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“Hey, everybody!” Jorath yells, pulling his boots off. “Anyone up for skinny dipping?”
I throw up a finger and spurt through a mouthful of food. “Count me in!”
26
IARA
“Who is it?”
“I can’t see yet.”
“I can’t see at all.”
“You want me to put you on my shoulders?”
I look up at Rylan and give him a friendly shove. He stumbles backward, but he’s totally faking. I couldn’t move him an inch no matter how hard I tried.
The crowd starts to thin out, forming an aisle down the middle. It’s become a habit over the last two days. Word spreads that more aspirants are finishing, and we all race to see who it is and to cheer them on. The last person to cross the finish line is going to get the biggest cheer of all.
Everyone starts clapping and whooping it up. Rylan and I join in automatically. Everyone deserves to be celebrated. Finishing is a huge accomplishment, no matter what place they get.
Rylan lets out a small grunt. I stick my head out and see the object of his annoyance. It’s Renxel. Everyone is still cheering, but as he passes us, Rylan and I fall silent. Renxel looks at meand quickly looks away. Unfortunately for him, the next thing he sees is Rylan who is positively glowering.
Rylan turns and stalks away from the group, and I chase after him.
“Hey.”
I grab his hand. He hesitates but then squeezes my hand gently. We head back to our spot by the lake.
“Sit down, relax.” I shove him towards the chair.
“I hate relaxing.”
“I know. Me, too. But our bodies need it.”
He sits down, grumbling about how bossy I am. I settle in next to him. I know exactly how he feels. With no task to concentrate on, my mind wanders. I don’t want it to wander. I want to just be.
Here by the lake, I want to just enjoy the days – and the nights – with Rylan. Who knows what will happen next? When the last aspirant makes it to the village, the real party begins. Then what?
Don’t think about it now,I tell myself. Just be here in the moment. That’s not something I’m good at. Because I don’t want this moment to end, but I’m pretty sure Rylan is counting down the minutes until he can take off on his next adventure. And I’m not sure he wants me tagging along.
“Hello.”
I raise my head off Rylan’s chest. Good thing, too, because the next thing I know, he’s leaping up.
“Wait.” Renxel holds his hands up as if to show he means us no harm. I jump up and stand next to Rylan.
“Give me back my navigator, you asshole.” I poke him in the chest for good measure. Out of the corner of my eye, I think I see Rylan smile, but he’s not amused. More like proud.
“Right.”
Renxel digs in his pocket and pulls out my device. I snatch it out of his hand.
“What do you have to say for yourself? Anything? I could have gotten hurt.”
“Um.” He kicks at the dirt. I realize he hasn’t looked me in the eye, not once. I look at Rylan, who shrugs.
“Say something.”
