Oceans (e.v.)

chapter three

"I'm a rock star now Chris, this means I can fly back to San Diego." Eddie growled. Chris had insisted that they drive 1,255.2 miles all the way back to their home.

"19 hours Chris!" Eddie whined.

"You wanted to go home, you should be grateful."

Eddie was grateful, he was overflowing with thanks. He couldn't wait to be back in his own bed, to have his own cereal, to just be normal again. He never wanted this life, he never wanted to be dragged out of his house and to be pushed in front of thousands of kids. All he wanted to do is show others his love of music. He never wanted the record deals, the tour dates, or the merchandise stores. He was only in it for the music. He did like the effect his music had on the kids though, the way they could connect to it, and to him.

A bump in the road pulled Eddie out of his deep thought.

"Do you think you'll be better when we get home?" Chris asked, his eyes glued to the road.

"I don't know, I hope so. But everything's changed now, nothing's the same. I'd rather die than have to sign another blonde chick's boobs."

Chris let out a deep laugh.

"There's some real kids though. Some who aren't in it just for your face. Some are in it for the music, and they'd ride the train no matter where it goes."

Chris was always right, and he always saw the light hidden in a dark room.

The rest of the ride was silent, 17 hours of silence. Eddie stared out the window, deep in thought. He watched cars pass, he watched rolling hills and farmers fields pass with every passing minute. They passed borders of towns and states, changing scenery let him know he was closer to his home. The first glimpse of the sea brought a tear to Eddie's eye. The sun was slowly setting and he watched the waves come in and out, synchronized with his slow breathing. Eddie finally felt peaceful for the first time since he had landed in Seattle. He felt his eyes get heavier and heavier with each wave hitting the rocky shores of California.

8:00 a.m. Next Morning 

"Wake up sleepyhead!" Chris smiled, shaking his sleeping friend awake. 

"Fuckin' hate when you wake me up you asshole..." Eddie mumbled under his breath. 

Chris smiled and opened Eddie's car door. Eddie's eyes widened, light entering them and his own apartment coming into view. A smile spread across his lips and he leaped out of the car and ran up to the door. 

"Slow down little guy, it's not like we just went to Disneyland!" Chris yelled and jogged after Eddie. 

Eddie raced up the stairs to his apartment and opened the door with haste. The door swung open and his own apartment was finally opened. Everything was just as they had left it, all the clothes and trash thrown around. They lived like teenaged boys, no rules and definitely no cleaning. 

Eddie felt no need to tidy up either, he had no one to do it for. He suddenly felt very alone, he had been surrounded by screaming girls for so long he didn't realize he didn't have his own girl. For a while, it didn't bother him. But every boy needs a girl. 

After a deep sleep, Eddie awoke early in the morning. He pulled his hair back into a backwards cap and puts on swimming shorts and a 'Butthole Surfers' tee-shirt. 

Eddie almost leap for joy as he left his apartment. He could see the ocean from his room, but to be even closer to it made him ecstatic. The sun hadn't even rose yet when he ran up the beach, clutching his surf board to his side. A smile spreads across his lips as wave lightly lap against his toes. He takes a deep breath and walks deeper until he his waist deep. He catches a wave or two, but is distracted when he sees another figure in the water. He comes closer to it, fearful at first but then relaxing when he sees it is a human. He walks even closer, seeing it is a girl. The sun shines on her skin as the sea water beads up on it. She lays on a boogie board, most of her body out of the water. Her hair is wet and sticks to her skin. The sun has only barely risen by now, and Eddie just stands in the water, wave after wave crashes over him as he stares at the girl. She catches a wave and is carried gracefully to the shore. Eddie finally pulls himself out of his trance and follows her back out to the water. 

"Are you a mermaid?" Eddie says, his eyes glued to her. 

"What?" Her voice is soft and sweet, a beautiful contrast to his deep and gravely one. 

"Are. You. A. Mermaid?" Eddie repeats. 

"What? No. Why?" She pushes the hair out of her face and walks closer to Eddie. He can now see that she is a little shorter than him, and her eyes and big and brown, matching her hair. She smiles and Eddie can almost feel the heavens open up. 

"You look like you could have come from the most beautiful of oceans." Eddie slurs, his jaw almost touching the ground as she stares back at him. 

"Yeah right." She laughs, turning around and walking deeper into the water. Eddie chase after her. 

"I'm not joking! You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. You must have come from the sea foam." Eddie can barely breathe as he fears he may never see her again. 

"So, daughter of  Poseidon...What are you doing here so early?" 

"I could ask the same of you." She pulls her board close to her, walking to the shore. 

"I've been away, and I just wanted to see the ocean again, I couldn't sleep without dreaming of the waves." 

She smiles, a real and genuine smile. She picks up her towel and wraps it around herself. 

"Metina." 

"What?" 

"That's my name, Metina." Her lips part slightly, her breathing synchronized with the waves. 

"I know who you are. Eddie." Eddie shivers as his own name rolls off her beautiful lips. 

He is at first confused, but he then remembers that he can't go anywhere without being recognized. But she isn't freaking out, she's treating him like a person. 

"Your face is all over MTV." She laughs, nothing like Eddie has heard in weeks. 

"Yeah, I'm starting to get sick of it." 

"I wouldn't be. I think I'd be a good opportunity to get my ideas out, people listen to you when they know who you are." 

She is real, she's exactly when Chris was talking about, and Eddie had fallen for her, harder than he had fallen for any girl ever before. He couldn't let her go.