Foamy clouds taunted me by creating pictures then rapidly changing them as if they didn't know what they wanted to tell me.

Sunshine blinded my sensitive eyes as it challenged me to a staring contest.

And my stubbornness would not let me refuse even though I always ended up losing in the end.

Darn that persistent light of vengeance!

My favorite past time at that moment, was fulfilling the mission of grabbing the aggravating orb and strangling it into my small bag.

However, the universe decided that that wasn't such a grand idea.

Every time I endeavored, something would go awry.

Usually in the form of distraction.

Generally coming from an irritating boy with scruffy hair and dark clothes.

"Whatchya doin'?" He emphasized every syllable.

He'd been repeating that phrase for the past half an hour or so.

"Killing the sun." I grumbled as I lifted myself into a sitting position. "And what are you doing, Isabella?"

"Watching you." He shrugged as if that statement wasn't weird at all.

"Can ya get any creepier?" I mockingly joked.

"Yeah, I could sniff your hair again, . . . while you're watching this time." He added unwavering.

"Well, I mean at least you're--- Wait did you really do that?!" My surprise had no limits.

Who was this kid anyway?

"Relax, I didn't really do that." He brushed off the comment so easily.

Seriously, was this guy even human?

"I've had it with you!"

I still couldn't help the smile sneaking it's way onto my face.

That's exactly what he desired too.

I mentally kicked myself in the head.

The grass made such a weird shuffling sound as I brought myself up from it and began to race down the hill.

"Oh come on, I was only playing"

He doesn't seem to get it does he?

I'm not used to this sort of attention.

"Why do you keep persisting?" I questioned.

"Persisting? What??" He seemed genuinely confused as I stole a glance at him.

"It means something like: going after something over and over again . . . with added stubbornness."

Darn those rapidly altering pictures in the sky!

"Y'know, the rumors of you being weird that I hear are untrue." Dalton sighed, seemingly disappointed as he pouted from my lack of emotional contribution.

His arms folded as if he was holding tightly to something against his chest.

Giving him a slight glare, I didn't quite realize what he meant.

But I would prove him wrong.

"Alright!" I dashed over to the old stage at the edge of the park where a swarm of other kids were doing heck knows what.

He, of course, followed suit.

Flying up the few stairs, I immediately spun a 180 degree turn to face the wide-eyed boy.

Eyes lit up and my stance at the ready.

Not paying attention to how close we were, I snapped three times directly in his face, announcing the start of my performance.

"Beep. Boop. Beep. Bop. Bebebeeboppoopboboohobpkpp."

Scat, always the way to gather attention.

Especially when adding a dance number.

"Ya think that ya know me
Well ya haven't seen nothin yet.
Ya think that I'm only
Another "normie" caught in the net."

Did I mention that I loved performing skits and musical numbers?

Oops, kinda forgot that.

Nah, I didn't.

"So listen here
Before this is through
Things ya never noticed
Might come clear to you."

Daddy always enjoyed my little shows.

Even if I wasn't the best singer and even if I was over-dramatic most of the time.

"Because ooohohohoh . . ."

Gliding over to him, I gently tapped his nose with my index finger. He stared back, speechless.

Time to clap in a way to heighten moral.

Others must have been extremely bored, because some actually donated their attention for a while.

Of course, the adults always enjoyed another 'Bess is having an outburst of energy' moment.

Which generally occurred every day, since I was so hyperactive.

Just not so much, when it came to the recent thoughts tearing me apart like aggressive dogs wrestling for a chew toy.

"Oh if I had some soap
I'd stir it into soup
Filled with all the words people bring
To wash out that mouth of yours
In one swoop."

Dalton was beginning to blush immensely from all the attention aimed towards him.

"What else are you going to do to him?" Piped a young girl with blonde pigtails and a mischievous grin.

"Ohhhh, I'm gonna
Wash that man right outta my hair.
I'm gonna wash that man
Right outta my hair.
I'm gonna wash that man
Right out of my hair.
And send him on his way."

Everyone laughed as I did a crazy, elaborate dance around him and the stage. Ending it with a slight kick at the air as I pushed him slightly with my free hand.

He stumbled forward, face as scarlet as ever.

Trees swayed as a breath from an indiscernible source swam through the air. The pictures in the sky were beginning to slow.

Yet, I hadn't even begun.

"So this is a repeat after me song." I winked at the kids near me as many of them stood up.

"I went down to the river."

Bending my legs as if I was about to do the squats, I motioned my arms in a downward motion.

Others warily followed, less enthusiastic.

"And I took a little walk."

Incredible walking skills, I must say.

Many of the kids in the back row began to snicker.

"And I came across some chickens."

Chicken impressions in childhood. Everyone had to do one at one time or another.

"And we had a little talk." I mocked the talking imaginary chickens.

"So I washed those chickens."

Pretend to use a washing board.

Repeat line again, adding more violence to the washing.

"And I hung 'em on the line."

I sashayed through every invisible line as if I had caught a million chickens and counting.

"Said you can eat those chickens." Slap.

"Any old time." Exaggerate Southern Drawl.

Those are the steps to shut the boy with the big mouth up.

Mighty pleased with myself, I flew off the stage as if I were superman and twirled around the field like a cyclone.

No one could stop me as I began to scream out gibberish and whistle tunes from out of nowhere.

Never tiring, I only seemed to gain speed.

Till I stumbled over the sidewalk and fell into the grass on the other side.

All that consumed me then were giggles as I faintly heard the young boy stutter above me.

"I-I guess I-I was wrong...."

He had had it coming to him.

So what did he expect?

Gazing up at him was the only mistake I made that day.

He was so flustered.

His one hand gripping his arm as the light flowed from the sun and splashed onto his shoulders.

Cheeks a little puffed like a chipmunk's when it's holding nuts in its mouth.

Eyes having such a depth comparable to a vast forest where a small creek rushed unnoticed in the confines of its shadows.

Such a cute young boy.

Even cuter when he was silent and blushing.