‘Cast your eyes on the ocean,

‘Cast your eyes on the ocean,

Cast your soul to the sea,

When the dark night seems endless,

Please remember me.’

-Loreena Mckennitt

WARNING : One swear word used.

I was ready to launch myself at Cecilia’s smug face, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it in front of Adam, who I didn’t want to think I was some sort of savage.

“Oh,” was all I said, feeling like the world had come to a stop.

“Do you know each other?” Adam asked, seeing the way I was murderously glaring at Leith.

“As a matter of fact,” I smiled, putting a cloying tone to my voice, “we do.”

Leith shifted uncomfortably, and I noticed that Cecilia had a vice-like grip on his hand.

“Uh...Cecilia? If you don’t let go, you’re going to cut the circulation off from his arm,” I said, still smiling. Sadie turned away, hoping to conceal her laughter.

Cecilia’s aquamarine eyes glazed over with hate, and I wanted to wring my hands in disgust and walk away. But I couldn’t, now could I?

“I found that Leith here,” Cecilia opened her mouth, and I could just see the frogs and snakes jumping out of it. “Indeed knows you quite well. Getting busy, have we Lehman?”

It was like she had dropped out of a teenage soap opera and right before my face. Why me? And anyways, any animal she’s going to ‘take care of’ is either going to run away, die, or assault her on spot. Since when does Cecilia use the word ‘indeed’?

“Did your daddy bribe you into getting this job?” I said, crossing my hands over my chest. Her perfectly chiseled jaw dropped open. “Because the last time I saw you interacting with animals was when Valentine the bunny was attacking you in class.”

Cecilia’s lips pursed together. “That rabbit was vicious.”

“No, he wasn’t. He just got scared at the sight of your ugly mug,” I shot back, remembering the unfortunate lagomorph running around, scared out of his mind.

“You’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not,” Cecilia’s smug smile was back, and she clung tighter to the poor Leith, who hadn’t spoken a word.

“That happens all the time. I’m used to it...I’m wondering what’ll happen to the poor animals,” I said, holding a hand to my face and making a worried expression.

“Why, you little skank!” Cecilia cried. “I’m perfectly qualified for this, and I’ll do a great job taking care of the animals.”

Who’s the skank? I asked myself, and shut my mouth when I saw Adam’s expression.

“Break it up, ladies,” he warned, and I didn’t reply. Cecilia puckered up her face and made her blue eyes tear up. Dammit, she really did know how to get guys where she wanted.

“She started it,” Cecilia whimpered, and Adam simply looked away.

“We’re going have to wait for my dad,” Adam said, breaking away from the subject.

“Your dad?” Sadie asked, and Adam nodded.

“Yeah, the manager of the Marine Center.”

The manager?!