Helloooo, everybody! Raptor2216 here. For all my readers I have now, I hope you have enjoyed my stories so far. And for all of my current readers, and for all the readers I may soon get, I have come forth with a brand new story.
It has finally come. My first real, non-crossover fanfiction! (I am not counting the Russian Hunger Games, since that is probably not continuing)
This is a Dolphin Tale 3 type fanfiction. The intro chapter will take place right after Sawyer's return from SEA Semester. Then, it will cut to Sawyer's senior year of high school.
This will actually be at least 3 stories; this one, and two sequels. I originally planned for only two stories. But my plan for the sequel made it too long. I plan to cut this off just after Sawyer and Hazel go off to college, and have the sequel start up a few months later.
As of now, my chapter plan calls for this to be 52 chapters. That includes an epilogue chapter to lead into the second story.
First off, to clarify a few things. Susie will not be in this fanfiction. I'll reveal the backstory for that in the second chapter. I will instead have another girl fill that love antagonist role to Hazel. Secondly, there will be Kyle-Sandra in this. Third, there will be no Lorraine-Clay. Fourth, the other permanent resident dolphin at the real CMA, Nicholas, will show up in this. And fifth, Sawyer and Hazel will get married in the sequel.
Also to add in this last thing: a major part of the second half of this story and the sequel will be the US Navy, since I am a bit of a military nerd. The Navy as a body will show up a few times, with one ship in particular. And one Navy officer will play a major role in the later half of this story, and the whole of the sequel. (Just a hint. The Navy and this officer may have something to do with Nicholas).
I know this has been a lengthy intro, so let's get going. Here's chapter 1.
Chapter 1- Sawyer Comes Home
The sun shone bright over Tampa on a cool December afternoon. It was December 23rd. Only two days until Christmas.
In the skies over Tampa, a United Airlines Boeing 787, flight number 735, coming from Boston after a stop in Washington DC, was descending towards the Tampa International Airport. At 2:43 PM, Flight 735 touched down on the runway. At 2:50, the big 787 pulled up to its gate, and the passengers began to disembark only a few minutes later.
As passengers from the flight continued to stream out of the jetway, Sawyer Nelson exited to the jetway into the terminal. He smiled brightly. After being at sea for SEA Semester for the past three months, during which he had turned 15, he was finally home in Tampa.
He turned around to see his cousin Kyle coming off the jetway, with a look of satisfaction on his face. Sawyer felt the same way. His first ride on a 787 had been a very pleasant one.
Kyle smiled at his younger cousin. "Hey, Sawyer. There you are. come on. We'd better head down to the baggage claim."
As the two of them headed for baggage claim, Sawyer thought about the trip. SEA Semester had been amazing; a real learning experience for him. But, at last he was back, and just in time for Christmas.
As Sawyer reached the bottom of the escalator to baggage claim and stepped away, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw it was Kyle.
"Well, bud, we're finally home," said Kyle. "Yeah. I know. It felt like forever that I was gone," replied Sawyer.
"So, are you excited to see Winter and Hope? Your mom? Dr. Clay? A certain blond haired girl with freckles?" Kyle ended with a grin.
Sawyer smiled until Kyle said that last one. He instantly felt himself go a little bit red, and his smile morphed into a look of surprise. "What? What are you talking about?"
Kyle grinned even more. "Ooh. Getting a little flustered, are we?"
Sawyer felt himself getting more red, and a feeling of embarrassment began to grow in him. He struggled to contain himself, and managed to put on a calm face. "Yes. I am excited to see Hazel, just like everyone else."
Kyle's grin grew even bigger and more mischievous, and Sawyer knew that Kyle didn't believe him. Luckily, his cousin didn't press the subject.
Sawyer looked away from Kyle. In truth, he had thought about Hazel a lot on his trip, and he had missed her a lot. But he didn't want to admit it.
Kyle broke the silence. "Let's go find our carousel. The bags shouldn't be too much longer." Sawyer nodded, and the two headed to the carousels.
After looking for a minute, they found a carousel with "UA 735" on its display screen. They stood patiently, and didn't have to wait for more than 4 minutes before the carousel began to move and the bags started coming up the chute and onto the carousel.
Kyle and Sawyer spread out a little bit, looking for their bags. They didn't take long. It only took a few minutes for Kyle to get both of his suitcases, and Sawyer to find one of his.
As Sawyer found his second suitcase and lifted it off the carousel, he heard a familiar, feminine voice call out, "Sawyer! Kyle!"
Sawyer turned around to see his mom coming towards him and Kyle. Sawyer smiled brightly and called back, "Mom!"
He rushed to meet her. As they reached each other, Sawyer dropped his suitcases and threw his arms around his mom.
"Oh, Sawyer, you're home," said Lorraine, tears starting to well up. "I missed you, mom," said Sawyer. "I missed you too, sweetheart," said Lorraine.
They stayed in their embrace for a few more moments, then they separated. Lorraine then greeted Kyle and gave him a hug too. As they separated, Lorraine smiled and said, "Well, grab your bags and let's get going."
Sawyer and Kyle grabbed their bags and followed Lorraine out of the terminal and towards the parking lot. Once they got there, they found the car, Sawyer and Kyle piled their bags into the car, then all three of them hopped in for the ride home.
When they reached Kyle's parents' house, Lorraine stopped and let Kyle out so that he could go put his bags away.
While Kyle was in the house, Lorraine turned to Sawyer. "Once he gets back out here, we'll head over to the aquarium. Did you miss everyone there?"
"Yes, of course," said Sawyer. "Anyone in particular?" his mom asked curiously.
Sawyer almost started to say "Winter", but stopped himself. He had missed Winter terribly, but he felt his mom was trying to get him to admit something more. SO he didn't say anything. Lorraine gave a sly grin before she changed the subject. "Did you get to do your Christmas shopping on your trip? If not, I can take you tonight."
Sawyer responded, "Don't worry mom. I took care of it when I was in Boston." He had actually gotten back to Boston three days earlier, and had stayed with Kyle there until their flight today.
Kyle returned from the house a minute later. He hopped in the car, Lorraine started the car back up, and they took off for Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Hazel smiled as she walked up to the dolphin pool. Winter and Hope came up to the surface, whistling and clicking.
"Hey, girls," she said, "Can you believe it? Sawyer's coming home today. He's been gone for so long. Are you excited?" Her question was met with more whistling and clicking.
Hazel walked around to the edge of the pool, with no railing in front of her. She looked up at the sky. She had been waiting for Sawyer to come home. She had missed him a lot. And while he was gone, she had started to realize that maybe she felt more for him than just a friend.
All of a sudden, Winter began to whistle. Hazel looked down at her. She quickly recognized the familiar whistle. Tweety Bird. Then, before she could do anything, something pushed her from behind, and she fell into the pool.
She quickly surfaced and turned to look at the culprit. Right behind where she had been standing was Sawyer, laughing.
"Sawyer! You're back!" said Hazel. Then, she said in a slightly irritated voice, "There wasn't a better way to say hello than shoving me in the pool?" "Nope," responded Sawyer, still laughing.
Hazel shook her head, then swam over the other end of the pool and got out. Sawyer came over to meet her. He was still several steps away when she ran at him and threw her arms around him.
"Oh, Sawyer, it's so good to have you back. I missed you a lot," she said. Then she pulled back and added with a smile, "And so did Winter!"
Sawyer smiled. "I missed you guys too. I'm glad to be back. But, I think I'd better go say hi to everyone else." Together, he and Hazel headed down to the main floor.
Everyone at the aquarium was thrilled to see Sawyer. They told him how much they had all missed him, and gave him a couple of welcome home presents.
After a few hours, Sawyer went home with his mom and spent the rest of the day with her, mainly by finishing putting up the last of their Christmas decorations.
Two days later, Sawyer and his mom celebrated Christmas with the crew at CMA. Sawyer loved the scrapbook Hazel gave him of his years at CMA. Hazel loved the necklace with the dolphin charm that Sawyer got her.
As they had Christmas dinner together, Sawyer cast his thoughts forward to his future. He was finally in high school. It wouldn't be long before he would head off to college. He thought about how hectic the next few years were going to be, but couldn't wait to see what was going to happen in his life.
Little did he know that, before too long, his life was going to change a lot, more than he ever thought.
And, that's the end. I know this is probably a poor ending, and probably not the best overall chapter, but I just wanted to do this as an intro.
Next chapter will begin in Sawyer's senior year of high school. I plan on Bethany Hamilton returning sometime in the next few chapters, and making regular appearances from time to time.
Also, Sawyer and Hazel will not actually get together for some time. Well past the halfway point of the story.
And, for those who are wondering, the Navy will not appear for a while. I can guarantee that up to Chapter 15 will be Navy-free.
Well, I hope this wasn't too bad of a chapter. Please, please review and give me advice and ideas you'd like to see happen in the story. And I hope to have Chapter 2 up before too long.
Raptor2216 out.