Fifi: But you need to get back here or you’re going to miss the test
Me: Yeah, I got that
Above me, lightning splits the sky again, followed by a clap of thunder that’s nearly deafening. Seconds later I can hear the patter of rain falling over the tree leaves. Because of course what I needed to make this situation worse was a full-blown lightning storm.
I take off running for the trees. They don’t provide a lot of cover, but it’s better than being out in the open with all this lightning sizzling through the sky. It would be just my luck to get struck by lightning right before I ace my first test.
Arjun: Turn your location on for us so we can see where you are
Arjun: We’ll turn ours on too. Hopefully we can figure out how to get you back over here
Me: That’s a great idea!!!!
Arjun: I do have them occasionally
I navigate to his contact information and click on Share Location, then do the same for Fifi as I wait for them to turn theirs on as well.
And wait. And wait. And wait.
Finally, after three minutes or so, I start to text them again. But before I can, my phone buzzes with an incoming message.
Arjun: Are you going to turn it on?????
Me: I did. I’m waiting for you to turn yours on too
Fifi: Both of ours ARE on
Me: I can’t see them
Arjun: We can’t see yours either, which feels like a pretty big problem
Fifi: OMGs, Ellie. Where are you?????
None of this makes any sense. How can we not see each other when we’re on the same school campus?
I check my phone just to make sure my Share Location didn’t get turned back off, but it didn’t. It’s definitely on. And theirs is definitely off.
Me: Do you think there’s some kind of satellite glitch because of the storm?
Arjun: If that happened, Fifi and I wouldn’t be able to see each other’s locations either but we can
Me: There are a ton of trees where I am. Maybe they’re blocking something
Arjun: Maybe
I can hear his doubt from here. Then again, Arjun’s not exactly a hide his disdain—or anything else—kind of guy.
Even though the Share Location thing is wonky right now because my Wi-Fi is down, I can’t help wondering if I can switch to data to help me find them. Otherwise, I’m pretty afraid I’m going to end up stuck out here until the school decides to move again—whenever that is.
But when I try, the little wheel just keeps turning and turning and turning. I may be able to text, but that’s all the juice I’ve got. Everything else is completely wonky.
Me: I can’t even get my data to work. It won’t load anything
Fifi: That’s it. We’re coming for you
Me: You have an exam in five minutes
Fifi: So do you. And if you think we’re just going to leave you out there in the wilderness, then I don’t even know what to say to you
