After the Fire by Becky Citra Page A

like that.”
    Melissa shrugged. She didn’t say anything but she glowed inside. She had drawn a girl dressed in a tunic and tall boots. Her hair was tucked under a cap, but you could tell she was a girl because of her delicate features. She was holding a sword that looked exactly like the sword Austin had given Alice.
    â€œIt’s Elfrida, isn’t it?” said Alice.
    Melissa nodded. “People are hard to draw,” she said.
    â€œI think she looks like me,” said Alice.
    â€œI used your face,” said Melissa.
    Alice studied the drawing for a moment. “Can I keep it?”
    â€œIf you want.” Melissa handed her the paper and the binder. “It’s not that great.”
    â€œBut I love it!” Alice seemed unable to pull her eyes away from the drawing. Finally she put it carefully in the back of the binder, snapped the rings shut and put the binder on the floor beside her scattered papers.
    Melissa stood up and stretched. She could feel a rim of sweat on her upper lip. “It’s so hot today. Do you want to go swimming?”
    â€œNot at the rock. That’s getting boring.” Alice’s pleasure over the drawing seemed to have evaporated and a small frown darkened her pale face. She picked up a mug and then set it down restlessly. “I’m going to change the rules,” she said suddenly.
    â€œWhat rules?” A tickle of apprehension ran up Melissa’s spine.
    â€œI’m going to jump today.” Alice stared at Melissa and burst into laughter. “You should see your face! I didn’t say you had to jump. You still have another five days. But I’m going to do it!”
    Melissa’s stomach turned to water. “Why now?” she said weakly.
    â€œBecause,” said Alice, “I can’t write and there’s nothing else to do.” Her eyes glowed. “You have to come with me. I need a witness.”
    The little cove was in dappled shade, the water smooth and deep green. Even out of the direct sun it was broiling hot. Melissa had worked up a sweat paddling and she leaned over the edge of the canoe and splashed water on her face. A small brown bird hopped through an overhanging bush, and Melissa imagined she could hear the dusty leaves crackle with the heat.
    The cliff was even higher than she remembered. It loomed above them, the rocks at the top shimmering white in the sunlight. Alice had chatted all the way over but was silent now. They tied the canoe to the dead tree and climbed up the trail. The air was thick with the smell of pine needles, and the heat felt like a heavy blanket on Melissa’s shoulders.
    When they got to the top, Alice walked right across the rocks to the edge and peered over. “It doesn’t look that bad,” she announced.
    Melissa hung back. If she went any closer she would feel dizzy. “Are you sure it’s safe? You don’t want to hit a rock or something.”
    â€œIn that deep water? And I told you Austin did it.” Alice sounded impatient. She stripped off her shorts and top and stood poised in her red bathing suit. “Count to five for me. Then I’ll go.”
    Melissa licked her dry lips. “One…two…three… four…five.”
    At the last minute she thought Alice was going to back out. Alice hesitated and her back went rigid. Then she took a deep breath, spread her arms apart like wings and jumped.
    Melissa heard a huge splash.
    She waited a few seconds and then called, “Alice?”
    From the middle of the lake a loon gave a long warbling cry. A bumblebee droning in a patch of tall white clover was the only other sound breaking the silence.
    Melissa had expected Alice to shout out something, tell her how great it was, urge her to not be such a baby, to jump too. “Alice?” she called again.
    She edged closer to the edge of the cliff. She shouldn’t be such a scaredy-cat. It wasn’t as if the cliff was suddenly