Emerald Skies

Red Skies at Night

Ch 1; Red Skies at Night

I submerge from the water to see another towering wave crashing towards me. I smile wickedly, and instead of diving under I wait for it to hit me. I'm knocked back and go tumbling toward the shore.

"Riker you idiot- you're gonna hurt yourself!" Rydel scolds, after observing my reckless actions.

"Oh, but it's just SO much fun!" I snicker, and before she can respond a wave crashes over the both of us, knocking us off our feet.

We sit up and look at each other, and Rydel bursts out laughing.

What was she so amused about...?

"Hey Riker, ya left something in the water!" Ross shouts; still further out in the water with Ryland and Rocky. He was holding up a piece of cloth it looked like-

"M-my swim trunks!" I stutter, and dive back into the water, leaving a highly amused Rydel cracking up on the shore.

Once I've paddled my way out, I swiftly grab the trunks from my brother and flail back into them.

"This wouldn't have happened if you just swam under the wave, you know." Ross points out. "Daredevil." He adds.

Just as another large wave is heading towards us, I figure I have just enough time to stick my tongue out at him, then we swim under simultaneously.

When I submerge, I hear Rydel yelling something from the shore, but can't quite hear what she's saying. I shake my head- my hair spraying off water as I do, and clear the ocean from my ears. By the speed Ross was swimming to shore, though, I had a fairly good idea of what she said.

"Riker, I said it's time to eat! Are you coming or what?" Rydel repeats.

"If Riker doesn't want to then I get his samich!" Ross says, and Rydel smiles and turns to walk to where our towels were set up.

I roll my eyes, and dolphin-swim under the water towards shore. Before the water gets shallow, I grasp onto Ross's ankle before he can notice me. As I pop back to the surface he yelps as he spins around to see me.

"My 'samich'." I say teasingly, and wade right past him.

We meet Rydel over at our beach blankets, where she was already unpacking our lunches from the basket. Ross' first; obviously. I remember what it was like to be at that age. I was on a see-food diet; I saw it, I ate it. At least, that's what mom joked about four years ago. Rydel handed me my ham-and-turkey sandwich next, and when Rocky and Ryland caught up with us she passed out theirs too.

"Thank you Rydel." Ryland says politely before tearing into his roast-beef sandwich.

Come to think of it, he's been eating quite a bit more than usual too. My little bros are growing up!

Rydel smiles. "Thank mom when we get home- she's the one who packed them for us."

"Hey- anything else in there?!" Ross asks, peaking over Rydel's shoulder. "Cookies? Chips?"

Rydel laughs, and so do I. "You haven't even finished your sandwich yet!" I point out.

"Well, there are apple slices and juice boxes." Rydel replies, handing Ross a zip-lock with apples.

He gives her a look as if he were a starving, neglected puppy. She rolls her eyes, and tosses a packet of caramel at him.

"Yes!" Ross cheers.

"He can have mine too, actually." Rocky says, standing.

"Got a hot date?" I ask, watching him gather his things.