Seasong

i become a literal fish out of water

The air was warm this morning, even for the Gold Coast. I never was a huge fan of warm weather until the past few weeks. Every place I've lived before has been better when it's cold, with snow topped mountains, frozen streets, and icy pine trees.

I'd never lived by a beach before. Actually, I hadn't even been to a beach before until my adoptive parents had to move for their company. Most of my life has been me being shoved from foster family to foster family. And unsurprisingly enough I had the most rotten luck. My current family took in foster kids so that they could get some extra cash from the government.

In an even worse turn of events they adopted me. After speculation fell on them they chose to adopt me, hoping it would give the impression that they weren't simply using their foster children as a source of income. That's how I ended up in Australia, the last place I thought I would ever be.

Back to this morning, it was extremely warm, almost as if a wave of heat was physically pressing down onto the sandy shores of the Gold Coast. It was nearly impossible for me to get out of bed, the heat was like a drug to keep me asleep. I sighed and rolled out of bed and started towards the bathroom.

"Haven!" I heard my voice called sharply from the other side of the house. "Come here please." I made my way to the kitchen were my adoptive mother was standing scrubbing dishes.

"Good morning, Mrs. Marrow," I said politely, Mrs. Marrow was the kindest in the family.

She continued to scrub the dish for a moment before rinsing it off and turning to me, "We're having a business dinner party tonight, now of course you are welcome to join but I figured you would prefer to hang out at a friends tonight? Maybe you could hang out with Ashley?"

I walked over to the cabinet and grabbed out some cheerios, pondering whether it was worth going to hang out with Ashley to avoid a dinner party. "Umm, yeah sure. I'll text her real quick see if she's available."

I shot Ashley a text and then turned back to my cereal bowl. Ashley was the first person I met at my new school. It was the first day of the first term, January 27th. She invited me to the beach after school, that was so strange to me, going to the beach in January. Now it's the middle of February and I still can't get over it.

My phone buzzed on the table, I opened it to a text from Ashley telling me that there was a beach party tonight and she was just about to invite me along. A second text popped up telling me that Ashley wanted me to come over immediately and to bring clothes for the party.

"Ashley wants me to come over now," I finished the rest of my cereal in a few bites and rinsed the bowl out before setting it in the dishwasher.

"Make sure you take your migraine pills before you leave." Mrs. Marrow absentmindedly went on cleaning the dishes. I walked back to my room and grabbed my purse. I rummaged through my drawers and pulled out a bikini and a sundress from my closet, then threw them in my bag.

With my bag over my shoulder I went outside and hopped on my bicycle. Ashley's house was only a few blocks away, I peddled quickly, the breeze ruffled my hair comfortably. It really was the definition of a sunny, pleasant day.

The path to her house wound along the sea, I could hear the ocean lapping at the sand and seagulls crying as rode by.

"Hey, Haven!" A pair of boys called from the shore, "Are you going to the party tonight?"

I didn't slow down, just waved and nodded as I continued towards Ashley's. I'd rather not stop and talk idly when Ashley is expecting me at her house already.

I came to a halt at the stone path that lead up to Ashley's large beach house and kicked up my bike stand. I quickly tied it up to the gate surrounding their giant, unnaturally green yard. When I rang the doorbell dogs immediately began to bark loudly. It was almost terrifying, if it weren't for the fact I knew that they were three different breeds of tiny dogs. Small dogs do have huge egos.