Explorer Academy Book 1: The Nebula Secret

Explorer Academy Book 1: The Nebula Secret — page 5
Approaching the break Cruz grasped the sides of his surfboard He pushed the nose underwater in a smooth duck dive and the swell passed over him Surfacing he paddled out a bit farther and cut a 45 degree turn that put him parallel to the beach Lining himself up with the end of the long pier he sat up and straddled his board legs dangling He liked the take off zone It was the calm before the ride as Lani liked to say Bobbing like this he could think about anything or nothing The choice was up to him On his last day at home Cruz didn't want to think He wanted to feel He wanted to feel every sensation And remember To his left beyond the crescent shaped inlet rose the emerald peaks of the mountains on the northern shore In the fading light it was easy to pick out the white waterfalls cascading down the creases of the hills Cruz spotted his dad walking through the parking lot geez sailboats 20 miles offshore could probably see that crazy bright yellow and blue zigzag shirt His father would be headed back up to the Goofy Foot their surf shop to close for the night Cruz glanced right into the deep orange sunset It was as if the glowing orb had rolled out a carpet of light across the ocean for him just to say good bye He was sure going to miss this place You don't have to go you know Lani had said last spring when he'd told her he'd been accepted into the Academy Her words stung Lani was his best friend the one who always found the silver lining Not that he blamed her They had both applied to the school yet only Cruz had been accepted It had come as a shock He had thought Lani surely would have been chosen over him she was so much smarter and more creative But then the certified letter had arrived For him It was impressive with its fancy parchment paper and shiny seal gold