The Blue and Silver Eyed Summoner
"Ashlynn you lazy little girl, get out of bed now!" shouted Tekku, rapping on her door with a spatula. Ashlynn mumbled and pulled her pillow over her head. It was too early for Blitzball...
"Now! Get up or I'll drag you to the beach in your underwear!" Tekku hit the door harder, and Ashlynn slowly dragged herself out of bed. She blinked through the bright sunlight that shown through her window, reflecting off the ocean water below. Some of the Blitzers were already there, and she was in no hurry to join them. After being thrown against the wall by Jakka. Sighing, she opened her drawers and picked out a red tank top and light blue board shorts. She pulled her shoulder length blonde hair back in a ponytail, and put on a little make up that wouldn't wash away in the water. She clasped a few chains around her neck, and put on her watch and rings. As she leaned closer to the mirror to put on her lip gloss, she couldn't help thinking about her heritage.
Her eyes were swirled pools of silver and light blue, and her hair and skin were typical of the Al Bhed race, but she had never seen the island or even another Al Bhed. Most of the Besaid villagers treated her as if she was from Spira, but she could see the truth in their eyes; they pitied her. A young orphan wearing a locket with her name and birthdate engraved on it who washed up on shore and taken in by the resident Blitzball expert. Tekku was the only one who was willing to take her in, no one else wanted her. Her eyes were her source of pain, she was ridiculed and belittled by her peers, and beat up by the Blitzball team.
Ashlynn looked away from the mirror quickly, and blinked away any tears that had welled up in the corners of her eyes. She grabbed her armguards and Blitzball and ran downstairs.
"It's about time, Ashlynn. Now get your ass down to the beach!" Tekku shouted, pointing towards the door. He was relatively young, almost 36 in fact. Ashlynn smiled at him, she loved to make him mad. Tekku smirked and returned to the stove. He flipped the eggs with considerable skill, not even entirely paying attention to what he was doing. Soon, breakfast was ready, and the Blitzball champ sat down with his 'daughter' to eat.
"The league starts soon, I think we'll do well," Tekku said between mouthfuls of egg and sausages. Ashlynn didn't respond, she knew she was going to have to confront Jakka again. Tekku noticed her unusual silence. "Something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine..." Ashlynn picked at her food, not making eye contact when she spoke.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Jakka would it," Tekku said coolly. "Because I can always teach him a lesson-"
"Please don't!" Ashlynn blurted out, standing up at the same time. Tekku raised an eyebrow, but refrained from pushing the subject further.
Ashlynn finished her meal and ran out the door down to the beach. Courtney, her best friend, greeted her with a smile. Courtney wasn't like the other girls, she was more... accepting. As the waves lapped against the rocks marking the high tide, practice started.
Jakka, Keepa, and Wadda glared at the two girls as they walked into the water. Courtney dove under first, closely followed by the rest of the team. Soon Tekku jumped in, and they started passing the ball around. Jakka intentionally hit Ashlynn with the Blitzball in the head, sending her reeling back. She retaliated by hitting him between the legs with a power shot, and he floated slowly to the bottom while holding himself.
"Stop it now!" Tekku shouted, and motioned for everyone to surface. As they treaded water, the last player jumped in the water and Ashlynn's heart skipped a beat.
"Gunnar..." Tekku growled a warning as the boy swam towards Ashlynn and Courtney.
Gunnar was very muscular, with abs to die for. His skin was darkly tanned and his hair was dark brown with blue highlights. He had a sweet face with gorgeous, dark mahogany eyes and a great smile. He wore a tight fitted, dark blue shirt and long board shorts that looked like they would slid off his hips. He nodded at Ashlynn, and she looked away, blushing as he brushed against her side. He joined Jakka and his lackeys, making Ashlynn wince slightly.
"As you all know, the league will start soon, and I hope you all are ready. I'm excusing practice early today, so enjoy the sun," Tekku swam back to the shore and headed into his home.
As everyone crawled out of the water, Jakka pushed Ashlynn down. She quickly got up and brushed herself off. Keepa snickered, but Gunnar didn't say anything. He stared at Ashlynn as she got her surfboard from her front porch and caught up with Courtney at the Surf Cove. He turned quickly as soon as Ashlynn gave him a sidelong glance and ran up the steps to the villa.
"You like him don't you?" Courtney teased, smiling at Ashlynn's reaction.
"N-No, of course not," Ashlynn stuttered, trying to keep from blushing.
"I know you do, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"He'll never like me..."
"But I think he does! Why else do you think he stares at you all the time?"
"He does that?" Ashlynn's jaw dropped and Courtney busted up laughing. She couldn't believe her best friend hadn't noticed.
"Of course! Haven't you noticed how he makes direct eye contact when he speaks with you? He always watches you surf, too. He thinks you're really good," Courtney put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're almost 16, it's about time you found yourself a man." Ashlynn smiled, and nodded in agreement. As the sun settled behind the far coast, the two girls headed back up the bech stairs towards the Cafe' DeCruz.
*****
"What'll it bea Ash?" Chris asked, adjusting his visor so it faced backwards. He wan't what you'd call a cooking expert, but he made a mean cup of coffee. Chris DeCruz had inherited the cafe' from his father who was lost at sea.
"I'd like my happyness dinner," Ashlynn answered, and Chris smirked.
"One cheeseburger comin' up. This wouldn't havea anything to do withe that one Blitzball boy, ya?" he crossed his arms. Courtney was too busy listening to his accent to put her two cents in. She loved the way he talked.
"No, Chris, get my dinner," Ashlynn growled, taking a sip of iced tea.
"Eh, methinks you protest too much, ya?"
"Shut up," Ashlynn retorted, and turned her back. Chris winked at Courtney and left for the kitchen. Satisfied with her small victory, Ashlynn looked out on the water. The stadium style lights reflected off the water making the beach just as popular at night. She turned to the left to look at the temple. She wasn't to big on the 'Teachings of Yevon,' but she knew enough to humor Tekku and the priests that constantly questioned her on the subject. She always recieved a few 'looks' when she entered the temple. It didn't seem a big deal to her, the last summoner was half Al Bhed, what's wrong with a full?
"Your 'I've founda my man' meal," Chris joked, and recieved a punch in the forearm from Ashlynn. He rubbed the spot and tipped her chair back just enough to scare her. Everyone laughed and enjoyed their dinner.
*****
"Ashlynn you lazy little girl, get out of bed now!" shouted Tekku, rapping on her door with a spatula. Ashlynn mumbled and pulled her pillow over her head. It was too early for Blitzball...
"Now! Get up or I'll drag you to the beach in your underwear!" Tekku hit the door harder, and Ashlynn slowly dragged herself out of bed. She blinked through the bright sunlight that shown through her window, reflecting off the ocean water below. Some of the Blitzers were already there, and she was in no hurry to join them. After being thrown against the wall by Jakka. Sighing, she opened her drawers and picked out a red tank top and light blue board shorts. She pulled her shoulder length blonde hair back in a ponytail, and put on a little make up that wouldn't wash away in the water. She clasped a few chains around her neck, and put on her watch and rings. As she leaned closer to the mirror to put on her lip gloss, she couldn't help thinking about her heritage.
Her eyes were swirled pools of silver and light blue, and her hair and skin were typical of the Al Bhed race, but she had never seen the island or even another Al Bhed. Most of the Besaid villagers treated her as if she was from Spira, but she could see the truth in their eyes; they pitied her. A young orphan wearing a locket with her name and birthdate engraved on it who washed up on shore and taken in by the resident Blitzball expert. Tekku was the only one who was willing to take her in, no one else wanted her. Her eyes were her source of pain, she was ridiculed and belittled by her peers, and beat up by the Blitzball team.
Ashlynn looked away from the mirror quickly, and blinked away any tears that had welled up in the corners of her eyes. She grabbed her armguards and Blitzball and ran downstairs.
"It's about time, Ashlynn. Now get your ass down to the beach!" Tekku shouted, pointing towards the door. He was relatively young, almost 36 in fact. Ashlynn smiled at him, she loved to make him mad. Tekku smirked and returned to the stove. He flipped the eggs with considerable skill, not even entirely paying attention to what he was doing. Soon, breakfast was ready, and the Blitzball champ sat down with his 'daughter' to eat.
"The league starts soon, I think we'll do well," Tekku said between mouthfuls of egg and sausages. Ashlynn didn't respond, she knew she was going to have to confront Jakka again. Tekku noticed her unusual silence. "Something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine..." Ashlynn picked at her food, not making eye contact when she spoke.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Jakka would it," Tekku said coolly. "Because I can always teach him a lesson-"
"Please don't!" Ashlynn blurted out, standing up at the same time. Tekku raised an eyebrow, but refrained from pushing the subject further.
Ashlynn finished her meal and ran out the door down to the beach. Courtney, her best friend, greeted her with a smile. Courtney wasn't like the other girls, she was more... accepting. As the waves lapped against the rocks marking the high tide, practice started.
Jakka, Keepa, and Wadda glared at the two girls as they walked into the water. Courtney dove under first, closely followed by the rest of the team. Soon Tekku jumped in, and they started passing the ball around. Jakka intentionally hit Ashlynn with the Blitzball in the head, sending her reeling back. She retaliated by hitting him between the legs with a power shot, and he floated slowly to the bottom while holding himself.
"Stop it now!" Tekku shouted, and motioned for everyone to surface. As they treaded water, the last player jumped in the water and Ashlynn's heart skipped a beat.
"Gunnar..." Tekku growled a warning as the boy swam towards Ashlynn and Courtney.
Gunnar was very muscular, with abs to die for. His skin was darkly tanned and his hair was dark brown with blue highlights. He had a sweet face with gorgeous, dark mahogany eyes and a great smile. He wore a tight fitted, dark blue shirt and long board shorts that looked like they would slid off his hips. He nodded at Ashlynn, and she looked away, blushing as he brushed against her side. He joined Jakka and his lackeys, making Ashlynn wince slightly.
"As you all know, the league will start soon, and I hope you all are ready. I'm excusing practice early today, so enjoy the sun," Tekku swam back to the shore and headed into his home.
As everyone crawled out of the water, Jakka pushed Ashlynn down. She quickly got up and brushed herself off. Keepa snickered, but Gunnar didn't say anything. He stared at Ashlynn as she got her surfboard from her front porch and caught up with Courtney at the Surf Cove. He turned quickly as soon as Ashlynn gave him a sidelong glance and ran up the steps to the villa.
"You like him don't you?" Courtney teased, smiling at Ashlynn's reaction.
"N-No, of course not," Ashlynn stuttered, trying to keep from blushing.
"I know you do, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
"He'll never like me..."
"But I think he does! Why else do you think he stares at you all the time?"
"He does that?" Ashlynn's jaw dropped and Courtney busted up laughing. She couldn't believe her best friend hadn't noticed.
"Of course! Haven't you noticed how he makes direct eye contact when he speaks with you? He always watches you surf, too. He thinks you're really good," Courtney put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're almost 16, it's about time you found yourself a man." Ashlynn smiled, and nodded in agreement. As the sun settled behind the far coast, the two girls headed back up the bech stairs towards the Cafe' DeCruz.
*****
"What'll it bea Ash?" Chris asked, adjusting his visor so it faced backwards. He wan't what you'd call a cooking expert, but he made a mean cup of coffee. Chris DeCruz had inherited the cafe' from his father who was lost at sea.
"I'd like my happyness dinner," Ashlynn answered, and Chris smirked.
"One cheeseburger comin' up. This wouldn't havea anything to do withe that one Blitzball boy, ya?" he crossed his arms. Courtney was too busy listening to his accent to put her two cents in. She loved the way he talked.
"No, Chris, get my dinner," Ashlynn growled, taking a sip of iced tea.
"Eh, methinks you protest too much, ya?"
"Shut up," Ashlynn retorted, and turned her back. Chris winked at Courtney and left for the kitchen. Satisfied with her small victory, Ashlynn looked out on the water. The stadium style lights reflected off the water making the beach just as popular at night. She turned to the left to look at the temple. She wasn't to big on the 'Teachings of Yevon,' but she knew enough to humor Tekku and the priests that constantly questioned her on the subject. She always recieved a few 'looks' when she entered the temple. It didn't seem a big deal to her, the last summoner was half Al Bhed, what's wrong with a full?
"Your 'I've founda my man' meal," Chris joked, and recieved a punch in the forearm from Ashlynn. He rubbed the spot and tipped her chair back just enough to scare her. Everyone laughed and enjoyed their dinner.
*****
