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A worried face peered down at her Enrique “Shelly, are you okay?” he asked with a shake of his head His curls sprayed salt water, and his clothes were drenched and clung to him

“Y-yes,” Shelly choked out Her voice sounded hoarse

“I thought I lost you” Enrique’s eyes flashed concern as he helped her to her feet

Her ankle buckled as he propped her upright He’s stronger than he looks, she thought She glanced down at her foot Her pants were torn by her ankle, and a circular red welt hts spun “Waithat?” she uttered She took in her surroundings Waves rolled in the dark, moonlit sea beyond the beach

How did I get on the beach? she thought

“What were you doing on the catwalk? Miguel doesn’t let o up there It’s not safe”

Shelly searched her foggy memory The catwalkthe plastic cup in the ocean

“You’re lucky I was nearby,” Enrique went on, wringing the botto with the dolphins on the sundeck when I heard your friends scream Well, e wave come out of nowhere and hit you”

That’s right, Shelly thought The wave

“Don’t worry, your friends are fine,” he added with a lopsided grin “Just a bit shaken”

Hereyes The wave sweeping her off the catwalk Shelly trying to swi pulled down, thennothing

“Y-you saved me,” Shelly stammered “Thank you”

“Don’tto be a lifeguard next summer”

“Rightreally lucky,” she said, in shock that she hadn’t suffered a worse fate “Thank you again Hey, where are Mr Aquino and the rest of the class? Are they still here?”

“No sweat,” Enrique said “Everyone’s at the bus Oh! I al his hands into his jeans pocket “When I pulled you out, you were holding this You didn’t want to let it go” He held out a nautilus shell It was about the size of her fist