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"What are you girls about?" It was Ronan

Finally

Isabella popped to her feet "Tracer Ronan"

Her friend had been trying to pull away fro into the shalloaves

I skittered away like a crab, and as I did, I spotted reen bobbing lirabbed it anyway, just as it was about to be washed away by a wave I raised it overthis Kelp This is edible" The words came out rapid fire I was sure I sounded like a madwoman

He looked at ht I saw strains of worry, anger, exasperation, and just the slightest bit of aaze went to the other two "And you? What did you find while you wereabout in the breakers?"

Isabella was silent, her face a total blank as she returned Ronan’s stare It was her innocent look, and I couldn’t help but let out a puff of a laugh at the sight of it

"Nothing?" He checked his watch "It’s been over an hour and you’ve nothing to show for it?"

"No," Izzy said quietly

He looked to Spidergirl "You, too, Aubrey?"

So that was her na at Isabella, staring daggers I noticed how she was soaked while Izzy was mostly dry Clearly this hadn’t been Aubrey’s idea

"Fine," Ronan said "You have fifteenin schools See there" He pointed "Just past the break You won’t return to the dor it to one "We have to get in the water?"

"You seeure it out"

Aubrey stabbed a finger in et a fish?"

"Acari Drew has her kelp You, however, must retrieve a fish Now Unless you wish me to make it two"

He headed back up the beach, and I followed It wasn’t like alking together, just walking in the sairls, telling the their finds to him at the truck, but I stayed silent I dared not thank hie with Izzy and Aubrey could’ve easily been interpreted as hi favorites, and I didn’t knohich would be erous--for him to have a teacher’s pet, or for nored me, he slowed until ere nearly side by side He’d seen e Rover ca teeth and said, "S-so, does this ave a steely nod, and I peeled off in the other direction, but then he surprisedat him It was almost completely dark now, and I tried to et it? Would he tear into ed his ather my own fish after all?

"You’re cold," he said instead "You know I can’t drive you back…"

For a surreal , but my cheeks flamed hot "That’s cool," I said quickly "I can walk I want to walk" I tried to sound casual Noret out of there

"I’ve a towel in the car" His eyes were so solenow,I’d have killed for a towel, but I also had the gut sense that I needed to get away I’d been alone with Ronan tons of times I reminded myself ere cool This was normal He was kind of on my side

And yet we’d always maintained complete formality in front of other people So ith the towel? It was such a siht it be construed as preferential treatment? He wouldn’t offer Izzy and Aubrey a towel--I’d have bet on it What would the other girls think?

What would Carden think? I had a feeling Ronan knew aboutlike this? Did he suspect our bond and worry forout for me?

I didn’t knohat to do I didn’t knohat the rules were So instead I just stared du foolish," he said, and his sudden coldness snappedfoolish

"Sorry You’re right" I laughed and shook "