I recognized what he was doing. So much so that I could barely breathe. He was me, spitting out the words the world required. Admitting complete defeat so the tables turned back onto the rest of us. It was the very art form I’d spent five years mastering. He proved how fine-tuned his skills were by being the one to push us forward. By carrying that burden too. “If that’s enough for all of you—I’m sure it’s not—but if it’s a start, then we should do what we came here to do. She always used to tell us that if we ever finished the Adventure, the prize we’d get would be amazing. I’ve been thinking about that nonstop. We need to go back into the tunnels. And find whatever’s in that box,” he said. “We deserve something good.”

His magic worked, of course. Charming in his perseverance, he finalized the removal of his outcast status. FORMER DISAPPOINTMENT EMBRACED BY OLD FRIENDS AFTER WELL-WORDED APOLOGY.

But he knew about Marley. He knew about pliable truths. He knew the Adventure was meant to be good, not cause more hurt.

Nick knew everything I knew.

When it came to feelings, that was a feeling I did not like.

Harrison was the first to soften. “I’m so sorry, man.” He patted Nick on the back. “Thanks for saying that. It was really big of you.” He bowed his head like the action could actually wipe the slate clean. “What do you think we should do first?” Not only did Harrison forgive Nick, he lent him my title, pushing Nick into a leadership role he had not earned. The destiny of a When rubbed right in my face.

Every piece of my being knew the whole thing angered me beyond reason, but I could do nothing to act on it. If at that exact second someone suggested I drop the entire Marley subject and go live under a pile of blankets forever, I’d have signed a lifelong contract in my blood. I could focus on nothing but the idea that Nick shared everything I considered unshareable. He knew she never left, but did he carry her too? How many Marleys existed now that she was gone?

By unanimous vote, the group decided to explore the tunnel first. Somehow, my left hand raised in agreement. It’s possible I even spoke. The world moved at a pace I couldn’t follow. Too fast and too slow and too up and too down. Nick suggested the box be opened when Bigs and Teeny were back from work. I agreed to that too.

We’ll wait because we’re one team, everyone else thought. Their synchronicity instilled faith that we were on the right track. That all internal trouble had been navigated. Suddenly I wasn’t even required to unite this group. They had Nick Cline, boy wonder.