Falling

Kenna

The sun was warm and the air drifted lazily across my cheeks. The sand beneath me was soft, and all I could hear was the sounds of wave after wave crashing onto the deserted beach. I sighed, wishing that life could be as it used to, wishing I was myself again. Tying my messy, dark hair up into a bun, I smoothed more sunscreen over my pale arms; even the California sunshine couldn't tan my east-coast pale skin. Deciding that the landscape was too beautiful to put into words, I began to paint. Losing myself in my work. I swirled the soft watercolor hues of blues and greens blending them into the blank sheet of paper that was slowly filling up.

This paper reminded me of life. Filling up with people instead of paint, who mix and blend, their collective personality building up to make the masterpiece that is you. Colors, warm and cool, contrasting yet complementing each other as they formed on my canvas. Soon the sun was setting miles away, and I left the quickly cooling beach. Walking barefoot on the sandy road, the dusky darkness swallowing me whole, I wondered what was to come of my new life here, of me.

***

Before I knew it, the sky was dark and the inky darkness surrounded me. Cool air ruffled through the palm trees. I was almost home, well what I called home now. I walked up the steps of our new house, trying to be quiet. That's why the sound of a car door closing loudly off to my right scared the crap out of me.

"Hey you okay?" Said someone, I couldn't see through the darkness so I called out my response.

"Yup fine, perfect, just startled," I stammered back. Not going to lie I was kinda freaked out, I was just paranoid though; used to the silence of my own head and the serene atmosphere of twilight, the noise was my snap back into reality. I took a deep breath, collecting my thoughts.

All of a sudden, the figure who I'm assuming was behind both the car door and the voice, stepped out into the reach of our porch light. Even with the shadows casting across his face a could see that he was, for lack of better words, extremely attractive.

"Sorry to scare you, I was kinda lost in thought," he said softly.

I gave a light laugh, "me too actually, new place, new house, I was just a little paranoid I guess. We just moved here recently so I'm not really familiar with this area. I'm Kenna..." I trailed off hoping he would tell me his name.

"Ryland," he said. "I actually just moved here too, all the way from New York, where did you move from?"

"Pennsylvania," I said. Huh I wonder where in New York he lived. If he was near the city?

As if he could read my mind he started to laugh. "I'm not from the city unfortunately, everyone asks me that when they hear I'm from New York. I'm actually from a super northern part of the state, up by Canada actually." He stated.

"Wow, I'm from a super southern part of Pennsylvania," I said in reply and we both laughed. Awkward silence soon followed.

"Well..."

"So..."

We both started at the same time. A blush fanned across my cheeks and suddenly I was grateful for the darkness.

"I'll see you around then, neighbor?" Ryland said, and it sounded like a question so I gave an answer.

"I hope so." I flashed a quick smile and turned towards my door, him walking over to his own.

"It was nice to meet you Kenna!"

"You too Ryland."

***

After my encounter with the neighbor, I thought that maybe, just maybe, living here wouldn't be too bad. I mean, we were destined to become friends right?

I walked through the echoing foyer into the expansive kitchen. I couldn't wait for all our furniture to be unpacked, I just hated the hollowness of this house.

I fixed myself a snack in the kitchen, moving as quietly I could over to the pantry, grabbing a bag of pretzels. The house was silent, so I assumed my parents must be sleeping. The only sound was the clicking of my dog's claws on the tile floor. He padded over to say hello, poor guy must have missed me all day.

"Hey there Jasper, I missed you too buddy," I cooed to him scratching the top of his head. Jasper was an Australian shepherd I'd gotten for my sixteenth birthday last year. He rolled onto the floor, begging me to pet his belly. He was so adorable, I would own 50 dogs if I could. He fell asleep lazily at my feet while I sat on the floor due to our lack of furniture. Contained to my thoughts, I sat eating while Jasper's even breathing lulled me to sleep.

Finishing my snack, I walked upstairs to get ready for bed, falling onto the mattress- the only furniture unpacked- I pulled up the covers. The last thing I saw was Jasper curling up by my feet as I drifted off to sleep.

***

A/N first chapter done😊 sorry it's super short, I'm trying to edit as I go so the chapters might not be all that long. Let me know what you think! I appreciate comments