The Key To Andi

Chapter 13, Huh, I'm Alive

I landed on top of a little ledge. I squeezed my eyes shut. relief somewhat washed over me considering I wasn't dead. Thank goodness Max's steps were precise. I laid on the ground and didn't look down for a while hoping somone would come looking for me. About an hour later I heard someone climb down.  I shakily opened my eyes."You know you would feel much better if you sat up," Max said smirking. I looked down and then squeezed my eyes shut again and said, "Nope perfectly fine here." He let out a small laugh. "I won't let you fall." I grabbed his hand in a death gripand shakily sat up. I risked a look down and scuttled away from the edge. I plastered myself to the wall. "You know I'm fine you don't have to stay here." He laughed," Your fine huh? Must I remind you that you're the one glued to the wall and terrrifed of heights. I'm not going to leave." I gave him a small smile, "Thank you." "Of course."I shivered it was freezing. "What time is it?" "A little before 1." "How am I gonna get back?" "Dad said there was a rescue team coming in about an hour. Since we'll be here awhile why don't you tell me what happened." "In case I end up splattered all over the rocks that's probably smart. Oh, the phone!" I reached into my dress and pulled out half of a phone. "Damn it!" I frantically tried to save it, but it was no use it was trash. I threw it off the cliff in frustration. "There goes all the evidence I had against Noelle." "Noelle? It's Noelle?' Max said in disbelief. "Yeah." I said softly. Despite her pushing me off a cliff I felt bad." "Noelle said she chased her to the head front and that she ended up pushing her farther out and Noelle almost fell too."  Max's face crumpled. "No." "Max that is not your fault." "The only reason she would have jumped would have been if she would've been aiming for this ledge." He said hyperventilating. "Max," I started. "It's all my fault." He put his head in his hands and I let him be for a bit. I rested my head on his shoulder, hoping it was helping calm him down. "Max, This is not your fault! You cannot blame yourself for this." I said as he started to gain his composure back. "She was cornered and she had nowhere else to go. She would have landed on this edge had Noelle not pushed her farther out. This is all Noelle's fault, not yours." "I guess." "No it's the truth."   He wrapped me into a hug. I blushed."Liz, your ice cold." Max handed me his sweatshirt. I nodded gratefully because it was so cold."I can't believe it was Noelle." "I can, Noelle seemed pretty sure when she shoved me off the cliff." "She did what? I thought you fell." "Nope, I'm terrified of heights." Max clicked on his phone. "The rescue team is held up. We're gonna be here for a while." "Correction I'm gonna be here for a while." "I told you I'm not going. Well, I am but I'll be back." I watched Max climb and disappear. He returned a bit later with rope, harnesses, and other essentials. "We're going down." "WHAT?" I gaped at him. "Don't worry it's a lot easier. I'll be there with you." "Nope, nope, nope. I'd rather sit here for another few hours." I grabbed onto the wall. "C'mon we're gonna freeze if we stay here much longer." "NO!" "Liz, c'mon be brave." I looked at him like he was insane. "Trust me." I hesitantly grabbed his hand.  Max hooked me up with the harness and rope. "Max I'm scared." Max grabbed my hand "I know." We started our descent. It was hard and it involved lots of swearing. I made sure I didn't look down otherwise I would have freaked out even more.  Halfway through I slipped and was just dangling. I screamed as loud as possible and Max swung over, "You're ok I got you." Max grabbed me and put me back on course. He was with me every step of the way. When we reached the bottom of the cliffI was relieved. The sun was just starting to come up.