Things go differently for Tamika. She plays all the media angles right and lands herself a spot on a new reality TV show: High School Queen Bees.

  She, along with four other Alpha girls around the country, will be featured as they rule their exclusive social cliques. The show promises lots of drama and conflict, on a no-brain type level. It’s a four year gig for Tamika at our high school – unless she gets her wish to move to L.A.

  Please let her move to L.A.!

  Things are cool with Lauren and me, I think there might be a future for us. I’ve heard from Trace, as well. She’s cleaned up her act a little and has ditched the Goth persona.

  “It was just a phase,” she says.

  She’s a senior this year, but admits that, “I’ve got this thing for younger guys – and older ones, too.”

  It would be way too much of a stretch to say that Dylan’s presence on the tour boat had anything to do with the accident. Just the opposite. His daring rescue of Captain Montrose seems to have broken his disaster jinx.

  Some kids outgrow pimples, Dylan has outgrown disasters. Not only that, but once the media spotlight shut off, Tamika dumped him again, adding to his good fortune.

  Grandpa is fully back in our family now. Mom has turned 180 degrees in her attitude; maybe my outburst had something to do with it or maybe she just wised up on her own.

  He’s going to Costa Rica again during Christmas break – and taking me along! He wants to shoot some documentary footage about the mission work, and we’re negotiating to bring Duals with us.

  Then there’s Grandpa’s China trip next summer. We’re playing that one cool until after we get back from Costa Rica – but I’d say the odds are good that Mom will let me go. I’ve got a hunch that Kathleen might be included on some of these excursions, too.

  So, I’m on this rare streak of luck, but some unanswered questions still bother me. I wonder what Tamika would have done that fateful day if a TV crew hadn’t been on the boat. Would she have still jumped in to help? Heck, would I have jumped in? I keep thinking that Dylan is the only one who acted from purely unselfish motives.

  I finally decide that some questions have no answers, so there’s no sense beating myself up about them.

  ***

  Well, that’s the whole story. I hope you enjoyed it, and may all your great ideas work out. – Matthew Alpin.

  THE END

  Thanks for reading! You must have liked the story if you got this far, so why not write a review? Just a few words, either at the online bookstore where you obtained this book or in any other medium you wish. May numerous blessings come your way.

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