Beyond the Sea Read Online Free Page A

when you decided to live on land?”
    “I was ‘humanized’, with tutors and teachers, all telling me things they thought I should know.”
    “Oh. They missed a few things,” Jamie said, and then laughed, remembering the photocopier incident? “What about school? I mean, what do you need to learn under the sea?”
    Until sunset, the girls sat in the water, Melia telling Jamie everything there was to know about her transition to human life.
     

 
    -Chapter 2-

    A golden sphere burned in the sky, centered between glowing red and purple clouds. The rhythmic lapping of waves on the shore was soporific. Peter tore his eyes away from the peaceful ocean and shook sand from his blonde hair. He blinked out of his reverie and grabbed his surf board, deliberately moving slowly as he begrudgingly prepared for the walk home.
    Already he longed for his bed, his skin sunburned and his muscles tired from a day full of hiking, beach football, and surfing. He audibly groaned when he recalled the three page English paper he had put off writing.
    “Hi Peter!” a girl called as she waved, tiptoeing along the shore.
    “Hey,” he called back with a smile. The girl grinned broadly and turned quickly to her friend. Distracted, neither saw the wave that crashed against the sand. Having been avoiding the tide, they both shrieked as salt water sprayed their faces. Stifling a laugh, Peter turned. He felt guilty for not knowing the girl’s name. He had seen her at school, and knew she was a grade or two lower than him.
    He had just made it off the beach when another female voice called to him.
    “Hey Peter!”
    He stopped, recognizing the voice at once. “Janet.” He didn’t turn, but waited until she caught up.
    “Want a ride?” She jingled her keys in the air.
    “Sure,” Peter said only because he was in a hurry to get home. He kicked himself for not driving to the beach this morning. Silently, he walked next to Janet. Peter desperately tried to come up with something worthwhile to say. What do you say to your ex-girlfriend who cheated on you but acts like nothing’s changed? he wondered to himself.
    “I saw you out there, on the waves,” Janet said, speaking softly.
    “Oh, uh, yea.”
    “You looked good.” She unlocked her convertible Beetle. Peter didn’t see the point of locking it in the first place, since she had left the top down. He put his board in the back and plopped down in the passenger seat.
    “Thanks,” he half heartedly said in return, not looking at her.
    “Peter,” she began, resting her hand on his. He jerked his hand back. “Peter, it doesn’t have to be like this.”
    “Like what?”
    “Weird. I don’t want it to be weird.”
    “It’s not,” he mumbled, already regretting getting in the car with her. Even though Peter caught Janet with another guy, Janet expected to be forgiven. “Let’s just go, ok? I have a paper to write.”
    Janet nodded. “For Mrs. Leary’s class?”
    “Yup.”
    “Me too.” Janet stomped on the gas, slowing only to gawk when the gargantuan white house came into view.   The Ridge marked the end of the little alcove of beach Peter loved so much. Beyond The Ridge the terrain changed drastically from sandy shores to cave landings and drop-off, rocky cliffs. Engrossed with curiosity over the owners, Peter was only vaguely aware that Janet was speaking.
    “…three months away, but it’s not too early to start looking for a dress.”
    “Huh?”
    “Peter, prom, duh.”
    “Yea, right.” He stared out the window. Prom. Three months away. He didn’t want to think about it yet. Wait, did that mean Janet was dating someone else already? He shook his head; it didn’t matter to him anymore.
    “Thanks,” he said quietly as he quickly got out of the car, yanking his surfboard from the back. He turned toward his house before Janet had a chance to say anything else. As the Beetle sped away Peter regretted the standoffish way he acted. He didn’t want Janet to think he was