Ocean Avenue

prologue: step 1

        Sunset Bird; it was always so beautiful - even as a child Sarah could appreciate each little aspect of it from the poppy hill behind the house to the beach nearby. Filled with tourists here and there for their vacations, the world always seemed so big and bustling. The day the big 'for sale' sign went down across the street made Sarah's childlike mind click into a moment of confusion. It'd been up so long that it just felt - normal.

Then came the man that was perched in front of the place that was called home.. And a talk that caught the young child off guard, along with a crisp $20 bill outstretched to Sarah.

"I'd really appreciate it if you'd become friends with him."

The elusive 'him' being this man's son, Cove who Sarah currently felt terrible for. Why on earth was this man trying to give them money to be friends with him? It made this sick feeling come to their stomach.

"I don't want it... That feels mean...."

A quiet voice finally replied after a few long moments of silence. The man put on a crooked smile before pocketing the bill once again with a small forced chuckle.

"Ah, well.... I suppose you're right. How about this instead - if you see him, could you get him to come home please?"

The blonde slowly nodded in response, causing a more genuine smile to appear on the man's face.

"Perfect. He's got a pink cast on - super hard to miss. Thank you."

With that, the two went their separate ways. As night drew closer, Sarah found themselves on the poppy hill they've grown so accustomed to; the poppy hill that was part of their everyday routine. But an unfamiliar figure sat in the distance; a figure with bright green hair shining in the moonlight, a figure who seemed to be too focused on the ground as tear droplets continued to fall from his bespectacled face.

Slowly, Sarah began to step closer to the figure and after a few moments, he looked up at them, finally realizing he was no longer alone. He jumped slightly, his tear stained face shining even brighter now. Sarah's eyes fell to the pink cast on the young boy's arm — this must've been the boy that they were told about.

"Are... you Cove?"

They asked cautiously. The boy furrowed his wavy brows a bit, staring for a bit before finally nodding.

"How'd... you know?"

"I met your dad a bit ago...."

"Oh...."

The two fell silent; Sarah digging the tips of their shoes into the dirt beneath them.. This was already awkward. What should they say?

"Why are you here?"

The boy's tears seemed to well up again at their question, making Sarah stare in shock.

"My parents don't want to live together with me anymore... I miss my mom. I wanna go home!"

Came his sorrowful reply as he began to sob yet again. Sarah quickly stepped forward to place their hand on his shoulder.

"It'll be okay - promise! Your dad.... doesn't seem so bad. You'll like it here, it's nice."

As Sarah continued to console the sobbing child, voices began to yell both of their names - it had to be Cove's dad and Sarah's mothers...

"I'll stay right here with you... We don't have to leave yet."

They spoke softly to the green haired boy. When the three parents finally found the two, after a bit of scolding for running off on their own, the two mothers spoke softly.

"Would you want Cove to come play tomorrow?"

Sarah stared back at the boy and his father who currently had Cove wrapped in a big, right hug. Slowly, they nodded to their mothers before running over to the two. Cove's father finally freed him from his embrace and once Cove met Sarah's eyes, they reached out a hand to him with a wide, genuine grin.

"I'm Sarah. Let's be friends!"

And it seemed that with those few words, the fate of the two was set in stone....