Free Bird

It was a hustle and bustle kind of town. Not the one you would see in something like the Twilight Saga . It was quieter, it was silent. I combed my hair out of my face and looked out at the waves, I couldn’t help imagine being completely consumed by them.

You see the town we lived in was busy but silent, Orcas it was called - like the whales. Orcas operated on a nod. You nod at the postman, you nod at your neighbour, you nod at your employer and employees and you nod at the wrong doings. Like for instance Sally Webber drunk drove down Donovan Road and no one batted an eyelid, in fact her Dad went and paid the sheriff off for her misdemeanor.There was no wrong doing in this place, no fuck ups, no nothing and if there was, it was swept under the rug.

Watching the waves roll was one thing, but the wind? It whipped against my face like a lasso, it made my hair fly in all different directions, and like the wind changes, I wanted to as well.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a crow, it was perched on the edge of an evergreen branch above me, it cawed three times and flew away quickly. I looked at it’s feathers as it flew away, the soft reflective black with touches of iridescence.

The open ocean before me, along with a sandy beach to match, I dusted off my pants, pulled my beanie tight and took off on my walk. I crunched shells under my boots and gazed out at the rolling waves, each one bigger than the one before.

“Goose! Dinners ready” A voice yells.

I look back at our beach bungalow and see my younger sister George waving. Her long dark hair being tousled by the wind.

“Hurry up! it’s gonna get cold.”

I drudged back up the beach path, taking in the spider nests amongst the cotton tails. The smell of lasagna filling my nostrils. My sister had arranged the beach table outside, lasagna in the middle, a jug of lemon water and a bowl of bread sticks. Two plates set up next to each other. The table was in the perfect position to watch the sunset over the water.

My sister was my best friend and as of two months ago, I'm her guardian. George - short for Georgina was sixteen, she had long slender legs and caramel skin. Her long dark hair fell down her back in soft waves and her light blue eyes mesmerized others. She was the type of girl who could mingle in any crowd, she has a magical nature, alluring to any male in the island radius. She didn't swing that way though, George preferred the ladies instead.

"You know, you could of helped with dinner." George rolls her eyes and takes her seat.

"I could of, but I thought since I cook dinner every other night, you could handle it on your own just this once." I poke my tongue out at her and take my seat next to her.

Taking a heap of lasagna and two bread sticks on to my plate, I marvel at my sister. Sixteen and can cook a perfect lasagna. I dig through my lasagna, and scoff through my bread sticks. Dinner is silent, the only reverberations are the rolling waves.

"You know i'll never get sick of this. This place is almost perfect. I just wish mom and dad were here." George sighs.

"Me too, I'm glad i have you though." I rub her back, combing my fingers through her soft waves.

"What do you think mom and dad would say if they were here?" She leans on me. My arm wraps around her and cradles her close.

"Dad would be telling us to get our butts sorted before reality hits tomorrow and Mom would be gushing about how good your lasagna is." I smile into her hair.

"Yea they really would, I'm gonna head over to Sarah's for a bit, do you wanna join?" George smiles up at me.

"Be back by eleven okay?" I nudge her.

"Sure thing sis." I watch as she stands up and walks away, taking the dirty dishes with her. Little did we both know, that things after tonight will never be the same.

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My 5.00am alarm jolts me out of a dream, a really good dream. With a huff I roll out of bed, tripping over my phone charger in the process and walk over to my mirror vanity. I gaze at the women that stands before me, her green eyes are almost too big for her face and her lips look like they have been stung by bees. Her brunette hair falls just past her shoulders in curls and her hips as her grandma would say are perfect for 'child bearing'. I shake my head.

"Not yet. Not for a while yet" I grab my jeans off the floor, and begin to pull them up over my hips. Where the hell is my white top? I shuffle through my vanity draws, I bet George stole it.

As if my sister has read my mind she waltz into my room.

"You know, you really need to get laid." She smiles and sits on the edge of my bed.

"How are you awake at 5.00am anyway? School doesn't start until 8.30 and where the heck is my white top?" I raise my eyebrow at her.

"If i said that i'm just getting home now, would i technically be grounded?" She awkwardly smiles at me.

I sigh.

" Tell Sarah that she can come stay here, I can't have you out until 5.00am George? What kind of guardian would I be if i allowed that. And also, put that top in the laundry before I raid your bedroom for it."

She gets up off the bed and shuffles over to me, embracing me in a cuddle.

" The bestest guardian in the world, in fact the universe. " She gushes.

I roll my eyes and look at her.

"I'm pushing your curfew until ten on school nights. If you're not home by then you can sleep with Roger. Okay?"

George giggles and throws her self on to my bed.

"I'm not sleeping in the pig pen." She huffs.

"Well be home on time kiddo." I throw a towel at her.

She catches it and smiles.

" Go have a shower, go to bed and please get to school on time. Ill be home after 3.00pm" I smile as I zip up my work boots.

"Yes sir Goose sir." She chuckles and waltz out of my room.

I apply a small amount of mascara and lip gloss. Throw my hair up in a pony and take one last look. I think this is as good as it's going to get. I walk out into the kitchen and notice that George has turned the coffee pot on for me. As much as she is a typical sixteen year old, she still is the most thoughtful person I know. I pour black coffee into a mug, shove a croissant in my mouth and head out to the dock.

The air is fresh and morning dew is settling on the grass. I can hear the rooster down the way calling. Signalling that the sun is rising and a new day is about to commence. I gaze out at the sound, the water is calm this morning and there's only one boat on the water, which is Adam's from down the way. I smile and wave at him as he continues on his way through the sound.

I untie the ropes on my Jet 32, it was my Dad's boat in the 70's. When my parents died I sold a lot of their possessions to move up here. The boat was the one thing I couldn't sell, the memories we had together, fishing,diving and simply just trying to whale watch were too much for me to let this gorgeous beast go. Well, I thought she was gorgeous despite the wear and tear.

I climb into the boat, throwing my duffle on the tattered seating and push away from the dock. Turning the key the boat springs to life on the first try, that a girl - I thought. I speed through the sound, it's early and Gavin the coast guard wont be awake until at least 7.30. The wind whipping through my hair, I smile and breathe in the deep the smell of the water. Fresh and salty. I catch sight of a pair of Black Shags flying low across the water, dancing together in the dusky light.

Slowing the boat down I approach the dock in Doe Bay, I notice there's a sail boat tied in to where I usually park. Reluctantly I park on the other side of the dock, tie the old girl up and turn the engine off. I can see that the lights inside the shop have been turned on and the kayaks are all laid out, ready to be rented by the summer goers.

Larry's Kayak Rentals was the most successful rental company on the island, despite the outwardly appearance and the fact that the whole place was falling apart, we did pretty well in the summer. And due to my 'quirky' personality and confidence as Larry called it, I mostly run the shop by myself and he checks in time to time - especially on the first day of summer.

I walk into the Shack knocking on the creaky old door as I enter.

"Morning Larry!" I yell as I approach the hot coffee machine for a refill. I flick the switch on the machine and instantly the aroma of coffee hits me, I audibly moan.

"Uh, Larry's not here." a voice says.

"Ahhhhhh!" I scream as I grab the closest thing to me, which so happens to be a table spoon. God damn it.

"So, where is he? What did you do with him eh?" I cock my eyebrow at the new comer, pointing the table spoon in his direction.

"Sorry, clearly he didn't tell you did he?" the man questions. A smirk has formed at the corner of his lips, as he eyes the spoon.

"Larry, didn't tell me anything. For all I know you could be some weird creepy dude that is harboring in my Kayak shop."

I huff in reply and cross my arms over my chest, discarding the table spoon into the sink.

"Your Kayak shop? Last I checked it was my Uncles." He puts his hand out to shake mine. "Steve, Steve Waters, Larry's my dads brother."

"Okay, Steve Waters. Do you want to tell me what you're doing in my shop?" I eye his hand, still outstretched and look back to his face. His smirk is gone.

"I'm Larry's nephew, I just moved up here. His health's not too great as you might know. I'm helping him out here for the summer." He crosses his hands over his chest, replicating my stance.

"Okay, well really you should of started with that, instead of creeping up on me like a weirdo. And by the way the kayaks usually face the other way, just so you know for next time." I smile as I grab my coffee and head for the door.

"How about you?" He asks as I turn away, coffee in hand I eye him again. Sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and athletic posture. He has a small tattoo on this right knee, I can't make out what it reads.

He coughs.

"Pardon?" I look at him, as my cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink.

"Whats your name?" he asks knowingly smiling.

"Olive. Olive Brown."

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Please be gentle with me! First time writing again in five years! Let me know what you guys think! Also apologies for the bad punctuation! ♥ JBerry