Ruby Cast~Part 1

8-Forget Me Not & Cookies

"We're walking hand in hand, we'll walk this way forever. Our eyes have risen to the water's edge watching with the tides. The stars have fallen to another day and the sun warms our path to. Find the reasons leave us far behind in our strange world. It's a strange world. It's a very strange world that leaves me. Holding on to nothing when there's nothing left to lose." Strange World-Sarah McLachlan

The fall was nothing like I imagined. It was not fast with a painful stop at the end but just the opposite. I seemed to be floating, drifting among the clouds and birds. An easy breeze lingered all around me, wafting with the scents of lilac and peppermint. I found a sort of peace in it that I had not felt since I was back home, that peaceful and easy feeling. No worrying about saving Jackie or evil bunnies trying to find me. I was completely at peace, completely safe. I took deep calming breaths, I felt myself relax totally. Even my shoulders lost the stiff, tight feeling.

"Kono," I heard Theo calling my name from below. Rolling over I looked down at him, my hair hung in my face as I flapped my arms like a bird flying cross the sky. Smiling down at him, I was floating about four feet above him he reached his arms out toward me. We both giggled as he caught me and helped me get my feet beneath me.

"This place is beautiful." All around us was a wonderful cartoon world. Butterflies fluttered around little bands of flowers who seemed to be reaching up to kiss them. A cool breeze blew out of the south that smelled of ocean and salt, the scent pulled at my gut making me want to see the ocean. A willow tree waved to us, calling us to come and rest in the shade. Theo took my hand and pointed to a path, I nodded as we both started towards it.

"This place is so beautiful; I just can't believe it." Theo said as he swung our hands as we walked. "If you listen you can even hear the water rushing up on the beach."

Closing my eyes, I could also hear the water and the gulls too. Skipping a little I pulled him along with me.

"Let's go sit on the beach, wait for the stars and talk." I spoke as I turned to walk backwards still holding his hands. I couldn't help but smile wider as his hair fell into his face again. His blue eyes seemed so alive, the suns so bright, casting strong shadows across his face. Bees buzzed between the tall sunflowers that marked the edge of the path. Theo hummed a song as we walked, and I couldn't help but wondered what song it was.

"What are you humming?" "Halestorm's Here's to us," Theo looked away from me for a moment, it seemed as if telling me the title of the song took him away from me. As if speaking those words hurt him.

"What is it?" I turned his face gently so I could see it.

"It's the song we danced to at the Winter Ball, Jackie and Michael, you and me." I remembered the dance. The four of us had gone, danced the whole night away. It had been fun, Jackie and I had been for sure that Theo was going to kiss me. But it didn't happen, maybe because Jackie and Michael had gotten into a huge fight. Leaving Theo and I to play their support shoulders. Wait, Jackie there was something about Jackie. I searched my mind, what did I need to do for her. It seemed like it was important, wracking my brain, I tried to remember. Something I had to do for her.

"Hey Theo, do you remember what I had to do for Jackie?" I asked biting my bottom lip still trying to think about it.

"Jackie, umm, seems we had something we were doing for her." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I can't think of what it was but it will come to us. I'm sure it will come to us."

"I hope so," I spoke as we started up the hill. "In my gut I feel like it was important."

As we topped the hill the beach came up to meet the path. Then another twenty feet to the ocean. The water glittered in the sun, little waves rushed onto the beach. Running up to the water I yanked off my cloak then kicked off my boots. The sand sneaked between my toes. The warm water washed over my feet. The water was so warm that I yearned to go swimming, to play in it. Theo wasn't far behind me, and began to splash me. We giggled and laughed. Playing in the ocean felt great, we got to be kids for the first time since coming to this world. Theo wrestled me to the ground both of us laughing. Lightly he kissed me, tangling his hand into my hair he held me close. The water rushed up my back, sending a chill. Another chill came over my body when I noticed the shadow standing over us. Tapping Theo's shoulder, he looked up into the shadow.