Edge of the Ravine

11

Chapter Eleven

      The very same day that I discovered the written-on converse, I also discovered just exactly what Alec would always mean to me.

      When Mr. Baldwin left for the Saturday meeting he was supposed to have in the next town over, it wasn't long before Alec took it upon himself— which invariably included me— to explore every bit of the lakeside community. Of course, I was not at all surprised to find that we were slowly but undoubtedly heading in the direction of the beach we had passed yesterday. Even this early in the day, we could spot young people flocking to the rocky ledges and throwing themselves into the air. One by one they disappeared into the cool lake water, seeming not to have any other care in the world.

      Slowly, as if our coming upon them were completely a casual coincidence, we made our way around the lake to where the beach existed in the shadows of the rocks. Alec was, as always, incapable of going unnoticed for very long. Though he often despised the attentions of the kids back home, he was impossible to ignore when he very much wanted to be seen. Just like now.

      I was used to the small twinge of jealously by now. Usually, I was able to ignore it at home because Alec chose only me to be friends with. But whenever we came across a new being, it was in Alec's nature to ensnare them. They could not get away even if they wished to. And it stung just a little every time he wished the company of someone else. Yet it was something I had to learn to live with. Because it was Alec.

      We had just reached the edge of the beach when they began to notice us. The kids standing on the sandy shore were already soaked, having just waded in from the water. As we drew nearer, I could see the thin, worn path on the far end of the beach, leading up towards the crest of the outcropping. Those who had not yet noticed Alec were already treading up the trail to perform the feat once more.

      My place was at Alec's side, but as more people turned to study him, I found myself wanting to shrink into his shadows. With every step we took. I found my feet trained steadily on the sand beneath my shoes. Though Alec often assured me that there was nothing wrong with me, I could never shake the feeling that there was something coating my skin, informing the world of my inability to be normal. Warning the, all before I ever got close enough to speak.

      I nearly jumped out of my skin when a girl approached us. Raising my eyes, I found a girl of shorter stature with strawberry-blond hair. Pressing my lips into a thin line, I slowly met her light blue eyes, feeling both a mixture of relief and jealously from me to Alec.

     "Hi, I'm Megan." She announced with a kind smile.

      Alec flashed her a similar one in turn and the jealously reared up inside of me to the point I nearly scowled at the blonde stranger. Shoving it down, I fixed a polite smile on my face once I heard Alec say, "my name is Alec and this is my best friend, Oliver." It only angered me further when Megan barely glanced at me before returning her gaze to Alec.

     "So, are you guys new in town or just visiting?"

     "Just here for the weekend. Do you live around here?" I envied my friend his blasé tone. He was perfectly at ease in the company of everyone in the world. Why could I not have the same eloquence? The same, perfect charm?

     "Yeah, this is home to me. Hey, would you like to join us? Go 'native' for a little while?" Megan asked with a sly smirk that I instantly despised.