Seven Years, and I Was Always the Third Wheel

The next morning,early,Ellie called,loud and insistent that we all go hiking together.

I wanted to say no,but she wouldn't hear it and just dragged me along.

"It's no fun going alone."

"And hiking's the perfect time to warm things up between you two!"

She grinned at me,teasing,as if she hadn't noticed at all how bad I looked.

Before we even left,my lower belly had started to ache,faint at first.

My period had come on suddenly,the dragging pain slowly turning sharp,my lower back throbbing with it.

But Ellie was all bright energy.

"Little old Mount Rainier.We've got this."

Valentine smiled and backed her up.

"We hardly ever get out.Don't be a downer."

I opened my mouth,then swallowed the words.Not feeling well.I kept them down.

The mountain path was rough and uneven,and not long after we started,Ellie began complaining she was tired.

She leaned against the railing,brows knit,playing it up.

"I can't,I can't,my legs are so sore.If I'd known,I never would've come."

Valentine stopped at once and turned back to her.

"You're tired already?We've barely walked."

His words were all complaint,but his hand was already reaching out to her.

Ellie slipped her hand into his palm and said with a giggle,

"Then you hold on to me the whole way."

Valentine didn't refuse.

He took Ellie's hand and walked ahead,glancing back now and then to tell her to slow down,to watch out for the loose stones.

I trailed behind them,looking at their joined hands,and something in me went sour.

The ache in my belly suddenly felt worse.

A cold sweat broke out down my back.I slowed my steps,gripped the railing,and waited for it to pass.

The two of them up ahead never noticed I'd fallen behind.

Ellie complained the whole way,first that her shoes were rubbing,then that the sun was too hot,then a few steps on that she was thirsty.

Valentine coaxed her along,pulling water from the bag and handing it over.

"Drink slow,don't choke."

Ellie finished the water,shoved the bottle back against his chest,and said with a smile,

"Valentine,you've done pretty well today."

Valentine laughed too.

"Of course.You're impossible to look after,that's whose fault it is."

Their laughter carried over on the mountain wind and landed light against my ear.

I hurt so much I could barely straighten up,and all I could do was grit my teeth and climb,one step at a time.

By the time I reached the rest area halfway up,I'd finally caught up to them.

Ellie sat on the long bench with her legs stretched way out,and waved at me.

"Mer,why are you so slow?Your stamina's really bad,isn't it?"

I had no strength to answer.I just held on to the stone post beside me and sat down.

I'd barely settled when a few kids came tearing down from not far off,roughhousing.

They ran too fast and slammed into Ellie where she sat on the edge.

On reflex I reached out to grab her.

But Valentine was faster.

He yanked Ellie into his arms and turned his back to shield her from the kids.

In the chaos,someone shoved me,my foot slipped,and my ankle twisted hard.

I sucked in a sharp breath at the pain and dropped straight to the ground.

"Mer!"

Ellie cried out.

She'd taken a small fall too,scraping her knee against the edge of a stone step,a few faint lines of blood seeping through.

Valentine crouched down at once to check her wound,brows drawn tight.

"Does it hurt?"

Ellie's eyes went red,her voice trembling.

"A little."

Valentine's tone softened instantly.

"Don't be scared.I'll carry you down."

I sat on the ground,my ankle numb with pain,and couldn't stop myself.

"Valentine,I twisted my ankle too."

Only then did he glance back at me.

Just one glance.

Then he said,

"Wait here for a bit.I'll get Ellie down and come back for you."

I froze.

Ellie lay against his back and looked over her shoulder at me,her voice apologetic.

"Mer,I'm so sorry.My knee really hurts.Wait for us a little,we'll come back for you soon."

I looked at that small scrape on her knee,then dropped my eyes to my own ankle,already swelling,and suddenly couldn't say a single word.

Valentine carried Ellie off,and before long the two of them disappeared where the winding path curved out of sight.

I sat alone in the rest area.

At first,I really thought he'd be back soon.

But I waited a long time,and he never came.