<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #4080FF">"We're not piss drunk, so nah, kissing this soon aftah ya meet someone isn't normal,"</span> she sniggered as they ascended. She doubted he knew how flattering it was when he told her things like oh, she was the only person in Boston worth chasing. The subtlety of the compliment made it so much better. They ascended hand in hand, her dragging a little way behind him with only a few swoops of her tail for additional support every now and then. <span style="color: #4080FF">"More than friends, yeah,"</span> she mumbled. She cupped his face and gave him a slow kiss goodbye. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Right. I'll see ya later, Dimitri."</span> She ruffled his hair and watched it tangle in the water with a wide grin on her face, before she blew him a kiss and sped off to the east towards Grover's Cliff.<br/><br/>Alannah congratulated herself on the fact that she had found Grover's when she got up, just like she did after every dive. Even though it was late afternoon and great weather, people always chose to hang around the sandy parts of the long beaches, and never around the uneven rocks and rusty metal stairs. She climbed up slowly, wet hair spilling over her shoulders, fingers crossed in hope of an empty park. Granted, her clothes were in their usual spot in the bush right next to the stairs, but still. Luckily, no one was there and she quickly put on her uniform, sneakers, and jacket from yesterday on, got ready to go home, and then decided to check her phone. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">Uh-ohhhh.</span></span> Seven missed calls. All from Daniel. She gnawed her lip guiltily and dialed.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FFFF80">"Where <span style="font-style: italic">have</span> you been?!"</span> The angry answer came after barely two rings. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Dan, I'm sorry, I guess I just didn't he-"</span> <span style="color: #FFFF80">"Alannah Starkey, we do <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> just leave with strangers and then disappear for a whole day without a word! We do <span style="font-style: italic">not</span>! All kinds of crazy shit happens to girls who aren't careful! Do you understand how worried I was? I almost called Elise!"</span> Alannah bit back an immature response, because she knew Daniel was right, even though she still thought he was acting too protectively. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Dan, I'm so sorry. But ya didn't need to worry, Dimitri..."</span> An annoyed huff interrupted her. <span style="color: #4080FF">"...Dimitri is a decent guy. And please don't call ma aftah just a dee of me not answering. I'm a big girl, Daniel."</span> There was a period of silence, and even though he was nearly an hour away, Alannah couldn't help but look at the ground in embarrassment instead of facing the tree in front of her. She could clearly picture Daniel, his arms crossed and staring at her over the rim of his glasses. He still sounded mildly angry when he asked her if she was getting sick. <span style="color: #4080FF">"Nah. Or, maybe a little bit."</span> Alannah cleared her throat. Her voice was still hoarse from the salt water, and now that he had presented her with this little opportunity, she wasn't going to let it pass. <span style="color: #4080FF">"I'm thinking that maybe I should stay home tomorrow. It's a short shift anyway, just, uh, seven hours? Please can ya covah?"</span> Daniel sighed. <span style="color: #FFFF80">"Fine. But you're still coming by right this instant so I can yell at you."</span><br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: silver;background:silver;"/></div><br/>Alannah flopped down on her bed still fully clothed that evening. Daniel had had good reason to worry, since he could not possibly had known she had spent her whole day off underwater. It would be so much easier if she just told him about her and her family. She sighed deeply. Why did it have to be a secret, anyway, that you were a fish every seven days? Tucking herself in, she hugged her stuffed shark and feel asleep with his words still ringing in her ears.<br/><br/>It was wonderful to be able to sleep late. Or, well, until ten. Alannah had the whole morning to panic about what to wear. Settling at last for a light blue Tee and a black overall skirt, she ate a hasty breakfast and went out. She chose her hiding spot carefully. It had to be both close to the café and a little away from it, and she had to be able to look out in both directions, since she had no idea where Dimitri might come from. She settled for leaning against the wall right next to a small alleyway she could easily disappear down if one of her co-workers showed up. She looked at her phone. Ten minutes to twelve. Satisfied with her timing and location, she folded her arms and waited, unable to stop smiling at every stranger that went past.</div>