Page 125 of Valley Girls
“Rilla!” Jonah said.
“Be quiet now, son,” Ranger Dick Face said, like he was a parody of himself and learned his policing from watchingThe Dukes of Hazzard.
Jonah stood and crossed his arms, glaring at Dick Face.
“I’m going. It’s fine. I don’t want to get Thea in trouble,” Rilla said.
He nodded, still glaring.
“Let’s go, Di—” She swallowed. “Ranger Miller.”
“I’m keeping an eye on you. Don’t even think about running.”
“Oh my god, you can’t be serious,” Rilla said, starting down the steep, rocky path. Could this get any more ridiculous? Sighing, she followed Ranger Miller back to Half Dome Village, to his truck, where he told her to wait and called Thea.
She rolled her eyes and leaned against the truck. Now Thea would certainly be mad. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.
“I wasn’t smoking,” she shouted so Thea could hear her.
Ranger Dick Face glared at her and turned his back.
She should bolt. Old Rilla would have bolted. But she folded her arms tight over herself and stayed put. Some things were more important. Thea was more important. She tightened her grip on her ribs and closed her eyes, repeating it over and over.
“All right, she’s coming by for you.”
“You’re just trying to make something out of nothing.”
He shrugged. “I don’t think it was nothing. I think you were up there smoking weed with your friend.”
He was right. But it was unfair. She ducked her head and glared at the ground. “You’re a ...”
“What?” he snapped. “Go ahead. Give me a reason.”
She practically bit her tongue off trying to keep it still in her head.
Thea showed up ten minutes later, ignoring her while assuring Miller she appreciated it.
“He’s an asshole. I wasn’t doing anything,” Rilla said, after he’d pulled off.
Thea shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
Rilla bit her lips tight.
“I have a final interview for the position next week. He’s just trying to get anything he can.”
“He must be feeling desperate,” Rilla said hopefully.
“Or just petty,” Thea said. “Just try to avoid him. Please.” Thea sighed. “I needed to tell you anyway, your meeting with the principal is Tuesday at nineA.M.,” Thea said.
“Wait. What?” Rilla froze. A red wash of panic came over her. “Why?”
“To see if you can be reinstated or if you have to repeat eleventh grade. Whatever you haven’t done, do it now.”
She had done nothing. Basically nothing. “I thought you were considering the GED?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I talked to you ... like, a few weeks ago. About taking the GED—instead of school. I want to go to France. I want to get a real job and go to France to climb. Celine invited us.”
