Tails

Chapter 2: (Anna's POV)

    "Oh My God! Yes! Finally!" everyone shouted as the bell rung on the last day of school. I was the only one who didn't throw old schoolwork all over the classrooms, run down the halls with regalement, or make plans for the summer. Most of the kids went down to the beach that night for some lame-ass luau that Lucy was throwing. I was the only one who didn't go. And it wasn't just because I had to be on lifeguard duty at the pool that day, it was because I hate those kids.

       I don't like to go to the beach when there's tons of people there. It ruins the relaxation and zen. I don't go to North Shore beach because that's where all the tourists and kids from school go. I go to this little secluded beach that I call 'Half Moon Beach' because when I first discovered it there was a half moon in the night sky. It's heaven on earth with pristine sands, turquoise water, calm waves and lush tropical plants. Hardly anyone knows about it. I go there almost everyday without ever getting tired of it's beauty. 

      I go down to Half Moon to take pictures of the waves and sometimes turtle eggs that I find there. I take pictures of anything and everything with my Canon EOS Rebel that I saved up for. If I didn't have my lifeguarding job at the neighborhood pool. I could never have afforded it, but that doesn't mean I like my job. Actually, I fucking hate my job. I have to spend every day making sure these annoying kids don't drown or whatever. 

        You might be wondering why I got this job if I hate it so much. Well, I was in this huge fight with my parents about a year ago. I bought some really cool clothes at the mall with the cash my mom gave me; dark denim shorts, black crop top that had the name of my favorite band 'Green Day' on it, and a dark blue and black flannel. Once my parents saw what I bought they almost threw it right out the window before I could say that they were being bad parents by not letting me individualize myself through fashion. After that they just got more angry. I said that I don't like wearing those beachy clothes with vibrant colors. Everyone wears them and that it's just not original. Then my mom said that she didn't want me wearing them because they made me look like a goth and 'how dare I buy those unseemly clothes with her money'. That just about threw me off the edge. I had had it with my parents regulating everything I wear! That's when I suggested that I get a job. That I should be allowed to wear what I want as long as it's paid for by me. It took some time to convince them, but they finally agreed to it as long as I promised not to buy anything to....peculiar. 

       At first I wanted to work for the juice bar downtown but job applications were closed. Then I applied for a part time job at the gift shop at a resort, but then took back my application because I can't stand tourists. So then I finally settled on being a lifeguard for the neighborhood pool. It's not pleasant but it pays good. 

     School could be better. I'm usually off by myself when I'm not trying to annoy my older sister, Camille, and her surfing buddies. One time when I was following them around school, she had finally had enough of me provoking her and said, "Fuck off!" That only made laugh because she never cusses. I told her if mom and dad ever found out she said that word then they would burn her at the stake. She paid me $30 to keep quiet, which bought me a Pearl Jam CD, a pack of strawberry gum, and a pair of black boots from the clearance section at Hollister. When I was buying those boots, I came across Lucy. 

       Lucy is a vicious demon sent from hell to destroy all happiness. I've disliked her ever since kindergarden when she stole my seat next to Mason Simmons in the reading circle. So when I was at Hollister buying those boots, I saw her looking at a pink bikini that was way to small for her. She saw me holding the pair of black combat boots and said, "Wow. Those boots are almost as ugly as you." Then I said, "Thanks. I'd tell you to wear something other than shorts that make you look like you work the streets, but I'm not good with advice, so can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?" and with that I walked away. Knowing that Lucy thought the boots were ugly made me love them even more. I can't stand  over-privileged girls like her. Just because her dad owns this huge resort chain in Hawaii she thinks she's all that. 

      Today I was pretty distressed that school starts in a month. I wanted summer to last an eternity. The great thing about summer is that I can go to Half Moon more often. Last night I took all of my family's camping gear out of the attic. When my mom saw me carrying everything out the door she asked what on earth I was doing. I simply replied, 

    "I'm going camping."

    "Um, where exactly? And it better not be with a boy." she said. I didn't wanna tell my mom about Half Moon, so I just told her,

    "North Shore beach."

    "Well, you can go ahead and put all that junk back in the attic because you're not going."

    "Mom, please! I promise I won't talk to any strangers and I'll keep my tent closed all night!" I begged.

    "Fine. You can go."

    "Yes!"

    "But only if your sister goes with you."

    "What? Mom, she's never gonna say yes. She hates me."

    "You're sister doesn't hate you, Anna. I'm sure if you ask her nicely she'll go." And to my surprise, my sister said yes.

    "Well, so much for camping out at Half Moon." I thought as my sister and I drove down to North Shore." When we were setting up camp Camille didn't say much except, "Why'd you bring that filthy sleeping bag", or "I wish I would've remembered to bring my surfboard." and "Have you seen the new episode of Pretty Little Liars?" Camille sat by the tent to read her book while I took pictures of the waves. The shots didn't turn out to well because people kept getting in the way, and not to mention it wasn't nearly as alluring and tranquil as Half Moon is. 

      When Camille and I were sitting by the crackling fire, I kept wondering why she agreed to camp with me. Her and I aren't 'soul sisters' that have an inseparable bond and can't stand to be away for each other for more than 5 seconds. We've never been that way, but sometimes I wish we had. 

      "Hey, Camille?" I asked. She looked up from her book, surprised that I even talked to    her.

      "Yeah?" she said. 

      "Why'd you agree to go camping with me. I mean, like, we barely ever hang out so I just find it kind of odd that you said yes..." I said. She put down her book and sighed.

      "I just...I don't know. I guess I needed to get away from the house awhile, and when I saw the opportunity to, I took it." I stared at her to go on.

      "I overheard what you said to mom. I don't hate you Anna. I could never hate you. But sometimes you can be a little too....capricious."

       "I am not! Well, maybe a little." We both laughed. I sat down next to her and asked her,

       "So, what book are you reading?" She told me she was reading a vampire novel called 'Vampires Suck At School'. She explained that the main character, Sarah, had fallen in love with her evil bitch of a stepdaughter's boyfriend who was a vampire. When Sarah and her stepdaughter's boyfriend were making out, he accidentally bit her in the neck, so then she turns into a vampire. I told her I didn't think that she was into cheesy vampire books. She said she wasn't, she just liked reading bad books so she could give them substandard reviews on RateTheBook.com. We both laughed again. 

       We talked for a few more hours then went to sleep. Even though my sister annoys me most of the time, I still love her. When my sister was still sleeping, I woke up and sat on the shore to look at the calm waves. As my feet sunk into the wet sand, I kept wishing that it could be like this with me and my sister all the time. But when we would go home and when school would start back up again, I knew things would go back to normal.

Author's Note: 

Thanks so much if you read this chapter! Chapter 3 should be out next week. Please let me know what you think of the story so far :)

xoxo, Naomi