Seas of Soul

Well hey there:) So.. this is my first story. I'm not 100% sure where its going to go.. But I think it has a GREAT basic idea. It came to me in a daydream. I have alot of stories stowed away in my brain, and finally got brave enough to start writing them down. I'm pretty nervous... Will anyone like it? Is it too boring? Am I kidding myself into thinking I can write stories?

Like my late grandpa said, "We don't have a chance if we don't take a chance." Here's to you, Poppa!

Now, be warned: this first one IS a tad slow.. That's because it's backround info. Yuck, I know, but crucial. I really want there to be a feel for the characters' personalities. Also.. I haven't really edited much, so be kind, por favor. Short & sweet:)

Spread some love, & let me know how you feel! <3 Beachy

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The salty, warm ocean breeze felt wonderful on Ali’s skin as she tilted her face upwards toward the hot sun. This is wonderful. Words couldn’t describe how relaxing and free the ocean made her feel. And who didn’t love a carefree vacation? This cruise was exactly what she needed. Excitement bloomed in her stomach as she watched the long line into the cruise ship, Voyager, inch up just a few feet.

Ali hadn’t been born into a rich family; her parents were divorced, but worked hard, & she loved them very much.  The grandparents on her father’s side were retired, and well-off enough to help her pay for her cruise ticket. She, her grandparents, father, little brother, and an aunt were taking a 10-day cruise to the Caribbean, and she couldn’t have been happier.

Ahh, how great, she mused. She’d been on a cruise once before, when she was 16. Her first boyfriend, whom she’d dated for 3 years, and his family had invited her then and it had been wonderful. She’d been awkward and unsure of who she was those years, and laughed to herself remembering it. All the same, it was a beautiful experience.

First loves never really fade away, she pondered. She’d been heartbroken for over a year after their breakup, but had grown a lot. Though she was very emotional, Ali was strong and open-minded. That first heartbreak hadn’t left her jaded like most; she’d learned to appreciate all those sweet memories, and could never hate her first love. She could never hate anyone for that matter. Ali forgave easily, and loved whole-heartedly. A typically happy person, she goofed around with her close friends a lot, but cried equally as much as she laughed. You can thank all this emotionality for that!

Her dad leaned over to nudge her, whispering about the lady in front of them. She was about 300 lbs, and wearing shorts shorter than anything Ali could have ever even imagined putting on her butt. “She must need to let some crevices breathe.” He mumbled. “Dad!” she laughed. Her dad was goofy and carefree, a tall man with a nice Indian tan – a little Cherokee ran in his blood. Her brother was his spitting image, a bratty 13 year-old who never left their dad’s side.

Ali was a little lighter; her skin would tan, though not as much, and she had wavy brown hair. Her almond-shaped blue eyes and genuine smile deserved to be in a magazine, though she would never want to be a part of the materialistic fashion world. Ali dreamed of traveling. Though not religious, Ali was spiritual; she imagined meeting mysterious monks, dancing ‘round the fire with African tribes, climbing the Great Wall of China, and paddling down the Amazon River. Ali was a dreamer, with almost no idea what career she wanted to pursue.

But everyone has to start somewhere, so in the meantime she took classes at a local college, and dated her steady boyfriend, Kale.

Kale was a much more realistic relationship than her first love; they’d worked through some tough times, and he made her laugh. He occasionally had jealousy issues, and she always worried about his feelings - he was a pretty intense person. But Ali had convinced herself that love wasn’t like those soul-wrenching romance novels she loved to read; it took work. Kale loved her very much, and she had watched him change for the better since meeting her. She could possibly see marrying him in a few more years.

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After another hour and a half, her family finally reached the desk, checked in, and found their way to the rooms they’d be sharing. Ali was rooming with her fashionable aunt, who owned a dance studio. Maybe I can borrow some clothes, she mused. After changing into her own sweet lacy vintage dress with flats, she rushed on deck to join her family in waving as the ship left port.

Excitement once again bloomed in her stomach, and Ali looked forward to some adventure while on-board. Her vacation had begun.