Open Finished The Sea and Me

"Thank you," she squeezed his hand gently and then released it. There was something weird about the contact just then. Like...she could feel her emotions flowing through the connection of their skin and into his hand. Almost like electricity...or something. Weird. She mentally shrugged it off and continued to take comfort in his offered words. She supposed it was true; everyone on this island was here because they were like her, in a way. It made her feel better about her decision to be here. She could learn more about herself in this place.

"A whole two, huh?" Anna laughed. He was funny. And nice. She liked Nix already. They were going to be good friends, she could tell. "I'm not sure if I have..." she reached up to one ear, and then the other, "Oh! Would you look at that. I have two, too."

"So, do you go to the academy, too?" She let her hands drop to her sides again, her head cocking to one side with the question.

Anna sat cross-legged on her beach towel, laughing at Nix's wordplay. It wasn't the most intelligent conversation in the world, but was certainly one of the most entertaining ones she'd had in the short time she'd been here on the island. She was delighted to make a new friend, and that tingly delight spread from her stomach all the way to her fingers and toes like maple syrup, rich and sweet.

Magical studies major? She vaguely remembered seeing that on the list of majors offered, when she'd had to put in a special request for her own major since it wasn't specified. Anna nodded in response to his question, "I'm studying to become a nurse...and also learning more about what the heck I am." She smiled ruefully, "At least I'm not a sailor-eating monster, though." She was grateful that he'd brought that to her attention. Siren didn't mean bad. It just meant...different. "All this time I thought I was a normal human. It's...weird to think of myself as something else now. My parents...weren't really around to tell me that I was different." She fidgeted with the corner of her book that now sat beside her on the blanket, watching her hand as she did so and trying not to ruin the cover in the process. Looking up, she smiled, becoming more cheerful, "I guess it's kind of like putting a puzzle together, though, so that's okay. I don't mind puzzles."

Anna looked up at him as the snap reached her ears, and was immediately fascinated by the little flame that danced on his fingertip. The smile returned to her face. A good kind of different. If he thought so, after knowing her for just a short time, then she figured it must be true.

She laughed again, a sound of pealing bells that tumbled easily from her lips. "Definitely better with a friend." And what a friend he was becoming. Anna could feel the warm delight of a new bond sparking like the fire he'd summoned, glowing bright.

Her stomach growled, and she grinned apologetically. "Want to head back to campus and get some lunch or something? I could totally go for some sushi right now." She craved sushi more than anything else in the world, now that she was noticing how hungry she was. It was a little late in the afternoon, but any time was a good time for some sushi, or any seafood. Anna loved seafood.

The puns were groan-worthy, but Anna liked them. She grinned in response. His fire trick had her mesmerized. "That's amazing. It doesn't hurt?" His hand wasn't burned or anything, and it hadn't even seemed to bother him. "I bet it comes in handy in all sorts of cases. Like...bonfires, or making sure your food never gets cold...or fondue!" Mmm. Anna loved fondue almost as much as she loved sushi.

Shifting to get to her feet, Anna picked up her beach towel and draped it over one arm, took up her book, and offered her free hand to help Nix up. "Talking about food is just making me more hungry." She was so ready for sushi that she could almost taste it.

"I bet they do," Anna agreed. She was glad she didn't smoke. It was such an unhealthy habit. Anna had learned about lung cancer before, it was a nasty thing. Just one of the joys of nursing, knowing that pretty much everything could kill you.

"You sure? I'm totally fine with paying for myself," she leaned back to counter his weight as he pulled himself up. She wasn't rich, but she still had some savings. Maybe she should find a job or something...it would give her some spending money while she was here and studying.