. In fact, I felt exactly the same—but I didn’t want to deal with the nurse calling an ambulance I didn’t need.
“It’s almost over,” Bryony said, her mouth twisting. “You missed it.”
“I really didn’t,” I assured her, rubbing my eyes.
“What?”
“Nothing—sorry. Still fuzzy-headed.” I pushed myself up to standing and grabbed my bag. Then I picked up my jean jacket and pulled it on—it was cold in here without the blanket.
“We need to get going,” Bryony said, looking down at her phone. “We have to go get the bus.”
I blinked at her, taking in what she’d just said. “Because Grad Nite is over,” I said slowly. “Because it’s ending.”
“Uh, right,” Bryony said, exchanging a look with Nurse Helen. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m great!” I felt myself smile for what felt like the first time in forever.
“So much better. We should go.” I grabbed Bryony’s arm and pulled her out of the infirmary, calling my thanks to Nurse Helen behind me as I went.
How had I not thought of this? I’d always left before Grad Nite ended—enough things had always gone wrong that it just made sense to start things over.
But I’d never stayed for the whole night.
Maybe this was the missing piece! Maybe this was how I got back on track—I just had to let the whole night play out.
Could it be that simple? I felt hope flare in my chest.
“You really missed a lot,” Bryony said, matching my pace and falling into step with me as we joined the crowd of seniors and chaperones streaming for the exit.
I’d never seen people here this late at night—and there was a distinct difference.
They seemed tired and happy, and nobody was walking as fast as they had when the night had kicked off.
“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. If this was the last time—if now I was finally getting to leave—this would be her Grad Nite, the one she remembered. And we hadn’t been able to spend any of it together.
“Don’t be sorry,” she said immediately. “I’m just bummed we didn’t get to spend time together. I’m glad you’re feeling better, though.”
“So what did I miss?” I asked, giving her a quick glance before looking ahead of me, focusing on the exit.
We’d walk through it with everyone else and then maybe—hopefully—I’d be able to keep going.
I never thought I’d be so excited by the possibility of walking into a parking lot, but it had just turned into the promised land.
“Oh man, so much.” She started ticking things off on her fingers.
“The Emmas are in some kind of fight, I don’t know what’s going on.
Emma R. doesn’t either—but Emma Z. and Emma J.
were on their phones practically the whole night and wouldn’t tell us why.
And! Sheridan was right after all—there was a celebrity here, it was Tabitha Keith!
But then a picture showed up on DitesMoi that let everyone know she was here, and she got swarmed and had to be escorted out by security.
Everyone was filming her; I felt so bad… .”
I nodded, feeling my heart squeeze as I remembered the heartbroken girl sobbing in the bathroom stall next to me. I’d promised to help her—but hadn’t. And now if things worked out, I wouldn’t ever be able to do anything about it.
“Amy and Carlos broke up! Can you believe it? And Ms. Mulaney seems really upset about something, but I don’t know what.
And we all went to watch the band play, and it was a disaster.
Like, two of them got sick onstage. They’re already trending.
It’s really bad, these guys are a joke now.
And I, um…saw this guy I thought was really cute. ”
I whipped my head over to look at her and clocked the blush rising in my best friend’s cheeks. “You did?” I asked, wondering if she was talking about the person I thought she might be. “What did he look like?”
“Brown hair, tall,” she said, a dreamy smile appearing on her face.
“But I first noticed him because he was wearing a Cereal shirt.” I nodded, feeling vindicated that I’d gotten this right—Bryony liked Bruce!
I knew it. I hid my smile by pressing my lips together.
“Oh, Cereal is this podcast I like,” she added, deadpan, raising an eyebrow at me.
“I know,” I said, a defensive note creeping into my voice.
“I just think you’d like it if you gave it a chance. It’s pretty much my favorite thing ever. And then we could talk about it….”
“Wait a second.” We were now in a scrum of people all heading for the double doors. They were flung wide open, and people were walking through—and then continuing to walk like this wasn’t a rare and precious thing. “You actually want me to listen? I thought we were just joking around about it.”
“It’s important to me,” Bryony said quietly, and I blinked.
“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”
“This way to your buses!” the cast member nearest to the doors called, making me jump. “We hope you enjoyed your once-in-a-lifetime Disney Grad Nite experience!”
I steeled myself, but didn’t stop. I was moving forward with the crowd, surrounded by my fellow seniors. I kept my eyes fixed on the patch of asphalt just past the doors. I was so close—I was almost there. And maybe when I crossed through, this would all be over.
I took a deep breath and walked forward.