From the diary of Griselda Vargas-Beilschmidt

49

"Captain, I'm reporting that the ship is ready to leave the port," the big-eyebrowed teen says, bowing his head before Gabriel, who looks surprised and freaked out at first, but then changes to confident.

"Well then, let's go! I'll grab the rudder, and- do we have an anchor? Is it down? No? Alright, one task less. George, you're my right-hand-man from now on," George bows upon hearing this, "get the sails ready to catch some good wind!" He marches to the rudder while George goes on the opposite side to do as told. Gabi's cute when he's all leader-y.

Soon, soon the wind fills the sails, and Gabi maneuvers Spamano from the cove.

Me, Ash and Fred just stare at the smooth work of the two.

"Whoa," Ash breaths out upon seeing the cove dissappearing in the distance. I couldn't say it better.

Blue. All around us. The sea, the sky. I remember when I heard and saw the sea for the first time..

"Griselda! Wait for me!" Vati yelled at me, excitedly running to the water, hot sand sticking on my bare feet. I didn't want to wait for anyone. Then, almost there, I tripped and fell, salty water getting in my mouth. And I cried. A lot, I'll admit.

"See, that's why you shouldn't run like that and wait for me!" Vati sighed. It wasn't angry, though, only caring. Vati picked me up and dusted the sand off of my dress.

Second time was better. The same week, a day later. First, Vati would apply way too much sunscreen, especially on my face and shoulders, before he even allowed me to go dip a bit.

"But Vaaaaaaaatiiii! Gabi doesen't do this!!"

"Well then he's a big dummkopf."

Turned out that no, he's just kind of used to it to some extent.

Then I finally got to wash my feet at least a little bit, holding Vati's and Papa's hands. It was calm, just the three of us and the sparkling waves that caressed our feet...

And then a seagull shit (shat?!?? Is that the past tense??) on our bag so we had to go back.

Seagulls are a pain. Other time, one even stole my ice cream!! I didn't cry, I chased after him and shouted. Gabi laughed. Idiot...

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Fred declares, watching all of it. "I can definitely understand why sailors said they're married to the ocean."

"Mhm," Ashleigh replies, on a loss of words for once, and I can't really blame her. We're so captivated we don't notice George walking to us until he's right behind me.

"Ocean is a very moody wife, though," he says and I turn around. His face is dreamy, lost in a far off places. Wow, I don't think I've seen this expression on him... ever.

"Moodier than girls?" Fred grins, Ash cries out a "Hey!" and George chuckles softly.

Suddenly his eyes snap open and they're glowing. He looks forward, and keeps staring there for a second, before the American asks "Georgie? Is there something wrong?" in a surprisingly sweet tone. Today is full of surprises.

The channel merely sighs and shakes his head. "I apologize, it's probably nothing. I just-" he narrows his eyes at the spot from earlier "I felt some kind of energy from there... but, again, it's probably nothing and I'm overreacting. I'll go check the-" He doesen't finish, as Ashleigh grabs him by the arm.

"I need a good picture! Let's do the Titanic thing!" George blinks.

"But...I am half french, and I don't want to be painted..."

Fred begins to laugh maniacally, Ashleigh blushes hard. I was never allowed to watch Titanic, so I'm left out.

"N-not that thing! The 'Jack, I'm flying!' thing!" Ash clarifies, waving her hands around furiously.

"Alright, if you want," he shrugs and takes Ash's hand. Together they run off to get some good places to pose, and Fred trails behind them.

"They'll need someone to actually take the picture. Dummkopfs, alright. Gris, why don't you go see if Gabriel doesen't need help?" he suggests to me.

"Oki!" I nod, skipping to the other side.

Gabriel looks so... himself, standing there, observing the horizon. He looks... more confident, braver, bolder.... gah, I ran out of words I can think of in english!

"Ciao, Gabi."

"Ciao, Gris," he says back but doesen't look at me.

"Do you need any help?"

"No thanks."

We watch the endless blue silently for a few heartbeats.

That reminds me of when we were stargazing, laying on our backs and looking up. Gabi named a few constellations.

"And there's the Big Tomato!" he pointed out somewhere on the sky.

"Really? There is?" I asked incredulously, laying next to him under the dark, starry sky.

"Of course there hecking is!" he replied angrily. "Mama said so!"

"Oh, okay then." If Uncle Spain said so...

"Good wind," Gabe comments. After a while "Where are the idiots?"

"Taking pictures, mentioned something about Titanic," I shrug. Gabriel laughs.

"Spamano won't sink, I promise," he says.

"Pinky promise?" I extend my pinky finger for him to take, and he does.

"Pinky promise, Gris. Oh SHIT!" he yelled as a seagull fries over and sits down on the railing. "GET THE FUCK OFF!"

The seagull makes a seagull sound and moves two steps to the left.

"If you steal MY food, I'll kill you, bastard," Gabe warns, making a 'I'm watching you' gesture.

The bird makes itself comfortable and it looks like he's having fun.

Goddamn seagulls.