Falling

Kenna

School was fast approaching as the heat of summer slowly subsided. And yet here I was spending my time painting landscapes and missing home. Not just the people but the place; dark pines, rich forests, and then there was the calmness of it all. I just couldn't get used to the constant sun and bustling cities of LA. I had yet to meet anyone going to my new school- mainly because I hadn't met anyone at all.

Well...I did meet one person.

I shook that thought out of my brain. A guy like Ryland just wasn't the kind of guy to spend time with someone like me. I was quiet, shy, and he was, or seemed, just not like that at all. But then again, I had barely met him. I couldn't judge him yet, right? Of course I knew that the small voice in my head that was telling me all this, was probably coming from a part of me that was intrigued by this mysterious boy-attracted even. How could you blame me? He shows up out of nowhere and looks like...a Greek god. I internally cringed so hard at what I had just thought- I was so not that girl that obsesses over details like that. At the same time however, a hint of sadness pulled me away from my otherwise happy state of mind.

Sighing to myself, I continued to paint my landscape, staring out my bedroom window into the sun soaked yard. I realized my painting was morphing from the lush green background I had meant to paint, into unmistakeable shades of a golden beach, cool waves spraying onto sun-baked sand, a pattern of clouds swirling across a blank sky.

My mind wandered to a million thoughts as I filled the paper, and my anxiety about school was mounting.

"Kenna!" My little brother shouted from outside my door. Skyler was younger than me, starting 6th grade while I was starting 11th. We shared similar features, our only difference being in our eyes; while mine were a shade of forest green, his were a soft brown.

"Hey! It's dinner time," Skyler continued, knocking on my door.

"Yeah yeah, I'll be right down!" I shouted back, and made my way to my door, abandoning the unfinished painting.

*****

My whole family sat around the table and ate together; my parents, my brother, and I. The tastes of the food barely registered on my tongue as my worries about school continued to barrage me. There was only two days left. Two days.

*Flashback*
"Kenna how could you do this? I love you, we can make this work" my girlfriend of two years said, sadness evident in her deep blue eyes.

"Gracen I'm sorry, It's not my fault that we're moving. I want to be with you but how can we defy the odds? Long distance never truly works. You deserve to be happy, to move on." I replied, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"Kenna please don't leave, don't leave me," she whispered tears brimming over as she pulled me close.

"I'm sorry, I love you and I always will, this can't be easy for either of us no matter how hard we try; just promise you won't forget me?" I forced out giving her a last kiss on her forehead and holding her in my arms.

"I could never," she choked out, my tears falling from my own eyes as she held on tight. I wondered how it all got to this point; the thought of leaving her unbearable. I felt the weight of a thousand shared "I love you's" all culminating in one, single, heartbreaking moment. The last words we could say to each other were muffled goodbyes, our faces streaked with tears and my arms now empty.

*End of flashback*

Finishing dinner, I replayed the tearful scene of goodbyes in my head. It was unhealthy to still be holding on months later, I knew this, but I couldn't help the fact that I missed her.

Pushing the sad thoughts from my brain, I focused back in on the dinner table.

"Kenna, are you ready for school? We can get school supplies if you need them." My mother said, concern evident in her voice. Must have spaced out longer than I thought.

"I might need some new stuff, we can go tomorrow?" I said, giving my mother a soft smile. I was trying to make the effort to seem happy here, maybe soon even I would believe it.

"Great! How about you Skyler? I got your list of supplies," my mom continued, turning her attention to Skyler. He gave a toothy grin and agreed to come with us too. Hey, maybe this could be a fun way to explore; I hadn't gotten very far, just to the nearest Starbucks and the beach. Caffeine was a necessity and the beaches were an unexpectedly nice feature of this place; previously, the nearest beach had been the Jersey Shore, with cool sand and even cooler waters that thrashed in a never ending tumultuous battle. The only time the frigid water had been tolerable was in the heavy heat of mid July and August.

After dinner I decided to go for a late night walk, something I could do now in this quiet beachside town. Back in Pennsylvania, we lived in a small neighborhood that was relatively safe, but close to big roads so not really conducive to late night walks. It was actually kind of calming to be able to walk around in the dimly lit street, alone but somehow feeling the energy of the lush environment around me.

The sound of my flip flops on the worn pavement, still holding some of the heat from the late afternoon sun, created a steady rhythm- the perfect backdrop to continue my obsessive thinking.

Before I knew it I was running, or really walking I suppose, into a wall. Typical, I thought to myself, groaning. Except when I snapped out of my daze, I realized it was not, in fact, a random wall in the middle of the street. Instead I was greeted by none other than a flustered Ryland, and was he blushing?  Why, no, how did I get myself into these awkwardness inducing situations?

"We seem to have a habit of running into each other around here, huh?" He said, nervously laughing. "Sorry by the way, didn't mean to interrupt your train of thought."

"It's okay," I replied, trying my best to sound relaxed and not overtaken by nerves. I couldn't believe how bad I was at talking to new people; I guess when you grow up with the same people in the same town for the majority of your life, these opportunities don't present themselves often.

"Where are you headed anyways? You're by yourself?" He asked, a surprising tone of worry lacing his voice.

"Well I was," I laughed "alone that is. But I'm just taking a walk, needed a momentary escape." I continued, looking down at the pavement for fear that I would blush and give away how unsure of myself I felt right now.

"Need someone to walk with?" He asked, surprising both me and himself by the looks of it.

"Why not?" I said, giving him a smile, the awkwardness of the initial run-in fading away: somehow he had a way of making me feel more at home in this new place, even though he was just as new as I was. I couldn't believe how I felt myself growing closer with this mysterious boy who I'd only talked to on chance encounters and random run-ins. But soon enough, we were absorbed in conversation and the amiable feeling of each other's company.

*********

A/N hope you're enjoying! Let me know any little edits or feedback! :)