The Shore

Way Home

Chapter 1

As I jogged down the sidewalk finishing my mile, I passed Angel. I blew past her making her long, black hair fly up to her glassy black eyes.

"Lily, you suck!" Ange called after me, struggling to keep up with my long stride. I let out a small laugh that seemed to disappear in the cool breeze.

When I neared the last turn to the blacktop, I felt someone near behind me. Turning to look, Selena sprinted past me. I am not going to let her beat me again. She was only about 3 yards ahead of me to I know I can pass her before the end of the mile.

I pushed my short legs as fast as I could handle without tripping myself. With the wind in my face and sloppy braid blowing behind me, I longed to just push off the ground and snap my wings open... but of course, no one can know. The burn in my muscles and sting in my throat didn't stop me as I whipped around the corner and sprinted down the last stretch to the Multi-Purpose Room. When I got there, Selena was long behind me. I smiled in triumph. She had given up when I was only barely in front of her. Looking back again, I craned my head looking for Angel. She was walking next to Sammy.

"Angel, come on!" I called.

"I'm tired," she replied. I just sighed and walked back towards her, passing Selena along the way.

When I went and stood on the other side of Angel, Sammy walked over to Jeanne and began chatting about the dance.

"Ok, soooooo do you want to come over this weekend? Maybe we can catch a movie or whatever you're up to...." I trailed off.

"Ummmm I think so. I'm not busy and I don't think my parents have any plans. Oh, Lily, remember the dance!" She reminded me suddenly.

"Oh wow I totally forgot! Maybe we can get our nails done or something cool like that."

"We already have dresses so we could go to the mall to get accessories and stuff like that." I will have to remind myself to grab some pretty earrings...

"Yeah sounds fun," Angel says. "I have to go get in line so I'll see you and lunch."

"Ok, see you then!" I said walking away from her...

School ended soon and the moment it did, I was running home. Well, not running the whole way.

It was only a mile and a half to the tree line, so it took me under 10 minutes. The thin trees soon thickened up so dense I had to start climbing immediately. I found my normal tree and pulled myself up the large pine, the branches stable and easy to grab.

When I reached the top, I was itching to get out. Carefully balancing on a thin branch (which was easy, being so lightweight) I slowly unfurled my wings. Sweaty and cramped from staying hidden against my back all day, the breeze washed through them like no other feeling- except one of flying. I leapt to the highest branch possible, using my wings to balance, and jumped.

The first couple strokes were difficult from being sore, but soon I was back to normal. Because the trees were so dense, I was easily hidden as long as I stayed close to the top of the trees. Like everyday, I didn't get picked up rode a bike.. This was routine now. And it would be, for most of my life I assumed.