trembled her way back through the woods. Peter offered her his dry shirt, but Wendy declined. The longer they were there, the more she felt like they were being watched again. She half expected to look up and see a figure standing among the trees. The trek back was uphill and went even slower than their hike in. Her canvas shoes rubbed raw blisters into her wet feet.
After what seemed like ages, the trees became sparser and Wendy could make out the fence that separated her yard from the woods. A sigh of relief heaved through her. “Finally,” she breathed.
Peter stopped and turned to her. “You should see if you can find a map of the woods.” He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his soaked shorts. “That would make it easier for us to find our way around and check off where we’ve already looked,” he suggested.
Wendy nodded in agreement. “That’s a good idea. I’ll see if I can dig one up around the house. I should probably head in now—my parents are going to be home soon,” she explained. But she lingered, eyeing Peter.
He stood there, rubbing his arm and rocking onto the balls of his feet. Apparently he was quite interested in examining his shoes. “I’d invite you in, but I’m paranoid my mom might suddenly recognize you from that crappy police sketch,” she said with an uneasy laugh. “And I don’t think my dad would be too excited about me bringing a guy home while all of this is going on,” she added.
Peter let out a short laugh and arched his eyebrows. “Yeah, I’m not too excited about the idea, either.”
Wendy smoothed her hands through her wet hair, pulling out a twig as she did so. She didn’t like the thought of Peter being in the woods alone. “Are you going to be okay out there by yourself tonight?” she asked.
“I’ll be fine,” Peter said, waving off her concern. “I’ll just lie low and practice my origami.” The smile was back, accompanied by a waggle of his eyebrows.
“You aren’t afraid of your shadow?” she pressed, not comforted by his nonchalance.
“Me? Afraid?” Peter gave her a grin, ducking his head closer. “Never,” he whispered.
Wendy bit down on her lip. “Well, if something does happen or you need me, just … throw a pebble at my window or something. It’s the top one on the right, in the front of the house.”
“I’ll be sure to serenade you awake with a flower between my teeth,” he said with a solemn nod.
Wendy rolled her eyes and nudged his shoulder with her own. “You’re not funny,” she told him. Her mouth started to twist into a smile.
Peter’s smile grew wide again, his dimples coming back out to play. Just then, something caught his eye over her shoulder. The smile faltered.
Wendy turned to see Jordan coming through the gate at the side of the house. Even from across the yard, she could see her dark eyes locking onto Peter before frowning at Wendy.
A heavy weight dropped into her stomach. “You should probably leave,” she told Peter quietly. He clearly didn’t need to be told twice. Peter gave her a curt nod, but when he turned to the woods, Wendy caught his arm. “Go around the front of the house,” she said in a harsh whisper. Seeing Peter walking off into the woods would only make Jordan ask more questions.
Wendy and Peter climbed back over the small fence. Wendy stopped in the middle of the yard, waiting for Jordan. She and Peter passed each other. She couldn’t see Peter’s face, but Jordan said, “Hey, Barry,” in a tone that lacked her usual warmth.
Peter gave a small wave and slipped through the gate.
“I thought you were going to call me,” Jordan said as she walked up to Wendy. It was more of an accusation than a question.
“Yeah, I was about to, actually,” Wendy said. She tried to force the most innocent smile she could muster, but it felt all wrong. She never lied to Jordan like this. “Me and Barry were just…” She trailed off.
“Going for a stroll through the woods?” Jordan suggested with a lift of a skeptical eyebrow. She looked Wendy up and down. “You’re soaking wet!” She pulled a leaf from Wendy’s hair, then huffed. “What is going on with you, Wendy?” she asked. Jordan had her own brand of “angry” that lacked any real heat and was mostly a cover for concern.