Gorgeous. Bright blue sky, warm temperature, slight breeze brining the smell of tropical flowers. Looking around her with bright eyes, she took another deep breath. The smell reminded her of when her family had gone to Hawaii in her third grade. She did not remember much, but the smell would stay with her forever. Just like here. The exotic perfume coming from the flowers mixed with the briny ocean, just yards away. Nothing could compete with that smell.

A bump to her back reminded her to keep walking. "Just GO!" Her brother grumbled. Tossing a look at him through her long lashes, she picked up her suitcase and started towards the ocean. She could see it through the glass of the tiny airport.

Hali loved the ocean. More than the scent of the flowers. There was just something that sent her into a mood, almost as if she had just meditated. A calm, thoughtful mood. One of those moods were people asked you if something was wrong, and you answered everything was fine. And you actually meant it. Hali didn't know what it was. The briny scent, the cool breeze off of it, the rhythmic sound of waves on the shore, or the deep blue green color. Whatever the ocean's attraction had for her, it held her in thrall her entire life.

Perhaps it was her name. Hali laughed softly to herself, eyes fixed on the glisten of the ocean, within running distance. Her name, Hali, is Greek, and meant from the sea. Her dad, uncaring or unknowing, thought the name was pretty, and so named her. Perhaps condemning her to a life of dreaming she was a mermaid so she would never have to stop swimming. Ah, the freedom to never have to come up for air!

"Hali!" Knocked out of her musings by her brother's oh, so lovely growl, Hali scrunched her lips together and turned away from the window to look at her family. Her brother and her dad. Hali loved them, but most of the time they were such... men!

Her family story was a little confusing. Daddy, as she still called him, had never married. David was family man. He had wanted kids, even if a woman wouldn't have him. Sometimes Hali wondered if he was gay, but then watched his admittedly weak attempts at flirting with some woman, and immediately banished that idea. He was fine around guys, but so cute around women he tried to impress. Anyways, he had adopted Jace, when Jace was two and a half, and loved him like a real dad should. But he wanted a daughter.

Hali's parents were young, typical of children put up for adoption. Hali was still unborn when she was put up for adoption. Her dad jumped at the chance, wanting to have the joys of a newborn baby. Once her child was adopted, Hali's true mother wanted nothing more than to be rid of her. When she had given birth, she didn't even want to hold her, telling the doctors to give her to her new dad, who was so dedicated to having another child that he had come to the birth. Her daddy named her. Hali had never even seen her real parents, and she really didn't care to.

Walking across the small airport towards them, Hali took stock of the situation. Her dad was a scuba diver a darn good one too! Hali thought smugly. So good, that a popular resort in Rotan had offered him a job as one of their top scuba instructors. The job would come with a cottage for his family to move into, all expenses paid, such as gas, electricity and water, a jeep type car for getting around the island, and free food at the hotel during the seasons. After that we would have to make our own food.

Hali hoped life would be good. So, out of high school, and no plans for college, Hali also got a job at the hotel, although it was a sort of side job since her dad already had the job. She would do little side jobs, the tedious ones that people with real jobs hate to do.

Jace, well, Jace was slightly physically retarded. He had troubles with moving his legs. One of the reasons that her dad had adopted him was that he believed that he could help cure him. And he did, to a point. Swimming does wonderful things to a person's body, but it cannot completely cure. So, starting at the age of three, Jace had been swimming. If he wasn't developmentally disabled, Hali seriously believed that he could have gone for the Olympics. Jace was that determined to prove that he was normal, at least in swimming. He always walked in a weird stunted motion, but Hali never really noticed it anymore. Anyways, their dad didn't want Jace to be too far from an environment where he could do what he needed, and not be put down by people who think that he is mentally retarded.

Hali was another story. Her swimming was adequate, but not strong or fast. Hali had learned to swim just as early as Jace, but she wanted to see things. While Jace was going somewhere, Hali just looked around at what the ocean had to offer.

Moving towards the small pile of baggage stacked against the wall, Hali pulled out her brown roller, and stacked her carry-on on top of it. Outside, Hali was cool and collected, but inside she was shaking. She was nervous excited, and plenty ready to hit the beach.

"Hali, honey, can you take these outside. The hotel should have sent a pickup car, but I wanted to call and make sure that they know that we are here." Running a hand through his slightly shaggy brown hair, which had sun streaks in it from scuba diving so much, he looked like one of the stereo typical surfer guys, only not 18. Hali suppressed a smile. He still was very fit, and still handsome, the grey in his hair not really visible. Women usually were attracted to him, but were put off by how nervous he was.

"Sure thing dad." Rolling her luggage outside, she looked around for Jace. He stood off to the side, stiffly. Although they weren't actually siblings, Hali knew what he was thinking most of the time. The airport wasn't full, but that made it easier to see the other people. He didn't want to move, showing his handicap. A sad smile drifted across her lips. Poor Jace, although he would hate her if she thought she was giving him pity. Sympathy, after all, she wasn't about to give him too much. He could beat her up still.
Sidling up to him, she nudged him. "The sooner you get outside, the quicker we can be gone." He looked down at her, the haunted look in his eyes. Growing up had not been easy on him. Smiling up at him, she hooked her arm through his, letting him put more weight on her to ease the pressure off of his legs, and led him towards the door. She knew from experience that this would help minimize his limp, making it seem as if he had a twisted ankle.

Once outside, she took another breath of the air. "Jace, I... do you think this is a good idea. You know, moving down here?" Hali had left a few friends behind, but as most of them were moving to different states to go to college, she did not leave much behind. Well, Hali smirked slightly; she had left behind a job at the grocery store, where a perverted guy would always hit on her. It was amusing to see his face when she told everyone she was leaving her job. He had wanted to know where she was getting a new one. His face was quite comical when she explained she was leaving the country.

"Ya, I do, at least, for me. I think that this will be wonderful." Jace spoke in his deep, rich voice. Smiling up at him and squeezing his arm, she stared off at the ocean for a second, and went back inside.

After dragging the rest of their luggage out, a jeep pulled up. Inside was one of the friendliest looking grandma type ladies she had ever seen. Emblazoned on the side of the jeep was the logo for Beachside Scuba Resort. Which was the hotel, or resort, where they were going to be living from now on. After looking around at the sparse crowd, she got out of her jeep and walked straight over towards Hali and Jace.

"Hello there dears! Am I correct in assuming that you are the Nelson family?" After their nods of agreement, their dad walked out the door. "Ah, and you must be David Nelson. How do you do? I am Elsa Black; I spoke with you a number of times on the phone."

"Ah, Elsa, how are you!" Their dad was a very friendly man, one who conversed easily with almost everyone, except ladies he found attractive. After the common pleasantries were exchanged, they loaded their gear into the car, and started down the road. Staring straight ahead at the ever growing patch of water, Hali got nerves in her stomach. Almost there, almost there, she repeated to herself.