Chapter 3: Food Court Frenzy

“Oh look it’s Flipper!” snorted Sandra popping a chili cheese fry shaped like a dolphin in her mouth. “Whose bright idea was it to make fish shapes out of the French fries?”

“Blame the owners of Neptune’s Cove,” replied her lunch companion Calliope digging a fork into her salad. “They wanted to stick with the whole fish theme for the tourists. It is a bit overrated if you ask me.”

Calliope Meyers worked at the Neptune’s Cove fish and chips area of the food court. A fact evident in the hideous uniform and matching visor she was forced to wear. A strict vegan, Calliope refused to eat anything containing meat after discovering what ingredients were really contained in the breaded fish fillets. Soybean. Imitation crab. Imitation fish. Imitation meat. Not exactly something of nutritional value on the food pyramid.

A redheaded, brown eyed, freckle faced sixteen year old with glasses Calliope befriended Sandra when both arrived for the park’s new hire orientation. After bonding over boy bands, clothes and having first names that started with the letter C, the two girls became fast friends.

Sandra especially needed a BFF since she had been stigmatized as the new girl in town. No one deserves to be alone. Strength in numbers. The girls sat at their usual table near the dolphin pool as they threw some crumbs at the hungry sea gulls nearby. The food court was packed during the lunch rush. Lucky for them, both girls were not manning the counter.

“You know dolphins make frequent modulated whistles and clicks to communicate to each other,” added Sandra. “I read that in an article of Science Weekly.”

“Snooze,” droned Calliope. “I know you want to be a marine biologist some day but let’s talk about something more interesting like that hottie over there.”

Girlish laughter escaped her lips as Calliope pointed to the teenage boy carrying a tray of food and searching for a place to sit. Sandra’s eyes moved toward her friend’s direction as she took in every detail of his appearance. Dressed in a dirty t-shirt, faded jeans, and wearing an employee nametag the boy looked to be about a year older than Sandra.

A bead of sweat dripped down from his dark, brown hair to his forehead to which he wiped away with his tanned, well toned forearm. Slender but well built for a boy of his age, Sandra became transfixed at his sculpted face while becoming lost in his blue eyes that radiated like the surface of the ocean.

“Yoohoo! Lost Boy over here!” waved Calliope. “Your table’s waiting!”

The handsome boy smiled as he walked over to them. Setting his tray on the table, Sandra blushed as he sat next to her.

“Thanks,” he said. “I didn’t realize how busy it gets here during the lunch rush.”

“So does the Lost Boy have a name for the heroines that rescued him?” Calliope purred.

“Patrick Evans,” he introduced himself. “And you girls are?”

“I’m Calliope Meyers and this is my best friend Sandra Shan.”

“Please to meet you,” said Patrick. “I take it from the nametags you girls are wearing that you also work for Neptune’s Cove.”

“Absolutely,” giggled Calliope. “I’m your fast food lackey slash fish and chips girl and Sandra here works at the gift shop.”

“Cool,” he answered. “I’m on the maintenance crew for the park. My mom is one of the trainers for the orca show.”

“Your mother is one of the marina zoologists?” asked Sandra. “That is awesome!”

Sandra stared into Patrick’s eyes for a moment before she realized her error and quickly changed the subject. Somehow she could sense Patrick’s strong attraction to her. Then it all changed to a sudden feeling of embarrassment and awkwardness. Thankfully, Calliope was there to save the day.

“Wow what a coincidence!” she commented. “You both have something in common. Sandra here wants to be a marine biologist! You two should talk.”

“Well you know Neptune’s Cove is starting a new program next year for high schoolers who want to be future trainers,” he explained. “My mother is going to head up the program. You should apply. I could put in a good word for you.”

“Thanks I’ll do that,” said Sandra trying not to look at Patrick again. God he is beautiful. “Do you go to Gregory High?”

Patrick bit into his burger. “I’ll be attending as a junior when school starts. My mom and I moved from Los Angeles when she got the trainer job here at the park. How about you girls?”

“That is so weird,” laughed Calliope. “We’re also going to Gregory High but as sophomores. Plus, Sandra is also going to be a new student there too! What are the odds?”

Sandra wanted to elbow Calliope in the ribs. Powerful emotions seemed to overwhelm her as she felt a strong connection to Patrick. Perhaps it was the Fates causing a tumultuous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Then again, it could be the chili cheese fries. She was hoping it was the fries.

“Great,” he grinned. “I hope to see you there. I finally have someone I know at school.”

Shrill cries echoed around the dolphin pool. Flocks of sea gulls scattered in fear as a pair of teenage boys began pelting them with food and other debris from the ground. Laughing up a storm causing a ruckus, one of the boys managed to grab one of the gulls by the beak holding it down while his accomplice began flinging pebbles at it. Sandra sensed a combination of emotions. Anger. Hatred. Loathing. Pain. Fear. Yet, it would be Calliope experiencing the biggest shock of all.

“STOP IT!” she shrieked clutching her head. “HE DOESN’T LIKE THAT!”

“Hey!” shouted Patrick rising from his seat. “Let the sea gull go!”

Both boys released the bird as it managed to fly away unscathed as they made their way to the table. This is not going to be good. The first boy had dark brown hair and green eyes while his companion had blond hair and blue eyes. Their stocky builds could still be identified even underneath their concealed high school letterman jackets but the worst trait between them would be the fact that they go to Gregory High school.

Oh Great. They’re the stereotypical popular, high school jocks. The brown haired teen cracked his knuckles before moving in close to Patrick’s face. Meanwhile, bystanders observed with curiosity at a possible altercation waiting to happen but chose to not get involved.

“You got a problem punk?” sneered the brown haired boy. His blond haired friend folded his arms and smirked.

“Yeah I got a problem,” responded Patrick. “I hate it when stupid jocks bully poor defenseless animals.”

“Maybe you should mind your own damn business,” said the brown haired teen.

“Maybe I should call security and have you guys thrown out,” interrupted Sandra. She had enough of these jocks’ delinquent behavior for one day.

“Maybe you should stick to cooking Chinese food or doing laundry chinky!” snarled the blond partner.

That did it. Sandra’s blood boiled in anger at the racist remark. Grabbing the chili cheese fries and Calliope’s remaining salad she picked up both items threw the contents at the blond boy’s face covering him a greasy mess of half eaten food and sauce. What she did not anticipate in her attack was the blond boy’s retaliation as he raised his hand to slap her hard right across the face.

A stinging pain flared across her cheek as a small tear began to secrete from her right eye. At that moment all hell broke loose as Patrick’s fist made contact with the blond boy’s face knocking him out unconscious as the brown haired boy tackled Patrick from behind to pummel him with his fists. Calliope screamed as park security came rushing in to break up the fight. Somehow in the melee a harmonious sound could be heard in the distance.

Words cannot begin to describe the song. Almost like the tranquility of an aria from an opera to the peacefulness of the music of the open sea, the humming surrounded the food court. Stillness engulfed the area as no one moved. It was if time stood motionless except for Sandra and Calliope who looked surprised by the sudden calmness. Two figures walked toward them as if flowing with the rhythm of the music.

Both female. Both beautiful. One had blonde hair the color of gold and blue eyes that shimmered like the ocean. Her companion did not pale in comparison as well. Light chestnut hair that reminded Sandra of dark, brown sand and green eyes the shade of kelp the two teenage girls approached them with a certain warmth about them. The music ended abruptly just at it had begun.

“I’m sorry Sandra,” apologized the blonde girl. “Otto and Chip can be asses sometimes.” She lifted Sandra’s chin to respect the red imprint of the blond boy’s work on her cheek. “Hold on a minute.”

The blonde girl dipped her hand in the water fountain nearby dampening her fingers in the cool liquid. She then returned to Sandra’s side stroking her red cheek with her wet fingers as the flaring pain began to subside. Sandra felt for the swelling on her check. It was no longer there.

“How…how did you do that?” asked Sandra. “More importantly, how do you know my name?”

“We make it a point to know all new residents of our little town of Lemuria,” explained the brown haired companion. “My name is Calypso Gregory and this is my sister Callisto.”

“You’re related to the town’s founder Mitchell Gregory!” exclaimed Sandra. “Your family is famous!”

“I see our family’s reputation precedes us,” Callisto chuckled. “Ugh, I hate all the problems and responsiblity that comes with it.”

“Being a Gregory is not it’s all cracked up to be,” said Calypso. “Believe me.”

“Oh and to answer your first question,” added the blonde Callisto. “Water heals everything. Remember that.”

“We better take Otto and Chip before they cause more trouble,” said Calypso. “It’s bad enough we have to play babysitter to a pair of idiot athletes.”

“Idiot athletes who help Gregory High win their football games this year,” clucked Callisto. “Hope to see you Calliope around school Cassandra.”

How did they know Sandra’s full name was Cassandra? How do they know Calliope? Sandra had many questions.

With nothing more to say, Callisto and Calypso picked up the brown haired Otto and blond hair haired Chip up off the ground as they meandered into the emergency exit nearby. The hypnotic music began briefly with a low hum before dissipating into a simple echo as the Neptune Cove patrons, Patrick, and park security jumped back into reality to return their daily business. Believing the problem had been resolved, park security scattered to their respective zones.

“What happened?” asked a confused Patrick. “Did those two jerks leave?”

“Uhh…yeah,” lied Sandra. “They ran out of the park when they saw the security rush in.”

“Are you okay?” Patrick inquired with concern. “I saw one of them hit you.”

“I’m fine,” she replied. “Luckily he missed. See no mark.” She pointed to her cheek where the red welt would have been. Miraculously, it disappeared.

“Well as long as you’re okay,” he said. “Look my lunch break is over so I’m going back to work. I’ll see you around.”

“Count on it,” smiled Sandra who once again kept staring at him as he left. Definitely, count on it!

Once the coast was clear, Sandra had to ensure she was not losing her mind as she whispered to a silent Calliope of what had just transpired.

“Okay, tell me I’m not crazy,” she began. “But did you not just heard that weird music and we just got visited by the Gregory girls?” Calliope appeared lost in thought. “Calliope? Calliope! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she answered shyly. “Look Sandra, there are so many weird things that happen in Lemuria that I want to tell you about. But for now it’s better that you’re kept in the dark until it’s time. Okay?”

“Okay Calliope but why?” said Sandra. “What do you mean until it’s time?”

“Just drop it!” snapped Calliope. “You just have to trust me!”

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I know,” Calliope explained. “I promise when the time is right all of this will make sense. Right now, our lunch breaks are over and we have to get back to work. BFF’s?”

“BFF’s always,” Sandra smiled.

Yet, she could not stop the nagging feeling something was wrong.