𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑| 𝐋.𝐂.

13: The attack

"Collaboration Teamwork Dynamics Seminar? Is this gonna be boring as shit?" Jackie huffs.

"Beats me." I scoff as we all walk into the gymnasium.

"Welcome, Ravens! Anyone have issues with height?" Suzanne says and I realize we'll be doing rock climbing today.

"Actually-"

"Other than Max, I meant." She says, cutting him off.

Becca lets out a laugh and I give Max's arm a friendly pat.

"Today's seminar is about collaboration. A good leader knows how to work effectively with his or her team." Suzanne says.

"What's all this have to do with climbing a wall?" Becca asks.

"You'll work in pairs. One partner will climb this wall  blindfolded while the other partner will be his or her guide. Your job is simple. Get to the top." She says, pointing at the wall.

"Suzanne, the thing is, I have a problem with the calcium crystals in my inner ears-"

"You'll be fine, Max. Don't worry. We have harnesses and helmets to keep everyone safe from falling." She informs him.

"Are they mandatory?" I ask and everyone looks at me.

"It is safer to use the protective tools given to us, Valerie." Suzanne says.

"But is it mandatory?" I ask again, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess not. It is a foam mat anyway. But I recommend all of you to use the harnesses and helmets." She says.

"Okay." I nod at her.

"So, who wants to be first?" Suzanne asks us.

"C'mon captain, I'll show you the way." I say to Leo, playfully swatting his chest.

"Okay." Leo chuckles and I smirk at him.

"Actually, won't don't you wear this?" Suzanne says, holding out the blindfold and Leo looks at me as I raise my eyebrows at her.

"Okay." I say, taking the blindfold from her.

"What about your helmet and harness?!" Max exclaims.

"I don't need it. I'm not scared of a little fall." I chuckle as Leo ties the blindfold around me.

"Okay, now just take your left arm and movie it up to the left." Leo says.

"There's nothing there!" I exclaim, moving my hand around.

"Hey, hey, it's fine, trust me. You're already doing great." Leo says.

"Okay." I nod.

"Now just move your left arm up, just a little bit more to the left, you got this." He says and my hand grasps a handle.

I then pulls myself up, holding on as tightly as I can.

"There you go! Okay, okay, now right hand and just a little bit up to the right. Just a little bit, right there! You got it!" Leo exclaims as my hand once again grasps another rock handle and I pull myself up.

"Whoo, okay." I breathe.

"Okay now take your left foot and just bring it up a couple inches. Perfect. You made it, you did it!" Leo announces as my hand finally reaches the top of the wall.

"Good job!" Suzanne says over the loud claps of my teammates.

I then let go and jump hard on the mat, landing flat on my feet.

"With no harness, no helmet and just a blindfold and Leo's guidance? Impressive." Suzanne comments.

"Thank you." I say, handing the blindfold back to her.

It then ended up being Max's turn and it was painful to watch at first as Jackie kept yelling at him. But Emma stepped in and Max ended up making it to the top.

Then it was Emma's turn, then Jackie's and so on.

                                        ||

"I'm so proud of you, Max!" I say as we all head into our Clubhouse.

"Thanks, Valerie. That means a lot coming from
you. You superhero!" He says and I laugh and he hugs me.

"Alright, Ravens. Time for bed! We had a long, painfully funny day." Leo says and a few kids still laugh at Max.

"Alright, goodnight." Becca says as her and some kids follow her to their rooms.

"You did great today." Leo says.

"You mean, we did great." I correct him and he chuckles as I hug him.

"You kidding? In the worlds of Maximilon Miller, you're a superhero." He says and I laugh.

"I have a question. Why do you aways take the floor? I want you to have to the couch for once." I say.

"I don't know. I just like sleeping on the floor. It's flat, cold and it's all on the same level surface." He shrugs and I chuckle.

"Weirdo." I say and he playfully rolls his eyes.

"Says the girl who eats Slim Jims. Everyone knows those are gross." He says and I gasp, playfully punching his chest.

He kisses my forehead and wraps his arms around me.

We're then interrupted as my Louie starts beeping.

"Hold on." I say, pulling away from Leo to check my Louie.

My eyes widen at Louis's email.

"Oh my god." I say, reading it twice to make sure I was seeing things.

"What?" Leo says.

"Carter and Brooke were attacked by the cave just now. He said some park ranger just popped up. I have to go." I say, slipping my Louie into my back pocket.

"Wait, Val." He says, grabbing my wrist.

"Yeah?" I say, turning to him.

He doesn't say anything but instead pecks my lips and I grin at him.

"See you in a few." I say and he nods as I turn on my heels, getting to Carter.

Gosh, Carter. Why must you get yourself into situations like this?