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“Then prove it. What’s the name of that fish?” She pointed to a bright orange-and-white fish floating in a sea anemone’s glowing blue tentacles. Its adorable little face poked out.
“Clown fish . . . also known as anemonefish.”
“Okay. And what are its attributes?” pressed Shelly.
Enrique studied the fish as the sea anemone’s tentacles caressed it. “Well, it’s called anemonefish because it’s symbiotic with that sea anemone. The anemone’s tentacles are poisonous—but not to the clown fish. Those tentacles protect it from unwanted predators.”
“And that?” Shelly pointed to two eyes in the sand.
He rolled his eyes. “A flounder, obviously. Ask me a hard one next time, okay?”
Shelly giggled. He really was a science nerd like her. For a moment, her troubles dissolved, but then they rushed back in, like a riptide. She glanced around and lowered her voice.
“All right, something did happen . . .” she started, feeling completely paranoid. Tourists milled around the exhibits. “But you have to promise me that you won’t think I’m crazy.”
“I swear,” he said. “Cross my heart.”
“And we can’t talk here,” she added. “We need to talk somewhere private.”
He lifted the slop bucket. “I know just the place.”
* * *
Shelly and Enrique stepped out onto the sundeck, where the aquarium looked out on the open sea. The waves rolled uneasily in the distance while clouds built overhead. It looked like a storm was coming in over the Pacific. Cold wind whipped off the water and tousled their hair, bringing with it the briny tang of the sea. It was a smell Shelly had once loved, but now it reminded her of evil.
But instead of staying outside with the tourists, Enrique pulled her backstage behind the dolphin exhibit, where only the dolphin trainers were permitted. PRIVATE: KEEP OUT signs were posted, but Enrique ignored them. He was practically staff at this point. He’d been going there with his brother, Miguel, for a long time, helping out and learning everything—and apparently studying Shelly like some curious creature while he was at it.
Enrique tossed some fish to the dolphins, who gathered in excitement. He patted Lil’ Mermy on the head when he swam up to the side. “Good boy,” he said as the dolphin squeaked and snatched another fish out of the air.
“He is,” Shelly said, forgetting her worries for a moment. The dolphins had that effect on her. And as much as she hated to admit it, so did Enrique. She could still remember when Lil’ Mermy was born that spring in the aquarium. It was a big deal to have a newborn in captivity. The tiny dolphin baby had grown up and was basically a mischievous teenager now. Well, the dolphin equivalent, anyway.
“Remember when he stole my brother’s hat?” Enrique said, tossing another fish.
Shelly giggled. “Oh, I heard about that. He snatched it right off his head, then dragged it through the exhibit to show off his new find.”
Enrique smiled. “Yeah, my brother wasn’t thrilled about that. He still had the original stickers on it.”
“Hazards of working at an aquarium,” she said, smiling at the dolphin pod happily munching on their fish snacks. “You know, sometimes I think they’re smarter than us. And they’re definitely more sensitive,” she said, patting Lil’ Mermy. “Just look in their eyes.”
The dolphin purred and squeaked in appreciation.
Enrique looked at her. Their eyes met. “That’s so weird,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Thought I was the only one who believed that.”
“Ha, same,” she said with a smile.
When Enrique finished feeding them, Shelly led him over to the catwalk that crossed above the tanks, where they sat with their feet dangling over the dolphin exhibit. She looked down at the gloves hiding her webbed fingers. The scarf remained wrapped firmly around her neck.
He nudged her shoulder. “Hey, really, it can’t be that bad.”
She sighed. “You have no idea.”
“Try me,” he said, nudging her again. “Promise I won’t judge. Is it about your parents?”
She shook her head. “You’ll just call me nerd or fish lover, like everyone else.”
“Well, I like nerds. Especially ones who are into marine biology.”
Shelly hesitated. Kendall’s sneering face in the locker room flashed through her head.
