Page 33 of Until Next Summer

My foot catches on a branch and I stumble to my knees, but get up and keep running.Almost there.My heart pounds and my lungs burn, but I can make out the tip of the flag above the thicket. Victory is so close I can taste it.

A hand clamps down on my shoulder. “You’re out!” Lance growls.

“Go, Hillary!” I yell, my voice cracking in desperation. “You’re our only hope!”

All the years we’ve been apart vanish and we’re kids again, competing against the boys, determined to win.

Lance takes off in her direction, surprisingly fast for his size. I’m screaming and jumping up and down; the other women join in, cheering her on. Hillary is almost there, but Lance is closing in fast.

In the distance, Zoey yelps, and my heart sinks. Has Cooper already gotten our flag?

“Run like the wind!” Dot shouts to Hillary.

“You can do it!” Moira yells.

Hillary barrels into the thicket, Lance right on her heels.

Silence.

Then Hillary’s voice, triumphant: “I got it!”

A cheer erupts from our team, and everyone rushes toward Hillary, who emerges, holding the flag high. We surround her, jumping in victory. Then she’s right in front of me, and I throw my arms around her and pick her up.

“You did it, Hilly Bean!” I squeal. “You did it, you did it, you did it!”

“Wedid it,” she says. Her cheeks are flushed, the familiar patches that she always got as a kid. “You distracted him—”

“You were so fast!”

“I was terrified he was going to knock me over.”

I gasp. “Oh my god, like the time Wally Higgins—”

“—ran into me playing Frisbee and gave me a concussion?” she finishes.

“You puked on his shoes!”

We’re both grinning, but when Hillary’s gaze meets mine, I stiffen. There’s a question in her eyes, like she wants to know if this moment means anything.

“Jessie,” she says tentatively. “What I said the other day—”

“Girls rule and boys drool!” Zoey shouts, and soon everyone is celebrating again. Moira leads us in a cheer; the men come over and congratulate us; Zoey teaches our team a victory dance.

Hillary and I are separated in the crowd. But as I watch her walk off, I’m overwhelmed with howrightit felt to be on her team. Working together.

“Hey, Hill?” I say, catching up to her.

She turns, surprised.

“What you said about camp. Those ways to make it more profitable?”

“Yeah?”

My heart is pounding, and I take a breath. “I’d be interested in hearing them. I mean, if you want to share.”

Hillary’s eyes widen with surprise. And then she smiles. “Of course. I’d love to.”

eleven

---