After a few hours of training the restaurant provides dinner. Tonight they have chicken, vegetables, mashed potatoes, corn or peas, bread and rice. They also have salad. I take some chicken and bread. Then walk over and get a scoop of peas and rice. I have some mashed potatoes.



I walk over to a table and Saige comes to sit next to me. Ivan sits with his friends but Kimberley and Blake come to sit with us. Jason wasn’t there. He must have gone out with friends for the night. Waitresses come around and pour people glasses of water.



I start to eat my chicken when Logan pulls up seat with us. “Well, what’s the gossip around these parts?” He asks taking a bite of bread. I see Kimberley curl her lip. She doesn’t even hesitate to get up and leave the table. She walks out of the restaurant taking her food with her. Probably going back to our room.



“What is something I said?” Logan asks the table. Blake shakes his head swallowing a piece of chicken.



“No, she’s just mad about today, and you know how she holds grudges.” He says taking some peas. He chuckles a bit. “She still hasn’t gotten over James.” Blake swallows and continues. “She shall never forgive him when he slapped her across the face and almost beat her up for something she didn’t even do.”



“Well, I get that, but I was just trying to help her today at school. I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”



“Logan, do you ever remember being a teenager? They always think the parents, or in your case, the . . . the . . .”



“Legal Guardian.” Saige helps Blake with the word.



“Yeah, that, they always think they’re the ones to blame. They always think they’re right. They always want to be right but they never want to admit when they’re wrong because then they look like the fool.” I explain. “Don’t worry Kimberley will get over this in a couple days? Maybe a few more.” I mutter the last part under my breath before taking a mouthful of peas.







Later that night Kimberley and I were getting ready for bed. I pull on my Platinum Mountain T-shirt on and black sweat pants. I throw on some socks and a black sweatshirt. I grab my phone and walk into Kimberley’s room, realizing she isn’t there. I look for her in the bathroom, nope, I look for her out in the hall, nope. Then I remember what Logan taught me. Search for anything unordinary.



I get down on my hands and knees and search for things on the ground. Same as always, a few pairs of socks and some T-shirts.



I walk over to her phone charger. Her phone is gone. I know Kimberley would put her phone on her radio charger if she wasn’t using it. She must be somewhere. I think of our cousins rooms, but then I think she wouldn’t want to go see them after a day like this . . . she would want to be alone. Then it hits me.



I growl and turn to her balcony she has outside her bedroom. I slide the glass door open and find the rope ladder has been put down. I lean over the railing and turn my head upward. Her hiding spot, ever since she found out a way to get up there.



I grab hold of the rope ladder and climb up. It leads to the top of the lodge, and since we added two more levels, it’s higher than when Kimberley first thought of the idea to come up here. Luckily, I’m still as good of a climber as I used to be.



I reach the top and swing my legs over the side. The roof isn’t steep but it does have some slant to it, until it comes to the end where it’s just flat. I sigh and crawl up the slanting part. I look both ways on the roof as I come to the flat part.



Then I see figure sitting with her knees up to her chest and her elbows resting on them. I sigh in relief knowing its Kimberley. I thank myself for putting on a sweatshirt and socks. It is freezing up here. I cross my arms and hold them close to me trying to keep in my body heat.



“What are you doing up here?” Kimberley grumbles without turning to look at me.



“Looking for you. You disappeared without me knowing.” I realize just how adult that sounded.



“Well, sorry I didn’t know I had to check with you every time I wanted to go somewhere. I’m here, I’m alive,” she turns to me with narrowed eyes, “bye.”



She stands and walks across the roof more. “Kimberley,” I call, “Kimberley wait!”



“What do you want, can’t I be alone for one minute! Out of all people I expect you to understand.”



“Kimberley, what’s wrong with you?” I yell at her.



“What’s wrong with you, you always get into peoples spaces, you never leave me alone and you act all motherly to me, all the stinking’ time!”



“I just worry okay, mom’s not here and-“



“No, she’s not but that doesn’t mean you have to act like her. I’m older than you, I shouldn’t be babied by you!” Kimberley hisses at me. I clench a fist then take a deep breath, “I’m sorry, Kimberley.”



She lowers her eyes down then back up to me. She heaves a sigh and continues to walk along the roof top. She at least has boots and a sweatshirt on. I have only socks and a shirt.



“Kimberley, wait up!” I yell running to catch her. Then I see a small shack at a part of the roof where it’s flat even over the slanted part. It looks small but cool. Kimberley opens the door and walks in. I do my best to follow her. She thankfully leaves the door open telling me to come in.



I walk inside the hut and find a bunch of things litter the entire room. A couch sits by a window with a comfy chair next to it and a table and four chairs sit in the middle of the room. Toys, electronics, sports equipment, blankets and more stuff is spread throughout the little room. A stairway leads to a loft space. Kimberley plops down on the couch and turns her head towards the outside. I walk over also staring out the window at Platinum Mountain. The lights lit it up and we can see people skiing down the hills. I already knew this was up here. Logan, Jason, Blake and Kimberley built this a couple summers ago.



Kimberley hugs her knees close and takes a deep breath. “Have you ever wondered about running away?”



My eyes turn directly on her. “Run away, you think about running away?”



“Sometimes. It seems a lot easier than being here. Fighting for your life.”



Suddenly we hear voices outside the hut. Kimberley and I exchange a glance then both take off outside. She slides down to the flat part of the roof first. I skid down as well but am not as used to it. I can’t stop, luckily Kimberley grabs my shirt and stops me before I slide off the edge. I breathe deeply as that was a frightening sight. I could’ve died. Kimberley gives me concerned look that changes into a stern, be careful, look.



She pushes past me and crawls on her hands and knees to where the voices come from.



“Oh, I just don’t know what to do anymore Carson.” I scoot over the edge and look down, the same as Kimberley does. I can tell we both see the same thing. Logan walks out onto his balcony, putting his hand on the railing and hunching his shoulders. He holds a glass of red wine in his hands.



“Carson, they both have become great and strong fighters.”



“Yes I know Logan,” we see Carson step out onto the balcony with her brother. She puts a hand on his back and says, “But do you really think they’re ready?”



“I can’t train them any longer,” Logan states. My eyes widen in surprise along with Kimberley’s as we both exchange a glance. “I’ve taught them all I know, but I knew when I first became their mentor it wouldn’t be enough.” He looks up at the mountain then at Carson. “They possess something more. They need to train with the best.”



Kimberley gives me a confused glance. I am more than confused, I’m frazzled. Who else could teach us besides Logan? Nobody trusts us like him, nobody knows us like him. He could be our only mentor period.



“Logan if you’re thinking of sending them to Jamahoro, then you are insane.” She chuckles. She takes Logan’s wine from him and takes a sip. Logan looks at her then down again.



I barley hear the next thing that comes out of his mouth. He mumbles it only for Carson and himself to hear. “I already spoke to him the other day.”



Carson is wide eyed and turns to him in surprise, “What! Wha- why?”



“Because Kimberley has been reckless lately and Ronnie,” he pauses and stands up straight. “Well, Ronnie is not so out of hand right now, but I see Kimberley defiantly in her.”



“Oh so you think I’m reckless!” Kimberley whispers in anger. I slap my hand on her mouth silencing her so Logan and Carson can’t hear. She pushes it away and gives me a warning look at me then looks back down.



“Logan, I just don’t know about this. Ronnie and Kimberley are fine here. They can learn everything they need to know here at this place.” She takes another sip of the wine.



“No, they can’t. That’s why Jamahoro is the only one who can train them. He can show them, trust me.” I feel a hand grab my arm and pull me away from the edge to the roof.



“Hey,” I say and see Kimberley making her way to the top of the roof. I roll my eyes but follow her up to the roof.



She gets to the top and turns around, sitting looking at the mountain. I sit next to her as we watch the mountain start to turn off its lights. Kimberley holds her knees close to her chest and breaths silently. “Why? Does he want to get rid of us or something?”



“No, we just need more training.” I say trying to convince her, but I can’t even convince myself. He’s giving us away to that old guy who lives at the top of the hill across the street a few ways. “It will be alright Kimberley.” I try to reassure her.



She turns her head to look at me and I turn my head. “You know how to get back down right?” She asks.



“Yeah, why?”



Without an answer she pushes herself up and stands. She steps on the point of the roof. She sticks her hands in her sweatshirt and walks back to the hut.



I decide not to bother her. I know she wants to be alone. If anyone should go talk to her it should be Jason or Blake. Jason and she have . . . a special bond you could call it. They don’t normally talk when they’re around us but when they’re alone they don’t stop talking. And Blake is the same age as her, she will listen to them, most of the time.



I sigh and stand up. I balance myself on the point of the roof and start to walk back to the rope ladder.