The Trail Rules

by Melanie Hooyenga

Evan taps his pencil against his lip, considering. “You’re probably right.”

  Probably? I scribble down our first two ideas. “What else. Do you think one will go solid?”

  He nods, and I write it down. “You know the pink one will do something fun. He saved it for last for a reason.”

  “Confetti explosion?” I’m joking, but I don’t get the easy smile I’m expecting. Okay then. No joking.

  “You’re probably not far off. I’ll bet it’ll shoot out of the tube.”

  “Sure.” I write it down. “So which will be first?”

  He studies the liquids in the second set as if looking closer will reveal what they’re made of. “I think color change.”

  I honestly have no idea, so I agree. Evan writes it down.

  “Everyone ready?” Treich asks.

  A chorus of “mm-hmm”s sound throughout the room with one “wait!” in the back.

  “Take the first clear tube and carefully pour it into the first of Compound A.”

  I grab it before Evan and grip it in my hand. The glass is cool, and I clink the bottom against the top of the first tube. “Cheers.” I tilt the tube, careful not to spill, and as soon as the two liquids touch, they turn a magnificent pink.

  Evan grins next to me.

  I set the empty tube back in the rack. “Gold star for you.”

  This time he smiles at my teasing, and I let out a breath.

  We choose the next reaction and this time he pours. Someone behind us gags an instant before the rotten egg smell smacks us in the face. Soon the entire room is coughing, and Treich looks like he just told the funniest joke known to man. We didn’t pick this reaction for this combination, but since we have it in our notes, it should count for something.

  The third clear to clear combination evaporates into a cloud of steam, while the yellow solidifies before our eyes.

  Evan picks up the pink test tube and hands it to me, smiling. “Ready for the confetti explosion?” Our fingers brush when I take it, but my body acts like nothing happened. And based on his lack of reaction, it didn’t affect him either.

  “Thanks.” I wait for Treich’s cue, then ease the pink liquid into the final tube of Compound A. Foam fills the test tube, shooting up the narrow column and flowing over the sides like lava oozing from a volcano. Except pink. And foamy.

  “Woah!” Several kids gasp and there are a couple squeals, no doubt from people who got too close to the foam. Evan sits back in his chair, beaming.

  I nudge him with my elbow. “Nice work, smarty pants.” I immediately worry that I shouldn’t have initiated physical contact, but he’s so pleased with himself I don’t think it phased him.

  “Okay,” Treich shouts over the chatter, “now that we’ve combined all five, review your initial hypotheses and explain how the reactions were different.” He glances at our table with a smile. “Or how they were correct.”

  I jump in, not wanting Evan to do all the work, even if science seems to be his calling. “So we were right about the reactions, just not which compounds would have them.”

  He pauses. “Right.”

  “Sooo…” I continue, “I guess we showed that elements are unpredictable and you can’t always know how they’ll mesh until you throw them together?”

  Evan laughs under his breath. “That sounds about right.” He doesn’t use my words in his notes, but the basic idea is there. “Nice work.”

  I flush at the unexpected compliment. “Thanks.”

  The rest of the class is still discussing the experiment, but Evan lowers his voice. “So is that what happened with us?”

  I stiffen. “What do you mean?” I don’t want him to know about Mica, not yet, but it doesn’t seem like that’s what he’s asking about.

  “Were we the wrong combination of elements?”

  Oh. I stare at my notebook, unable to meet his eyes. “I guess so.”

  He touches my arm. “I get it now.”

  I look into his green eyes and see nothing but friendship. “You do?”

  “You seem happy now. If I’m honest with myself, you weren’t the last couple months.” He breaks eye contact. “It sucks that you weren’t happy with me, but this chemical stuff,” he waves at the mess in front of us, “it shows that while you can predict an outcome, it may not happen with the elements you expect.”

  Is that what happened? Is Mica the right element for me? “Yeah, I guess.”

  He wiggles his pencil between his fingers. “So I’m saying that I’m not mad or upset or whatever anymore. I like seeing you happy, and if that means we’re just friends, I’m cool with that.”

  “Thank you, Evan.” I feel like the final weight that’s been holding me down has melted away. Now I really might drift into the clouds. But I can’t think of Mica right now. Evan will eventually find out that I have a new—what? I don’t know if he’s technically my boyfriend but it sure feels like it. But the longer I can keep that combination from him, the better.

  “I entered the Pow Cross,” I tell him.

  His face lights up. “That’s awesome! I wanted to but I can’t because of the team.”

  The team. The team. Yes, I know, the team. “I’ve been riding a lot lately and I think I might actually do okay.”

  “You’ll smoke the entry level.”

  I bristle. “I’m not in the baby bracket.”

  He looks surprised.

  “That’s what they call the lowest level.” His expression doesn’t change, telling me he already knew that. “I entered one up from that.”

  “Good for you, Mike. And good luck.”

  The petty side of me wants to brag that I finally passed people and I rode in the snow, but despite his proclamation that he’s ready for us to be friends, I don’t know if I want to go back to that level of familiarity with him. Whether he means to or not, he still pushes my buttons. So I swallow the rest of my words and give him what I hope looks like a genuine smile. “Thanks.”

  I head to lunch with a mix of emotions battling for dominance. Relief that things with Evan seem to be about as normal as they’re going to be, contentment that I let Bri know I’m here, even if she turned me down, and excitement over Mica that’s kept the butterflies in a constant state of flurry. But all that comes crashing down when I step into the cafeteria. Brianna is nowhere to be seen, but Kenzie’s at her usual table and she’s staring at me. The hair on the back of my neck prickles. What could she possibly want now? She motions for me to come to her table, but I stopped doing her bidding—well, really Bri’s bidding—last year. I roll my eyes and turn to the lunch line, intent on ignoring her. But when I’m carrying my tray to my table, Kenzie gets up and walks toward me. I could step around her, but my curiosity is piqued.

  We stop a foot from each other. “What?” I put all my energy into making that one word sound bored and annoyed and strong.

  She crosses her arms. “This is a one-time offer.”

  I raise my eyebrows.

  She lets out a huff of air and rolls her eyes. “I’m inviting you back to the Snow Bunnies.”

  “You. Are inviting me back. You.”

  She nods, her lips tight. She looks like she’d rather be doing anything else so I look around for Brianna. She must be the one behind this.

  “She still has you jumping through hoops?”

  “I do what I want.”

  “Doesn’t seem that way to me.”

  She waves a hand at the crowded cafeteria. “Look around. Do you see her anywhere?”

  “That doesn’t mean she isn’t pulling your strings.”

  She steps closer, pointing a manicured finger at me. “I’m in charge now.”

  This time my eyebrows nearly shoot off my head. “Since when?”

  “Since Bri lost control. Her first mistake was letting you leave. The bullshit with Austin was the last. As the new head Bunny, I’m giving you one chance to come back. If you decline, consider yourself invisible.”

  So many things bounce through my head that
I stand there, open-mouthed.

  “That’s not an attractive look for you.”

  I snap my mouth closed, fury building inside me. “I don’t know what kind of power trip or coup or whatever you think it is you’re having, but I wouldn’t be friends with you if we were the last person left at this school.”

  Her jaw clenches. “Just remember, this is your decision.”

  “It was the first time, and it is now.” I push past her, bumping her arm with mine, and don’t look back until I’m safely at my table.

  Hannah, Emilia, and Willow stop talking when I sit down.

  “What was that about?” Hannah asks.

  I could tell them about Kenzie’s offer and we could spend the lunch hour speculating what’s happening with Brianna, but all that feels like something from my past. Kenzie might think I’m destroying my reputation by not rejoining her psychotic club, but I’ve made a pretty good life for myself post-Bunnies and I wouldn’t trade it for all the parties and status in the world. I level my gaze at Hannah. “You don’t want to know.”

  Chapter 29

  The rest of the week passes like it’s holding its breath. Kenzie’s power trip engulfed half the school and by Friday she had a table full of new recruits, all eager to cater to her every wish. As far as I can tell, Brianna has completely stopped talking to people, and she refused to meet my eye in class and rushed down the hall as soon as the bell rang. Mica’s work schedule got changed so we weren’t able to see each other this week, but we’ve talked on the phone every night—which is so much better than texting. Hearing his voice before I go to sleep is the next best thing to being with him. He promised to pick me up this morning before the race, and now I’m so nervous that I feel physically sick.

  I get a text from Cally when I’m pulling my shorts on over leggings. I’m so sorry I can’t be there!

  Cally has a race and as much as I’d love to have her there cheering for me, there’s nowhere she’d rather be than barreling down a ski slope. You win your own race and we’ll celebrate tonight.

  Deal. And Mike?

  Yeah?

  You’ve got this.

  I smile. Thanks. Cally gets me in a way very few people ever have and knows I don’t need a huge rah-rah motivational speech. Just knowing she’s got my back is all I need.

  “Mike, you almost ready?” Mom’s voice carries down the hall. I slip my Courage bracelet over my wrist and poke my head out the door. She’s bundled up in her ski jacket, flannel-lined jeans, and a knit hat.

  “Mom, it’s October.”

  “Yes, but it’s snowing and we won’t be racing around on a bike. It’ll be cold!” She rubs her arms and pretends to shiver.

  I laugh. “Be sure to bring hot chocolate, too.”

  “Dad’s making it now.”

  My chest swells. They’ve never expressed an interest in what I do after school—maybe it’d be different if I was on an actual team—but when they found out I’d entered the Pow Cross they insisted on coming. “Mica should be here soon so you can follow us if you want.”

  She touches my cheek. “We can’t wait.”

  Ten minutes later, I’m in Mica’s Cherokee and my nerves are out of control, while he’s as calm and relaxed as always. “Aren’t you even the tiniest bit nervous?”

  He rests a hand on my thigh and smiles. “A tiny bit.”

  “Liar.”

  He shrugs. “I’d love to win, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure I do, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. I do this for fun.”

  “That’s why I like you.” I meant to simply think the words, but now they’re out, floating in the space between us.

  He squeezes my leg, momentarily distracting me from my nerves. “I like you, too.”

  After that my nerves get the best of me and we don’t talk until we arrive at the trail. Last week’s crowded parking lot is nothing compared to today. Canvas tents line one side of the gravel lot along the trail and a row of portable bathrooms stretch to the road. Cars are jammed in every available space and there are people and bikes everywhere.

  “Let’s dump the bikes in the corral, then park up here.” I text Mom not to follow us as he noses us through the crowd. The racers are easy to tell from the spectators. Most are dressed like me in shorts and sweat-wicking shirts, but at least a dozen are wearing tutus and costumes.

  “What’s with the—” I wave at a group walking alongside us in rainbow-colored tutus.

  “They do that every year. Don’t let the costumes fool you—they still ride hard.”

  I soak up everything. I never really understood why Cally loves competition so much, but there’s a palpable energy in the air. Some people are clearly focused on the race and nothing else, but the majority are laughing and hugging and making a party of it. “I guess when you said it was like a party, I was picturing something else.”

  He stops in front of rows of bike racks cordoned off with an orange plastic snow fence. “This is biking at its best. We’re competitive, but it’s like one big family.” He jumps out to get the bikes and I meet him at the back of the car. He lifts them over the snow fence and we lock them to an open spot on a rack. “Did you want to wait here while I park? It could be a hike.”

  I point at my chest and smile. “Biker, hiker.”

  A tender smile softens his face.

  We have to park half a mile away on the side of the road. We pass Mom and Dad and I wave at them to wait for us. Before we get out, Mica grabs my arm, stopping me.

  “I know this probably isn’t the best time, but I wanted to ask you something.” His lip catches between his teeth and his thumb flicks over my bracelet like he does on his brake. Like when he’s nervous. I try to relax my face but my nerves are already on overdrive and I have no idea where this is going.

  “What’s up?”

  He looks down. “I know you just broke up with your ex and maybe you aren’t looking for something else so soon, but,” he pauses and my heart soars. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be having this conversation right before the race. I’m kind of glad I didn’t see this coming or I might have imploded before I even left the house. “I was wondering—umm, hoping—that you’d be my girlfriend?” He finally looks up and my dopey smile must assure him that we’re good, because he breaks into a wide grin. Then I’m in his arms kissing him.

  “I would love to be your girlfriend,” I say against his mouth.

  He relaxes in my arms and he’s back to his usual laid-back self. His fingers slide up my neck, settling at the base of my ponytail, and he brushes kisses all over my face.

  “As much as I’d love to stay here for oh, I don’t know, the next three hours, we should probably go.”

  He gives me one last kiss that curls my toes, then pulls away. “Ready?”

  I shake my head, but laugh.

  We join the other people walking along the side of the road. When we reach Mom and Dad, they both glance at our interlocked hands but neither says anything. Mom gives me a soft smile and Dad raises an eyebrow, and I’m grateful when they walk ahead of us, making me a little less self-conscious about holding hands with my BOYFRIEND in front of them. Mica’s grip on my hand is firm but I don’t feel trapped like I did with Evan. I feel like we’re on equal ground and if I decided to change directions, he’d follow, no questions asked.

  The parking lot is more crowded than before, if that’s even possible. Mica’s unlocking our bikes when he’s tackled from behind. Topher lifts him by the waist and jumps with him in his arms shouting “Pow! Cross! Pow! Cross!” with each jump. Mica grabs Topher’s armpit and Topher drops him like a sack of potatoes.

  “That’s cheating! You know I’m ticklish.”

  Alex stands next to me. “Only way to get him off you.”

  “I’ll remember that.”

  She’s sporting her usual braids, but today a strand of purple ribbon winds through each one. A purple shirt and black shorts over leggings—like mine, I notice with relief—round o
ut her outfit. Kurt is dressed similarly, but Topher is head-to-toe neon yellow.

  “They won’t miss you coming,” I say to Topher.

  He pretends to straighten his non-existent bowtie. “I dare anyone to question my enthusiasm.”

  “Never!” We all say at the same time.

  “You love it and you know it.” Topher laughs, and Mica wraps an arm around his head, putting him in a headlock. “Watch the hair!” he shouts as Mica rubs his knuckles over Topher’s skull.

  I love seeing this side of Mica. It’s not that he’s overly serious, but Topher definitely brings out his playful side.

  Alex nudges me. “You ready?”

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her about finally passing other riders on the trail, but it feels stupid. I nod instead. “Mica took me riding in the snow last weekend.”

  “That was right after the fire, right? So where’d you go?”

  I nod at the trees at the edge of the parking lot. “Here.”

  Kurt throws an arm around my shoulder. “Damn, girl. You’re gonna crush this course.”

  I laugh nervously, hyper-aware of the weight of his arm on me. But no one seems to pay any attention. Even though Alex and Kurt are dating, they’re all friends and are equals. There isn’t a pecking order or stupid rules you have to follow because they trust each other and no one has ulterior motives.

  Mica moves to my other side and slips his arm around my waist.

  Kurt jumps. “Dude, enough with the tickling!”

  They both laugh and I look up at Mica. “Can’t help myself,” he says. Then he lowers his mouth to my ear and whispers, “you will crush this course.”

  “I’ll be happy if I finish without falling.”

  “Even I fall.”

  I laugh. “It’s not that I’m embarrassed to fall, I’m afraid of getting hurt.”

  He moves in front of me so he’s looking me in the eye. “Remember what I told you about falling?”

  “Falling’s gonna happen. No fighting the falling.”

  Alex wraps her arm around Kurt. “I’ve yet to finish a race without biting it at least once.”

  “Seriously?” I have a hard time believing that.