I threw on some fresh clothes: a black tank top with a white paint design splattered on it, black shorts, and some black flip flops. I naturally threw on my white hat that shaded some of my bruises. If I kept my head down, it could help hide it. I hate people who ask, because it's my pain. Pain isn't something everyone should go through, yet I do. So why should they be weighed with my pain? They shouldn't and they won't. So I ran downstairs after combing out some knots and ran to the beach. It's a good thing we don't live far from the beach.

I saw Zane sitting with Mom and David. He grinned at me when I got there. It was easy to tell us from all the Indians. They had darker skin and dark eyes while we had light skin and medium eyes. Plus they were huge. Zane was like a little dwarf. I ran up to him giggling. "You look like a dwarf!"

He glared at me. "So what are you?"

I thought on it. "Umm, isn't it obvious? I'm a..." Thinking, thinking, come on brain! Oh, I got it! "I'm an evil fairy that torments you!" I said happily.

"You're doing a good job." He mumbled. I grinned at him and was about to respond when a man grinned and said,

"TIME TO EAT!" He boomed, and then he ran for the food. I shrugged. I wasn't hungry, and I don't usually eat much. I sat there while Zane and Mom went to get food. David stayed. I twitched when he looked at me.

"So, brat, what's your excuse?" He sneered; glad he was causing me pain.

"What excuse? Me and Zane were wrestling, and it went too far." I lied. He nodded and walked off. I stood and went on a walk to the ocean, where no one would follow me. I hate it when people do; it annoys me. Yes, many things annoy me. But I am a teen, and sometimes I'm just... unreasonable. I can't help it. Anyway, I walked off to the ocean. It was beautiful, a dark blue with white foam. I smiled slightly, though it hurt my eye. I walked slowly over, trying not to trip. I'm not that clumsy, but I'm not perfect either.

The waves pounded the shore with no mercy. I sometimes wonder, what will happen if the waves quit coming? I don't even know the answer, but it makes me wonder. What would happen? Columbus wouldn't discover America, but some man with bravery and camels galore would. It'd all be desert, and the human race would die within a few generations if lucky. I sometimes think the sea is what's left of my heart, and sometimes, I wonder if it's going to leave too.

This deep thinking made me pay no attention to the footsteps behind me. "Hey, aren't you the new family's kid?" A deep, joking voice said.

I whipped around, wondering who this person was. He was about 15 from the looks of it, and he was like the others. Dark skin, dark eyes, huge, but this was... different, somehow. He seemed like the joker, someone happy until he died. I usually hated these people, but this guy looked so sweet I had to answer him. "Yeah. I'm Zoe." I said, smiling hesitantly. He looked into my eyes, probing, but then his mouth dropped open. He was in awe... of what? He was only looking at me, some kid that was new, yet he looked like I was his best friend. "What's your name?" I asked.

He blinked several times and answered, "Seth Clearwater. I, uh, live up the road. Can I sit with you?" I nodded and he walked over. It was awkward. I hate awkward silence! I was about to break it when he decided to. Huh, he's kinda like me, maybe. "So, what's your favorite color?"

I grinned. "Black, blue, green, red, violet, silver, and that concludes my list of favorite colors." He looked at me. "Okay! My favorite of all time is ocean blue."

"Mine's forest green. After all, that's the main color here, and it's a pretty color." I couldn't help it; I burst out laughing. He looked hurt. "What?"

"You...said... it was pretty! A guy... said a color is pretty... and that's why it's their favorite!" I managed. He grinned, all traces of hurt gone. He even laughed with me.

"Well, it is!" He chuckled. I grinned at him. "Okay, on with the questions." I almost groaned. I hate questions. "What's your favorite flower?"

I glanced at him. Was he serious? No guy ever asks me that. "Uum, the rose I guess." He raised an eyebrow.

"That's so cliché." He said, shrugging.

"I'm not cliché. Besides, it's red, and red was one of my favorite colors! Plus it's like guys. They may seem perfect, but you've got to watch the thorns." I finished, slightly sad.

"Yeah, but some people have more thorns than others." He mumbled.

"I know. Like some are perverts, mean, aggressive, rude, don't care, won't let you see your friends, hurts you more than helps..." I trailed off, looking at the ground. "And some are superficial. Can't forget that."

"You seem to have experience." He noted. Was it just me, or did he sound kinda... angry?

I barked a harsh laugh. "No, I don't do it, I watch it. I kinda believe in true love, but I don't think it lasts. I wish it did."

Seth grinned at me, ruining the sad moment. I made a mental note to thank him for it. "You know, it can. If you both want it to, it can." I was about to argue. "Don't argue. It won't do any good when the person you're arguing with is as stubborn as you."

"I'm more stubborn so I win." I mumbled, pouting slightly. His grin only grew larger.