I stepped ankle deep into the frigid water in the upper pool of the waterfall. Jolts of pain shot up through my knees and hips.
“What’s wrong, Enna? Scared?”
I shot a warning glance at Jake. Ever since Mom had left me with my aunt, he’d been a constant nuisance. For three years, I’d listened to his accusations that it was my fault she’d left. “Stupid, skin-and-bones, stubborn Enna,” he’d call me.
He was right about one thing; I was stubborn — stubborn enough to break his one minute and twenty-one second record of sitting under Merriman Falls. Loser.
“Give it up,” he warned. “You’ll freeze to death.”
I stepped farther into the water, vivid pain racing up over my knees.
“I don’t start timing until you’re all the way under the falls.” He tapped his wristwatch.
I wobbled over mossy stones to the waterfall. Then, holding my breath, I pushed under and let the iciness pound down my back. My mouth opened in a silent scream, and my muscles stiffened.
“Feels good, don’t it?” He laughed.
It felt like the stupidest thing I’d ever done.
He looked at his watch. “Ten seconds.”
I tried to tell my subconscious the water was warm. I’d read about Buddhist monks who raised their body temperature with nothing but thought. It’s a hot bath, I told myself. I’m warm. I’m warm. Ah! I’m freezing!
My breathing calmed, but I whimpered. The pummeling water beat my skin numb. I scrunched into a snug ball.
“Forty seconds!” He grinned at the pain on my face. “Give up, Ugly!”
Couldn’t he see I’d been through enough? Nobody loved me. As much as I hated to admit it, I wished he’d try.
“Fifty! You’re turning blue.”
I can beat him. I smiled. But then what? He’d just hate me more.
I knew a full minute had passed, but he hadn’t called it. His minute twenty-one was his claim to fame. Could I take that away from him? Could I be as cruel to him as he was to me?
My mom once said, “You’re too compassionate, Enna. You’d invite your own murderer for tea.” Two things bothered me about that. First, you can never be too compassionate. Right? Second, I hate tea.
No. I wouldn’t act like him. I slapped the surface of the water and crawled out.
Jake whooped in victory. “Not even close!”
I shook uncontrollably. My arms wouldn’t hold my weight. I fell into the pool face first. I grasped blindly, reaching for the hand he never offered. I pushed up, coughing. “Towel?”
“Get it yourself,” he muttered.
When I finally got to my feet, the look on his face froze me where I stood.
“Accidents happen up here all the time, you know? And let’s face it. Who’d miss you?” I watched his gaze slide down the twenty-foot drop steps away from me.
“Jake? Don’t — ”
He lunged, shoving my chest so hard I fell backward. I gasped and slammed under the water. He dug his knees into my legs and held my shoulders down.
I thought about the strangest things when I looked at his wavy image hovering above the water: Mom’s chocolate chip cookies, the near kiss I had with Tommy Brewer, the algebra test I’d miss the next day. Mostly, I thought about how I might be unloved, but I didn’t deserve to die. Not like this.
I released a bubble of air from my mouth and forced my body to go limp.
Jake let go and jumped back.
I sat up, gulping for air. Surprised, he backed up toward the ledge, nearly tripping. One good shove, and he’d plummet to the jagged boulders below. But then… his chin quivered.
“Enna, I’m… I’m so sorry. I…” He turned, and I knew he’d jump if I didn’t stop him.
“Rematch?” I said in desperation.
He looked over his shoulder with a puzzled expression. “But I — ”
“Not today, obviously.” I squeezed water from my hair. “Help me up.”
Slowly, Jake approached me and reached his hand out. “I don’t know why I–”
“Don’t.” I couldn’t stand his apologies. “I mean, don’t let me die from hypothermia.”
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me.
“I’ll turn myself in,” he said. “I deserve it.”
I didn’t mean to laugh. “You’re just trying to ditch the rematch.”
He smiled, barely glancing up at my eyes.
“Let’s go,” I said. “We could both use some hot tea.”
