The wind whipped through my mid-neck length dark turquoise hair, I stood facing the ocean. The cool smooth familiar stone lingered below my feet. I glanced down and a momentary wave of vertigo passed driving a small shiver down my spine. I smiled into the brisk wind and laughed. I remembered struggling up here around the age of 11. The wind was blowing as equally hard as today and I was wearing a denim jacket, an Angel of Broken Wings band shirt and my favorite pair of dark faded blue skinny jeans and converse. My heavy backpack making it nearly impossible to cling to the jagged sandstone ledge. I grunted heaving myself up another foothold regretting my constant need to carry my art supplies everywhere I went. I rose higher at a slow pace, my underdeveloped muscles screeching at me all the way, I glanced up only about 10 more feet left until I reached the cave near the top. I bit my lip and pushed onward, as a new blast of wind nearly unbalanced my small, weak frame, clinging tighter, the sharp stone dug into my palms causing blood to swell from the slices, they stung as the fine grains of the rock acted as sandpaper widening the cuts. I scrabbled up the last bit and sat a few feet from the edge. I pulled out the first aid kit my mother had always insisted in me carrying. for once actually useful I mentally spat cleansing the wounds. I shook my head and laughed at the memory, I had been so childish at the time, my fire red cell phone vibrated in my pocket, I sighed and fished through all of the things accompanying it inside the heavily worn midnight black shorts I looked at the screen it read “Gretchen” I grumbled silently and clicked the talk button “hello?” I rasped into the phone “hay” a bright cheery voice laughed into the phone. “what do you want?” I grunted grabbing my bag, the same one I had carried since before I first visited this cave along the Cliffside, “I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later.” she giggled loudly. “sure just let me finish my Fire Spells 101 homework,” I mumbled, ”I’ll call you when I’m done” in all actuality I had already finished it an hour ago in this cave, I just didn’t want my hideout to become discovered. I hung up and skillfully scaled down the wall, I jumped down about 4 feet from the ground and landed securely on my feet. I smiled at my catlike reflexes and began gliding towards my house. I flexed a gloved hand readying to once again nimbly leap the stepping stones to return back to the city. I hummed my favorite song and began thinking about school, I was a great student all but that I had never been told what element I was, I tested high in all of them forcing me to have to take all air, earth, water, and fire classes it was very time consuming, but worth it. I could almost control the wind enough to carry me short distances, I could easily start a fire just by clenching my fist, I was beginning to learn how to grow plants, and I could create small waves as simply as creating a fire. I soon arrived home and called Gretchen, she ignored the call and I soon saw her in her khaki shorts and aqua tank top walking in aqua flip flops towards my house. I grinned and held my arms out and she sprinted over and hugged me. Then stepped back and frowned at my clothes I had black shorts, a black tank top, biker gloves on, knee high black socks with rainbow skulls on them, with skateboard shoes. “what have I told you about all this black!?” she screeched angrily, “get back in there and change!” I sighed and walked inside and pulled off my clothes I had on and grabbed a white t shirt and light denim shorts and grabbed a pair of silver flip flops I looked in the mirror and glared, why can’t she understand that I like black and its what I like wearing I thought. I grabbed a silver and black headband and put it on to finish the look and barreled out the door. She smiled at my new outfit and said “much better “ pulling her shoulder length bleach blond hair back into a pony tail. I looked at her and somewhat envied her, everyone loved her, I was just the one people talked to if they wanted something. I’m sort of considered ‘the freak’ at school, I dress differently, I’ve never been deemed one element, I was shy until you really got to know me, and I never answered questions in class. Snapping back into reality Gretchen concluded “…so how about we go to the beach and get a smoothie?” I smiled, “uh sure?” we began walking down towards the beach, as we passed a pier near the smoothie stand I said “hey Gretchen, can we stop here at the pier for a bit, the ocean looks really pretty today and I want to get a closer look,” “sure thing,“ she responded. I walked out with her and sat on the edge, once we got comfortable, I said, “ya know what would be funny?” I inquired. “what would be Lauren?” I grinned, “if a really hot guy saw you soaking wet!” “Lauren! What are you-” I cut her off with a huge splash of a wave, it took a lot of elemental strength, but it was so worth the look on her face. She threw me a dirty look then got an evil grin, “yeah you too!” she laughed at her wetness as she threw a gust of wind at me knocking me into the surrounding water. I somersaulted through the waves, I felt myself being pulled into a rip-tide I held my breath inside of me, and curled up and prepared for the ride. Soon I felt a pair of strong arms trying to tug me out of the water, I tried to open my eyes but the salty water stung them. The shocked forced me to gasp, I sucked in a mouthful of sea foam I choked and soon blacked out. I woke up about ten minutes later on the sandy shore, I blinked and a violent cough shuddered though my body, I slowly sat up and ended my coughing fit. “oh my god, I’m so sorry!” Gretchen squealed. “Gretchen, stay back a bit, she needs some room!” a deep voice scolded. I looked around and blinked, I saw Gretchen and searched for the other voice, “looking for me?” the deep distinguishably male voice responded to my searching. Looking up I located the voice, Aaro grinned above me, “you okay doll? you had quite a tumble out there,” he said in a concerned tone. “yeah I’m fine, I’m just kind of dizzy.” I slurred exhaustedly. He brushed my wet hair off of my face, “we should probably get you home,” he spoke slowly. “uh sure,” I said remembering I was wearing I was wearing white I glanced down to make sure I had on an undershirt, I did. They helped me stand and I staggered my way back home, Aaro on one side, Gretchen on my other. I finally reached home, and used the wall for support then collapsed into my warm, soft bed.
