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He handed it around It resembled a tiny conical hat and fit nicely in one, and shards of broken white barnacles covered the surface

"Technically, the limpet is a snail," he said "A bit chewy forand a half se--and probably incorrect--thought that he’d said it for my benefit

"Now it’s your turn," he said "You walk the beach, iry and alone Search for iteht be surprised at what you find"

A couple of the girls-- at once "I can hardly see," one of theriped

I didn’t bother to check who’d spoken I just walked away, anxious for a little space to provemy own selection of awesome foodstuffs

"Why does this class have to be now?" Isabella asked, closer to me than I’d realized She’d probably decided to followon

"Yeah, wouldn’t it be better, like, in daylight?" one of her friends said

"We can hardly see"

Ronan spoke as if to a child "If you are alone, stranded, on a , chances are it’s because night has fallen You must prepare for the worst of circu pitch-darkness to make it evenour separate ways along the beach I turned my focus to the plentiful and varied detritus that’d been spat from the sea There were tons of shells, e a couple whole ones froht of survival scenarios If I eak, starving, and unarmed, how on earth was I supposed to crack these suckers open? It was a good question, but I’d beco overheard You never knehen so a shell bare-handed would be the skill that saved you over soirls’ splashing footsteps nearshells," Isabella said All her friends but one had wandered off, so it was just her and a tall, skinny, brown-haired girl whose gangly legs made me think of a spider Her na that sounded wealthy, Tiffany or Whitney irl in my head "Hey," Izzy told her, "help me look here"

I smirked Fine They could have the breakers I had a better idea

High tide had left a line of debris farther up the sand, like so the length of the beach Bits of greenery popped here and there, little poofs like tiny bright pom-poms It was kelp That stuff wasn’t just edible; it was probably even healthy

I race-walked toward it and scooped up the first bit I found It was sli I’d ever want to put in my mouth But it was nutrient rich

I clutcheda beeline for Ronan I wanted props for this before any other girl copied ot credit for the idea It rabbed ood Isabella and her pal had me, one on either side Their hands were steel bands aroundat my cheek, "Wanna play?"

"Back off" I took a sharp step back but couldn’t break their hold

Isabella tightened her grip and wrenched rinned, and it wasn’t a friendly one She dug her fingers deep into nore her--she can’t do anything Isn’t that right, Drew? You’re just a little girl" This close, she towered over ly intoto play"

I twisted, but she was so close, too close for h I kneouldn’t do any good "I had no idea you cared Shouldn’t you buy ave a hard shove, steering ed my feet Near the water with these tas the last place I wanted to findcloser to the breakers "Get…off"

I looked right and left, suppressing the frantic sensation jangling its way up s to er in sight A few girls were beachco in the distance, and even if they had been nearby, they’d probably just watch anyway, cheering on Isabella and her friend

"Looking for soave a sharp twist toto have some major bruises "Soly close "But ant to bother you" The smell of her breath, like stale coffee, turned th, and I ed to slip ain, and I felt the pop of er sincethe saer, too

The tide lapped at our feet now I’d forgotten I had the kelp clutched init into the wet sand with my foot If I couldn’t have it, they couldn’t either

But Spidergirl had spotted it "Whatcha got?" She let go of me to lean down and scoop it up

I kicked at her head, but Isabella hauled me back before I could connect "What is it?" Izzy deest cluled, all squashed and covered in sand She held it up, pinning a look on"What the hell is this?"

"I bet you can eat it," Isabella said, one part of her nment