Sunset `` Alyssa

[Allison]

A trail of small, narrow foot prints placed on after the other on the sandy shore certainly lead a path to Felicity. Silently she lay on the shore watching as a few stray seagulls flew a crossed the sunset dappled sky. The generally blue tone was now mixed with shades of pinks and oranges that managed to turn bits an pieces gray as the sun sank into the oceans depths. Although she knew that the sun never physically set but the appearance was given and she couldn’t help to image the sun tucking itself into a blanket of stars. She smiled at the thought while propping herself up on her elbows. Slowly she finished sitting all the way up, her legs crossed Indian style and her deep baby blue eyes focused on the ocean. Small waves crashed gently onto the shore before slowly disappearing back into the dark depths.

Softly she sighed and started to weave her sandy blond hair into a braid. “One day I’ll get back out in the ocean to surf.” She whispered gently under her breath. To be honest she missed the days when the peacekeepers didn’t keep a close eye on the ocean because they figured the sharks would scare many away. Lazily after she finished her braid she put her hands in her shorts pockets and looked from on end of the beach to the other. There was no one around or at least not on the beach. Very gingerly she rose to her feet, which were completely bare and tip toed towards the waters edge. A rather bright and white, toothy smiled spread a crossed her face as her feet sank into the mud like sand. Another wave brought water over her feet and she stood there watching as the sun set. “Beautiful…” She stated gently.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan ran to the beach, tugging a t-shirt on over his bloody back as he went. His father had just finished giving him a beating for ignoring his request for another drink. He had already been dangerously drunk, and by refusing to give him more booze, Aidan was hoping to make the beating less terrible. The more his old man drank, the worse the whipping was. Unfortunately, this belting was pretty bad, and the blood seeped through onto his t-shirt. Aidan didn't care.

He stopped running when he reached the water. He looked out at the pink and orange sky through teary eyes. Aidan swiped at his face as one of those tears escaped and ran down his cheek. Suddenly, he was angry at the sunset. How could it be so peaceful when he was stuck here with his dad who whipped him every chance he got? It wasn't fair. The teenager scooped up a rock and whipped it out towards the horizon, not caring that it probably didn't even make it a hundredth of the way there. That horizon ended a thousand miles away, and it didn't give a crap about someone like him. Heck, it wasn't even alive. Aidan was throwing rocks at something that couldn't even think. He slugged more rocks out into the water, his tears running freely now.

[Allison]

Splunk!

Felicity hadn't really payed attention to the sound of feet hitting the sand but the sound of something hitting the water did. Slowly she looked to her right. Nobody was there so very lazily she turned her head to the left expecting not to see anyone. I'm probably just crazy. She thought jokingly to herself. Though then there just happened to be someone there looking rather mad. Her gentle blue eyes studied the teenager from a distance. He looked hurt and mad, so in her friendly and gentle nature she started to walk over but stopped. He probably doesn't need help because he's that arrogant boy who runs around. Her brain reminded her of that.

She pushed the idea away and pulled her tucked hands out of her shorts pockets. With a light manor of movement she walked over to Aidan. The close she got she realized there was tears pouring down his face. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over her like the waves the she had once surfed on. She took a deep breath and stopped a few feet away from the beaten boy. Her blue eyes focused on his bloody back for a minuet second or two before she turned to look at his face. "I'm sure your ego is to big to allow yourself to admit your hurt but I'm going to ask anyways. Are you okay?" She asked while tucking a stray hair behind her ear and switching her weight from side to side.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan turned quickly. He hadn't expected another person to be at the beach to witness his behavior. He rubbed his face onto his shirt sleeve as he listened to her speak, hoping she hadn't seen him crying but knowing she probably had. He glared at her when she was done talking.

"I am fine, as a matter of fact. I took that beating much better than you ever could!" he nearly shouted at her, raising his arm to point a finger at her as he talked.

Aidan gasped as his shirt caught in one of the deeper slashes in his back, hot unbidden tears growing in his eyes. He dropped his arm and looked up towards the sky, letting the tears dry in his eyes until he was sure they wouldn't fall. He brought his head back down and turned to Felicity again.

Aidan looked the girl over, not even trying to hide what he was doing. She was about the same height as him, and looked very healthy and fit. He thought she was fairly good looking, but the thing he found most beautiful about her was her eyes. He looked back into them as he said, "What does it matter to you, anyway? Most people don't know what my father's really like, and the few who do don't care that he hurts me." Aidan paused, his stormy gray-blue eyes hard. "So why do you care?"

[Allison]

"I am fine, as a matter of fact. I took that beating much better than you ever could!"

Felicity rolled her eyes and tucked her hands firmly in her shorts pockets. Of course he would say that. Typical guy thinking he was stronger than a girl because his father gave him a beating. Silently she bit her lip to prevent from saying anything that would start a fight. Then she watched as he worked of fighting off tears of pain. So much for being a strong man. She thought tenderly to herself while looking towards the water. He had spoke again and silently she looked at him.

"What does it matter to you, anyway? Most people don't know what my father's really like, and the few who do don't care that he hurts me. So why do you care?"

There had been a pause in his words but she just let that slip and thought about what he was saying. Basically he had asked the same question twice just worded differently. She sighed and shook her head. "Why does it matter to some man who won't admit he's in pain that I care?" She asked rather boldly.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan snorted when Felicity mentioned that he wouldnt admit he was hurt. Then he thought about her question, sighed, and shrugged. "I don't know," he finally answered. "Just wondering why you're different than the others, I guess."

It was true, most people didn't care if Aidan's father was abusive. They either actually didn't know, or they just pretended they didn't, acting like they couldn't hear his father yelling at him late at night, or couldn't see through the curtains as that thin shadow slashed at the boy's back. Because Aidan knew people saw and heard evidence--there was no way they couldn't. But they didn't care. They didn't want to interfere, or maybe they thought Aidan deserved it. Either way, he felt alone and hurt, unwanted and unloved. But not around this girl. She had actually asked. She actually sounded like she cared. And Aidan couldn't imagine why because sometimes even he himself though he deserved those beatings. Sometimes he even believed he was meant to he unwanted his whole life. That's really why it mattered to him.

Aidan looked closer at this special girl. Something about her face made him think she was younger than him, but her height and strong behavior made her seem older. "How old are you?" he asked, suddenly curious. He didn't really care if it was out of the blue, he expected an answer.

[Allison]

Silently Felicity backed up a few steps bored of just standing still. Then she took a few steps forward just to keep from standing still. She stopped to look at him when he spoke again. Certainly she was used to talking to people but it was odd since she generally didn't talk to the stubborn people of district four. With a rather smooth hand she removed an eye lash from the corner of her eye.

Once again she could have said something at his comments but stayed quiet. She ran through a list of reason why she cared but for the most part caring was just a part of her nature. Lazily she dug her bare foot into the silky sand while looking at the ground. Well this is not as progressive as I thought it would be. She thought chewing on her lip. Her gaze had dropped down to her feet and her wiggling toes.

"How old are you?"

Quickly her gaze snapped up to look at Aidan. This was a strange question to ask certainly when she was just calling him arrogant and trying to help. She debated whether or not to tell him but found it best to. Mostly because he could probably force her to with what ever strength he held. "I'm fourteen..." She said gently. "Whats it to ya?" Quickly she asked in turn with narrowed eyes.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan watched as Felicity gracefully swiped an eyelash away from her eye. Is it even possible to get an eyelash out of your eye gracefully? he thought to himself, wondering how he could find something so simple that beautiful. He almost laughed at himself, but stopped himself because he knew it would make him seem even more crazy.

Then he heard her age. This time, he let his laugh out. "You're only fourteen?" he asked, still laughing hysterically. "You're still a kid!" Aidan slowly stopped laughing as he thought about it a little more.

Why does she look so much older than fourteen? he wondered to himself, looking into her eyes curiously. Maybe she has a younger sibling or something, and she has to act like a parent around them...She sure is pretty for a fourteen-year-old...

"You sure are pretty for a fourteen-year-old," he decided to say, acting more like his flirty self. "You almost look like some of the girls my age!" He grinned, purposefully trying to mock her.

[Allison]

"You're only fourteen? You're still a kid!"

Felicity listened as he laughed hysterically at her age and could feel her emotions mixing inside of her. What a jerk. She thought bitterly to herself as she turned around. Now I regret even asking if he was okay. Slowly she walked down the ocean line away from the still laughing Aidan. Then after putting several yards between her and the older teenager she turned towards the ocean. She crossed her arms across her chest and thought about what he had just said with a frown. Maybe he was right and she was just a kid but at least she had a job.

Her blue eyes started to water and she fought hard to keep them away. Then a wave of anger washed over her. I'm not a kid! I can do just about anything he can if not more! She uncrossed her arms and glanced over her shoulders for any sight of a peacekeeper. None appeared to be around which was good. Rather lazily she walked into the ocean until the salty water was to her hip.

"You sure are pretty for a fourteen-year-old, You almost look like some of the girls my age!"

The words were like a punch to her head. She bit her lip and turned her gaze towards the immature boy. How could he be so rude? Now was the time to either insult or continue ignoring his words. This was a hard decision for her to make. "At least I act my age." She whispered under her breath while looking at a small fish that swam past her feet. Then slowly she allowed her gaze to drift towards the horizon. She spotted a shark fin in the depths just miles away.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan tilted his head to the side, trying to see how Felicity was reacting.  All he could see was the crossing and uncrossing of her arms, and maybe a glimmer in her eyes like the sun--which was nearly disappearing below the horizon now--was reflecting off water.  Tears.  Aidan smirked a little at the thought that she would cry over just a little teasing.

Then he watched as she started walking into the water.  Aidan's eyes widened slightly, and he quickly checked to make sure no peacekeepers were around.  When he turned back, she was waist deep.  Aidan admired her bravery a little, but ignored it.  She's still a crybaby, he declared in his thoughts.  He walked over to where she had entered the water, but stayed on the sand.

"Whatcha doin,' Blonde?" he called out to her.  Even if he had known her name, Aidan still would've called her that.  This gave him a chance to tease her.

[Allison]

Blonde...

Felicity clenched her left hand into a fist as it hung stiffly to her side. She absolutely hated when people called her blonde! Slowly she glanced towards him for a brief second before turning her gaze towards the shark fin once more. The monstrous creature was swimming towards the shore which wasn't good for her She ignored the fact though and went back to what Aidan had said. With slow figures she unbranded her hair so the evening breeze could blow through it.

She let out a snort of annoyance. How could she let some immature, stuck up, boy get to her? With a steady foot she searched the water for something to throw towards him and his mocking thoughts. Nothing. Or at least nothing that would hurt if she managed to hit him. While sliding her foot around she cut open the ball of her right foot which sent a sering pain up her leg. Her blue eyes noticed the cloud of wispy blood that was washing out into the ocean. "None of your business jerk!" She called out finally with a dapple of pain hidden in her anger.

Quickly her gaze looked for the shark fin. Her heart beat quicken when she noticed its fin had turned towards her and was getting closer every second. Although she was only in waste deep water she knew her odds of being attacked here still there. She started to walk backward out of the water making sure to place her feet carefully on the ground just so she wouldn't cut them open anymore.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan rolled his eyes at the insult, but then played the sentence over again in his head. Was there pain in her voice? Fear? Something was there for sure, but Aidan didn't figure it out because he was distracted by her moving. He watched, eyes a little dazed as she undid her hair. He really did think she was a pretty creature, especially standing there in that last bit of golden light. It made her hair even more blonde colored, but in a good way. A crisp, beautiful blonde. And her body...even though she was wearing sweats, Aidan could tell she had a good body. She was a beautiful silhouette in front of him, and he was dazzled by her.

Aidan was taken out of his daze as he saw her slowly moving backwards. Slightly concerned, he looked out at the waters in front of her where she seemed to be looking. Then he saw the shark fin. Why is she still standing out there?! he asked himself. She's crazy!

"Umm...there's kind of a shark out there, girl," Aidan yelled, ashamed by the fact that fear had crept into his voice. He cleared his throat before shouting out to Felicity again. "You better get back here, little girl, unless you want to be shark bait!" Aidan fidgeted nervously, feeling the need to go out and grab her but also frozen to the safe, sturdy sand beneath his feet.

[Allison]

Aiden was telling her the obvious once again. Felicity knew there was a shark and she knew she was in danger. She noticed that the shark was a few yards away now and quickly turned around. In her attempt hopping to shore faster she tripped. Fear flashed through her mind as she braced her hands in front of her to break her fall. The splashing in the water behind her scared her even more and quickly she had managed to turn around. Her blue eyes shut tight as she caught sight of the gray skinned creature. Courageously she kicked out and felt the creatures rough textured snout. She cracked open an eye to see the gray reef shark's head turn and quickly she pushed herself to her feet.

She hoped to shore just far enough from the waters edge as she dared. Her breathing was fast and she fought to slow it down. The stinging pain from her cuts pushed her feelings through a loop. Despite how she felt she let herself lay down on the sand and placed her cut hands over her head. She took in slow deep breaths before sitting back up and crossed her legs to prevent any more sand from getting in the open flesh. "Stupid coral..." She muttered. Her eyes landed on a small shell next to her and she casted a glance towards Aidan. With a smirk she picked up the shell and chucked it towards him as hard as she could.

Afterward she turned her attention back to her bleeding hands and feet. Slowly and dreadfully she tugged off her shirt leaving her sitting in a bikini top and her shorts. Carefully she wrapped it around her hand and tore strips from it. Then she wrapped the shreds of cloth around her right foot. She needed to clean it out when she got back to her Dad's shop. After wrapping her foot she wrapped her hands. She sighed and laid back down in the sand with her hands over her exposed stomach. How embarrising... She though pitifully to herself as she closed her eyes.

[Alyssa :)]

Aidan instinctively rushed forward into the water to help Felicity when she fell, but he ended up just running back to shore with her because she got up by herself.

When they got back on the beach, Aidan bent over, facing the ocean and holding his head between his knees to keep him from fainting.  All the adrenaline from fear was making him dizzy.  As the fuzzy rim around his vision slowly disappeared, he stood back up, only to be hit in the back of the head by the shell Felicity threw at him.

"Ow!  What was that for?!" he hissed, spinning around to face her.  Then he saw that she was wrapping up her bleeding hands and foot.  A bit of concern shone in his eyes as he squatted down next to her.  "Uh, are you okay?" Aidan asked, starting to put his hand out to see her cuts but pulling back, thinking that might be awkward.

Why was he being so shy?  Usually it would be a good thing to take a girls hand and make her blush.  But then again, this girl would probably slap him instead of blush and smile...

Suddenly Aidan noticed that Felicity was wearing was a bikini.  He couldn't help but let his eyes slowly scan her body.  Why had she been wearing a shirt?  She was much more beautiful without it.

"Um..." Aidan stuttered, unable to remember what he was going to say.  She was stunning him to silence.  He forced his eyes away from her body and looked at her closed eyes instead.  "I'm Aidan, by the way," he managed to get out.

[Allison]

Aidan had ran to help her when she had fallen which was pretty sweet of him but she was fine on her own. Felicity had made it to shore without his help because he'd been crouched over either in fear or was ready to pass out. To be honest she couldn't tell what the "strong teen" had going on.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

Score one for me, she thought with a smile. At least she could throw a shell a good distance. He deserved to be hit with that shell for mocking her age and pointing out all the obvious. Honestly why did her age matter to him? She still couldn't get over that and knew it would be something she thought about while laying in her hammock she used as a bed at home.

"Uh, are you okay?"

She had noticed him moving his hand towards her open wounds while she had been dressing them. Her blue eyes rolled in annoyance. She could give him the same answer he had given her when she asked about his back lashings. But once again she said nothing. What was the point in even talking to someone who was to arrogant to admit he was hurt. All she did was care and then he was an jerk to her.

"Um... I'm Aidan, by the way.

Silently she lay on her back ignoring him but she couldn't help but hear his name. It had been a name she heard around town special from girls that visited the shop picking up any supplies their family needed to get by. Just another flirt who is interested in one thing. She thought strictly to herself. Though he is kind of cute and now I know why the girls fawn over him. There was a sense she was being stared at so slowly she opened her eyes and noticed that Aidan was just looking at her. I take that back not cute. Just a creep. Gently she sighed and propped herself up on her elbows.

"Well Aidan, you are an arrogant jerk. I mean mocking me for my age. Does that make you feel better or something? What are you ten? Grow up!" She said in a cold tone with an icy glare. Then with that being said she laid back down with her hands under her head like a pillow. Her gaze searched the sky as stars started to appear.