Remember Me

An email message sat opened up on the laptop screen, the words lovingly typed out, the text decorated with various pictures, smilies and other such things one could use to detail and decorate an electronic message with. The sender talked about things that had happened, things that were happening and things that may happen. There were parts about how the sender missed the one receiving the message, and how they were looking forward to seeing them again. Life moved on elsewhere, even if he couldn't see it. It made Lake miss the sender even more.

With a warm sigh, Lake flopped backwards onto his bed, staring up at his dorm room ceiling. Ever since moving to the private school, he received at least one email per week from his best friend back home. Lately, however, she'd been away visiting a family member who didn't have Internet access, meaning there was little contact from her for a while. Judging by the large email, the girl was back at her own home now, and simply had to tell Lake all about it, as well as reminiscing about the past along the way.

Letting eyes slip closed, small smile settling on his lips, Lake remembered some of the events that had been brought up in the letter.

"Where are we going, Tiffy?" the little boy with the blond hair asked, bare feet leaving foot prints in the sand dunes they were running across. "I promised Momma I would help with dinner."

The six year old giggled, flopping down to sit on the very top of the highest sand dune. "No no worry, Nutmeg," she giggled, looking up at her friend through her big sunglasses. "Tiffy wanted to show you the sand king." Her small hand reached out, pointing towards the ocean.

Following her hand, the seven year old Lake tried to see whatever it was that Tiffany was implying, lifting a hand up over his eyes to block out the glare of the sun. "I don't see anythin',"

"No no, you has to sit down!" she told him, tugging on his giant t-shirt, the white fabric with Garfield printed on the front almost engulfing the boy's small torso, making it seem more like a dress on him. "You can't see him unless you sit down," and she looked back out towards the blue sea, tapping her pink sandals together. She was a cute, dark haired girl wearing sunglasses that were perhaps a little too big for her face, a cheerful white sun hat with a daisy on the front, and a white summer dress with pink hearts printed on the skirt.

Doing as he was told, Lake flopped down into the grassy sand beside her, looking out over the horizon, still unable to see the sand king, which caused a small pout to form on his face, brows furrowing together. "He's not there, Tiffy," he announced sadly. "I can't see the sand king. Does he not like me?"

She looked over at her friend and smiled brightly at him, reaching over and giving him a big hug. "He likes you, Nutmeg. Tiffy promises that he likes you, he's probably just nervous that you might be the sand prince come to steal his kingdom."

"I wouldn't steal his kingdom,"

"Tiffy knows, but the sand king may be not so sure." Tiffany gave a shrug, then stood up, brushing the sand from her dress. "Do you wants to go play in the ocean?"

Lake sighed, shrugging once more. "I don't know, Tiffy. I should go help Momma with dinner."

Standing before him, the girl held out her hand. "Only for a little while. Annie will come gets you if she wants you."

"But I have to look after Rain..." he trailed off, obviously not wanting to go home to his little brother. River was visiting some friends, which meant it was up to Lake to entertain the youngest family member while their mother cooked. Lake didn't get along well with his little brother, even though Rain was still very young and didn't understand.

"Do it for Tiffy?" she asked meekly, still holding out her hand.

Looking to the little hand before him, a bright smile spread across his face, and Lake leaped up from his spot on the ground and began racing towards the water, laughing along the way. Laughing herself, tiffany turned and chased after him, pausing to take off her sandals so that she could catch up with the older boy.

Opening his eyes to stare up at the ceiling once more. He had never been able to see the so-called 'sand king' Tiffany had spoke of, but the pair often went looking for him on a daily basis. Pushing himself up into a seated position, fingers brushed through the now much darker strands of blond. When he was young, Lake had almost bleached blond hair, but growing up had darkened it considerably. About to settle into replying to his friend, there was the sound of the door opening, and the fourth year's head flew up towards it, expecting it to be his room mate returning.

"Lake, you're late for dinner," came the thick Russian accent spilling over the older male's lips. "You said you'd meet me in the cafeteria an hour ago. I was looking forward to it. I even dressed up."

"It wasn't a date, Dimitri," Lake giggled, fingers tapping away on the keyboard, no longer looking at the other male. "I got an email from my friend back home." He could feel the bed shift beneath him as extra weight was added, Dimitri moving to sit behind him. "She was warning me about a dark prince who will come and steal my innocence away."

"Mmmm...Were they now?" he purred, trailing kisses down Lake's neck, grinning as the teen tilted his head in the opposite direction to reveal more soft flesh. "I'll have to keep on the lookout from any princes that may come your way."

Fingers had ceased working, and eyes had slipped closed. A soft, quiet moan rolled over parted lips as Lake lapped up the attention. "I think I found him," he purred.