Chapter 1
It was healthy to skip life once in a while. Sometimes you just needed the fresh air.
The sound of the water rolling in and off the Rocky edges of the shore and the sweet smell of salt water filled the air. The sky was in a cover of clouds and the sun was hidden enough to make the temperature feel 5 degrees colder. Nothing was more comforting.

The beach was always a safe haven for me. When things get heck tick or I just want to clear my mind I just bring myself here. The Rocky shore always brings me peace.
My shoes crunch the rocks beneath me as I walk along the shore. My rain jacket covered in the mist that hung in the air and my hair starting to frizz from the strange cold humidity. The cold breeze hitting my face felt amazing. I took a look at the seeming never ending shore and the infinite ocean disappear in the distance. I wonder what it would feel like to be infinite.
I continue pacing down the shore with nothing in mind. The road lining the beach was quite for a Saturday morning. The sound of buzzing cars came once in a while but didn't interrupt my thoughts.

In the backpack I carry on my back had a towel, drawing pad, bottle of water, and my keys inside. I stopped on a small patch of grass, laid out my towel and began to sketch with water. My sketch pad was full of lucid pictures from my travels. There were pictures of the camels from the Gobi Dessert, a side street café in Paris, a beautiful park with children running around along with wondrous architectural buildings in China, the sunny beach in Florida, the Forrest in Ireland, London, Big Ben, the tubes downtown. You're probably wondering how a 17 year old has traveled so much?

My mother is a chef. Once in a while she takes time off to explore new places. Expand her culinary skills and palette. Since the age of 8 I've been everywhere with my mother. It's a life a lot of people dream to have.
The final strokes completes the tide leaving me to fill in the Rocky beach. The was completely "in the zone" and didn't realize someone was calling me.

"Excuse me. Mrs. Excuse me." The young man was running towards me, he practically panted his words to me.

I pulled out my earbud and squinted up at him. His brown hair was in disarray, cheeks flushed, and eyes bugged. "Yes." I simply stated.

He took a big breath of air and exhaled before speaking again. He broke eye contacted and took a quick scope of the area around us. I took a quick look around behind me too. "Um.. My dog ran away. Have you seen him?" He took the hood of his sweatshirt and ran it across is sweat beaded forehead.

"I'm sorry but I barely even noticed you let alone a dog. He didn't run in front of me if he did make it this far." I pulled my rainy hood off and ran my fingers through my hair. "Sorry I'm not much of a help." I watched as he looked over the drawing sitting in my lap, and a smile turn up at his lips. I quickly snapped the book close and shoved it back into my backpack.

"Those are really good. Are you taking classes?" He questioned. Seems like he completely forgot about his dog.

I stood up, brushed myself off, folded the towel up and put it into my backpack. "No, I'm a free lance. Taught myself." I threw the backpack over my shoulder. "Shouldn't you be looking for your dog?" The question hung in the air as I watched his expression change to worry.

"We were walking the beach and his collar slipped. He just took off." He scoped the area out.
I should do the kind thing and help, right? He didn't seem like the kind of stranger you usually see around the city where "help me find my dog" was just a line to lure you into there grasp.

This kid was harmless. Looks my age. He wore a football jersey underneath a sweatshirt and running sweats. In his hand was a black leash with a spiked collar attached. Without hesitating I flipped over the metal tag hanging from it to look at his name. The boy didn't flinch, he extended his hand a bit more towards me.

"Dover?" The name was simple. "What kind of dog is he?" I looked up at his face, his eyes held a sort of passion in them.

"He's a yellow lab. Just a puppy though. Can't contain the thing." He rambled with a childish smile playing on his lips. His smile made the edges of his eyes crinkle and his laugh lines exposed.

"Awe. How long have you had him?"

"A couple weeks." He let out a small chuckle. The hand he had stuffed in his pocket was now rubbing against his neck, like a shy gesture.

I rolled my eyes at him. "And you've already managed to lose him?" I teased jokingly.

He shook his head lightly. "I know, pathetic. I'm new to this whole pet thing, okay?" He threw his hands up in exasperation. "Shoot me."

I took a step back, made a gun with my hand and aimed with one eye. "Pew." Then let my hands drop.

His eyes shot open wide and his hands flew to his heart. "You shot me." His voice was a whisper. We both let out a burst of laughter.

"The names Casper." I held out my hand for him to shake. He eyed my hand with a wide smile then grabbed it with his own.

"Nice to meet you, Casper. I'm Louis." He had a genuine smile on his face.

"I'll help you find your dog if you would like. This beach is a big one." I laced my arm through the other strap on my back pack.

He looked around again, in search for the dog. "That would be lovely, actually. Another pair of eyes wouldn't hurt."

And with that, we made our way down the beach towards the woods. Once in a while we would shout out Dover but get nothing in response. Louis was a talker, I'll give him that. That boy could make a joke out of anything. We were constantly laughing at each other.

"So do you live here? I've had to of seen you around." I asked.

"Yeah, I've been here a couple months. Just moved in from Manchester. I don't think I've seen you around school." He gave me a questioning look. We were at the edge of the beach where it meets the forest. The smell of salt water moss and the freshness of the trees smelt delicious. Louis kicked a small branch out of his way.

"Well, I don't go to the public school. I go to a prep school downtown." When I was little it always sounded so cool to go to a prep school, I had no idea why, but later on I envied all the kids that went to a regulatory school. They had all of these privileges that we didn't. They got to wear regular clothes and held dances. We have uniforms and dances are frowned upon.
He stared at me like I was a loon. "Your kidding?!" He laughed. I felt my cheeks burn.

"What? My mom wants the best for me. I wish I could go to a regular school. The whole uniform thing isn't for me. Once I found my own style it really kills everything. You know?" I explained. I kept my hands, nice and warm in my jacket pockets. It seemed like the air in the forest was thicker and colder than the ocean air.

Louis did the same with his hands, with the leash hanging out the side.
"No, Casper, I don't know. Please enlighten me."

"Well," I gave him a side look, "I liked prep school. I thought it was cool. Then as I got older, and I started finding myself, it got old. Sort of lame in a way. I have to wear what they say, follow their strict rules, everyone is stuck up snobs." That got a small laugh out of him. He looked at me with a sly smile.

"And makes you so different?"

"Well, for starters, I don't get everything I ask mommy for. I know what it's like to work for what I want. These kids get everything handed to them. Now don't get me wrong, I have some really nice friends and everything. Some people are actually sane with money. Plus I'm not all into being ahead of everyone. Yeah I do my work but when I graduate this year, give me a sketch pad with pencils and I'm all set. I've got more then school going for me." I shrugged. I was balanced atop a fallen moss covered tree truck. The bottom of my shoes sliding against the slippery surface. Louis was pre occupied with the search, weaving in and out of the trees.

"Your sketches are really good. You should teach classes at the center." He shook his head in agreement. Then he looked over at me. "You're graduating this year." He said it more of a statement less then a question. "Me too."

"How old are you?" I questioned, hopping off the log but slipping a little in the process. He grabbed my arm to keep me from falling. I gave him a thankful smile, and pushed a piece of hair back behind my ear that had escaped.

"I'm 17."

"Me too." The conversation pretty much died after that. We continued walking in search of Dover. I must admit I didn't do much searching. Every time it went to start I got lost in the different colors, plants, trees, and animals surrounding us. It was beautiful. I wish I could pause time and draw it. I would capture the mist in the air and the ray of light breaking through the trees. We were walking for a when I stopped something in the distance. I stopped Louis with my arm. "Shh."

He stood there with a confused look on his face. "Wh-" he began but cut him off. I simply pointed off in the distance where a pale wagging tale was rustling in the distance. Louis eyes grew wide and a smile broke out on his face.

He gave me a "what should I do look?" and I shrugged my shoulders. Maybe I could casually walk by and the dog will come to me. Might as well try it out. I held up a "wait" finger and made my way to the dog but then I walked back, grabbed the collar from him, and continued again.

Dover wasn't that far away. Just a couple meters. He was sniffing out a tree, exploring the ground. I walked by like normally trying to catch his attention. Then the twigs and leaves crunched underneath me his ears went back and his attention was on my. I gave him a warm smile. "Hey Dover." A strong coo in my voice. "C'mon. Come here boy." I squatted and extended my limp hand for him to sniff. He hesitated at first but then slowly made his way towards me. I scratched his forehead lightly, he grunted in satisfaction. Sooner then later he was leaning against me, I slipped the collar around his neck. I tightened it an extra knot so it wouldn't come off again.

Louis came rushing over the bush in front of us. "Dover!" The dog went ecstatic, barking his head off. I laughed as Louis kneeled down and the dog attacked his face.

"He's cute."

"Thank you so much. I don't think I could of done that." Louis's attention was still on the dog.
"Oh, I think you could of. He loves you. Little cutie." I crouched down by the two of them, lightly petting Dover's back. His tail was wagging a thousand miles a minute.

"Why thank you." Louis broke his contact with the dog and winked at me.

"I was talking about the dog but whatever floats your b-" just then my phone ringed. "Hold on." He just nodded and returned to to dog. I handed over the leash and, without looking at the caller I.D., answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Cas?" A familiar voice rang.

"Yeah?"

"Honey, where are you?" My moms high pitch voice yelled.

"Mom, I'm at the beach."

"I'm here and I don't to see you. Haven't you gotten my messages?" She sounded sort of frustrated but relived.

"Oh, no but I'm coming now."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too." I put the phone in my pocket. Louis was patently waiting for me. "Moms here. Wanna start walking back?"

We headed back and chatted about school. I asked him about sports and if he plays. Turns out he's captain of the football team. I told him about the time I traveled to Asia and learned real karate.

"It's very difficult, really. It's all about balance. Me and balance just don't get along." I laughed at myself.

We were half way to the car. Dover strolled beside us, sniffing out everything as we went. Overt he edge were the road and the Rocky shore met the road was my mothers car.
"I guess you can say I'm pretty good on my feet." Louis shrugged. "Is that your mom?" He squinted into the distance.

"Yeah." My moms range rover was idling.

"Well, thanks for helping find my dog. I'd probably still be looking. Will I see you around?" He asked, shoving his hands in his pocket. Dover sat tiredly next to him.

"I don't know. But I should probably go." I said backing away slowly. "Your welcome though. It was fun."

"Wait can I get your number?" He spoke steadily but I saw his cheeks flush a bit.
It caught me off guard a bit. Should I?

It wouldn't hurt anyone, plus he's nice.

"Um yeah. Just out your stuff in here." I pulled out my phone and handed it to him. I watched as he filled in the information. The handed it back with a smile.

"Call me sometime. I'd like to see you again."

"Sure. Have fun. Be careful, the tide gets high at eight. See you!" He waved as I walked away.

"Thanks!" Was the last I heard before I shut the car door. Before I had a chance to look out the window to see him go, my mom had pulled away. My mother ranted to me about how I shouldn't be in the woods alone. I continued to explain that I wasn't alone but she kept telling me that I shouldn't be in there period. Apparently she got an early prep shift today at the restaurant and she needed me home.

She dropped me off at our apartment about ten minutes from the beach. "It's going to be a while before I'm back. I left a salad for you in the fridge." She kissed me goodbye and left.
Leaving me in peace again.

Notes

Hey, this is my first official fanfic. I hope you guys enjoy! :3

please criticize and leave comments! I need some feedback!