Out of the Blue

4

Locking up her bike, she headed straight into the break room to punch her card. 7:01. She looked around to see if anyone caught her. Stephanie got up late today, not getting much sleep the night before. All she could think about was Andrew. He was so outgoing. He treated her like they were best friends since forever. Maybe that's why everyone likes him at school. He's not afraid to be himself. He also can read people so easily, how did he know Stephanie was so tense when all they were doing was talking and training Mila? What else could he figure out by just looking at her? Could he tell that she liked him? So many questions swarmed her head that night.

That morning she also brought along her surfboard. After a long day of work she wanted to relax with some night surfing. Clear her head.

" Looks like someone is late." Stephanie turned around to see Andrew.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'll try harder tomorrow. I promise!" She panicked a little but he just laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm just messing with you, Ms. Darla is really easy going. She just likes to seem intimidating." Andrew picked up the clipboard hanging on the wall. " Looks like we're cleaning the big salt water tank after we feed the fish. You're not afraid of sharks are you?"

"Nope" she lied. She feared spiders and bugs the most but sharks were not exactly on the bottom of her list.

"Cool. And if you don't bother the sharks they won't bother you." He replied.

Stephanie was really curious. Andrew seemed to know everything inside and out about this aquarium. So she just had to ask, "So how long have you worked here?"

"Oh I couldn't even tell you. I basically grew up here," he smiled and continued on, " Ms. Darla basically helped raise me when my parents would go on expeditions. The two of them are marine biologists and Ms. Darla is my neighbor. When I wasn't at school I would come here and help her with the aquarium and I eventually just started working here ever since. This aquarium may look run down but its truly special it's basically my second home."

Stephanie's eyes were intent. She would have never guessed how much this place meant to him.

" That's amazing." She said. " I would always pass this place and stare at the aquariums behind the fence."

"That was you? I remember that!" He lit up and so did she. " Ok let's get to cleaning that tank."

The two of them got in their wet suits and scuba gear. They went up the passage to the top of the tank and Stephanie's heart started to pound as she saw an eight foot sand shark fin cut the surface of the water. Andrew looked at her with concern but she smiled to reassure him that she was fine. He slipped into the water with supplies and she sat there.

"Come on, get in." He motioned with his hands.

"Um, just a couple seconds." Her chest started to rise and fall rapidly.

"You're scared of sharks aren't you." He voiced with concern, eyes piercing into her. She couldn't lie to him, so she just nodded. Andrew swam close to her, lifted himself out of the tank and sat next to her, extended his hand and told her gently "I won't let anything hurt you, I'll protect you, I promise." Stephanie smiled and took a hold of his strong hand and they entered the water together.

She could hear her heart beat under the water. Looking around, she was surrounded by beautiful colors and the clearest water. The sight was breathtaking. One of the sharks swam in front of her and she felt a hand grab her wrist. Andrew pulled her hand out to touch the shark. The skin was like sandpaper. After her fears seemed to dissolve in the water, they began to clean the tank. Everything was so peaceful. It took three hours to clean the whole tank. They both looked at each other when they were done, nodded, and began to surface.

"Nice work" Andrew said after he took out his mouth piece.

"Thanks" she replied. Stephanie was out of breath but managed to hide it. They both got out, dried off and walked to the break room.

"So how come I've never seen you at school?" Andrew asked, running his fingers through his wet hair.

"We had physics and history together actually." Stephanie cautioned.

"Really?" He seemed surprised.

"Yeah. I'm just really quiet at school." She replied.

"Huh. Well I think you should speak up more because in my opinion you're pretty cool and people should get to know you."

"Oh, thanks," she blushed, " and you're not bad yourself. Different then I expected"

"And what did you expect?"

"Well, you're popular and I'm not. I thought they only liked popular people and not branching out from their group." She said. Andrew paused and now Stephanie was regretting what she said. About to take back what she said Andrew cut her off.

"No, you're absolutely right. I've always hated it. Everyone judges you so harshly so you have to watch and double check every step you make. That's why I hate the separation at school. Also, what ever you do everyone else just has to do it. That's why I don't hang out with my friends in summer and none of them know about my aquarium. I tell everyone I go to vacation all summer but I guess you can say work is my vacation."

" Yeah I guess it is. Well I absolutely love it here. Ms. Darla runs a great place." Stephanie said.

"Haha thanks. You know she can't stop talking about you?," Stephanie tilted her head in surprise. " She thinks you have such a way with the animals and a great heart. And let me tell you, Ms. Darla's word is law." Andrew chuckled.

"Well she's a great lady it sounds like."

"She really is. And this place means the world to her. I would hate to see it shut down. We just need more sales" he looked to the floor.

"We'll find a way." Stephanie reassured.

"Yeah. Yeah we will." Andrew smiled, crumpled his brown bag into a ball and threw it in the trash.