The Air Out Of [Wattys2018 shortlist]

04

SITTING AT HER USUAL SPOT ON THE USUAL TABLE had become a routine for Jess. Her days at school had slipped into an invisible habitual chain consisting of food, class, food, class, and then - the newly added appointment, hanging out with her friends.

But the best part about today, in particular, was the part where she wasn't sitting on her table alone. Today, she sat next to Leo, who was rapidly gobbling up his food. The two had learned to accept and forget, allowing themselves a second chance. After all, they were all each other had.

"What's the rush?" She whispered softly, still unsure of how to appear friendly.

Leo barely recognized her voice over the adequate buzz made from the rush-hour vibe projected by their cafeteria, which was currently blasting rap music in order to 'hype' the students up. But he does, eventually, hear it, and he nods his head in the direction of the regular fashionably late squad.

Jess' head snaps in Britney's direction eyes widening in horror, soon, she began to notice that she was carelessly stuffing the remnants of her sandwich in angst to get away. She caught Britney's eye. There was nothing she could do about it now.

I don't have enough energy to deal with her today, I just can't.

"Well, well, well." Britney's voice echoed, her high pitched sound bouncing off the walls. Today, she's wearing enough clothes for human decency to consider a swimsuit. But nevertheless, she doesn't seem to care, allowing her voice to compensate for the lack of conservation. Jess winces reflectively, unable to stand the level of piercing agony Britney's voice sends through her ears. "What do we have here, Silver."

Britney, in her own unimaginable way, was single-handedly responsible for ruining three innocent lives because she simply couldn't grasp the sane idea of variety. In Jess' perspective, Britney's way of thinking consisted of the fact that if you stood out, you were ugly, horrendous, and a monster. Brown-haired Britney had already finished her fairytale before she had moved to Chiflester High. The story of how an underdog overthrew the stereotypical blonde goddess and fell head over heels with the star quarterback, who, of course, had the most polished hair. Except, the story didn't quite have enough pages to contain a few important details.

Britney, and her picture-perfect boyfriend - the relationship that had defined all odds - broke up within a month, and, originally introverted Britney had morphed into an even worse evolution of her predecessor. Taking the reign of the school by its clutches and dragging it to do her bidding.

She was way past being a bully, or a ruler that kept the hierarchy on a continuous loop for anxiety's sake.

Confrontations were almost normal for Jess now that a slight change in today's schedule had brought about more rumors than if Britney had gotten her heels free of charge from the owners of Dolce and Gabbana themselves, but throughout the day, she had found herself becoming weary. So, when the final bell of school rang, she found herself smiling. At least there was something to look forward to.

Jess was in the middle revving up the engine to her car, when she looks up to find the third, and final renowned outcast, Ellie Clasten lingering above her car. Jess rolled the window down, "Yes?" She asked the unwavering silhouette that didn't seem to refuse to move at any given moment.

Then Jess realized what was happening. Ellie had noticed her new sparkling friendship with Leo and wanted in. "Funny, don't you think?" She spoke timidly "Strangers for sixteen years, then suddenly couldn't be torn apart."

Jess was momentarily speechless, but only one thought had been running through her mind. Crap. She chose her next few words carefully, "It's de rigueur for outcasts. The moral code, basically."

"Outcasts. All outcasts?"

"What are you getting at." Was the only thing Jess could've come up with while multiple thoughts raced through her mind. She knew perfectly well what Ellie was talking about but chose to keep her lips sealed, as shebegan to fumble with the lock stationed on her seatbelt.

Ellie, however, was not stupid. At least not stupid enough to think for a moment that the legendary, genius Jess Walker would not understand the cryptic message Ellie had been basically forcing down her throat. Instead, she says, "Friends?"

And specifically, that was how Jess found herself sitting next to the eerily silent Ellie fifteen minutes later, as she parks next to the area she had magically stumbled into just a few days ago. It had only seemed like yesterday when she had gone out with her new friends to participate in the newly formed tradition of surfing for new members.

Jess couldn't read Scar's expression. All she sees is an expression devoid of emotion. He's sitting on the floor, a slight tint of annoyance in his voice, but besides that, he seemed perfectly fine.

But as soon as she realized that he wasn't planning to invite Ellie to the group's regular tradition, Jess knew that he was already planning her exit.

"Who is she?" He demands in whispers, as soon as she's headed to the bathroom.

"Final outcast." She saves Leo the explanation because Scar's pointed look is enough for her to know that he's taking the blame. "No more, no less."

Scar's face relaxes, for the purpose that he wants the group of five, to stay a five for a long time. Leo nods stiffly.

Leo smiles in her direction confirming the burning question she had in mind: Ellie is in.

So, for tradition's sake, Jess finds herself along four other people, a surfboard in hand, and ready to surf. But boy, was she unprepared for what was in store for her and her friends.

And it had all sparked from one really stupid tradition.

Unlike all previous times, Jess finds herself actually riding the wave, like the other three boys, instead of falling into the water halfway (or even less) through. She's beyond proud, even her usually pale skin had begun to take on a brownish-tint, resembling a what-seems-like a tan. Suddenly, the tip of her board pushes below the water level and she's falling through the water. She tries to jerk herself upwards, but the velcro is tangled around the board, and won't move.

She chooses to unlatch herself from it and prepares to break the surface before noticing a light shimmering slightly below her. It's intriguing, and she gives in.

Against her common sense, she, out of curiosity, swims deeper, relying on her legs to carry her to the prism that seems to be reflecting light mirroring the effect of the sun. As she draws nearer, her vision adjusts to make out a cove, which she smiles knowingly to.

It's not hard to paddle slightly quicker, to get her force high enough to swing herself inwards effortlessly, but it is hard to actually grasp the opening without getting blown right away with the current. But Jess manages, anyway, and all the mandatory swimming from school has finally paid off.

The light is still shining when she reaches the inside of the cave, defying the odds of all science, and while she thinks it's simply a dream, her lungs gasping for air tells her that it's most definitely real.

The pearl resting at the center of a perfectly shaped half-opened clam is nature's gift, but a part of her assumes it wasn't just a pearl for show because it wouldn't have reflected a light that bright from just below the surface of the water.

She is slowly running out of breath, so Jess tries to touch the pearl and notices the bubble of air just surrounding it, a distinct separation from the water itself. She knows that there's a vacuum around it, attracting the tips of her fingers, like a magnetic field to touch its surface.

She gives in, letting the force strap her hands along the silky smooth texture of the pearl.

Everything goes black, but only for a moment.

Opening her eyes, like a baby does for the first time, she finds herself in a whole new dimension. She isn't that different though, except for two things.

A necklace laces itself around her neck.

And, She's breathing.