Dream a little bigger, darling.

The wind whips through my hair, the weathered wood underneath my feet. I close my eyes and feel the spray of salt across my cheeks. This is the closest I've been to hope since I left Emasis.
I contemplate all these things. Everything that's happened.
We left two days ago, and now we're here on the beach. We're still no closer to finding Gesparo. It's wearing on all of us, especially Ryan. He's been snapping his head off at all of us, and I can only imagine what's going through that stupid head of his. To be completely honest, he's driving me crazy.
"I do, huh?"
Ryan's voice meets my ears, accompanied by a sinking feeling in my stomach. I whirl to face him, folding my arms. "Yes?"
"Do you always think aloud?"
I hope I'm not blushing, but I dare to meet his gaze. "Yes, don't you?"
He shook his head. "Never. I have too many dangerous thoughts to be voicing them aloud."
"I'm sure you do." I roll my eyes. "Now, I feel like I should be mad at you for sneaking up on me."
He sticks his hands in his pockets, an action which irritates me though I know it shouldn't. "Well, it's not like this is a private beach."
"No, but maybe it should be."
I get tired of smalltalk. "Why are you here, Ryan?"
"The same reason we're all here. To save the world." He laughs, a bitter edge to his voice. "Who knows if we'll actually succeed."
"What's this? Ryan, unconfident?" I shake my head. "You're slipping, Ryan. A few minutes ago you were giving a pep talk to bolster their confidence."
"Are you crazy, Avary? We've been out here for two days and there's still no trace of Gesparo. What makes you think he'll just randomly show up?"
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling." At his strange look, I lean my arms on the pier and laugh. "My mom used to tell me that all the time."
"That's sweet." His expression tells me he isn't convinced.
"You can't just give up, Ryan. It's only been two days."
"Two days too long."
"I know you didn't want to come. Do you think I wanted to leave my dad behind? Heck no. The sooner we realize that we all don't want to be here, the better off we'll be."
"We're four kids and a golden retriever puppy who drooled all over my backpack."
I smile. "That's Luca for you."
"It's inexcusable."
"He's a puppy!" I shake my head as soon as I realize that what we're arguing over is petty. "This is stupid, Ryan."
"I'll agree to that."
"Why do you hate me?"
He scoffs. "I don't hate you."
"Let me rephrase that. Why do you hate the world?"
He stares at me. "I could be asking you the same question."
"I don't hate the world." _I just don't trust them._
"Then neither do I."
"You've got some burr up your saddle. Do you try to be a jerk, or does it come easily to you?"
I lose my temper before I can even think about what I'm saying. Then I wince and close my eyes. _Oops._ Judging by Ryan's mood right now, this is not going to be pretty.
"I'm not a jerk. You obviously aren't a good judge of character."
"On the contrary, I'm a very good one. Maybe that's the problem."
"If anyone's being a jerk right now, it's you."
"Thanks." I smile ruefully. Tears spring to my eyes. "That's really nice."
"We're never going to make it."
"Shut up, Ryan. Don't be a doomsayer."
"I'm just stating the truth."
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling." The words come out a lot more harsh than I meant them to, but I turn on my heel anyway. "That's all I'm going to say."
I fold my arms against the harsh sea wind that now takes my breath away. It once was pleasant, but now everything seems dark and hurtful, in light of what just transpired. The chill reaches right down to my bones as I walk briskly back to our campsite and plop down next to the fire. The flames crackle and pop, dying to embers. I grab a stick and poke them back into flame. For the next few minutes, it's just me and the flames. I can see Ryan's outline against the midnight blue sky. He's standing there, watching the waves. I shiver and hug my knees closer to my chest.
What if he's right? What if we're just four big kids trying to save the world?
My own words echo through my mind. You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.