The whole thing just makes me antsy. So many more people have seen me and my tail than I ever hoped to, and they’re now looking closer into my life. And my anxiety definitely hasn’t been helped by the fact that it’s been seven days since the fire hydrant mishap and we haven’t done anything in front of Dominic to make him jealous. A whole week, wasted inside the bungalow watching more and more movies, but Sean says to trust him. He says that the way we’re all anyone can talk about at Shoreline is for sure eating away at Dominic, but I definitely don’t feel any closer to getting my Journey Mark. I can practically hear a ticking clock, or maybe it’s just my brain playing phantom dolphin clicks since I miss the Blue so bad. And being back at Sean’s school pool—surrounded by dozens of swimmers who can get as wet as they want without any fin theatrics happening—is not helping.

“We can’t share our secrets,” Sean says when someone asks for details for the hundredth time. But it does nothing to stop the questions from coming until an announcer declares it’s time for the girls’ events to begin. People finally find their seats, and I have a minute to breathe.

“Whew. That’s a lot. We don’t do that back home, make it all about one person. It’s community over all and I don’t think my heart can handle being the center of attention.”

Sean grins. “I totally know what you mean. I’m a behind-the-camera kind of guy.”

“Except for today,” I say. “We’re still on for the plan, right?”

Sean swallows. “I mean, as long as you’re still okay with it. I don’t want you to feel forced to do anything you don’t want to.”

“No. It’s fine. I’m fine. Totally fine.”

Flick, I’m rambling! But I’m nervous. In a good way. A million guppies excitedly flitting about in my belly. The Elders told us to really explore all facets of human life, and now I’m about to experience a major one.

Our first kiss. Real lip-to-lip contact. If a cheek kiss made my lips go wild, if just feeling his gentle touch putting in earbuds lit me up, what’s going to happen now?

“It’ll be after your heat, yeah?” I know it will be; Sean walked me through how he thought it would be best if I run to him after he swims, where Dominic will for sure see us from the stands. But for some reason, I just want to hear him talk about it again.

“Exactly,” Sean says, then subtly dips his head. “And look. We will definitely have an audience.”

I turn and see Dominic, three rows down, looking right at us. When I lock eyes with him, he snaps his head away.