Read Online Fish Out of Water by Natalie Whipple - Free Book Online Page A

so they didn’t have to deal with him. Now they’re not happy with how he turned out, and I find it rather…frustrating.”
    “Is that why you took him in?”
    “Partly,” he says, looking at the school of fish nearest him. “Also because I believe family is family, even when they’re not behaving how you’d like. Of course you can’t be an enabler, but you don’t just throw people away. Especially in their darkest hours, when they need you the most.”
    His words hit me right in the gut. Scary how much they apply to me. “You really think that?”
    He nods. “Now get back to scrubbing, and I expect you to change at lunch.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    As I continue cleaning the tanks, Clark’s words repeat in my head. Mom has always told me that taking the high road is better, even though it’s harder, and I agree with Clark that you shouldn’t throw people out. But I’m not sure that applies when said “family member” has never been part of your life because your parents knew they’d only hurt you. Besides, wasn’t Betty the one who threw my parents out?
    I don’t know what happened with Dylan, but he’s not Betty. She’s already had enough second chances. She needs to leave, and I’ll do what I have to in order to make that happen.
    Dylan manages to avoid me until after lunch, but now he approaches the Aquatics island slowly, as if he’s trying not to anger a tiger. He better be careful, because I’m still pissed about him ratting me out. “You better scrub these tanks all week, otherwise I’ll tell Clark you’re still a jerk to me, and he’ll make you clean up all the poop in the store.”
    “Probably. You are teacher’s pet,” he says.
    My eyes narrow. “I’m not the tattler. And after I covered for you at the beach and everything!”
    He holds up his hands. “Fine, maybe I shouldn’t have, but you looked really messed up, okay?”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    He leans on the island, seeming to have decided that I will not, in fact, decapitate him. “C’mon, that’s not what I meant. I figured you wouldn’t want to talk to me, and my uncle has this annoying habit of being ridiculously level-headed when other people are freaking out.”
    I purse my lips, appraising him. If I’m not mistaken, I think he might have been worried about me. Weird. I thought he hated me, but maybe I’m wrong. “That is an annoying habit, but you still get tank duty. My standards.”
    Instead of the glare I expect, he smiles. “Fine.”
    I look away, surprised at my blushing.
    Customers come in and out for the next couple hours. Tanya the Gumsmacker is actually here today, but now Old Lady Miriam has a doctor’s appointment. Between those two missing work I’ll be here full time all summer. But I actually wish the time would go slower, dreading what might happen at home tonight. The afternoon is always slow, so when the door dings I automatically look up.
    “Shit!” Dylan says before I can process who’s there, and then he drags me around the corner. “You can’t tell them I’m here.”
    “Who?” I ask, pulling my arm away from him.
    “That girl and guy who just walked in.” He clasps his hands together. “Please. I’m actually begging you.”
    “Why?”
    He clenches his teeth. “Just because, okay? The guy’s not so bad, but meet that girl once, and I’m sure you won’t want her hanging around. I’m gonna hide in the back.”
    He dashes off before I can argue, and I go to my island plotting all the ways I’ll make him pay for this. The two people talk with Tanya, who smacks her gum and takes them in with her classic “I don’t give a crap” expression. She points over to me, and I straighten my shoulders in preparation.
    As they walk down the aisle, I can’t help but notice how expensive they look. The girl is over-tanned, manicured, glossy haired, and wearing preppy clothes. The guy is clean cut and attractive, with dark skin and a swagger only the financially secure possess. They look like