Breathing Water

CHAPTER 23

When we reach the top of the stairs, I take a moment to get some air back in my lungs. Shelly puts her hand in mine and takes me over to the window of the light-room. The sun is setting, which cast a magnificent rainbow of red, orange, pink, and purple across the water. From here I could see almost all of the town's coast. The horizon cut of just before the cliff with a house on it. I her a click and pull myself away from the remarkable view. Shelly is opening one of the windows, which turns out to be a door. As she pulls me out into the evening air I can feel the strongest gust of wind I have ever felt and hear the loudest crashes of ocean waves I have ever heard. I look down and see that the shore is directly below us and watch as waves fall into the rocks and then fly back up almost to the ledge of the tower. Shelly sits on the ledge and moves to the edge draping her legs over the side. She pats the floor of the balcony next to her and looks at me hopefully. I sit down next to her and let my legs hang over the side too. Shelly puts her arm around my shoulder as she says "So, what happened? Why were you crying?"
"Well, I was late to class after talking to you. I missed some notes, but the guy who sits next to me offered to let me borrow his notes if I met him after school. When I got to the meeting place he ignored that I said anything and told me that I look good. I didn't think was a big deal until he kept ignoring me when I spoke and kept not giving me the notes. Then he - he ... he attacked me I guess. He grabbed my arms and wouldn't let me go, then he kissed me and it felt so wrong." I felt a few tears roll down my face again. I take a deep breath to keep from having another melt down.
"Oh no! Are you hurt? How did you get away?" Shelly looks at me with worried eyes and she sounds truly concerned.
"No I'm not hurt. Well, actually my arms are a little sore, but other wise I'm fine."
"So how did you get away?" She sounds urgent.
"Um, can I trust you? With anything and everything? And you won't tell anyone?"
She gives me a confused look and cautiously answers "Yes, please trust me."
"This might sound strange but I think I made water spray him from the water fountain."
"What do you mean you 'made water spray him'?" Her confused look got stronger.
"Um, let me see if I can show you." I close my eyes and focus on the water crashing below us. I hold my hand out and feel that the water starts following my movements. I think about a large drop of water and lift my hand while making a soft fist. I open my eyes and there is a large ball of water sitting in the air in front of me and Shelly.