The sunlight cleaving through the curtains woke me early in the morning, signaling the start of my day. Great, second week at the aquarium. I recently got the job at the aquarium in town selling goodies, plushies, mugs, etc. It's a suitable job and pays well, not to mention I'm near the rescued animals.
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I quickly start my day, waving my father goodbye as I sip on my morning smoothie. I unlock my Bug and slide into the driver's seat. My bug is the most precious thing I own to me, it's used but like new, the red paint job really hooked me. As I back out of the driveway I lower the volume to the song playing from the aux. I carefully park the car facing the beautiful view of the beach, slurping up the rest of my smoothie. I close my eyes at the sound of the waves crashing, almost like a song softly calling me to the water.
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I grab the entrance card around my neck and press it against the keypad to the left of the glass double doors, letting myself into the blue building. I smile at the comforting environment in front of me. At the entrance of the aquarium greets an open small pond filled with delicate sea life, small turtles, and stingrays. The rest of the exhibits are full of beautifully colored marine life ranging from all sizes, small description notes gathered in front of each tank explaining the species and their role in the oceanic ecosystem.
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I make my way to the back of the building to retrieve my stand/booth to set up outside where I greet the patrons as they enter/exit the aquarium. As I fix the plushies decorating the top of my stand I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to be greeted by a tall olive-skinned woman. Dear heavens, which god did you let out. Her deep red locks twirled around her waist, framing her heart-shaped face. The emerald green of her eyes calculating and vigilant, filling me with a wave of intensity and mystery.
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"Hello," she smiled softly at me, her plush glossed lips parting. "I was wondering about the price of that seal right next to your arm." She points to the adorable wide-eyed fluffy arctic seal pup. I clear my throat, "$12." She lifts her chin, taking her intense gaze away from me for a moment, allowing me to breathe. She grabs the plush as a taller woman steps up beside her, "Hurry up, Thea. Raine is starting to get impatient and you know how easily she gets on my nerves." The dark-haired woman seethed. Both of them had this certain quality to them, something luring and wanting you to soak in their beauty.
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Thea rolled her eyes as she snickered, "I'll take the plush." The dark-haired woman slapped a twenty-dollar bill on the surface of the stand, making me flinch back at the sudden action. I hand the plush to Thea, our skin making contact for a split second, but enough time to send shivers up my spine. I pull my hand away quickly before she could see the raised goosebumps. I notice her glaring intently at the dark-haired woman, they both seem around the same age of no older than 22.
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"Thank you and I apologize for my sister's hasty personality." I let out a small nod at Thea's apology. They both turn and leave, taking the intense aura around them, finally allowing me to breathe. Their long smooth legs, seemingly going on forever, swiftly step away in their high heels. Their beautiful skirts hugging their figure as the fabric of their kimono floral cardigans flow behind them.
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Thea, beautiful name for a beautifully mysterious woman.
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About three hours into work and a few more sales, the sun hitting me directly in the face had me aching for my break. "Hey, girly. You seem like you need a break." I lift my face off the palm of my hand to see Paisley, the dolphin aquarist, smirking at me. I laugh at her statement. "Is it that obvious?" I ask as I start to close up the stand for my small absence. She laughs a short "yes" and steps back. I met Paisley on the second day of working at the aquarium, she was in the pool with one of the juvenile dolphins. She showed me around the dolphin enclosures and the rest of the aquarium, helping me find myself comfortable around all the marine life and most of the staff.
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We approach the enclosure to Katrina, the sweet dolphin, excitement building in my chest making the tips of my fingers tingle. Paisley gently blows on her whistle and Katrina skims the surface and plashes the water she held in her mouth out at us. "Playful as always," I giggle and crouch down to pet the dolphin's snout, or rostrum as Paisley refers it to. Katrina pushes her mouth into the palm of my hand, her smooth skin like rubber. "She's doing much better since the first day we brought her in. Most of her wounds scared up. She should be ready to be released but the doc has to check her up first," Paisley informs. I smile at the news.
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"When is Sir Glare a lot gracing us with his presence?" My response causing her to snort a laugh. Doctor Lance Glacial has a reputation to hate everything in sight.
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"Sometime this month, he still isn't sure about his schedule." She sits herself at the edge of the pool, dipping her legs in up to her calves. "No one steps to this part of the exhibits till five, wanna take a dip?" She smirks at me knowing damn well what my answer will be. Without another second to go by I head to the changing area for the keepers and slip on one of the spare suits.
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"Make it quick, I have to check the levels for the pools soon." Paisley steps back with a smile on her face. I quickly find myself hopping into the pool, the crisp water awakening my skin. I let my breath out through my nose and pull out gracefully, my legs powering me through the water. I laugh once I surface, the beautiful animal circling me playfully. I grab onto her dorsal fin gently and let out an excited squeal as Katrina allows me to ride her around the enclosure. I hear Paisley clap happily and allows me a few moments of bliss.
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"Katrina you're such a playful beauty!" I smile at the animal for the hundredth time. I turn to the exit of the enclosure and glance up at the second floor of the building, where a small viewing window is located. I catch a glimpse of red locks before I climb out.
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"Thank you Paise, you always know how to brighten up my day." I hug my coworker/friend. "Of course," She rubs my back before letting me get back to my post at the stand.
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The rest of the day blurs by and I soon find myself pulling into the driveway of my home. With the sun setting over the horizon, I close my eyes and relish the feeling of the cool breeze on my skin. I walk through my front door announcing my presence. Father greets me and asks about my day. "Give me tuna," I groan out craving my favorite snack. He laughs and leads me to the kitchen.
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"Took a swim with miss Lee?" He asks while spreading the blend onto a slice of bread. "I did but it tired me out." I yawn then fill a cup with some juice. He sets the plate down in front of me and I take a large bite out of the sandwich, "Jeez so good."
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After a soothing shower, I collapse onto my bed, hugging my pillow to me. I stare at the clouds outside my window in thought. Red locks and piercing emerald eyes clear in my memory. My thoughts shift over to the midnight brown-haired man with the onyx eyes. What is happening to me?
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