"Thank you, Peter, for joining along," Emily said excitedly, hugging him.
"It's not like I had a choice, sadly," Peter replied, looking out at the sea. "It's windy today. I swear, if I get sick, you owe me big time."
"Don't worry, it's not that windy and it's not raining. You'll be fine," Emily responded calmly, still visibly excited. "How much longer until your cousin gets here?"
Peter shrugged. "Can't say. I suppose another ten minutes or so."
"I can't wait to go there. How about you?" she asked in a teasing tone.
"I'm thrilled," Peter said in a gloomy voice, wrapping his scarf tighter around his neck.
"Yeah, I can see that… Anyway, what about Ann? Where is she?"
"She said she wanted to grab a couple of things for safety reasons. She's probably right, to be honest. But she should be here soon."
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the sound of waves slapping against the harbor and the distant cries of gulls.
"Why the interest in going there, though?" Peter asked, breaking the quiet.
Emily sat beside him. "It's kind of funny—so please try not to laugh."
Peter nodded. "Go ahead."
"I feel like I have to. Like… I saw it in a dream. It felt very real, and I couldn't help being intrigued," she turned to him. "Is that a good enough answer?"
He shook his head. "Nope! You sure there's no other reason? Like your dad wanted to visit it or something?"
She chuckled. "I told you it would leave you unsatisfied." She paused. "I can't explain it, but it feels important in the long run. Do you understand?"
"I think I do," Peter said, scanning the harbor. "But hey—the important thing is I came along to help, like always. I'm just curious, since it's the first time you've wanted to do something this crazy."
"Guess there's a first time for anything, huh?"
"Perhaps…" He stood and pointed toward the dock. "Well, here we go—two for one."
Redi's speedboat pulled up alongside the pier, and Ann came jogging toward them with a small bag in hand.
"At last," Emily said, stretching. "Almost thought we'd have to swim there."
"Who?" Peter asked, suspicious.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, guys," Ann panted. "Is your cousin here, Pit?"
At that moment, Redi docked the boat and reached out a hand to help them aboard.
"Okay, guys, you can get on board," he said.
"Thank you, Redi, for the trip—it really means a lot," Emily said, climbing in.
"You're welcome."
"Thank you, sir," Ann said as she stepped onto the boat.
"No problem. Also, you can call me Redi or Red."
"You got it."
"Ohh, here he is," Redi said, dapping Peter up and helping him on board. "Morning, cous. How's it going?"
"Everything's good. You got lost entirely, malaka," Redi teased. "All grown up now, eh?"
Peter laughed awkwardly. "It's not that—I just haven't had time to spare, sorry."
"I understand, you're a busy man," Redi laughed, and the girls joined him.
"Yeah, yeah. Very busy," Emily said sarcastically.
"Guess that's how it goes," Peter muttered, cheeks burning.
"Look—he turned into a tomato," Ann laughed.
"S-shut up," Peter said, pulling his scarf over his face.
"Okay," Redi clapped his hands. "Is everybody ready?"
"Aye-aye, Captain," Ann and Emily said in unison.
Peter simply nodded.
"Alright then—let's go," Redi said, starting the boat.
---
They cruised around the island at a steady pace. The waves were small but persistent, and the wind stung their faces.
"HAS ANY OF YOU BEEN ON A SPEEDBOAT BEFORE?" Redi shouted over the engine.
"I HAVE!" Peter shouted back.
"NOT YOU—I MEANT THE OTHERS!"
"I'VE NEVER BEEN ON ONE!" Emily yelled. "IT SEEMS SO RELAXING—A GOOD WAY TO ENJOY THE SEA AND THE LANDSCAPE!"
"I HAVE, BUT NOT HERE—IN SANTORINI!" Ann called.
"SO IT'S A FIRST FOR BOTH OF YOU HERE IN ZAKYNTHOS! THAT'S A GOOD MEMORY TO MAKE!" Redi grinned.
"SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN TO SANTORINI?" Peter asked Ann.
"LAST YEAR!"
"AND YOU DIDN'T INVITE US?!"
"WHY SHOULD I HAVE?"
"BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS!" Emily cut in. "JUST THE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE!"
"WOULD YOU HAVE INVITED ME ON A FAMILY TRIP?"
"PROBABLY," Peter admitted, "BUT MOSTLY TO BE NICE SINCE YOU'D PROBABLY SAY NO."
"UH HUH," Ann agreed.
"THEN WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION?"
"WHY NOT?" Peter grinned, and the others laughed as the boat roared onward.
---
"PETER, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE AND LEAVE THE GIRLS TO THEMSELVES?" Redi called.
"COMING!"
Peter moved to sit beside him in the captain's seat. The wind was still loud, but they could talk without yelling.
"So, what did you want?" Peter asked cheerfully.
"Wanna drive?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Figured. So—which one?"
Peter frowned. "Which one what?"
"The girl you have a crush on, of course," Redi said teasingly.
Peter sighed. "None of them. They've been my friends for ages—Emily since I was born. You ask this every time."
"I know—it's just fun to mess with you," Redi grinned.
"Well, I don't like it."
"Chill, big boy. Besides, it's good to have female friends."
"Oh yeah?" Peter said, dripping sarcasm.
"Yeah—they can even help you get a girl."
Peter groaned. "The closest they ever came was in second grade, when Emily told a girl I liked that when I drank milk, I played with my pp."
Redi burst out laughing. "I mean… she wasn't lying."
"THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT!" Peter snapped. "She was my best friend, and as much as she tried, she always ended up laughing whenever she looked at me. It got so bad she had to be hospitalized because she laughed so much her kidneys acted up. Eventually, she moved to another state—partly for financial reasons, but also because of that creature's fault."
"You're still salty about it?" Redi grinned.
"Yes."
"Time to let it go—or at least laugh about it."
"I'll see. Anyway—" Peter glanced at the water. "Weird. Usually at this time of day we see dolphins. Guess we're unlucky."
"They're rare in general—and in winter, almost impossible to spot."
"I see."
A short silence passed before Redi asked, "So… how's home?"
Peter looked down. "Could be better. Could be worse, you know?"
Redi nodded. "I know. Will you come by our place?"
"I'm not sure. Can't leave Mom alone. But I'm not going to her hometown for Christmas, so… yes, I'll come, just for Christmas time."
"It's okay—you can open up any time. I've told you this."
"I know. I just… feel like a burden."
"You're not. And in two years, you'll be independent. If your school's nearby, I'll even drop by once a month. Think of it like that."
Peter laughed. "Sounds good enough."
"Exactly. Keep laughing—no point crying over spilled milk. Now go back there—we're almost at the island. Tell them to be ready."
---
Peter returned to the others.
"So that's it?" Ann asked Emily. "You're doing this because of a dream?"
"Well… it's the same dream I've had multiple times. It must mean something, no?" Emily said with an awkward laugh.
"What's going on here?" Peter asked.
"She wants to do this because of a dream," Ann said flatly.
"Yeah, I know. Where's the problem?"
"It's not a good enough excuse—that's the problem."
"It doesn't always need to be," Peter shrugged.
"Thank you," Emily said. "If it were something else, I'd tell you."
"Anyway—what about you? What did you two talk about?"
"Nothing much. School, sports, and if I have a girlfriend yet—"
Both girls burst out laughing before he could finish.
"What's funny?" Peter asked, irritated.
"Oh, nothing big," Ann said, trying to compose herself.
"I forgot how hilarious your cousin was," Emily said, still laughing.
"That's because he never was," Peter muttered, cheeks red.
The boat slowed, cutting through gentle waves.
"Okay, guys," Redi called. "We're here."