Seriously?
A few seconds go by that feel like forever until he responds.
Let’s make a deal. If you wait until after Friday, I’ll help you solve this one. You said you haven’t solved it, right? And I bet I can help…
He’s so infuriating, especially when he’s right.
Deal
* * *
But even though I make this deal, I can’t get the next paper heart out of my mind. Later that night when I’m alone in bed with Wi-Fi, I google what I wanted to hours ago: Castles near Poughkeepsie.
I’m hoping that more than a White Castle shows up—I doubt my admirer would send me to a burger joint, but what other castles could they be talking about in the Hudson Valley? I’m shocked, however, to find a whole list of them. The first article on my screen is 13 Magnificent Castles in Upstate New York Straight Out of a Fairy Tale.
My jaw drops. Thirteen? At this rate, I’ll never find out who my secret admirer is.
But it needs to be a castle from a beautiful view, I remind myself. As I scan the list, there’s one in particular that jumps out to me, in Beacon, a couple of towns over. Well, sort of in Beacon. It’s a castle on an island in the Hudson River that you can see from Beacon. Bingo. From there, I’m on a roll. All I do is google How to see Bannerman Castle in Beacon and up pops a link to Breakneck Ridge, a hiking trail along the river that brings you to an overlook. A beautiful view.
Who needs Andy or his fun facts when you have Google? I think smugly as I shut my laptop.
Chapter 13
Even though I made a deal with Andy that I’d wait, I can’t get Bannerman Castle out of my mind. I have two options. One, wait for Andy like I said I would, or two, find a new way to Bannerman without him. By lunchtime the next day I have an idea: I’m going to rally the troops like old times.
“Who’s up for an afterschool hike?” I say once everyone takes the first bite of their salad.
Carmen raises her eyebrow. “Hike?”
I’m not sure if she’s surprised I want to do something or just against hiking in general. Maybe both. I’ll have to lay it on thick.
“Yes, there’s this hiking trail called Breakneck that is supposed to be a blast,” I say. “There’s a loop that goes all the way up the mountain. It’s supposed to be pretty challenging.”
I look across the table to see nothing but blank faces. So I try my last resort.
“We could get really cool photos from the top.”
“I’m in!” Carmen says. Jess and Katie quickly nod too.
“Great. Today?” I suggest, everything falling perfectly into place.
But then Carmen shakes her head. “I’m hanging out with Anthony tonight.”
I forgot that Carmen’s mom lets her do stuff that late on a school night. My parents would never.
“Well, what if we go right after school?” I ask. “Anthony has basketball practice anyways, so you can’t hang out with him until later.”
“I’m free,” Katie offers.
I turn to Jess. “Same,” she says.
Carmen crosses her arms. “I’m not saying I don’t want to go—just not today. I don’t even have hiking gear.”
“Wear your gym clothes—that’s what I was planning on doing. Don’t you have those Lululemon leggings in your locker? And then after we go you can tell Anthony how much fun you had while he was at practice.”
She studies my face like she’s searching for the real reason I want to go so badly, but I just give her a smile that says pretty please?
“Fine,” she says, uncrossing her arms. “Meet at my car after school.”
And just like that, I rally the troops.
* * *
“So is this trail called Breakneck because you can actually break your neck?” Jess asks on our hike up the mountain. “Because I’m not trying to do that.”
“It is high up,” Katie says. At first, I’m worried she’s going to suggest not going all the way to the ridge, but she squeals, “The pictures are going to be amazing!”
“Yeah, they will.” Carmen smiles. Her hair is in a perfect topknot, ready for a photo op.
“You guys are ridiculous,” I say.
“We’re ridiculous?” Carmen retorts. “This is the first time you’ve wanted to do anything in forever.”
“Well, I’m here, aren’t I?” I ask. but as I say it a part of me feels guilty because I have an ulterior motive.
Carmen doesn’t notice. “You are! And I love it!” Carmen shouts right there in the middle of the woods. Then she laughs loudly in my direction. “It’s good to get out. It’ll give you practice for your date with Pete on Friday.
“Carmen,” Katie hisses.
“What? I can shout,” Carmen says, brushing her off. Then there’s a mischievous look on her face that makes me know she’s going to yell even louder. “I love my friends!!!” she roars.
The four of us laugh and keep on hiking up the mountain. There’s nothing but bare trees and fallen pinecones along the trail. Luckily, the snow from the other week has melted, so we’re able to make it up the steep trail. It’s hard—way harder than I expected it to be—but we still manage to talk on our way up.
At first, we joke about the funniest paper hearts we have received. Katie received the best one from a guy in her Latin class. It said I think we’ve had our eye on each other all year—Carpe DM me sometime. I give him points for creativity. It’s definitely something Andy would say. I almost tell my friends about him, but then I hold back. How do I tell them about Andy without disclosing the paper hearts? Suddenly I feel guilty for keeping this from my friends. Since when do I keep things from them?
“Hey, Ella. You okay?” Carmen asks as I stop walking.
“Yeah…I’m…just a little out of breath.”
“Girl, me too,” Jess says, passing me. “These views better be worth it.”
I take a deep breath and start walking again. It wasn’t the truth, but by the time we’re nearing the top, I’m actually breathing heavily. There’s nothing like a tough hike to remind me I really should have exercised more this year. My body wants to collapse right there on the trail. I step on a branch, making a loud crunch that snaps me out of it.