Chapter 7

Roland's beach party was cluttered with people. Some people crowded around the grills where they made their own food while others danced or sat around the fire. Luce and Shelby went first to the grill to put on some food for themselves. While their food cooked Myles ran by carrying a super soaker and being followed by some of the human students. They were all laughing and shooting at each other, although the team system seemed unfair. It appeared to be that it was everyone against Myles, although that didn't seem to bother him much. Luce giggled at Myles as Shelby rolled her eyes. Roland grabbed Luce and dragged her onto the dance floor. Roland was becoming Luce's guardian angel... or rather guardian demon. Either way he was always looking out for her and she was grateful for it. Luce often thought of Roland as a big brother figure in all this chaos and was happy she had this group of friends to lean on. Roland danced with Luce for about an hour before Luce became too tired to dance. Luce climbed onto the large rock formation in the center of the party and found Myles sitting up there alone.
"Hey Myles." Luce smiled as she sat down next to him.
Myles looked over at Luce with a somber face and then smiled. "Hey Luce."
Luce looked at Myles puzzlingly. "You ok?"
Myles nodded. "Just trying to find someone."
Luce nudged Myles teasingly. "After a girl huh Myles?"
Myles laughed quietly to himself with a slight smile but there was a sadness about him that worried Luce.
Luce looked at Myles as if observing him would give her the answers she needed to figure out what was really up with him tonight. Myles went from all smiles and laughs earlier with the boys to whatever he is now.
Myles continued to look up to look up at the stars and had a heavy sigh before he spoke. "There's this girl, and I'm worried about her." He began before he paused to think about what it was he really wanted to say. "I met her a long time ago." He stared and Luce couldn't take her eyes off his sad face as she started to hug her knees. "She was such a wild thing back then. Free and definitely strong." Myles's face lit up as he spoke, a spark Luce had never seen in him. "Then she went to Sword and Cross while I went here to Shoreline." Myles's spark faded and his face went back to somber. "She left Sword and Cross to come here, and I was so happy to see her again. But it seems she has so many problems that plague her. And I can't do anything to help her!" Myles formed a fist and pounded it on his knee in frustration while he began grinding his teeth.
Luce winced at Myles's frustration. "I think, she's stronger than you give her credit. I don't think she'll try to take everything on by herself either." Luce
Myles smiled uncomfortably at Luce. Luce frowned, knowing he wasn't really smiling, but trying to smile to make her not worry. "Thanks for listening Luce." Myles was sincere this time with his small smile and Luce smiled back.
Myles twitched and shivered as cold water hit the back of his neck. "Myles, stop flirting and get back to dying!" Shouted one of the human boys Myles was always hanging around. Myles laughed, grabbed his super soaker before sliding down the side of the rock while shooting with pretty accurate aim at his friends.
Luce smiled, Myles was always so happy when his friends were around. She began to wonder how it was possible to go from being so sad and frustrated to really happy or if his happiness was just a front he put on. Was Myles always so twisted up inside but chose to never let anyone see it? Maybe because Myles was really that guy who kept everything inside and was always helping others?
Roland tapped Luce's shoulder. "It's no fun to sit up her by yourself." He smiled.
Luce looked up and smiled, but Roland could see that it was hardly a genuine smile.
Roland sighed and sat next to Luce. "What's bugging ya?"
Luce laughed. "Am I really that easy to read?"
"I'm just really good." Roland shrugged. "No what's bugging ya?"
Luce sighed. "It's Myles. I'm just really confused." Luce rambled on about what Myles had just told her and how she wasn't sure how or when Myles had met her before Shoreline. Roland knew that Myles had not been talking about Luce, but another girl.
"Luce, Myles wasn't talking about you." Roland smiled.
Luce looked at Roland with a puzzling expression.
Roland pointed to a window in the girls corridor and slid off the rock. "Now come on and have fun!"
Luce smiled, but she was really frustrated, she hadn't seen exactly which room Roland had been pointing at.