Rising Tides

7

There was still no sign of Rowan. Sarah couldn't help but sigh as she drew patterns in the sand with a stick. She knows she shouldn't be too disappointed. There was a strong possibility he wasn't going to come. Maybe wasn't a yes or a no. It was just maybe. The sun was starting to set, turning the sky and sea a soft golden hue. She wanted to paint it, so she snapped a few pics with her phone.

A colorful shell caught her attention: small and purple with a myriad of different colors sprinkled over it. She picked it up and studied it, bringing it close to her face and narrowing her eyes at it. It looked like it used to be the home of a hermit crab. She looked around and found more shells, each one more interesting and pretty than the last. She followed the shells until she came across a small tide pool. There were bright starfish, crabs, and other little creatures in it. The water was shallow. It barely came up to her knees if she stood in it. But she stayed on land as she explored it.

She picked up an orange starfish as gently and carefully as she possibly could, lightly running her finger over an arm. It felt rough and bumpy under her fingertip. She put it back down in the water and picked up a pale shell, about the size of her palm. It was pearly white and shiny. She didn't mind water like this; shallow and clear and safe.

It was strange, though, how much her body seemed to crave this. Her soul seemed to leap with joy being this close to water, even in a small tide pool like this. Her skin prickled with goosebumps, but not cold or uncomfortable ones. She felt...like she was home.

The ocean itself seemed to call out to her. A quiet hum and and soft song. So faint she wouldn't have noticed it at all before, but now, standing on the beach, she could hear the call of the sea tickling her ears. The wind lifted her hair and it blew towards the direction of the ocean. She listened carefully, tuning out the whoops and laughter of the other beachgoers and just let herself listen. She listened to the sound of the waves rolling and lapping at the shore, listened to the sound of the seagulls crying above her, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves of the palm trees. Everything.

Breathing in deeply, she inhaled the scent of salty sea air and ocean spray, felt the sun kiss her skin and the warmth of the sand between her toes. This was peace. This was home. She didn't even notice she was moving. As if she was in a trance, she drifted slowly across the sand. Walking aimlessly wherever her feet carried her. She didn't notice the footsteps behind her until she heard a familiar someone's voice.

"Why, hello, Sarah. Fancy meeting you here. Maybe it's destiny."

The spell broke and she froze. Oh crap. Alexander. Why is he here? Sarah turned around and sure enough, there he stood: tall and golden in the light of the setting sun. His thick, wavy blonde hair was wet and plastered to his skull, curling along the nape of his neck. Droplets of water dripped down his toned body, clinging to long eyelashes. He wore nothing but black swim trunks and a chain around his neck. She hated to admit that he was undeniably very attractive, but his eyes were nowhere near as blue and captivating as Rowan's were.

"When did you get here?"

"An hour or so ago. Jason invited me." He said. "I couldn't come earlier because I had errands to run."

"Oh. Great." Sarah said in an un-enthusiastic tone, scanning the beach for Sam and Danni. They went to get something to eat a while ago. They had invited her to join them, but she declined. She wasn't hungry. Now she wished they would return.

Alexander cocked his head to the side. "You don't sound too happy to see me."

"You're right. I'm not." She let out a long sigh, causing her bangs to ruffle, and narrowed her brown eyes at him. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to go find my friends."