“And I want you to look frustrated, desperate, competitive,” Aliona continues, circling her hands in the air. “Remember, this is the biggest, most important thing you’ve ever done in your life. Act like it.”
We run through the motions of looking shocked and alarmed when Aliona tells us what we’re “competing” for and then clump together in a tighter group when she signals us to. For our part, Yumi and I are meant to be huddled, whispering to each other about strategy.
“Perfect!” Aliona calls. “Now I need everyone to look panicked and rush toward the lift like your lives depend on it.”
We all dutifully scramble toward the lift, pushing and shoving in a carefully choreographed way that looks chaotic but ensures no one actually gets hurt. Yumi grabs my hand and pulls me forward, her grip tight but not painful. I follow her lead, letting her drag me through the crowd until we’re pressed against one another.
My breath catches as her body collides with mine, back to front, and I’m overwhelmed by the sudden proximity.
“Cut!” Aliona yells, breaking the spell. “That was great, everyone. Now let’s get a shot of you all actually getting into the lift.”
Yumi and I separate, and I immediately miss her warmth against the chilled air of the cavern. She glances back at me, a hint of something unreadable in her eyes before she turns away.
“Now, remember, this team order doesn’t mean anything. Everyone will be leaving the volcano at the same time—Bee and Logan, you’ll take your time penalty topside, but we’ll load you up last and get some shots of you looking sad and pathetic down here. In the first group, let’s get KC and Gabriel, Yumi and Noelle, and…” She squints, tapping her finger against her lips. “Kendell and Rania on the lift. Act like you just beat out everyone else for the prize money.”
We do several takes of us pushing our way onto the lift, elbowing other contestants out of the way until the lift finally, well,lifts, and we get to do our victory shot. Rania and Kendell squeal with excitement, KC and Gabriel woof rabidly, and Yumi and I high-five.
That high five turns into a hug, my face buried in her hair. And who can even say if I smile into it for a second longer than necessary, trying to catch a hint of pineapple and melon?
“Great,” Aliona calls up at us. “Let’s get a celebration kiss from each of you, please.”
Do you see the puzzle pieces shifting again? It’s not just me, right? Can’t I have a moment of peace? Can’t Yumi and I get to a place where things are normal? And stay there for more than twenty-four hours?
The other teams are already leaning into each other, but my brain is still buffering, the little spinning wheel going round and round. KC and Gabriel share a quick peck. Rania and Kendell start full-on making out. With tongue. Hesitating, I look at Yumi for some sort of confirmation that this is okay, and I find her looking back at me with a smirk of amusement on her face.
It settles me. I smile back.
Then her lips are on mine for the briefest second. The kind of kiss you have under a slide as a ten-year-old. It’s not convincing. It’s barely even a kiss. But somehow it inverts the entire hourglass of my life, sand spilling into the wrong side of me.
Chapter 30
The Lupines
Logan and Bee’s penalty challengeis to make a pizza. I know this, because I can hear snippets of Bee’s shouted complaints as the rest of us watch Aliona set up the clue station. “Isn’t even real lava…penalty…motherf…act like…don’t need this…dormant-ass volcano!”
Aliona rolls her eyes and ignores it. “Okay, all, we’ll have you grab your clues in the order you came up in, for continuity, but everyone will actually open and read them at the same time.”
“Yes, Aliona.”
As instructed, Yumi and I run up to grab our clue at the same time as KC and Gabriel and the Influencers. Once production gives us the okay, I rip open the envelope.
Individual Challenge: One team member must choose between ICE and LAND.
“This could be heights,” Yumi says, grimacing.
“Yeah.” I turn the clue over, like something on the back of the card will tell me, but it just saysFourth Adventure. “Do you want me to take it?”
She nods. “You probably should anyway. That’ll put us each at one, then.”
“Okay.” Looking between the two choices, I decide to go with LAND; ICE seems like too much of a trick, like you think it’ll be something simple and easy like ice climbing, but it’s actually carrying ice cubes in your mouth without letting them melt or something.
LAND: Iceland is known the world round for its unique and otherworldly landscape. What many don’t know is that this dramatic scenery is partially due to mass deforestation at the hands of Viking settlers over 1,000 years ago. Invasive species, natural events, and commercial livestock have made it difficult to restore the forests of this island nation.
Today, one member from each team will go head-to-head with the Vikings and assist the Hekla conservation team in their efforts. Once you have successfully prepared a section of land for reforestation by clearing the invasive lupine flowers, the Adventure Master will present you with the Checkpoint location. The last team to arrive at the Checkpoint may be eliminated.
NOTE: The Adventurer chosen for this challenge must also perform the ICE challenge, if teams switch tasks. A team may only switch tasks once per Adventure.
“You feel good about that, or do you want to swap?” Yumi asks, biting her lip but I can’t think about that right now.
