Page 102 of Valley Girls
Thea frowned, looking between Rilla and where the cam had been. “Where did you get the cam?”
“I bought it.”
“With what money?”
Rilla bit her lips. “I’ve been working.”
“You have a job?”
“No. I ... I do odd jobs for other people,” Rilla said.
Thea’s eyes narrowed. “Like what?”
“Like, today I worked at the hotel.”
“In that?” Thea took in her ratty shorts and tank top.
“Uh. No.” Rilla looked down, her cheeks warming. “I had to return the uniform.”
Thea sighed and rubbed her temples. “Rilla ...”
Rilla didn’t move.
“You can’tdothat.” Thea put her head in her hands and groaned.
“Why not?”
“You’re not trained. You’re a liability. It’s illegal.”
“It is not illegal,” Rilla said. “You’re a cop, not a lawyer.”
“I’m not a cop,” Thea yelled.
Rilla rolled her eyes.
“You want to take the GED, huh?” Thea said. “Let me ask you this. How’s your schoolwork?”
Rilla gulped. “It’s fine. But why do it, if I can just take a test?”
“It’s not just taking a test,” Thea said. “You can’t use this as a Get Out of Jail Free card just because you’re behind on your schoolwork. You need to spend less time playing and on the work you’re actually supposed to be doing.”
“Pretty sure it is just a test,” Rilla said.
“And you still haven’t answered about the cam,” Thea said. “I don’t want to hear you’ve been spending all the time I’m at work playing instead of doing your work, and now that’s why you think you can take a test and make it all go away.”
Rilla stilled, her face burning. “I’m ... I’m ...”
“I’m what? And who taught you to use that? That’s for experienced climbers. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I am experienced,” Rilla shot back.
Thea rolled her eyes. “A month of playing hooky to climb does not make an experienced climber.”
She was right. She was ... Rilla gulped and looked down at her hand. What was she doing? Thea was right.
“You are not allowed to climb. Not until you are caught up and enrolled in school. You can’t afford to risk your future for a little fun. And you aren’t responsible enough to be climbing with stuff like that.”
Any argument got choked in Rilla’s throat. No climbing? She stared at the cam, tears burning her eyes.
