I didn't know what to do. I did and I didn't want to stop all at the same time. I felt like if I let her go, she may leave as quickly as she had came to me. But also I thought that maybe she didn't want to go on with it any more.

Finally, I just stopped and looked at her. She seemed like a dream brought to life. The moment was broken by someone yelling my name

" Hey Sunshine where are ya?"

I looked up and it was Julius. " Man," I said.

" What?" Skye asked me

" Its the guys," I said getting up and ran my fingers through my hair. I approached Julius, Rev, Alan, Petey, and Lewis. " Hey guys. What's up?" I said trying to be casual.

" Maybe you should be telling us what's up with you," Petey said in a shrill voice.

Skye just happened to walk up at that time " Oh, g'day guys. I'm Skye, Skye Terriman."

" The infamous girl of the house of Terriman?" Rev said.

" Damn straight and then some. You should her them talk of me down in Canberra. There's not a man, woman, or child that can put one up on my surfing standings" She said flexing her bicep, which I must say impressed me a bit.

" But now, stuck here in good ol' Virginia without a tsunami in sight, I don't know if I can live like this," She said wiping a fake tear away.

" You mean you've done that before?" I asked a little amazed.

" Yeah, and I got a bit of a trashing from me ma, but it was all worth it," she said.

" You know I used to design surfboards back in Cali," I said trying to step up.

" Really? Cuz I used to make some for my friend Gia's mom's store. She had boards and different art work that she and I made, totally awesome." She said kinda sad like.

" Total culture shock up here huh?" Alan said.

" yeah. More than you guys can know." she answered " but no worries, aye, I wouldn't have met you fine gentlemen if I were still down in Canberra."

" So, you gonna get into this little scrimmage we got planned Sunshine?" Julius asked me

" I don't know. I mean," I said looking over at Skye

" You boys aren't gonna leave me out of the fun now are ya?" she said.

" Didn't think you knew how," I said.

" I didn't say that I did, but I'm a fast learner. Teach me," she answered, " And don't be too soft. I've risked it all for one eye jacks and voodoo dolls just to get next door."

" What?" was the answer she got from everyone

" I be willing to take any risk that's put on the table," she said, " So, show me what you American brutes can do."

"Okay," Rev said, " But its your funeral"

"okay, so, Rev and Petey over here. Skye you stay here with me and listen to what I tell you." I said.

" Always," she said as she pulled her hair back into a pony tail.

We huddled up and started planning things out. " Okay, I want you to guard Lewis ,Rev. Petey, you got Julius. Skye, Alan."

" No problem baby doll," Skye answered.

" Okay, we're on d first," Rev said.

" Alright. You know what to do babe?" I asked

" Yeah. Make Alan's pretty boy face kiss the ground?" she replied.

" Yup. I think she's got it." Petey said.

We set it up and worked through the play. It came off with out a hitch. Skye mowed down Alan easily and then blew him a kiss. She was a fast learner. I was impressed I must say.

About half way into it she looked at her watched and grimaced.

" Oh, man. I gotta go. Sorry guys," she said

" Oh, c'mon Skye. You gotta stick around," Alan said.

" Naw, I gotta go do this. Keep my spot open for next time?"

" Sure," Rev said giving her a five, " totally cool on libs."

" Libs got nothing to do with it. Only pure skills," Skye said, " Maybe I'll see you guys later tonight. You know I like to have fun on a Friday night just like any other Shelia."

" Oh, you will," I said teasingly.

" Well, yeah. That is if you don't mind. I just gotta go home and do my routine now," Skye said running her hands in my jacket.

"Okay," I said leaning my forehead on hers, " I'll see you guys later,"

" Bye," she said as she curled her fingers over her jacket sleeves in a wave good bye.

" so," I said once we were in the car, " what is so important?"

" I got my yoga to do,"

" You do yoga?"

" Yeah, so?"

" Nothing. I think its cool,"

" And I want you to try out my Skye special,"
" Skye special?"

" You'll see," She said with a smile on her face.

We pulled up to a deserted looking house. She pulled her keys from her macramé bag.

" Where's your parents?" I asked

" Well, my dad's at work, and no telling where mom is. Not that it really matters to me," she said

" Why not?"

" I can take care of myself," she said as she pushed the key into the lock, " Only.... I can't seem to get the keys to the right house. Crikey, Skyelar you've done it now,"

" So, we're locked out?" I said.

" Not exactly," she said, inching her finger in a 'come here' matter, " Follow me," she said wrinkling her nose and jumping over the side of the porch railing.

I walked around the side of the house not three steps behind her, and yet, she was no where to be found.

" Skye?" I said looking around. I soon had my eyes covered.

" You coming?" She uncovered my eyes and I turned and saw her hanging from a tree branch by her legs alone.

" Up there?"

" Yeah,"

" With you?"

"Yeah. I left my window unlocked for easy entry and exit,"

" Really? Hmm. May need to remember that,"

"C'mon now,"

She offered me a hand and helped me up. She was pretty agile and got up the tree like it was no matter. She then opened the window with a slight struggle and crawled inside.

I jumped in shortly afterwards. I found myself surrounded by sea shells, hibiscus flowers, and dolphins.

" Could you wait downstairs while I change?" she said

" Sure,"

" See you in a bit," she said as he kissed me on the cheek. I complied and found me as seat on the leather couch.

She emerged later in what looked like surf gear.

" A little far west for that aren't you?"

" Well, its what I always do it in. Its not my fault if I can't go surfing after school now. You wanna learn?"

" Some moves?"

"Yeah. Come over here," She said leading me to the back glassed in porch.

"okay," she said, " put your hands out in front of you, and tense your muscles. Okay, now keep your arms straight but bring them downward. Okay point you hands out at your hips and bring them up over your head and step forward into a lung position and clasp them your hands together tightly. This closes the energy inside." she explained as she did.

" Like this?" I said mimicking her movement.

" Exactly. Now try this," she said breaking the pose and laying on her stomach. She then bended her legs up over her back and brought her feet to a point just inches from her shoulders.

" You kidding me right?"

" Yeah, I am," She replied as she brought her legs down and pushed up on the floor with her hands and her head back in a stretch.

" How can you do that?"

" Lots of practice," She said. She soon broke her concentration due to a car door slamming shut, " Oh, shit. My mom's home."

" What's the matter?" I asked

" Just let me go up stairs and change, okay?"

" Wait, what about..."

" Just stay here" she said cutting me off.

I heard the front door unlock and slam behind her.

" Skye!" said a voice with an American style to it.

" What?" I heard Skye said.

" Who's car is that?"

" A friend. What do you care? It's not like your here any time any way,"

" What right do you think you have taking that tone with me? Huh? I asked you a question, Skyelar. Answer me. I SAID ANSWER ME!"

Skye remained silent even after the sound of an hard applied slap broke through the air, and her mother slammed off into the kitchen. Skye ran up stairs and I soon went too.

I went into the room and heard the sound of sobbing. I couldn't see her, but I followed the sound to the closet. She was laying there, like a person that had nothing in the world but the tears. Her knees curled up to her chest and the loose hair clinging to her damped face.

" Ronnie. Just go. I don't want you seeing this," she said

" No. I'm not going to go. Naw, ain't nothing gonna make me leave now,"

" Now that you feel bad for me?" she said sitting up, " Don't. That's the last thing I need,"

" Its not that. I care about you. There's something about you that just seems so wonderful. I thought that the moment I saw you. I would much prefer that I have to deal with all this then for you to worry about any of it,"

" I wouldn't" she said

" And to be honest, when I first saw you I thought that you were the prettiest thing I had ever seen. But, I never figured you would have liked me" I said.

" Why not?" She asked

"Well the majority of the girls here just like the football symbol that I've got going or just think that I'm a some stupid hippy wanna be. It just seems that you were one of those types of people that you see and maybe say hi to every so often but no matter how much you try you don't get them to really notice you"

"Nah, im usually the one jumping up and down screaming 'look at me'. I mean they would look at me as a surfer goddess, but never think that just because I got that good, that I have everything else good. Its not true. I mean its been over two years since I saw my brother and almost that long since I talked to my dad face to face," she said

" Why? Hasn't your mom let you?"

" That's not my mum. She is my real mother, but not my mum. The only one that I've got, is Beth. Lynn will never be that,"

" Were are they?"

" In Hawaii. Its my step father that wanted to be here. His stupid mother is here. I hate it here. I wish that I could have gone with Jon and dad,"

" Not all bad things have come from this though. I know that I would have rather met you than not," I said

" Yeah," she said smiling

" There's that smile," I said putting my hand on her face.

" Wait a sec. Ronnie, we finish school in two months, yes?"

" Yeah,"

" Well, how much do you miss the surf of the Pacific?"

" More than you can know,"

" You wanna taste that again?"

" You saying?"

" Why don't you come with me when I go to see my dad?"

" You kidding me?"

" No. Come with me,"

" I gotta see, but I would love to,"

I soon heard the door slam and a car start up and squeal away.

" Where is she going?" I asked.

" Hopefully away forever. No, probably off to praise my sister,"

" You have a sister too?"

" Yeah, she's five years older than me and still lives at home. I can't do anything right when she's here. Anyways, give me like 20 minutes and I'll be ready to go out,"

" But its only like, five,"

" So, I'll buy you dinner too,"

" Sounds good to me," I said with a laugh.

" Now get," She said standing up and pushing me towards the door playfully.

" Okay, okay. I'm going. Then can we have that Skye special,"

" Then you can have about whatever you want,"