Joey Hopper//Will Byers -Book two-

The pollywog: Part two

Dustin slams a thick pile of books onto the desk, making my head slightly spin.

"At first," he starts. "I thought it was some type of pollywog."

"Pollywog?" Max questions.

"It's like a tadpole." I specify.

"Yes," Dustin exclaims. "A tadpole is the larval stage of a toad."

Max rolls her eyes. "I know what a tadpole is."

"All right, then you know that most tadpoles are aquatic, right?" Dustin asks, receiving a nod from the whole group of us. He then flips open a book until he lands on a specific page. "Well, Dart, he isn't. He doesn't need water."

"Yeah but aren't there none-aquatic pollywogs?" Lucas questions.

Dustin turns to him, "terrestrial pollywogs? Yep, two to be exact. Indirana semipalmata and the Adenomera andreae. Ones from India and ones from south Africa."

"That's weird." I murmur.

"Yeah." Dustin agrees, "so how did one end up in my trash?"

Max shrugs, "maybe some scientists brought it here and it escaped?"

Mike suddenly leans forward, getting closer to Dart.

"Do you guys see that?" He asks.

I look down and am immediately disgusted and confused.

"Somethings moving inside of it." I say as I watch the small bump move under the creature's skin.

Mike grabs the lamp and moves it over dart to get a better look. The second the light hits his skin though Dart starts screeching like a creature far bigger than itself.

We all jump back in shock and Dart attempts to make a getaway. Dustin runs to the end of the table and puts his hands out, catching Dart just as he jumps off of the desk.

"It's okay," Dustin exhales with a smile. "I got you, little guy. I know you don't like that. It's okay...And there's another thing. Reptiles, their cold blooded. Ectothermic, right? They love heat, the sun. Dart hates it. It hurts him."

Lucas shakes his head. "So, if he's not a pollywog or a reptile..."

"Then I've discovered a new species." Dustin exclaims.

Despite everything I still manage a smile. "That's epic."

Suddenly the bell rings and chimes in my ears. Everyone jumps to get their stuff. I pull my backpack over my shoulder and start to make my way to my next class.

"We gotta show Mr. Clarke." Lucas says from besides me.

Dustin's eyes go wide, "what if he steals my discovery!"

"He's not going to steal your discovery." Mike says.

"You know," Dustin starts. "I'm thinking of calling it Dustonious Pollywogus."

"That's a really bad name." I say with a smirk.

"Oh yeah, 'princess Joey.'" Lucas mocks.

I lightly punch him in the side, "shut it."

"What do you think?" Dustin turns to Max.

"I think you're an idiot." She says, making me laugh.

"You guys are great." I say.

"Joe-" Mike starts

"No," I cut him off. "I really mean it, thank you."

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