“Well, he’ll figure it out,” Tag said. “Just like we’ll figure it out.” He paused. “At least I’m not making himclimbanything else.”
I laughed. From Bunker’s hill to the telescope balcony’s locked gate to the Hideout’s ladder, Daniel would need to channel his inner monkey.
We kept waiting for Zoe, this time in silence. Two minutes, five minutes, maybe even ten. “I’ll text her,” I said when we were nearing fifteen. We couldn’t spend much more time here. Our deadline was sunrise, and it would arrive soon.
Tag & I are here, I wrote.Where are you?
Her iPhone’s typing dots instantly appeared, and after a blink, so did her reply.You’ll never believe this, she said.I’m literally in the hydrangea bush outside Leda’s classroom!
More dots.
I hid after seeing a Campo headlight, but instead of cruising by, the car ran into the fire hydrant. Not bad, only a graze, but I think it’s because the driver got distracted? Maybe he saw me? They stopped the car and are now inspecting the damage. It’s Mr. Harvey and the guy from the guardhouse.
I grimaced and showed the text to Tag, who sighed. “Why would Harvey let Gabe drive on his first shift?”
“Because Gabe probably said, ‘pretty please with cherrieson top,’” I deadpanned as Zoe’s third message appeared:I’m so sorry, Lily, but I can’t leave until they do.
No, of course, I typed.Stay safe!
Zoe promised she would be back in touch, and I shot her a heart emoji before shoving my phone back in my pocket. “So,” I said to Tag.
“So,” he said back.
We both knew what was coming.
“Have you heard from Alex?” I asked as a last-ditch effort.
He shook his head. “I told him not to text until he was free. The more he has his phone out, the sketchier it’ll seem.”
I sighed. “Where’s Manik when you need him?”
Tag ran an unsteady hand through his hair, and my stomach felt like it was about to drop like an EDM song. Neither of us wanted to make this climb. Getting on Tag’s shoulders was one thing, but this…this was fifteen fucking feet.
“Should we flip a coin?” I asked.
“Do you have one to flip?” he answered.
I shook my head.
“Lily, I don’t think I can do it,” he said, looking at the ground but then looking back up with a pale face. “The thought is actually making me dizzy.” He rubbed his eyes. “I, um, never made it up to the high swing that day. Right before I found…”
Me, I thought with bittersweetness.Right before you found me.
“Give me the crown,” I said, holding out my hand for theheadlamp. “Give me the clue and the crown so I can ascend and achieve everlasting glory.”
I told Tag no commentary while I climbed. That had been one of the worst parts of climbing as a freshman. While theKeep going, Lily!andYay, Lily!cheers were meant to be encouraging, I also couldn’t help but feel like I was being peer pressured. “I’m ready,” I’d said at one point on the rock wall, feeling bile rise in my throat. “I’m ready to come down!”
“No, you aren’t!” my RCI had called back. “You haven’t reached the top and rung the bell yet!”
I’m going to vomit all over her, I’d thought.
Tag stayed silent as I stepped up to the ladder, closed my eyes, and inhaled a deep breath of the crisp night air before grabbing the first cold, metal rung. Then I began to climb. One rung, two rungs, three rungs. I forced myself to stare straight ahead, refusing to look up or down, and only when my lungs started screaming did I exhale. But soon, fear paralyzed me—I froze. How long had I been climbing? How much farther?
Do not look down, I told myself.Donotlook down…
But unfortunately, I lookedupand saw that I had a long way to go.
“Commentary!” I called to Tag. “I need some commentary—or a distraction. Yeah, I need a distraction!”
