I watch as the daylight crawls
Past the shadows hanging on the wall
It's been a long time since i felt the stain
Of yesterday getting in my way
I needed to get out of the house. My parents had invited Wyatt's girlfriend over for dinner, and they were fawning over her. I was expected to sit there and be polite when that's the last thing I wanted to do. Wyatt was currently recounting the lame story of how they had gotten together, and I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up, knocking over my chair. It fell to the ground with a crash. Conversation stopped. The noise reverberated in the sudden silence. Ignoring my family's wide eyes and open mouths, I ran. Leaving the chair laying on the floor, I flew towards the door, ripping it open then slamming it shut with an equally loud noise. I sprinted down the street and through the city, not slowly down until I neared my favorite beach. It was relatively early, but the beach was already abandoned. Beyond the empty expanse of sand, the water glistened in the rays of the setting sun. Sitting down on a rock, I placed a hand over my racing heart and tried to regain control of my breathing.
Wyatt was the perfect son, obviously their favorite. I was just the other one that almost didn't even happen. I know my father tries to be there for me, always telling me he loves me, but I'm not an idiot. It's not hard to see that he loves Wyatt more. And why wouldn't he? Wyatt is the twice blessed child. He has powers that I can only dream of. He can carry on the Halliwell line. Not that I couldn't or anything. There are ways. It's just not the same. Wyatt's perfect. I'm not. End of story.
Tears filled my eyes and I tried desperately to blink them back. Chris Halliwell is strong. Chris Halliwell does not cry. My attempts were in vain though, and they leaked out, tracing lines down my face. Chris Halliwell is weak.
Through the tears I watched as the horizon slowly swallowed the sun. The air grew colder almost instantly. Shivering, I rubbed my bare arms, trying to warm them. In my haste to escape, I had forgotten to grab a coat. It was getting late and I knew I should head back home, but that house was the absolute last place I wanted to be at the moment. And so, hugging my knees to my chest, I stared out at the now dark water.
Several hours passed and I still hadn't gotten up to leave. It was now close to midnight, but I didn't care. I contemplated spending the night on the beach, and wondered if a warming spell would be considered personal gain, when I heard a noise behind me. I jumped up and turned around, but I couldn't see anything in the darkness. "Who's there?" I shouted, trying to sound strong. My voice came out shaky and slightly higher than normal. My heartbeat started to quicken rapidly. I really should have gone back hours ago. It was dangerous being out here alone at night, even for a witch. "Who's there?" I shouted again and a dark figure emerged from the shadows, slowly walking towards me. "Stay where you are! Don't come any closer!" Whoever it was didn't stop. Instead, they came close enough so I could finally see them. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a boy; he looked to be about my age. From what I could see in the dim light, he had curly black hair, a skin tight black shirt, tight black pants, and black combat boots. No wonder I hadn't seen him. He blended in perfectly with the darkness.
"I'm sorry," the boy said. His voice was soft and sweet and seemed to flow out of him, hanging in the air like the water beneath our feet. "I didn't mean to frighten you. It's just this is my favorite place to come whenever I feel lonely. I was surprised to find somebody else here."
I smiled sadly. There was something about the boy that drew me in. I don't think I could've stopped myself even if I had wanted to. I took a step closer.
"I guess I feel lonely a lot. I'm here more than my own home."
Another step.
"Do you get lonely a lot?"
One more step and I was right in front of him, less than a foot away.
"I don't want to be lonely anymore."
At this point I wasn't in control of my own body. My arms reached out in front of me and wrapped themselves around the boy. As soon as my skin touched his, the rocks disappeared, as did the sand beneath my feet, the salty smell of the bay, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. Instead I was standing in a cave.
What the hell just happened? I thought. I wanted to back away. I wanted to scream. I wanted to orb home. But I couldn't. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't even move.
The boy drew back and looked into my eyes. That's when I noticed his were a burning red. "Now neither of us will be lonely anymore," he said, smiling. And then he kissed me. And my mind slipped out of my control as well.
