Over the next few days, Calliope and her group kept wandering along the coast, having fun as they explored. With Monty and his group finally leaving them alone, things got a lot more peaceful, at least for Calliope.


    Everyone seemed to be in a great mood, all smiles andughter, except maybe for Uriah Stewart, who looked like he''d bitten into a sour lemon and couldn''t quite get the taste out of his mouth.


    Norton, for his part, was doing a ster job pretending to get close to Mavis. He stuck to her side, offering tips and tricks for beacbing, and before long, he''d filled his bucket with big, impressive finds-ms, crabs, even a fat lobster.


    Mavis was clearly new to this sort of thing. She''d rarely gone out just to have fun with friends, and it showed in the way her eyes lit up at every new discovery. "Wow, you''re amazing at this!" she eximed.


    Norton grinned, "Right? I''ll show you how to catch the best ones!"


    "Really?" Mavis''s eyes practically sparkled with excitement.


    Meanwhile, Uriah skulked a few yards away, grumbling under his breath as he poked through seaweed for shells, shooting dark looks at Mavis and Norton. The two of them were standing so close, anyone would think they were a couple.


    He''d been holding back for days now. Every time he tried to approach his apprentice, Norton popped up out of nowhere, reminding him that this wasn''t work time and Mavis deserved her space. "Give her some room, she''ll feel more rxed," Norton would say.


    And as much as it annoyed Uriah, he had to admit the guy had a point. He knew he could be a bit intense. He was Mavis''s mentor, after all, and sometimes he pushed her pretty hard. Honestly, she was probably a little nervous around him.


    He watched from afar as Mavisughed, looking more at ease than he''d ever seen her.


    Wasn''t she supposed to care about him? Wasn''t she supposed to miss him? Instead, she seemed happier than ever.


    Portia sidled up to him and snatched a little crab from right under his


    i.né


    muttering, M


    nose. What''s got you''re about


    Stewart? You look


    to explode."  s


    "Nothing," Uriah snapped.


    Portia grinned. "Jealous, huh? Realized Mavis is actually happier without you?"


    Uriah red at her. "Can''t you mind your own business?"


    Portia wasn''t done. "Aw,e on. You always thought Mavis needed you. But look at her, she''s having the time of her life, and you''re not even in the picture. Hurts, doesn''t it?”  s


    Uriah clenched his jaw, fuming. He''d never imagined this scenario. He''d always assumed Mavis would stick by his side, that she depended on him. It had never urred to him that she might move on, starta family, or even leave their line of work altogether.  s


    on


    She wasn''t going to be his apprentice forever. She wasn''t going to be his, period.


    That realization hit hard, and he found himself staring out at the waves, more frustrated than ever.


    Portia, sensing she''d made her point, darted away to join Calliope. "Hey Callie, wanna see who can catch the most?"


    "Bring it on!" Calliope shouted back, holding up a lobster she''d just found, her face glowing with excitement.<fn60e1> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn60e1>


    Ss and Quentin hovered nearby, dropping any interesting finds straight into Calliope''s bucket, eager to keep her smiling.