Ford’s face was flushed, her eyes gleaming. “That was awesome!”

Marty laughed. “Told you.”

Ford rolled her eyes and punched Marty lightly on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, I remember. I’m starving now.”

Grinning, Marty said, “Come with me.”

“Hey, Ford,” Shannon called a few minutes later. She’d been one of the last to emerge over the top right after Derek, a guy from cabin one who always seemed to have something sarcastic to say. They stood together now, apart from the others.

Ford nodded to Shannon. “Hey.”

“What are you doing over there? Can’t find any better company?” Shannon smirked. “Come hang with us.”

Marty knew how this was going to end. Ford would suddenly act as if standing next to them was risking something contagious and hurry away. That’s how groups worked. No one wanted to be associated with the outsider. That’s also why teams did work. When everyone had the same goal and trusted each other to look out for one another. Marty steeled themself for the disappointment and reminded themself of what their father always said.

You just need to find your team, Marty.

They just needed to find their team. That would happen. Sometimes, though, it was hard waiting.

“I’m good,” Ford said.

Shannon snorted and turned her back. “Yeah, looks like it.”

“How do you know her?” Marty asked quietly.

“We were in the same prep school until last year. Then Shannon transferred,” Ford said quietly.

“Oh, so you’ve been friends for a while.”

Ford gave them a look. “No, not exactly.” She shook her head, making a disgusted noise. “Actually, not at all. But when she showed up here, at least we had something in common.”

“I don’t know about that,” Marty said softly.

Ford glanced over at Shannon and Derek. “Yeah, me neither.”

* * *

From Lily’s vantage point at ground level, the rock wall seemed dauntingly high. And despite Chase’s assurance that there were plenty of hand and foot holds, Lily was having a hard time imagining herself climbing it. Chase, on the other hand, scaled it with the speed and agility of a monkey clambering up a tree. Watching her climb was like watching an artist bring an image to life with a few magical strokes of a brush. Clearly she was an artist, and just this small exhibition of her skill underscored how much she had lost, and how very much she must miss it. Lily watched her guide the kids up the wall, calling encouragement and instruction. She was good at teaching, despite her frequent protests.

“You don’t have to go up, you know,” a low voice said from just behind her shoulder.

Lily smiled and turned to Natalie. “What, and be the only weenie in the whole group?”