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“This field trip is dangerous, like I said,” Kendall snorted
“Let’s fetch your parents,” Mr Aquino said “I’m sure they’ll want to take you home”
Shelly’s mind flashed to hoamped her mom and dad were at work, not toshe wanted was to be another thing her parents had to worry about, especially when it was just a little water
“No, I’o back to school I’ in the water”
“All right then Let’s at least get you dry”
After thanking Enrique, Mr Aquino helped her back up the beach toward the aquariuainst the dark sky like a sea palace Shelly glanced back at the ocean That hen she saw the at her
Then the eyes diverged, swi in different directions until they were suddenly sed up by the dark waves Shelly took the nautilus out of her pocket and clutched it in her hand, feeling chills
The bus was already loaded with her classmates and ready to whisk her back to school, where her lanced through theat Enrique She could barely ht, but he lifted one hand to wave goodbye He saved ht She didn’t want to think about ould have happened if he hadn’t
For soot out of her seat beside Shelly and moved to an empty roard the front of the bus, and the twins followed her silently Shelly didn’t knohy they were acting so weird, but she hoped it didn’t have to do with her al or Enrique
Maybe littering wasn’t worth it after all, she thought sourly
But still she was deterirls the first chance she got For now she needed a breather and was somewhat relieved to be alone at the back of the bus
“Shell-fish, did you get it?” Dawson hounded Shelly the second she walked into the kitchen Her mom went directly to her bedroom and shut the door
“Go away,” Shelly said, feeling exhaustion in every inch of her body She glanced around the kitchen Dirty dishes were stacked in the sink Overflowing trash needed to be taken out Dawson’s algae-covered fish tank sat on the counter, needing to be cleaned for a new occupant
“So, what kind of fish did you get?” Dawson asked
She had to think of sooldfish, exactly,” she said, knowing she had to play this just right to avoid aher phone privileges or getting grounded and having to skip the swim meet the next day