Water's Edge

Chapter 2

     When I step into the ring, I quickly assess my opponent. From watching him before, I realize that he steps before he punches. As we circling each other in the ring, I wait for the step but it doesn't come. Time to make the first move, I think to myself. I fake right and punch left, just glancing Apollyon's face. I am ready to punch again when he steps left and throws a punch with his right. I sidestep it and throw a punch with my right and it connects with the side of his face. Narrowing his black eyes, he starts circling again, trying to find my weakness.
"What are you waiting for, Twig?" he says, trying to get my emotions to make a move for me. Lucky for me, I have learned to have complete control over my emotions. Outside the ring though, is a different story.
     I notice Apollyon creeping closer and I let him step, swing, and miss before I go at him. A fake to the left then to the right is what puts him off balance. I uppercut him then add a right hook in for good measure. It goes on like this for awhile.
     "Okay, that's enough for this round," our instructor says. We circle up and we talk for awhile about techniques and how we can improve.
After class is over Lisa, Val, and I walk over to our lockers and get our stuff. "Oh shoot," Lisa says, "I forgot something at my house. I'll be over after I get it."
"Same here. I have to get my clothes for The Festival. I'll be over soon," Val tells us. I tell them that that is fine. We walk out of the gym and go our separate ways.
     As I walk home, people call out, "Hey Darkwater," my last name. I know they don't remember my first name, but I don't mind. It's nice to be referred to by the last name my parents passed down to me. The time has softened my grief, but not my love for them.
When I get home, the sun is on its downward trek across the sky. I wave to my brother, who is in the sitting room, and head to my bedroom. I walk across the room and look into the mirror. A girl with wide grey eyes and waist length, silvery, blonde hair stares back.
I hear a knock on the door followed by Arroyo's voice welcoming whoever it is inside. Knowing who it is, I walk to the small foyer and greet my friends. Lisa carries a large, tan bag and several smaller ones. Val just has a plastic bag and brown paper bag. We walk back to my room and Lisa immediately starts to get excited.
"Okay. I can't take it anymore. Open the present I got for you for your birthday," she tells me. She hands me a blue bag with a white bow on it. I smile at her and untie the bow. I open the bag and look inside. Inside is a beautiful white dress. I take it out of the bag and I realize it is floor length. The top of the dress is white, but when it gets closer to the floor the color shifts to light grey. I am so happy I hug Lisa.
"This is the most elegant dress I have ever seen," I tell her, beaming. If I can go to The Festival tonight, I am definitely going to wear it. I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn to Val. He hands me his small paper bag and gives me a sheepish grin.
     "You know I will like your gift just as much, Val," I tell him, putting down the dress. I will genuinely like his gift no matter what. As long as it is from my best friend, I will love it.
     I open the brown bag and grab the soft object inside. I pull out a small draw string pouch that fits in my hand. The small draw string is made of a silver, velvet fabric and it is attached to a silver bracelet with a barrel clasp. I look at Val in amazement and thank him a million times over. Before I can finish he cuts me off.
"There's more. Open the bag, Darya." I do as he says and I see the sparkle of gemstones. I pull them out and am rewarded with two earrings. I turn away from my friends and hold them up to the light from my window. One is a silver stud with a circular maroon gemstone. I look at Val and smile. It matches his eyes. I study the other earring. This one too is a silver stud, but this one's stone is a bright blue like the sky. I turn around in time to see Lisa lightly punch Val in the arm.
"How dare you outdo me," she says jokingly. "Also, why did you get her earrings the color of our eyes?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," he told Lisa.
"Well I love them, dress, and the bag," I tell them. "I'll need more holes for them. Will you guys help me pierce my ears again?" I ask them. We walk out of my house across the beach and sit above the waterline. I already have two ear piercings. One on my right and my left ear. The piercings are silver with a diamond. My mother gave them to me before she died on. Since them I have seen them as a symbol of my parents.
     "Which ear, Darya?" Lisa asks. I think about it. Which ear do I want more holes in? I ask myself.
     "I guess I'll do my right ear. It's my dominant side," I tell her. Lisa takes the blue earring and washes it in the waves. She then takes my right ear and pushes the earring through. I take a quick breath as the sharp pain spreads through my ear. When Lisa does the second piercing, it's not as painful.
"Let's go inside so Darya can check it out," Val tells us. We walk inside and head to my room. I look in my mirror and am surprised by how well Lisa has pierced my ears.
     "You did it wonderfully," I tell her. For the rest of the afternoon, we get ready for The Festival. I put on my new white and grey dress and slide on my sea glass necklace. Lisa puts on her light yellow dress and ties a gold scarf in her hair to hold her auburn locks back. Val is plainest of the three of us. He dons a light, faded red dress shirt with loose fitting jeans.
     "Are you excited, Darya?" Val asks me, excitement in his eyes. I can tell both of my friends are planning what we are going to do tonight. I can see it in their eyes.
     "Heck yeah," I tell him as Lisa lines my eyes with eyeliner. After about a half an hour it is time to go. We walk through the sitting room and I turn the door handle to the front door.
    Before I can get the door open, I hear tenor voice behind me,"Where are you going?"