Page 47 of Valley Girls
“You’re only proving the point.”
“Well, there was traffic.”
Lauren groaned. “Come on, man. We have one day off together, and you’re killing it.”
Ranger Dick Face shook his head, stubborn and snarling and disgusted.
Rilla knew she’d won. “Can I get back to my homework?” she asked. “I’m almost done with this stupid unit.”
“Aha!” he exclaimed, pointing his finger at her. “Mistake. You never want to get back to schoolwork.”
Rilla glared at her sister. Could Thea just stop talking about Rilla at work?
“Yeah, get upstairs,” Thea said before swatting at Dick Face’s finger. “Reid, knock it off.”
Rilla turned for the hall and her face split with glee.
Nailed it.
She climbed the ladder and crawled across the floor, over the incomplete trigonometry and dirty clothes. Lying on her back on the cool wood planks, she breathed deep of relief. Her left hand brushed the edges of Thea’s, June’s, Lauren ‘s, and Jessica’s storage boxes. Her right hand was under her cot. But she was exultant. She’d done it.
Pulling the wad of money out of her sweaty sports bra, she peeled apart the damp fives and ones. Fifty-two dollars.
It had been warmer the last week, almost hot at midday, and Rilla had carted a big bag of ice-cold water and soda bottles a mile up the trail toward Half Dome. The vending machine in the outhouses had broken, and based on the crowds in the Valley, she had hoped the water fountain wouldn’t be much of a competition. It wasn’t. She’d sold out within forty minutes. It helped that it was a Saturday and there were crowds everywhere, even for the water fountain. Two bucks a pop to sweaty, tired tourists and she was looking at a gross pile of sweaty money. A perfectly acceptable amount to go toward another piece of gear.
The ladder creaked.
Quickly, Rilla stuffed the money under her cot, inside the sheet. She’d go to the outdoor store as soon as Thea was finished with her and Ranger Dick Face ended his shift at 4P.M.
“Well, you’re grounded,” Thea announced, ducking under the eaves.
Like Thea could enforce a grounding. “Can you even stand up in here?” Rilla asked.
Thea had the decency to look embarrassed. “So, that’s why you needed those drinks at Walmart last week.”
“I have no idea what Dick Face—”
“Don’t call him that,” Thea snapped.
Rilla rolled her eyes. “I don’t know whatRanger Milleris talking about. I’ve been doing math.” Rilla gestured at the open homework. One of her notebooks was folded back weird from when she’d crawled over it.
“And all that thumping five seconds before Reid knocked?”
“One of my legs had fallen asleep.”
Thea sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What on earth do you need money for?”
Rilla frowned, her throat automatically tightening. She was currently, technically a high school dropout ... rock climbing would be the last thing Thea would think she’d care about. If Thea knew Rilla was taking these risks to earn money for gear, she’d probably forbid the whole thing. And always, the fear that Thea would send her home to West Virginia shimmered behind their words. If Thea didn’t want her and Mom didn’t want her in West Virginia ...
“I outgrew my clothes,” Rilla said. It was true. “I don’t have anything for summer that fits.” She’d been climbing every afternoon for two weeks with Adeena and Petra in the short slabs near the Valley floor, running with Jonah in the evening, and eating her fill for all three meals. She felt stronger, lighter, but nothing she brought out west fit—it was all too small.
Thea’s face contorted. “Why didn’t you just ask?”
Rilla blinked, not expecting the emotion on her sister’s face. “I, um ...”
“Honey, we can get you some clothes.” Thea sank onto the cot, tucking her hands in between her legs.
Rilla shifted nervously. “But, I’m already eating ... and living here.”
