Night Owl

Prologue

    Zooming in on the tree outside the window that supported the weight of a small bird, my green eyes adjusted and something just clicked inside of me. Suddenly it wasn't just a bird, but a single beautiful creature that survives the cold weather of the night time. I pressed the button on my camera and captured the scene before me. Looking over it to make sure I had the right lighting in the night atmosphere, I smiled slightly. It was beautiful. I picked up my cup of coffee and took a sip.

   Cold already?

   I sighed and placed it down not even bothering with the rest. Cold coffee doesn't keep me awake at 4 o'clock in the morning now does it?

   I put down a ten already, knowing how much it would cost, before grabbing my messenger bag and pulling up my gloves that barely reached my knuckles. I pulled the lens of the old camera apart and put it all away securely in its bag, taking extra precautions. With the new house that we, my dad and I, just moved into, I really need this camera. And if all continues to go as well as its going now, then paying the rent won't be an issue.
  
   On the way out, just before I reached the door, I turned around spotting where Lin, the owner was.

   "Keep the change."
Giving her a half smile in return for hers, I pushed the door.

   "See you tomorrow night Erica!" Lin called after me before the light twinkling bells went off and echoed in the silent street.
   

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   The sand in between my dark blue colored toes didn't feel right. I liked having my red beat up converse but I didn't want to ruin what was left of them. I stood in front of the waves smelling the salty air and took in the watery atmosphere. It was breathtaking during the night. Almost as if the water was something that connected to the sky and could swallow the world up at any minute.

   With a small smile and an idea in mind, I bent down and put my hands on the sand on either side of my pale feet. Stepping back, I looked at the prints. I held the camera up to my face and just as the water was about to wash away the prints, snapped the picture.

   Looking at it now, I can't help but think of old memories. The vivid images playing in your mind of a warm summer's day were being whisked away by the waves. Considering that it was dark, the picture already looked like it was in black and white adding to the whole feel that I was originally going for.
  
   With that a satisfied sigh left my lips. I made my way to the cliff at the edge of the beach and climbed the slippery rocks, feeling my blonde hair whip around me.

   I was determined to take a picture of the waves as they hit the solid boulders. Slowly walking to the point I wanted to take the picture from, I waited. I didn't raise my camera. I wanted to see when was the right time to snap anything. The waves hit with a pattern. When I finally had it down I raised my camera and counted.

   1.......2........3

   I captured the scene in front of my lense just as the force of the water hit the rocks, making it splash upward like as if the water was pushing the rocks away. Raising my arm to push away my slightly damp hair, I looked back at the picture and gasped. I looked up and embarrassedly put my camera down; a slight blush making its way onto my cold and wet cheeks.

   I had accidently taken a beautiful picture. One where someone with the look of despair and sorrow stood watching out into the horizon. The hit of the wave pushed his clothes wildly in every direction and his ink black hair flew around him making it look like the waves were his feelings of anger.

   As if he wanted to push himself away into the dangerous and violent depths of the ocean. As if he wanted to be swallowed by the darkness instead of the world.

   At the moment though his piercing eyes weren't looking out into the water but more at me.

   "I-I'm sorry I didn't know anyone else was here," I stuttered nervously playing with the string on my camera.

   He didn't say anything. Just looked at me with confused, sorrow filled eyes. They were a stormy grey, looking dull and empty as you continued to gaze at them further. His black hair whipping around his head nearly hitting his eyes and smacking his mouth several times.

   His hands shook at his sides and his lips trembled, while his entire body shivered. Although I wasn't sure if it was due to his inner turmoil or the cold winds coming from the ocean. However, with the look in his eyes and his body posture, he just looked completely and utterly broken.

   Swallowing away the feeling screaming at me to leave, I slowly walked to the edge and sat down Indian style holding my camera out and capturing the horizon and the top of the sun just peeking out. The moon was right behind me slowly descending. It was like a game of tag. The game going on forever as neither sun nor moon reached the other.
In the corner of my vision I could see the guy still standing there looking at me as if I was blind for sitting down and not leaving. I looked down at the pictures I took today.

   "I'm not leaving you know. It's a free country and you don't own this beach," I blurted not even bothering looking up.

   Stupid verbal diarrhea.

   I lay down and looked up at the sky watching the midnight blue slowly turning orange and then pink, red, purple. It was like swirls of color. Van Gogh's interpretation had gotten a lot of negative criticism that started rumors of him being a little out of it when he painted; but I couldn't agree more with him. Zooming enough on the sky that you wouldn't have thought I was at the beach, I snapped the picture and a sigh of happiness left my lips as I looked it over.

   I was in such a state that I didn't even notice the guy come toward me and snatch my camera from my hands, pulling me up with him.

   This strap is choking me!

   "Hey!!! Give that back buddy!" I tried reaching for it but he was too tall.

   Stupid short genes.

   "I want to see why you won't leave me alone," He spoke with annoyance. His voice deep and throaty.

   "Well sorry for being such a bother but I'll be an even bigger one if you break that camera. Not to mention you're choking me!" I whinned.

   I reached up again but he just pulled back making it higher than before. I grumbled taking the strap from around my neck.

   "Fine. Just don't break it please," He smirked and pulled it down to eye level.

   Slightly confident that he wouldn't drop them as he looked through them, I walked to the ledge and peered down at the water. I put my arms out as if I was going to fall face front into the water and closed my eyes. It didn't smell as salty up here and the water felt nice against my skin. It felt like rain in the wind and it brought a smile to my face.

   I heard my camera click and I turned around sharply nearly tripping. He had my camera pointed at me and a smile on his face.

   "Nice pictures," He handed it back. I nodded.

   "Well it was nice meeting you stranger-"I coughed. "Not," I cleared my throat. "But I have to go roam the streets for more "nice pictures"," I air quoted.

   With that I made my way back to my converse that still sat alone on the sand.

   Mom would be so proud. Third day here and I already met someone.