Sunset Legend

• 29 •

We slept clear through the day and the next night, waking up to the sound of birds chirping. I yawned, stretching my stiff arms above me. Jaxon's arms tightened around me as I went to stretch my legs. His head was resting on my chest, his feet tangled through with mine.
"I have to stretch. I feel like a log," I said. He chuckled, his breath hitting the thin orange nightgown I changed into.
"You did sleep for thirty some hours." He leaned back, his eyes never leaving mine as I flicked his nose.
"Last time I checked, you did to." He only stuck his tongue out at me in response. I looked at the hair that was sticking wildly in all directions on top his head.
"Do you like my hair longer?" He asked, ruffling it.
"Yes," I said, maybe a little too fast. An eyebrow popped up and I laughed. He didn't respond again, but wiggled closer to me until his lips were moving with mine. It was like a knee jerk reaction to have my fingers running through his hair. One hand held my waist as the other rested on my thigh.
We were lost in each other, in the best way possible.
"If this is how every morning starts now, I just may be the happiest man alive," Jaxon mumbled into my chest. I laughed, pushing him away and pulling my night gown up.
The door swung open after a soft knock. I sat up to see Summer standing with a shy smile on her lips.
"Good morning my sleeping beauties."
"I'm naked," Jaxon said from underneath the blanket.
"Ew," Summer said, pointing a finger to his side of the bed. I chuckled. She held up a bottle of hair dye and wiggled it.
"Please," I said, launching myself out of the bed without a second thought.
Jaxon's head popped out from underneath the blanket. "Oh good. I was tired of looking at the white hair."
Summer did it for me as she hurled a pillow at his head. We walked into the bathroom together, laughing.
I sat down in the chair that was left from when my hair was died white. Summer set everything up, humming to herself as she did.
"How's everyone doing here?" I asked as she started to stroke my hair with the same dark, dried red color.
"Much better now you guys are home. I swear Sol was ready to drive there and destroy that castle himself the second day you were there."
I chuckled. "He could do it."
I felt a few more strokes against my scalp.
"Oh yeah, for sure." As the process went on, I heard the ruffling of Jaxon getting ready in the room. "Can I ask what it was like?" Summer asked as she sat on the tub across from me as my dye did its magic.
"What?" I asked.
She twirled her hands in her lap. "Losing him."
I sucked in air, feeling my chest rise to its full capacity. "Terrifying. I watched him crumble. I still don't know from what, but he just fell. I saw his chest stop moving. He was dead." I felt my eyebrow twitch as I fought to not relive the moment. "He had risked so much for me. He had done so much for me that I didn't deserve. He was willing to die for me and he did. I would of given him my goddamn heart to live if that's what it would of took."
Summer's lip was trembling. "Love is such a powerful thing." I nodded. "Does he know? That you would of ended yours for him?" I shook my head no. She blew a long breath of air out.
"Enough of that. I'm finally free. It's time to be happy." She nodded, a little too fast to be convincing, but still a nod.
An hour later I was smiling at my reflection. I stood in a beautiful orange lacy romper, my dark red hair spilling down my back in fat curls. My golden eyes glowing against the make up on my face.
I skipped down the hall, taking the steps two at a time before I hit the ground floor. My heart warmed at the familiar sight of the living room. All the colors making it easy to breathe.
"Ready for the best day of your life?" Ray popped up in front of me.

I squealed as the wave crashed against my shin, almost knocking me over if it wasn't for Sol's steadying grip on my shoulder. The wind from the ocean blew my hair behind me, the sun kissed my cheeks with heat.
Sol was beaming down at me as I laughed as another wave crashed against us. "Do you remember the night we were at restaurant above?" I nodded, splashing my feet in the water.
"I cried like a baby," I said.
Sol nodded. "True, but you told me you never been to the beach or water before. I told everyone that we should bring you here today." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. I had to stand on my tip toes to do it.
"You are amazing." I fell back onto the heels of my foot.
"I know," he said. I laughed, going to smack his shoulder but he was already running across the sand.
"Have you ever caught a seashell before?" Ray asked, appearing next to me. I shook my head no. I held my hand over my mouth as he ran into a wave before disappearing. When the wave was sucked back into the ocean, he stood before me. His clothes were drenched, stuck to his body as he smiled. He held a shell up for me to see. I gasped, grabbing the shell and turning it under the sun. It was beautiful. The base was a cream color with ripples of purple throughout it.
"They are beautiful," I said.
"Would you like to go for a dip?" Ray asked, an evil smirk on his lips.
"Oh absolutely not," I said, starting to turn away.
"Oh absolutely!" Summer yelled, running into the way and tackling me down into the wave with her. I came up laughing, swatting my hands into the water where she once was. She was swimming over to Ray, the sun glowing against her face.
"Look at you morons," Sol laughed from where he stood in the foot deep spot.
"And HIKE!" Jaxon yelled from the sand, charging towards Sol. He erupted with laughter as Jaxon charged him into the water too.
We all stood in the waves, our clothes close to our bodies under the warm sun. I was free. Free with a blank journey ahead of me. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted these laughs with me every step of the way.