Clouded Waters

Chapter One

     I looked out onto the water, watching as it glistened under the sun's beaming rays. Waves crashed upon the beach, attacking the western rocks but they didn't mind. The scent of the salt water traveled through the air reaching my nostrils. I inhaled deeply. If it wasn't the warmth of the day, then it was the waves that truly made me want to get out of here. They called out to me, to go catch the perfect one, claim it as mine and surf.

     Surfing was my passion. It had been every since my first time on a board when I was seven. I always felt comfortable in the water and it was the reason I was so glad to be back in Hawaii where I belonged. Me Melody Akmana, surfer extraordinaire! Well not yet anyway but I'm on my way.Today was my first day back in Hawaii since coming from my dad's. Every couple months I go to visit him for about two weeks. This time however the plane back was delayed and it took me the rest of that month to get a ticket back. It puts me so far behind in the surfing game but now I'm back. I was currently working a fresh layer of wax on the board. It's been a while and if I planned on surfing as much as I usually did then I would have to get my board back in the best condition possible. I looked back towards the direction of my house. We only lived two blocks up from the beach so getting there each day to surf was really no struggle for me.

     "Hey stranger," someone called. I looked up from my board. Aly West, the best friend everyone hopes for but I actually have, was jogging towards me. Her red hair bobbed up and down as she hurried over. I smiled meeting her halfway in a hug.

     "Hey Aly! Are you catching some waves with me today?" I questioned. She walked back over to my board with me. I sat it upright, presenting it to her. It was finally done. The base coat of white was perfectly clean and the purple hibiscus pointed right up to the sky. I beamed up at it.

     "Of course I am! Now come on I'll race you down there!" she called. Without warning she took off for the water. I watched her for a second. She leaped and hoped her way through the dirt kicking it up at her feet. I grabbed my board from its position and headed for a sprint. We laughed and headed down to the shore. The dirt becoming sand as we traveled farther down our path

     We paddled ourselves out further both waiting patiently for a good wave. I sat leaning completely on my board. I had missed it so much. Apparently Aly could tell, because she burst into laughter at my affection. She didn't know what it was like to lose your board for an entire month.

     "Should I leave you two alone for a while?" she patronized. I smiled leaning back up. My face and eyes turned to her. Her lovely blue eyes were looking at me. Her lips curved into a smile. which were stifling a laugh.

     "No you shouldn't. I've missed you too much for you two leave me." I told her brushing a loose piece of hair behind my ear. The look of enjoyment suddenly turned to one of astonishment. I looked behind me. Maybe a massive wave was there. Or perhaps she was seeing the impossible. "What?" I questioned her.

     "You're hair. You got blue highlights?" she returned with another question. A piece of the brown curly hair fly upward and with that piece were a few of the highlights I had put in. I had begun laughing.

     "Yeah. I did it last month. I missed the water too much and decided that if I were to reconnect with it I'd need to dye my hair the color of the ocean, to show my devotion to it." I explained to her. My explanation was followed by a great deal of laughter. She almost slid off of her surfboard at the reply. Once she finally calmed down still smiling she decided to speak again.

     "Mel you are the craziest person I've ever met!" she responded. I nodded in agreement. We looked out into the horizon waiting. Silently a wave began to rise. It was massive. I smiled. Aly gestured to it letting me have it. I paddled for it. My wave. My beautiful wave. I was home.