A lot happened today and yesterday, so its taken me some time to write it all down.  Let me begin.

Cecelia and I went to the amusement park about an hour from her house with her church group.  I didn't know any of them, and it was a little awkward.  Her little brother came too.

So we were driving down one of those winding country roads in a big bus when a streak of red passed us on the left.

"Wow." Several boys pressed their noses to the glass.  "It's a Ferrari."

I looked out my window, and, to my immense horror, Adam was the one driving the red Ferrari.

I swore a lot, but Adam didn't seem to have noticed us.  He drove past us and out of sight.

Relieved, I arrived at the park, clutching my ticket in one hand and my oversize sweat shirt in the other, just in case it got cold.  But as Cecelia and I approached the ticket gate, I saw a sight more terrifying than the red Ferrari.

Adam stood at one of the counters, wearing designer jeans, arguing with the ticket person.  (I'm not quite sure what they're called.)

"Are you questioning me?" I could hear him say.

Suddenly a portly man in a crisp suit ran/wobbled up.  "Don't you know who this man it?" He demanded of the ticket person.  "This here is Mr. Adam Carter.  One day, he will own everything within a ten mile radius of here.  I advise you to let him through."  He turned to Adam.  "Sir," he addressed.  "May I give you a tour of the park?"

Adam smiled that perfect smile of his.  "No need, Mr. Bartly.  I am capable of taking care of myself."  And he walked through the gate like he owned the place.  And, if you think about it, he kind of does.

But I refused to allow my rare opportunity to see Cecelia go to waste, and I was determined to have as much fun as I possibly could.  That meant every single ride, the more thrilling the better, would soon be conquered by me.

One little problem with that plan: lines.  After waiting half an hour to get on a roller coaster, I decided I would have to make a more careful game plan so I could catch every ride.  So in the line for the Big Drop (you know, when it takes you up really high and drops you several times), I began to draw up an order for the rides, taking into account waiting times and distance.  But it didn't real work, because there was no way that I could know everything about the park, like the dead ends (in the worst places, of course) and that the tilt-a-whirl was closed.  My map strategy was a complete failier.  

"Cheer up, Nathi."  Cecelia patted me on the back.  "Let's just go there."  She pointed at the swings.

Not only was it a good choice of rides to cheer me up, but the guy controlling it was really cute.  So, in line after riding it twice, Cecelia and I talked *cough* flirted *cough* with him, just a little bit.

"So where are you girls from?" He asked, leaning on the fence.  

"I live just a while out from here."  Cecelia replied. 

"I'm staying with her."  I said.  "I go to school far away."

"How far?  California far or India far?" He asked.  

"What if it's somewhere between?" I looked up at him, batting my eyelashes.

There was a loud smack, and the cute worker jumped about a foot away from me.  I looked up to see Adam, his fist and forearm one the wall right above my head in one of those protective, this-is-my-girl gestures.  "Shut up and get back to work."  He told the boy harshly.  "Come on."  He grabbed my arm.  "We're leaving."

I yanked my arm out of his grip as soon as we were out of the line.  "What is wrong with you?" I shouted.  "You've been acting weird all weekend."

Adam just looked at me for a long time.  I couldn't tell if he was thinking or just spacing out.  

"Adam?" I asked after about thirty second.  "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine." He said, running a hand through his hair.  "I'm not feeling so well."

"Do you think you have the Swine Flu?"  I reached up a hand and put it against his forehead. "You're really warm."  

Adam stepped back quickly.  "I said I'll be fine."  He began to storm off, but stopped.  "Give me your ticket."  He said, looking over his shoulder at me.

I did as he asked, and he took out a pen, scribbled something on it, and gave it back to me.  "Now you don't have to wait in lines."

I stared at the note on the back of the ticket, saying that I had his permission to cut in front of everyone in line. Had he really done something nice for me?  He must really be feeling ill.

All in all, Cecelia and I had a pretty nice time, and, when her parents drove me back to Lakewood that night, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep without even talking my clothes off.  

Monday began normally.  Classes went normally.  The club meeting for the Four Lords was not normal.

Adam, it seemed,was sick after all.  It wasn't the Swine Flu, but he'd be in bed a couple more days.  I ended up, as the club dog, running all sorts of errands for Damian, who was supposed to be doing work but really having sex in a closet with a girl from Saint Catherine's.  

I was waiting to pick up some papers in the office, when a man came through the door, dressed in clothes that could only be described as 'business casual.'  "Hello." He said to the secretary.  "I'm here to see my son, Cornelius Blake."

"Just a minute, Mr. Blake."  She replied, grabbed an intercom, and called down Neil.  

Neil's father sat down next to me in one of the waiting area's chairs.  

The bell on the office door chimes, and my roommate stepped through.  His dad leapt to his feet.  "Neil!" He exclaimed, and opened his arms for a fatherly embrace.

Two seconds later, Mr. Blake was on the floor, pinned down by some complex martial arts from his son.  

"That's my boy."  His father said and threw his son to the floor.  Then they both sprang to their feet, adopting fighting stances.  

"No fighting in the building, Mr. Blake Elder and Mr. Blake Jr."  The secretary said from behind the counter.   She held up a stack of papers.  "Mr. Smith, your papers are ready."

I got up and accepted them.  "Hey, Neil."  I said, walking between he and his dad.

"What's up, Ethan?"  Neil said as though he hadn't just been sparring with his father.  

"Nothing much.  Running errands."

"Is this you're friend, Neil?" Mr. Blake asked.  

"Yeah.  Ethan's my roommate."

"Charming." His father clapped his hands.  "You must come to see us this summer, Ethan."

"Dad." Neil said threateningly.  

"Neil never brings friends over."  His father continued, ignoring him.  

"And you wonder why..." Neil replied sarcastically.  "Let's get out of here, Ethan."

And we left his father in the office, looking rather out out.  

"Sorry you had to see that."  Neil said once we had rounded a corner.  "My father is crazy.  A genius, yes, but absolutely insane."

"Insane?"  I repeated.  "He doesn't seem that bad."

"You'll see.  Give it time."  Neil turned to go.  "Oh, yeah." He turned back around.  "You can come stay at one of our houses this summer.  We could hang out."

"Yeah." I agreed.  "I'll keep it in mind."

We parted, going opposite ways.