Miss Adventure Read Free Page A

in high school, when Billy’s best friend Sean got his car stuck in the snow in our driveway. Their efforts to push the car out were fruitless, so Sean said, “Let’s wait for Lisa to get home. She has big legs.” How do I know this if I wasn’t even home yet? My mom told me. Then she laughed.
    And yes, we got the damn car out.
    “Thanks,” I say dryly.
    He’s still looking me up and down, checking out my torn-up half-a-business-suit. At least I had the sense to leave the jacket in the trunk.
    “Did you just decide on this plan of yours today?”
    I sigh. “I heard you telling someone you were going into the mountains after class, so I seized the opportunity to spring it on you.”
    “Why didn’t you just catch me at USC?”
    “Just catch you?” I kind of laugh. “I tried. It took me this long to catch up .”
    Jack nods, as if considering something. “Sorry about your suit,” he finally says.
    That’s it? That’s all I’m going to get for my sweltering effort? I suddenly feel very tired. “No worries.” I sigh again. “I have lots at home.”
    And I do. All because I didn’t want to feel like a complete fraud on my first day of business school. I mean, I had to walk into MBA classes when I barely even know what the NASDAQ is. So, I decided to wear a chic power suit to look the part of the business maven I purported to be. Donna Karan, black, subtle, sensational. I couldn’t miss.
    Actually, I missed by a lot. Nobody else looked so polished. They all dressed anywhere from business casual to downright grunge, and I stuck out like a kangaroo in a Twinkies warehouse. But I held my head high and acted as if they were all under dressed. After that, I had to wear a posh suit to every class. It was either that or lose face.
    So now, I have a closet full of poseur designer business suits with matching shirts and heels. And everyone thinks I’m weird. But I look so svelte they stay away, almost as if with respectful distance. But I don’t think they really respect me.
    Not yet, anyway. Not like they respect Jack Hawkins.
    “Well,” Jack says, standing up, “you’re clearly no hiker.”
    I blink at him. “What gave it away?”
    His gaze remains steady. “But you kept up with me.”
    I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. You kept up with me .
    “Come on,” he says. “You won’t find your way off this mountain without me. But I’ve got more to do, so you better keep keeping up.”
    I feel a beam of sunshine blast through me, swear to God. “You’ll let me go with you? And do stuff?” Everything is going to be all right!
    “It’s better than leaving you here and worrying that a bear’ll get you.”
    “So, there are bears?” I try to keep my voice as unshaky as possible.
    “Lisa, we’re in the woods. What did you expect?”
     
    * * * * *
    I didn’t expect this. And I bet he didn’t either.
    I’m standing at the base of a rock wall—this one really is steep—and I’ve got bleeding hands. I’m holding a shoe that isn’t mine. And yes, a pair of pants.
    Windbreakery pants.
    And I’m getting blood all over them, but I can’t help it. My hands don’t hurt as much when I clench them into fists. When I clench them into Jack’s pants.
    I look up at the twelve-foot cliff I just rappelled down. Is that even the right word? Have they come up with a word for what I just did?
    Jack’s still up there, splayed against the rocks like Spider-Man. Only his superhero costume is a windbreaker, a magic pack around his waist, and boxers. Blue plaid.
    I knew climbing down the rocks with him was a bad idea. I knew it. Feeling that scared has to mean something , right?
    But I want to get brave, so I did it. I started my descent just after Jack, and everything seemed to be okay for the first second or so. Then Jack yelled up at me—I think he was telling me to do something with the metal hook thing, but I must have done it wrong. Way wrong. Because in a flash, gravity pulled the rug out, and I was