Sea Foam

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Feeling the need to cover herself, Kaelyn walked the sandy bank, careful to keep her distance from the water. The angry clouds had calmed and began to slip away. The bright, round sun began to shine. Kaelyn felt as though it was taunting her. The one thing that had lured her to come to the surface, glared down at her in her misery.

The sounds of splashing and laughter filled her ears. Kaelyn crouched, determined to keep hidden. Not far away, a young girl and boy swam in the water, splashing. Near to Kaelyn was their towel and garments. Kaelyn waited until she was sure that they weren't guarding their clothes. She bolted for them. Without caring what she grabbed, she clenched her hands around two items, then retreated back.

She inspected the clothing. She held up a pairs of faded blue shorts and slipped them on. They fit well enough. Next, she lifted a enormous t-shirt from the ground. Unwilling to return to find an alternate, Kaelyn settled with the much to large shirt. She slipped it over her head.

As she stood, she felt a slight tugging at the base of her head. Reaching around, she felt something soft and lengthy. It was not her skin. Kaelyn knew the feeling of that. She wrapped it in her fist and brought it around her shoulder. She stared, dumbfounded, as her silky hair slipped through her fingers. It looked strange to her. Her hair was heavier and brushed against her back. It no longer floated around her. The color was lighter than what she once believed it to be. It shone a dark brown instead of black. Lighter strips were weaved alongside the darker ones.

Shouts began to ring out behind her.

"Where's my clothes?" Someone asked

"Hey, you, come here! Those are our clothes!!" Another called to Kaelyn

Kaely's heart rate increased. The muscles wrapped around her bones took on a conscious of their own, and carried her along the white sand sand beach with a speed she had never experienced underwater. Her toes latched onto the microscopic sand grains and tossed them into the air. The grains clung to her wet shins and calves.

She ran until her muscles burned and her legs were coated in a thick layer of the pearl white sand. Sounds of music floated across the air and into Kaelyn's ears. She stopped at the strange, foreign sound. Curiously, she wandered toward it.

A small restaurant came into view. Numerous people sat facing the crystal blue water. They sat in plastic chairs around plastic, white tables. Kaelyn crossed her arms over her chest and dared to wander closer. She walked slowly to a wooden pole supporting a tin roof providing shade over the people below. Kaelyn leaned against it.

"Hey, you." Some called to Kaelyn

Kaelyn jumped at the sound of the voice. She turned to its owner. A girl, who seemed to have been Kaelyn's age, sat in a cheap, plastic chair and stared at Kaelyn with curious eyes. Chocolate brown hair flowed down just past her shoulders. To her right a another young girl with strawberry blonde hair leaned back comfortably in another chair.

"Are you okay?" The girl with brown asked

Kaelyn gave a brisk lie in the form of a nod. The girl smiled and gestured for Kaelyn to sit in the remaining chair. Cautiously, Kaelyn inched her way to the chair and sat down. The brown haired girl leaned forward.

"I'm Shelby." She gestured to the other girl, "That's Sabrina."

The strawberry blonde girl flashed a wide, gleaming smile. She leaned forward.

"So," She asked in a high pitched voice, "what's you're name?"

Kaelyn opened her mouth to respond but shut it quickly. What was her name? She had disgraced her true name. What was she to be called now?

She said the first thing that came to her mind, "Kaelyn Nobles."

The girls smiled, satisfied.

"Well, Kaelyn Nobles, where are you from? Did you move here?" Sabrina asked

Kaelyn debated in her ind whether or not to tell the truth. If she was honest, they would think she was insane.

"I cannot go back home." Kaelyn settled with the truth, partly.

"Oh my gosh, did your parents kick you out?" Sabrina asked in shock, "Are you pregnant?"

Kaelyn creased her eyebrows in confusion.

"No. I am not." Kaelyn answered

"Good," Shelby responded jokingly, "I don't want to be seen with a pregers."

Sabrina and Shelby laughed at the apparent joke. Kaelyn sat, confused, unsure of the meaning of these new, human words.

"You got a place to stay?" Shelby asked

"Um-No, I do not." Kaelyn said

"You could stay with me until you find a place. My parents are out of town, so they won't really care." Shelby suggested

"Do you usually take in strangers, such as me, frequently?"

"Well, you seem like a okay girl. And, who knows, maybe this will make my summer interesting."

Kaelyn felt uneasy, unsure if she should trust this human girl so easily. Without another option so close in reach, Kaelyn reluctantly agreed. Perhaps this would be her path to a joyful human life.