Flora woke up. She was lying on a hard surface surrounded by a beryl lagoon. Where on earth was she? She tried to jump up but felt herself rock uncontrollably, so she precariously sat down. Looking around her she noticed a bright red surf board covered in little printed lizards, and she knew for a fact that it was not hers. She glanced down and noticed a luminous light coating her stomach in a soft blanket of warmth. Then gasped and spread her arms over her chest, for she wasn’t wearing a shirt! Flora felt a wash of realisation and cried out loudly.
She was a boy! Again!
As her deep voice reverberated throughout the lagoon, a boat started to drive toward her and an unfamiliar but not unfriendly voice yelled something toward her. Still overcome by emotions Flora hadn’t heard them as she was instead crouched over with her head between her arms in disbelief. How could this be happening again? She groaned and grunted in her own little world not at all conscious of the boat that had parked beside her till its shadow smothered her in darkness.
“You all right there?” asked a charming voice, “Coulda swore you said you’d be alright alone”.
The guy laughed deep and sonorously.
“C’mom Josh answer me already, you’re taking about three hundred years just gaping!”
Flora slammed her mouth shut and fidgeted anxiously. So she must be someone called Josh right now, she noted. Flora wasn’t used to talking to people her age let alone someone who looks two or three years older. She waited one more moment before deciding to answer the guy staring at her intensely.
“Oh, hey you!” She babbled out.
“Yeah, hey, you alright?” He looked at her sideways, “You’re acting kinda strange bro”
Flora felt her head go dizzy as she rocked side to side. She clenched her stomach as she sensed rising bile. Oh no. Her stomach didn’t wait for Flora to prepare herself before spilling out all its contents. Next to her the man cackled loudly.
“Woah! Thought you said you had the guts of a sailor.”
Flora covered her mouth to stop another heave coming and mumbled under her breath.
“What was that sailor boy?” The guy asked teasingly.
Flora felt a growing resentment for this boy and felt an eruption of anger she’d normally be able to control.
“At least I’m not sitting on a boat because I’m too chicken to get in the water!” She yelled.
“Ah, is that what you think sailor boy” retorted the guy, “Suppose that was to be a dare!” He shouted before he dived into the clear water.
Flora couldn’t help but watch the boy in shock as he whipped the marron hair off his forehead and fell into a rhythm of floating effortlessly.
“I, Jackson Black never backs out from a dare.”
Flora watched helplessly as he swam toward her red surfboard, grab the base and flip it. She barely had time to scream before getting a mouthful of salty water. She flapped her arms out in an attempt to get back to the board but could only feel the vibration of Jackson’s legs kicking the water. She felt her arms start to slow as a wave of drowsiness came over her. And eager as she was to breathe again she did not resist its pull.
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