The rock cliff was huge. I craned my neck, looking at the top which was three hundred feet high. I sucked in a sharp breath and looked over to Anton, Hannah, and Ty. Anton wore and excited smile unlike the rest of us who were terrified.

"Whoa!" I muttered.

"Come on guys. It will be fun. I've done this a million times. I know it looks high but it's actually an easier climb than some others we have around here. Besides, we've placed ladders where possible along the way," Anton said.

I gave him a look. "What if we fall? We aren't going to survive!"

Anton chuckled. Chuckled! "Relax Reb, you aren't going to fall!"

I raised an eyebrow and turned to face him. "Reb?"

"It's a nickname," Anton answered with a 'duh' tone.

"I know what it is you idiot! I just was wondering why you called me that!"

"Oh, you don't like it?" He asked.

"I think it's cute!" Hannah chirped. "In fact, I'm going to start calling you that. I've always wanted a nickname for you because you call be Ann!" She exclaimed childishly. I rolled my eyes at her but honestly, I liked the nickname. It felt like the first step towards are group becoming closer. And, if it made Hannah happy, she could call me whatever she'd like.

I smiled at them brightly. "I like it!" I answered honestly. They grinned at me but I didn't miss Ty's scowl which he quickly replaced with a forced half-smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Okay! Reb and Ann do you see that shed over there?" Anton pointed to a small wooden shed a couple yards away. Hannah and I nodded in response. "Could you go grab four harnesses please?"

We headed to the shed and pulled open the old door that was held shut by a simple rusted barrel bolt lock. It creaked as it swung open. We entered and realized their was no light, instead we used the dim light from outside.

Hannah headed to the corner of the shed and opened a large plastic blue container. "Found them," she announced. We each took two of the complicated looking black harnesses back to Anton.

"Thanks. Now, put them on like I do." Ty, Hannah, and I followed Anton and pulled the harnesses on. Once we all were secure in the harnesses Anton instructed us on what to do.

"Because I'm most experienced I'm going to be belayer most of the time. One at a time you'll climb up. When you come up to a bolt that has been drilled into the rocks you need to hook your quickdraw to it," Anton instructed while pointing out the small device of two carabiners hooked to each other. "Then you'll thread the rope through the other side of the quickdraw. Clear?"  We nodded in response.

"Good. If you slip or fall you won't fall all the way down because I will catch you as belayer and so will the bolts your hooked to. If you're tired and need a break stop at one of the ledges. When you get to a certain point up the wall I'll tell you to stop. These ropes aren't long enough to go all the way up so we have to do it increments. Have you guys ever rock climbed?"

Hannah and I nodded our heads again. "I've  gone once a few years back on a school field trip but it wasn't near as high as this and we had instructors and professionals help us," I answered.

"I'm part of a group who goes rock climbing every month actually, but the highest we have climbed is 150 feet. We usually climb horizontally along the rocks more than we do upwards. I've never belayed anyone before but our instructor has told us how to," Hannah said.

Hannah is surprisingly a really brave person. You might call her a daredevil. She is fascinated with fashion, make up, and the current gossip on celebrities. This is true. But, in her free time she's also bungee jumped off a bridge, backpacked, skydived and rock climbed. 

"I've done this so many times, I might as well be considered a professional. You will be safe," Anton assured us. "And because you have the most experience, Hannah would you belay me from the top at the end?"

"Happy to," Hannah answered.

We finished getting together and putting on our gear. My heart slammed against my ribcage like a hammer. I'm going to die. I can't get up that high! I'm not that fit. I mean, I play sports but that doesn't mean I can climb straight up a mountain! What if I slip and hit rocks? What if there is loose rock that falls on top of me? What if I fall 300 feet to my death?

"Hannah, you wanna go first?" Anton's voice startled me, shaking me out of my mental rant. Ty noticed my expression and smirked. I childishly stuck my tongue out of him.

You're a dork. He said to me mentally. Suddenly I remember his words last night.

Oh really? A beautiful dork, right? Ty looked shocked for a moment before regaining his composure. His usual smirk returned to his face and he nodded at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Alright let's go!" Anton exclaimed as Hannah approached the cliff. She began climbing, making it seem so much easier than I imagine it to be. Unlike me, Hannah was fit and muscular. She wasn't skinny or thin, but she wasn't overweight either. She was curvy, and the best word to describe her was fit in a healthy way.

Hannah took forty five minutes to reach the next belay point which was one hundred feet up. Ty went next. Under normal circumstances, I'm sure Ty would've been able to climb just as fast as Hannah if not faster. But, with the pain of his stomach and in his weakened state from the infection and fever, it took him an hour and a half to reach Hannah.

I followed Hannah and Ty's example, carefully choosing where to place my feet and hands. It wasn't an easy task, but it was better than I had expected. As long as I didn't look down and focused on climbing I was okay. An hour later I'd reached the belay point where Hannah and Ty sat, resting against the rocks. Ty looked completely wiped out, sweat beading on his forehead. I placed my hand on his head and sighed when I realized he still had a fever.

Hannah stood and belayed while Anton climbed. Surprisingly, Anton was up the cliff in a half hour. He wasn't exactly muscular or strong built. His limbs were long and he was lanky. I suppose he'd had enough practice he was good at climbing.

We continued this process two more times and finally we were up the cliff at eight in the evening. The sun was beginning to set behind a mountain. Shades of pink, red, orange, and purple were cast across the sky. We were all exhausted so we decided to call it a night.

"Let's just set up camp here. Dr. Belford has the zip line set up not to far from here and then we can drive back the five miles using the ATV's," Anton suggested. We happily agreed, setting out our sleeping bags.

Anton and Hannah set off to find some logs for a fire. I would have helped, but I knew they wanted to be alone so I stayed back with Ty. I took out the first aid kit, all the while Ty was eyeing me warily.

"What are you doing?" He asked me.

"I'm putting a new bandage on your cut and putting on more antibiotic," I answered.

"Rebecca I'm fine."

"Sure you are," I said sarcastically. He rolled his eyes and huffed in annoyance but I ignored him and began to bandage his cut again.

"Why do you care?" Ty whispered suddenly.

"What do you mean?" I finished up his bandage and rolled over on to my sleeping bag that was laid beside his. It was darker now and a few sparkling starts glittered against the deep blue sky.

"Why do you care so much about me when I'll I have been is mean?"

I thought about this for a moment. "Ty, my life hasn't been the best. My father left as soon as he found out my mom was pregnant with me and I never met my mom. She died because of me. My adoptive parents were actually amazing up until a few years ago. I know what it feels like to be betrayed and I know the sadness and pain my life has held. But, when I look at you, I know you've been through so much more than I have."

"You're right. I hate my life. It's never been good and I doubt it ever will be, but that doesn't mean I should be a jerk to everyone. Usually people are just jerks to me too, but you aren't," Ty mumbled.

"Well blueberry, maybe we both just need someone who understands and cares," I said.

"Rebecca, did I mention that you're beautiful?"

I smiled. "I believe you did, Ty."

"Well I meant it. You're beautiful in every way possible."

Awe, Ty's sweet side! So, two chapters in one day to make up for not posting and being completely gone for a little while! Hope you enjoyed! Vote and comment! Don't be silent readers.

Also, just as a disclaimer, I've never been rock climbing but I did a ton of research. If you have been rock climbing and notice something incorrect or something I should add please let me know! Thanks!

Have a beautiful day!