"This class is always so boring," I say to Delilah as we sit in calculus. "I'm literally bored out of my mind!"
"Well, yes, it is calculus, but... We get to go to Mapletree Road after this!" Delilah says, always looking on the bright side of things. "I can't wait to meet Izzy. And I'm sure that there will be plenty of beautiful birds there to watch. Oh, and I'm excited to see your skateboard!"
"Wow, we have a lot to look forward to, I guess," I mumble, not knowing that she was so excited. "Well, I can't wait either."
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"I love it out here! The scenery is beautiful. And everything is so peaceful." Delilah says while riding her lilac-blue bike on Mapletree Road.
"Same! This is why I come here all the time. I'm glad you like it out here too." We turn left into the orange forest, and I lead her to the wooded clearing. I lean my rusty skateboard up against a large oak tree, Delilah follows and leans her bike up against the same oak tree. She spins around in circles with her arms spread out. Then she falls back on the blue, plaid fleece blanket while laughing. I join her.
"Look at that cloud! It looks sort of like a sparrow!" Delilah says while pointing up at the magnificent blue sky.
"Oh, wow! This one looks like a... a... um, I don't know." I stutter while trying to carry the conversation, but failing. Delilah starts bursting out laughing. I smile at her and start laughing too. Then, in an instant, we hear some leaves crackling. And Izzy runs on to the blue blanket and starts sniffing Delilah's face. "Delilah, this is Izzy! Izzy, this is Delilah." I say while petting Izzy's fuzzy head.
"Aw, she's so cute!" Delilah mutters while making a scrunched up face.
"Wow, look at all these books!" She says while standing up and walking towards the edge of the clearing. She went through the stacks of old books, touching some of them as she went by. She looked up at some of the taller, more lean stacks of worn-out books. Delilah is shorter than most eleventh graders. Then, she walked by the book I was reading the other day, "Beauty in Everything? This sounds like a good book. How do you like it so far?"
"It's an excellent book," I mumble, still petting Izzy. "My favorite part is this beautiful photograph of a beach scene; it's on-page fourteen."
Then, Delilah grabs the book off the ground, which is covered in bronze-colored leaves and opens it to page fourteen. "Wow! This is absolutely beautiful!"
"I know, right. I wish I could go there." I sigh sorrowfully.
"Well, if you like it so much and you wish you could go there, then..."
"Delilah, where are you going with this?"
"Celeste! Is it not obvious? Let's go to this beach!" Delilah exclaims in a very joyful and excited tone.
"What? Wait really? I mean, it's possible. The photograph had to have been taken somewhere. We would just have to search the photograph, find the photographer, ask them where they took the photo, and go there!" I say very excitedly. This will probably be easier said than done.
"Yeah! Uhhh, right." Delilah started, realizing the same thing I did. "Can I take the book home so I can research the photograph?"
"Sure. Here's my number, text me when you find the photographer." I mumble, hopeful while handing her a piece of paper.
"Okay. I'll talk to you tomorrow about the progress." Delilah says, heading toward her lilac bike. She got on the bike, put the book in her basket, and rode out of the wooded clearing. Back on to Mapletree Road.
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That night I couldn't stop thinking about the beach scene. This sky was a perfect mix of different shades of pastels and pinks. The sun is reflecting on the marvelous, shining, blue water, making it glimmer with the setting sun. I can hear and imagine the lavender waves crashing up against the golden sand. I really hope Delilah is able to find the photographer.
When I wake up the next morning, I immediately check my phone for any texts from Delilah. Nothing. Well, hopefully, she'll find something later on today. Or maybe she'll tell me about it at school. I get out of bed and start to get ready. While I'm eating my breakfast, I remember: "Today we get out for fall break! We have two weeks off!"
On the bright yellow school bus, Delilah and I talk all about the photograph. She tells me that she wasn't able to find the photographer, but she was able to find and research the photograph a little. She even was able to find out its name.
"It's called 'Empyreal.' Meaning heavenly or Celestial."