Finding your feet

Chapter 1

It was a sunny Tuesday, the day that James Lavender's life changed forever. It was the middle of summer, and everything was in action at Mortimer's cove, where James and his next door neighbour lived. Her name was Melody Silver, and they had been by each other's sides for every moment possible. Their families got on really well, and secretly expected the two to get married someday.

Every night, they would go to the end of the jetty that went right through the middle of the beach, and just sit there, talking about anything and everything. Melody did most of the talking, but James didn't mind, as he loved to watch her, how her eyes sparkled in the starlight, a unique shade of teal, much like the ocean itself.

She was intensely beautiful, James thought; toffee coloured hair that just reached past her shoulders, delicate skin of a buttery shade, long elegant limbs, and a smile that had won his heart long ago.

In comparison, he though himself to be a thorn compared to a rose. Messy brown hair, light skin with a mole here and there, and a slender frame that he thought made him look like a scarecrow. Also his eyes had an odd feature to them: one was lighter than the other. Melody often complimented him on them, but he always felt embarrassed.

At that current moment, they were on their backs on the jetty, bare feet hanging over the water. Melody was discussing the constellations, but James wasn't really listening. He was turning something over in his mind that had been plaguing him for weeks: should he tell her how he feels? He wanted to know how she felt, but was so afraid of the rejection. Melody meant so much to him; he didn't want to lose her.

His train of thought was broken by Melody saying, "Hey! You fallin' asleep right in the middle of me showing you Capricorn? Bad move Jamie!" With this, she leapt onto him – and began to tickle him mercilessly. They writhed for a moment, and then were still. They just stared at each other for a minute, then Melody cracked one of her dazzling smiles and said, "Come on, Mum's cooking up a barbeque tonight!" She took his hand and they ran down the jetty, dropping down onto the sand together.

It was a great dinner. Melody's mum, Ida, had prepared tons of food, all of the kids' favourites. They ate happily, with snatches of conversation between the chewing. "So James," Ida said, before she took a bite of her burger, "where're your parents then?"

James swallowed, "Well, they're away for a week visiting Aunt Suzy in Herondon, so I'm alone in our place 'til next Saturday! Mum was still reluctant to leave me though." Melody snorted at this.

"Come on James. You're 17 now! Your mum needs to see you ain't her little baby Jamie anymore!"

"You're right Mel. Thanks. So fancy going diving tomorrow? We haven't been out at all this summer!" Melody readily agreed, and then they began to clear away the remnants of dinner.

James soon said goodnight and walked over to his own dark, empty house. He went straight upstairs and got ready for bed, and then collapsed onto the mattress, running his hand thought his hair. He was drowsy, and soon was dreaming.

He was suddenly awoken for an unknown reason, trickles of cold sweat clinging to his skin. He knew something was wrong, but wasn't quite sure what. James then realised he'd left the curtains open, and bright moonlight covered the sill.

He moved to close them, and then saw someone on the end of the jetty, their hair being played with by the sea breeze. He knew instantly who it was. They were in the same dress they'd had on at dinner. In a flash, he'd grabbed a hoodie and run out the house, onto the jetty. He ran, stumbling slightly on the uneven planks, especially as he hadn't put shoes on.

James stopped just before the end, so he was still a short distance away from the figure. Then he shouted, "Melody, what are you doing here? Are you okay?" he stood there panting, as Melody turned her head.