Corey went first. I beat him easily. Brendan was a little tougher, but I still made it to the top before he was much past the halfway mark. Neither had any real climbing experience--they just counted on their general athletic prowess to pull them through.
Next up was the only real threat. Daniel. He'd been climbing with me for years. I was the natural--I was faster and more agile--but he had double my upper body strength and that counts for a lot.
Daniel did a test run first. Brendan and Corey complained about that, but he was right--I'd gone up twice now, which gave me an advantage. If I was going to win, I wanted to do it fairly.
Daniel belayed back down as I got into position. His feet hit the ground with a thump, then he looked over at me.
"Ready?"
"Always."
Nicole did the countdown from the top. I started fast, reaching the halfway mark head and shoulders above him. But that's when things got tricky, the holds and grips a little farther apart, and he had the advantage. By the three-quarter mark, he'd caught up.
"Better kick it up a notch," he said, as he drew alongside me. "I know you really want those extra holds."
"And I'm sure you really don't want to make them. But don't forget the second part. You win, you gotta kiss me. Might be better to stick with the holds."
He laughed and heaved up to the next grip, pulling away now. I grabbed another and found toeholds first, shooting a couple inches above him, the advantage lost a second later when his longer arms found the next grips as I was still getting leverage. I kept my face forward now, climbing in earnest for the first time since we'd started.
A hiss and boo from below told me I was in the lead. Then a grunt from beside me. A sharp intake of breath and I knew he was pulling up. The crowd cheered. I looked up to see Brooke leaning over the side, ropes in hand, urging me on. Only three feet to go. I could see Daniel out of the corner of my eye, his chin level with my nose, just a scant inch advantage, but I knew it was enough and as soon as he grabbed that top ledge and heaved himself up--
A grunt. Daniel wobbled and the grip slid out of his hand. He dropped only a few inches, but by the time he'd recovered, I was pulling myself over the top. Brooke and Nicole were cheering. The others below called up good-natured boos.
I took a breather as I hung off the ledge. I could hear Daniel panting beside me, but I didn't look over.
There was no way he'd lost his hold on that grip. He'd let go. Given me the win at the last second as he realized what was coming if he'd won. A kiss he didn't want.
The ego bruise lasted only a moment. Was I surprised? No. How awkward would that have been? Neither of us wanted that kiss. As always, Daniel had done the right thing and, if I'd been in his place, I'd have done the same.
After a moment, I grinned over at him. "Loser."
"The rope slipped," he said, tugging at it, like he was testing the belay system.
"You just keep telling yourself that. It'll keep you busy while you're building those new holds."
"You still need to beat everyone else. You haven't won yet."
"Just keep telling yourself that, too."
He laughed and gave me a shove. I returned the favor, sending him swinging, then belayed down before he could retaliate.
The next challenger was Sam. She was strong enough to climb and obviously had some experience, just not enough to give her a serious shot at victory. She took the defeat well, though, just teasing me in a surprisingly good mood.
The other guys were easy wins. Everyone was joking about a rematch with Daniel and ribbing the guys about losing a kiss and gaining a weekend of work, when a familiar voice drawled, "Is the game over? Or is there room for one more?"
TWELVE
RAFE WALKED OUT OF the forest. The leather jacket was gone, replaced by a tattered denim one. Instead of boots, he wore sneakers that looked as old as the jacket. As he walked toward us, his gaze was fixed on me like he didn't notice anyone else there.
"You're late," I said.
"Yeah, had some trouble getting away. Then I figured I was at the wrong place until I saw the gifts and followed the papayas."
He stopped in front of me and smiled--his real smile, the crooked one that made my breath flutter. To my left, Daniel rocked forward. He didn't say anything, just stayed poised like that, watching for trouble. Rafe didn't seem to notice. His gaze stayed locked on mine, crooked smile fainter now, but his eyes still shimmering.
"So did I hear right?" he said. "Race to the top? Winner gets a kiss?"
"Maya's done seven climbs in a row," Daniel said. "You can race me."
"But I don't want to kiss you."
The others laughed. Rafe didn't even look at Daniel when he answered, just kept watching me with a smile that now held a hint of challenge.
"If she says no, she forfeits the new grips," Corey said. "She had to defeat all comers. That was the deal."
"I'm the one who offered," Daniel said. "So it stands as is. He's late."
"I am. So it's up to Maya. She's already won. I'm just the bonus round."
He grinned then, but it was a different kind of grin, a mock arrogance that made me laugh and shake my head.
I looked into his eyes and saw the challenge sparkling there, and I hadn't even decided what to do when I heard myself saying, "You're on."
As Rafe walked over to the dangling harness, he stripped off his jacket, earning him giggles and whispers from the girls and grunts from the guys, who weren't nearly as impressed. Rafe skipped gym whenever he could, so I'd assumed he wasn't the athletic type. I was wrong.
He wore an old T-shirt with the sleeves torn off, and his lean muscles moved under coppery skin. He had a tattoo on the inside of his forearm--a small one that looked like raven wings. When he turned around, I caught the faint edge of another tattoo on his shoulder peeking from under his shirt.
He glanced over, like he'd sensed me looking. When I didn't turn away, he grinned and mouthed something I didn't catch, probably didn't want to.
Brendan helped Rafe into the harness. It took a while, the process punctuated by Rafe's questions. Then he stood at the base of the rock face, saying, "You put your toes here, right? And you grab those things that stick out?"
The others laughed and yelled, "Quit while you're ahead!" Daniel relaxed and rolled his eyes at me. I rolled mine back, but not for the same reason.
When we were finally in position, the others pulling away, I whispered, "Poseur."
Rafe glanced over, brows arching. "Keep calling me that and I might get insulted."
"Stop earning it and I'll stop saying it." I faced forward as I tested my rope and waited for Daniel to get to the top.
"Are you implying that I know how to climb?"
"Are you implying that I'm stupid enough to think you'd challenge me if you didn't? Of course, you can't be that good if you need to slow me down by pretending you don't know what you're doing."
He was about to shoot something back, when Daniel leaned over and called, "Ready?"
Rafe motioned for him to wait a second, then whispered, "How about we up the stakes? I win, you talk to me."
Now it was my turn to raise my eyebrows. "I'm afraid to ask what you mean by talk ..."
"Exactly that. I win, I get thirty minutes of your time tonight."
"To charm me and lie to me and pretend to be whoever you think I want?"
"Nope. Tonight it's me, in case you haven't noticed. The real Rafe Martinez. A special one-night appearance."
"And if I win?"
He grinned. "Then you get to spend thirty minutes with me, lucky birthday girl."
I laughed and motioned for Daniel to start the countdown.
Rafe still pulled the "I don't know what I'm doing" routine, starting slow and cautious, hoping I'd second-guess my assessment and take it easy. I didn't. He realized that when my foot reached his shoulder level. By the midpoint, he'd shot up to my waist, but his muttered curses told me he'd underestimated how good I was--or overestimated h
ow good he was--and it was clear he wasn't going to catch up in time. So I stopped.
Daniel leaned over and mouthed, "What are you doing?" Below, the others yelled, a cacophony of shouts and cheers and jeers. Rafe reached up, his bracelet hitting the rock with a ping. I glanced at it. A worn rawhide band with a cat's-eye stone. I could see his tattoo better, too, as he pulled himself up, and I recognized the symbol. A crow mother kachina. Hopi.
As he drew up alongside me, he cocked one brow.
"You really want that kiss don't you?" he said.
"No, I just want to see what you can really do."
He smiled then, a blaze of a grin that made me forget I was hanging twenty feet above the ground.
"All right then," he said. "No holds barred. On my count?"
I nodded.
"One, two, three ..."
We took off. I kept my face to the wall, throwing everything I had into the climb, certain I'd pull away to victory. But he stayed alongside me, his grunts and labored breathing telling me he was trying just as hard.
I struggled to concentrate, but all I could hear was his breathing. It was weirdly relaxing, like the ticking of a metronome, and I found myself moving faster, smoother, the rock seeming to glide under me, hands and feet finding the notches and grips automatically, like climbing a tree, that blissful feeling of going higher and higher, the earth and everything earthly vanishing below me, the air getting thinner, the world quieter as I pulled away until--
My hand hit the top ledge and I jolted out of it, and looked over to see Rafe beside me, sweat dripping down his face, eyes glowing, face glowing, his gaze locked on mine again, lips parting to say something--
A jerk on my harness made me look up sharply as Daniel adjusted the rope, preparing to let me belay down. The look on his face told me who'd won.
"Damn," I said. "Seriously?"
"By a fingertip," Rafe said. "You need to grow longer arms."
Before we'd even hit the ground, the others crowded around, asking who'd won. I waited for Rafe to claim the victory. He didn't. So I told them.
"Because she let you catch up," Sam said. "I wouldn't count that as a win."
"Which is why I didn't say I won," Rafe said, as he undid his harness.
"Still counts," Corey said. "Give the guy some room so he can collect his prize."
Daniel rounded the bend in the path, picking up speed, like he was coming to rescue me from my obligation. When he caught my eye, he slowed.
Rafe shucked his harness and took mine. He set them aside and I braced myself, but he only called over to Daniel, "That's an amazing wall. Sometime I'd love to know how you did it."
Daniel nodded, still watching Rafe warily.
"Um, your prize ..." Corey said. "If you aren't going to take it, I'd be happy to play standin."
"I'll collect it later," Rafe said. "Without an audience."
"Uh-uh," Corey said. "No rain checks."
Rafe only shrugged. "I can ask for one. If Maya doesn't want to honor it, that's her choice."
Daniel grunted and collected the gear. He didn't say anything, but I knew Rafe had scored a point.
Sam strolled over from where she'd been standing at the back of the group, gaze fixed on Rafe like a mugger spotting an easy mark. He stiffened. Being the sort who doesn't find brawls an entertaining addition to her birthday parties, I decided action was needed. Sam wasn't here to help me celebrate my big day. She wanted something, and if she got it, she'd be less likely to pick a fight.
"So, guys," I said. "Since I've been doing the family thing today, I haven't heard what happened with that fake reporter chick. Anyone spoken to her since yesterday?"
"I did," Brendan said. "I was walking home after school, cutting through the forest after I split with Corey, and she just happened to be taking the same path. Following me, I think. Anyway, she wanted to talk. So I did."
"You're not supposed to," Brooke said. "You know that."
Brendan gave her a look. "I'm a big boy."
"And she was kind of cute," Corey said, elbowing him.
"No, but I wanted to get a better handle on her game."
"Good idea," Daniel said. He waved for us to start back to the house and for Brendan to keep talking.
"All she wanted to talk about was us--the high school kids. She kept saying she was working on an article and wanted to slant it that way, what life is like for teens in Salmon Creek. She asked a lot about the extracurricular stuff, which was weird."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Which sports we did. Which clubs we had. Why we had those ones. Who was on each team. She took notes for that part--dividing us up by what activities we were in."
"Looking for cliques," I said. "Trying to make us sound as if we're just like the kids in city schools. You have your choir girls and your wrestling guys ..."
"I guess so. After that, she started asking about the medical stuff."
"I hope you shut your mouth," Brooke said.
"Yes, but the questions she was asking were weird. About us again. How often did we get checked out? Did we get any special shots? Were we on special diets?"
"Oh my God," I whispered. "We're lab rats. They're experimenting on us. Building super wrestlers and singers who can take over the WWE and American Idol. The first steps to world domination."
"I think that'd be Canadian Wrestling Entertainment and Canadian Idol," Daniel said.
"Okay, the first very, very small step toward world domination."
"And that's exactly what you two can tell her," Brendan said. "She was asking who I'd pick for 'class leaders.' " He finger-quoted the phrase. "I was about to tell the truth and say that'd be me, but then I realized she was looking for someone to pester with more questions, so I nominated you guys."
"Thanks." I glanced at Sam, who was following the conversation with obvious frustration. "Did she single out anyone in particular? Not to speak to but just in general?"
"Well, she asked about Serena and--"
"Serena?" I said, Sam forgotten. "What about her?"
Brendan glanced at Daniel. "Um, nothing specific. Just reporter stuff. You know. Anyway, then she asked--"
"Was she interested in Serena's death?" I said. "Could that be what she's investigating?"
"Course not. I mean, maybe as a side story, but umm ..."
He glanced at Daniel again and when I turned, Daniel's face was averted, but I knew what had passed between them. A look from Daniel warning Brendan to get the hell off the subject before I was in no mood to enjoy my party. He was right, of course. My heart was already pounding double time.
I took a deep breath. "Did she ask about anyone else?"
"Oh, everyone," Brendan said, rushing on. "Names, friendships, hobbies. She was really interested in our hobbies. When we talked about the teams and stuff, she asked why Rafe and Sam aren't on any. I said Rafe just moved here, and I don't know what he's into."
"And me?" Sam said.
"I said you're antisocial."
"Thanks."
"She asked whether you were good at any of the school's specialties--singing, track, swimming, wrestling ... I said all I know is you like to hit people."
She flipped him the finger.
"What? It's true. Then she asked if they let girls on the boxing team and I said Mr. Barnes tried to get you on it, but you weren't interested. Then--get this--she starts asking if you've got a hate-on for certain people."
Sam looked worried, almost alarmed, but when she saw me watching, she tried to hide it and said, "So what'd you tell her?"
"That you're an equal opportunity hater. You pick on all of us. Except Daniel. I think you're sweet on Daniel."
Sam punched Brendan in the side. She made it look like a play punch, but I heard it connect, and he gasped.
"Anything else?" I asked.
"That's when she started in on the medical stuff and I said I had to leave," Brendan said, still sounding a little winded. "So, Rafe, you gonna join us on the track team? You're in g
ood shape and, without Maya this fall, we're short a member."
Rafe glanced over with a "Hmm?" He'd been walking beside me but had tuned out the conversation, gaze drifting over the forest, fingers tapping his leg, like he was bored already.
When Brendan repeated the question, he shrugged and said, "Not really my thing."
"You have to join something," Hayley said. "They're just cutting you some slack because you're new. How about swimming?"
That got a chuckle. "Definitely not my thing."
Conversation turned to the swimming team and an upcoming meet, and Rafe's gaze returned to the forest, like he was looking for an escape route.
I eased over, close enough to murmur, "Go on."
"Hmm?"
"This obviously isn't your thing either." I slowed to let the others get ahead. "You showed up. Good enough. Go on. Enjoy the rest of your night."
"Trying to get rid of me?" He managed a smile that barely touched his eyes. "Or trying to get out of our deal? I won thirty minutes of your time, remember."
"You can have a rain check on that, too."
He searched my face. "Are you mad because I didn't take the kiss? It wasn't an insult. I have every intention of cashing that check. Just not with all your friends watching."
"I appreciate that."
"Yeah?" Another searching look. Then he smiled. "Good."
"Doesn't mean I'll accept the chit when you cash it. But you scored points for chivalry."
"Yeah?"
I nodded. "Hayley was very impressed."
He laughed. "Just what I need."
"Did I hear someone say my name?" Hayley said, slipping over between us.
"That was Rafe," I said, as we headed into the yard. "He said you're just what he--"
Rafe coughed, covering the rest. I grinned and jogged to catch up with the others.
THIRTEEN
BY THE TIME WE got inside, Rafe had done a disappearing act. I thought maybe he was just getting away from Hayley, but he didn't show up for pizza or gift opening or the obligatory cake ceremony.
I should have been relieved. I'd given him permission to leave. I didn't want anything to do with the guy, right? Maybe that was true yesterday; maybe it'd even been true this morning, when Nicole said he might be coming. But now, when he actually took off, what I felt was anything but relief.