sand and salt

shells

    
     Adeline heaved a sigh as she sat in the hot sand, catching her breath. The sound of crashing waves and seagulls filled her ears. She was kicking herself for running out of the pavilion. After she had drenched Leo she didn't really know what to do. She eventually stood up and dusted of her shorts. Adeline walked a little farther to the waterline.

She stuck her hand to the ground just as a wave came. The cool water washed over her fingers making her feel at ease. Adeline pulled up a shell from the sand as she watched the water retreat, bringing her worries with it. She then turned her attention to the shell in her hand. The soft pink conch shell was small, and quite shiny. Adeline smiled and slipped it in her pocket.

Walking down the beach she let her mind wander as her collection of shells grew. Adeline had always felt calm at the beach, as many people do. She now connected those feelings to her father, the water being his domain. Adeline turned to the waves. She watched them lap at her Converses. Slowly, Adeline waded farther into the water. Soon the water was up to her chin. Taking a breath in she closed her eyes and plunged her head under with the rest of her body.

Adeline opened her eyes and looked around. Fish swam around her. One bumped into her,

"My deepest apologies, my lady."

"Oh, it's aw'right," Adeline reassured. The fish seemed to nod before swimming off. Adeline was confused at first. Her mind went to the first time she visited an aquarium. She remembered having a conversation with a seahorse who colorfully told her about his marital issues. A young Adeline eagerly told her grandparents who laughed talking about her wild imagination. If only they knew it was real.

In the distance, a group of nymphs talked amongst each other. One caught her gaze and smiled, waving. Adeline returned the gesture before swimming closer to the shore. She walked back onto the beach, completely dry. She shrugged looking back towards camp. Adeline sighed. She really didn't feel like going back.

Just a bit longer. Nobody will notice.

Walking back down the beach, she spotted a boy sitting where she once was not long ago. His brunet hair was darker than most. He wore a green button down, almost Hawaiian style. His khaki pants were pulled up slightly, exposing his green low tops. His attention was occupied by a large book.

Overwhelmed with curiosity, Adeline advanced towards the boy. He must have heard her coming because the brunet lifted his head up and grinned.

"Hi," he exclaimed, waving to her. "I don't think we've met before." He stood up, dusting off his pants with his hands. The boy stretched his arm out for Adeline to shake, "I'm Caleb, and you?" Adeline grabbed his hand. She looked into his brown eyes, he definitely wasn't bad looking.

"I'm Adeline. I love your shirt by the way." Caleb smiled, playing with the hem of his shirt,

"Thanks, my dad gave it to me for my birthday."

Adeline nodded, "Well it suits you." Caleb smiled again, Adeline seemed to have a warm feeling swell inside of her.

"Wait! You're the one that got claimed at dinner last night, right?" He exclaimed.

Adeline's stomach fell, "Oh, you saw that?"

"Yeah, I thought it was amazing. I never got claimed that fast," he chuckled, sighing a bit.

Adeline tilted her head and asked, "Who's you godly parent?"

Caleb gave her a pained smile, "Demeter. Yep, any powers that I have are super lame." In that moment a small lily grew at his feet. He picked it and handed it to Adeline, "See, I got florist powers."