. Storm


The others are watching the ocean, she's certain. The beach is such a cold place tonight. The sand is cool and looks purple. The water is a very deep black. Pitch black, she thinks. There are spots of reflection - the flashes of lightning that she almost expects to be the moon. But there is no moon; rather, she will never see it. She looks to the reflections after lightning and pretends that, for just a split second, the light on the ocean is from the moon.

But the rest of the time, she watches the sky. It's dark. Thunder and lightning are separated - how many seconds between them? Olette doesn't care to count the miles, but Pence does and reports back - shouting to be heard over the wind. It's not fierce per-se, but it is a strong wind. Mixed with rain and perhaps very weak hail, it pounds against the three - leaving exposed skin red and burning from pressure.

This is the first time Olette can remember seeing darkness - true darkness. There's closing the blinds and turning off the lights darkness, but this is real. It's beautiful. But at the same time, just like in her room, behind the dark clouds - thick curtains - so tightly woven together, there is a sunset. And no matter how long it takes for the clouds to part, there will be a sunset waiting.

Hayner and Seifer are bickering, though she can hardly hear them over the wind and the water. She wonders, dully, why Seifer and his group have come with. How they knew they would be there. She doesn't mind, particularly, because they've all been feeling sort of empty lately. As though something has disappeared - though none of the six can remember what it was to begin with. They've been drifting together. Clouds from so far across the world can always float far enough to reach each other.

Lately, Olette spends time with Fuu. They get along quite well - Fuu is responsible, but at the same time, somewhat violent and reminiscent of the often-busy Hayner. Who is busy with Seifer - they keep each other distracted. They shout at each other and start fighting in the middle of the street - they've even been suspended for fighting at school. Equally, Rai and Pence seem to get along fairly well. Pence is both amused with Rai's idiocy, and impressed by his personality.

When all six are together, it seems natural. Through the arguing and the stories and the silences, it all fits. But there's a gap between the original groups of three. One person's size. Like they all expect a final person to walk up and fill the void. Like someone had been there until now.

But no one has been there.


Pastel Ink