Beached
By: Grace Steiner
Chapter One:
"I think since it's officially the first day of summer that we go out and swim at Angel's Beach, a boy at the surf store told me to meet him at Angel's Beach, he said it was the most beautiful" said Skye as she flipped her almost white hair back behind her and quickly tied it into a tight pony tail. "So this drama is all about a boy" I accused wiggling a finger at her and faking a frown "oh Skye I expected more from you young lady!" Skye narrowed her blue eyes at me and said "of course it is". I laughed, "Isn't there something we'd rather do? Go shopping at the cute boutique downtown or get ice cream?" Skye thought about it for a second but shook her head and drew back the curtains showing the sight outside our hotel window, "no look at how nice it is outside" Skye was right I had to admit the sun shone down on the city of Char west of Palm Beach, Florida. The sun covered the city that was very much awake people ran around in shorts and tees carrying shopping bags or riding scooters down the busy highways. "Look you don't have to swim Rose but at least come with me!" said Skye dropping into a quieter tone her eyes full of compassion but full of stifled excitement, feeling like a road block I thought about it and slowly nodded letting Skye let out a scream of delight. "We'll have to bring a few snacks, sun tan lotion, sunscreen…" Skye's voice faded from my head and I focused on my thoughts. I didn't like to go to the beach not because of the seagulls, the millions of people, or the sand getting in my bikini but the ocean itself. I had a bad experience with the ocean when I was five and Skye was six, it was the most beautiful day I think there'd been in days of rain the sun was bright in the sky like a light in darkness and there wasn't a lot of people it was a quiet day in my favorite part of the beach. My dad was inside the house, it was our families beach house right off the ocean front. Dad was preparing a meal for us since our aunt was coming over with our cousins later that day. Me and Skye were racing into the ocean, she went out so far and I tried to go out farther, we were out pretty far so far the shore looked like a scrap of sand, Skye stopped but I kept going she warned me about the drop off but I didn't believe her because the ocean was like a second home to me. All I remember was taunting her about how far I was out and how far she wasn't and then I was underwater, I remember feeling like my lungs were about to burst like a balloon that's popped at a birthday party and then I was sinking down below the surface watching the sun on the top of the water sparkling and then I was gone. I woke up in the hospital six days later with my dad and sister by my side saying I'd almost died and wasn't allowed to go near the ocean again, it was my dad's punishment for me but like I'd ever want to go back into the place where I'd almost died. "Hey Rose…Rose" said Skye snapping her fingers in front of my face trying to get my attention, I blinked dazed and looked up at my sister's annoyed face, "uh what?" I asked regaining my focus, "I asked if you wanted bubby water or lemonade to put in the cooler?" she asked looking expectant. "You can never go wrong with bubbling water, but lemonade is more suited for a beach visit" I advised as she packed 4 bottles of water and 4 bottles of lemonade into the cooler as if I hadn't spoken, when she caught me staring at her she shrugged "can never be too prepared, now will you help me pack the sandwiches!" I sighed and got to my feet this was going to be a long day!