0- Asteroids

Summer, 2007

Ecuador

Sun rays shone on her olive skin as she twirled around in the sand, her pigtails bouncing along with her, a broad smile adorning her face.

Farther away from her sat a petite woman on a lounge chair, sipping cocktail while conversing merrily with the people around her, every once and then glancing at the spot her daughter played, offering a smile to her before returning her gaze to the women.

A mischievous smile broke on the little girl's lips as she glanced at her mother whose gaze now lingered on her phone, halting her dance. She bounced off to a little kiosk by the side of the beach, bought a blueberry cone ice cream then took off towards the dock.

She sat on the dock, her feet dangling off the edge as she licked her ice cream, wishing she could go into the water instead but she knew not to—it was strictly forbidden—as it is, she had already broken another rule, wandering off alone.

She glanced around her environment, her eyebrows furrowing when her gaze fell on a boy who stood a few inches away from her, hands tucked underneath his chin as he stared unblinkingly at the calm waves.

She hadn't noticed him when she arrived but for some odd reason, she was unable to take her gaze away from him now that she had seen him. Tilting her head backwards, she studied him curiously wondering if she should go and say hi to him.

Again, she remembered her mother warning her against talking to strangers when she was alone but what harm could there be in talking to him? After all, he seemed to be only a few years older than she was.

Cheeks tainted pink, lips curled into a dark scowl, he turned around and clashed his gaze with hers, narrowing his eyes into slits. Well? his gaze seemed to question as he continued to stare at her.

She waved at him, rising from her position. She walked towards him and stood a few feet away, tilting her head backwards.

"What do you want?" he glared, looking down at her. He towered over her with a good three feet but despite his build and visible anger, something in his eyes made her stand her ground.

"You look sad," she stated, hugging her midsection.

"I'm not sad," he laughed bitterly. "You can go away now."

"Bobbo* says that it is not good to lie," she replied innocently. "Why are you lying?"

"I'm not lying," he furrowed his eyebrows.

"You're not?" she frowned.

"Yeah," he nodded. "You can leave now."

"It's okay to be sad," she smiled, bobbing her head. "It is okay to be sad, sometimes you need to be sad in other to be happy."

His scowl deepened, wondering where the conversation was going to. The girl looked wiser than her age and she talked with air of authority which made him listen to her even though he was annoyed with her presence, something about her reminded him of Hermione Granger.

"Well?" she tapped her foot impatiently, thrusting her hand forward. "Do you want some ice cream? It'll make you feel better."

He stared at her hand warily as if she had offered him more than a handshake, contemplating whether to accept it or not.

"I'm here for you," she urged him again, clasping his hand—which laid unmoving by his side—with hers, tugging him forward.

"But I don't have any money," he protested, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden. How he let the girl talk him out of his misery surprised him to no ends, when he ran to the beach all he wanted to do was stew in silence.

"I have money," she grinned, producing a dollar bill from the pocket of her dress. "Bobbo gave me some."

"But..."

"Ice cream," she whined, stomping her foot on the ground.

"Ice cream," he nodded.

She smiled then bounced off towards the kiosk and bought two new ice cream cones, handed him one, proceeded to lick hers as they made way to the bench beside the dock.

Behind them, waves crashed violently against the shores, bearing witness to a silent pact made unknowingly as they sat sharing little laughs and giggles between them.

When her brother came looking for her, the girl stood and followed him dejectedly, knowing that it might be the last time she saw her friend again.

"Will I see you again?" he questioned, running after her.

"Yeah," she nodded with enthusiasm, bobbing her head a huge grin appearing on her face.

"Promise me all your firsts," he mouthed, flashing her a grin which pronounced the two dimples on either side of his face.

"I promise," she replied, curling her pinky with his, spotting a grin as big as his even though she had no idea what it meant.

He nodded and let her go, giving his back to her as he returned to watching the waves, this time around with a smile on his face.

She halted in her steps as they neared their cabin, her eyes widening in disbelief. Slapping a hand over her forehead, she ran out of the house, towards the dock ignoring the calls of her brother.

Standing at the spot where they had sat earlier, the girl looked around frantically, searching for his wavy black hair amongst the crowd but he was no where to be seen, he was gone without a trace as if he hadn't been there.

But she knew he was, the seashell bracelet—which he had gifted her–was proof enough that he had been there and she hadn't imagined all of it.

She ran back to their cabin with a heavy heart, knowing that come what may, she would never forget the grey-eyed boy she'd met even if she didn't know his name, perhaps someday in the future they would meet again. For now, she'll hold on to the bracelet until they do.

It wasn't the end of their story, it was the beginning and there was more to come.

Click, remember this moment.

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*= Big brother, Fulfulde