Sweet Echo Song

Chapter 1

Summer 2010
    What is the meaning of love?  I think quietly to myself while pondering on the rock that is on the coast of the grainy, sandy beach; gazing at what I call my home since the day I was born into this unknown and human world; for the past sixty-five years. To others I look like a young eighteen year old girl, but deep down inside only my fellow echos know my true age.
    Seeing Fiona and Rachel come towards me, giggling at some cute college boy that they found attractive. Fiona has her clear freckled fair skin,her hazel eyes which are perfectly framed by her fiery red hair. Meanwhile Rachel's skin was a sweet chocolate color, her hair was a similar hue of brown and her eyes are a juniper green.
"Hey Amanda, ready for the big day?" Fiona says while I had completely forgot today was  the echoing day.
     The ocean waves  brushing  over my feet, giving me a cool feeling. "Oh!" While my voice starts to crack up, at the mentioning of the  time of month. "I hate dragging innocent men to their death. Don't you guys find it a little wrong?" I question at the both of them.
         The echoing is my least favorite day of the month. So far I'm the only echo who brought the least to their death, and I regret the first one, and every single one that I ever echoed. Standing up onto the rock I almost fell off. Fiona and Rachel both grab my hands, and pulls me upward. Their hands are soft, softer than a fresh new blanket.
        "Well it was sad for me at first, but then I became used to it." Rachel says while we walk towards the boardwalk. "Besides, you know how your mother will react if all of a sudden we stop." Rachel turns and grabs a hold of my arms.
         Fidgeting my arms away from Rachel, "Listen, I don't want to be an echo I want to live a normal life! I don't care what mother thinks right now." I bellow out while both Rachel and Fionas' faces looked stun.

̈ ̈Amanda!̈ Fiona says while I flip my wavy honey blonde hair to the side. ¨How could you say that!" I just shrug my shoulders.
    Fiona continues, while I peek over her shoulder and I see a stud like guy into the distance with dark short jet black hair, his eyes stand out and I can see his grey eyes, they're my favorite part about him. Finally, I can see he's wearing a black shirt which reads Rise up! In white lettering surrounded by a red  border, with a pair of maroon  swim trunks, and to top it off black flip flops.
          I want to talk to him, but my voice is deadly to him.  ¨I have to go.¨ I say to her without giving her a chance to respond. Moving across to the other side of the boardwalk to write to him, my plastic rubber flip-flop flapping against the soles of my feet.
Quickly, I move stuff around through my bag to find something to write on. A-ha! I found a puppy and kitten notebook and open to the first blank page. I tap on his shoulder with the first words on the paper. He's chatting with his friends. Standing next to him makes my stomach swirl up into a knot; while my heart beats like the speed of lightning.
I feel a bump in my shoulder ̈Hello? Do I know you?" He says while turning  towards me and I quickly get up trying not to have my voice break free. Shaking my head no as I fumble for my notebook. "Oh, I'm Landon by the way. What's your name?" Landon says and picks up my bag off the ground.
I notice my notebook in my bag and I quickly rustle the pages to write my name. While I scribble my name onto those smooth page, with its rough edges. Lifting up the paper in order for Landon to see, my smile beams bright from ear to ear.
"Amanda?" He says while he bites his lips, and brushes his hair with his hand I nod my head several times in response. "Huh, that's actually a really pretty name." He says while crossing his arms,
I feel like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. When I was younger, I watched it so many times at my temporary home with Fiona and Rachel. I relate to Ariel on a personal level knowing that we have so much in common, but so little at the same time. For an example, Ariel and I have a parent living in the ocean. Ariel wanted a Prince, and I want one too, and finally we both want something more out of life.
Landons' friends smile at me and do the classic bro hug, and then going their separate ways. Landon nods his head, his friends start to leave. "So, I know we just met, but do you want to  come and get some burgers and shakes." He says while I think I know where this is going, "Do you want to come along?"
I nod my head rapidly, yes a thousand times yes. I write in the notebook, I say Yes, I would love that! 
His smile glistens at the thought of reading the note. I feel my face turn hot all of a sudden. Having this burning, nervous going on inside me, so I push up the notebook to hide my embarrassment on my face.
"Great! See you at five." Landon says as I realize this is the first guy I have ever talked to that's not an Echo. Waving bye to Landon, smiling from ear to ear. He walks over towards his friends, while looking mellow and sad. Meanwhile I keep looking down at the piece of paper that he gave me with the address on it.
         I think I was too focused on Landon to notice what else was going on around my surroundings. Feeling a jolt from my shoulders and realizing it's just Rachel. "That's a cutie." She says while seeing her grin shine from her strawberry red lipstick. "How long do you think this one will last, Rachel?" Glancing at Fiona who was hanging on my shoulder. Rolling my eyes, they always do this every young single guy I've dated they wonder how long will it be until I speak and ruin everything.
      "I give her three weeks, that seems to be the norm." Rachel says as they act like they're in the 1980's still. They're chewing their gum loudly like Cher from the hit movie Clueless.
        Shoving them both with my fists, I move away from them faster than I ever walked in my entire life.
As I rush home to prepare for the date with Landon, I keep looking back at the first boy I ever dated.
The year was 1956, when I was only the age of ten.
    

       Aw where has time past by.