Bliss

6 - Ingrid

Sky's face turns white when the loud sirens echo throughout the city. They're annoying and extremely loud. Even a deaf man could hear it. I cover my ears with my hands and go underwater to block out the sound. I can only hear the silent faintly from under here.

I wait a little and come up for air. I know the city is only testing the siren, so I start to continue to splash Sky, but she doesn't do it back. She begins swimming towards the shore. Really fast.

"Sky!" I call after her and duck my head under the water water. My hair floats around me, I didn't bother to wear a ponytail. I stick my head up over the surface again, and I'm standing on my toes. I can feel the soft sand beneath my feet. Sky's already out of the water.

"It's only a drill!" I yell. Sky grabs her towel and wraps it around her body. I know she isn't going to come back in. Fun only lasts for a little while when I'm with Sky. Sky's like a candle: even the slightest wind will blow her light out. She sits on the beach and mouths to me to tell me she's done. The sirens stop, and the world is at relief again.

I dip my head back just so that my hair can slide back and out of my face. Then, I take a breath and go under again. I've been swimming all my life, and I've figured out I can hold my breath for a really long time. Sky used to love our swims, but as she gets older, she's starting to be afraid of them. I don't really know how to describe Sky Binasco; sometimes I feel so close to her, like I can tell her everything, but on days like this I don't know who she is.

The sunlight sparkles and shines through the water. So beautiful, I think. Sky would laugh at that thought, but I don't care. I swim to the bottom and kick my legs.

I love this feeling. More than anything. The water swishing against my legs. My hair turning into silk, floating all around me. I'm used to the sharp sting in my eyes. I usually come out of the water with my eyes all red, but it doesn't bother me.

I need a breath and I come up. I can make out that Sky's walking in the water. She doesn't go deep, only to her waist. I swim slowly towards her.

"Couldn't resist huh?" I say, smirking at her. Sky scoffs and splashes me softly. We swim for another half an hour, the wind begins to pick up and then the sun starts to set.

"I think I'm done for the day," I say finally when Sky comes up from the water. She's always had this sort of fear with the beach, but I'm glad she's getting used to it. Sky gives me a fake surprised look.

"Are you sure, Ingrid?" she says, teasing me. I nod and start to go towards shore. It's not really like me to cut the day short, but no one is really at the beach today, and even though I love to swim, I feel so exposed in my swimsuit. It reveals my arms and my legs, something that people here don't typically see when I'm wearing the Uniform. Sky usually wear really exposing clothes, like tank tops and shorter shorts, and her running suit falls into those two at the same time. As for me, when I'm not working, I usually wear a shirt a jeans.

"Yeah," I say. "I'm not in the mood." For real, Sky gives me a shocked look.

"Alright, I'll bite. What is it?" Sky asks.

"It's nothing," I say, "forget about it."

"Ingrid, this is me you're talking to," says Sky. "So spill." I shake my head and walk out of the water. I shiver from the cold and grab my towel. I may love the beach, but I hate the feeling of sand sticking to me.

I twist my hair, the saltwater squeezing out. I grab my bag and head to the changing rooms.

When we get home, I can see no sign of the rude soldiers. Lily informs me they left to go somewhere. I take a cold and quick shower. It takes me a while to dry off, but I sit down with Sky when she's done.