and that’s basically a first.”
Blake shrugged. “I think it’s worth helping if we can. It’s only a few documents. At worst we’ll have to get bailed out or whatever, but that’s not that big of an issue. Even you, Ahmed. A misdemeanor would get purged from your record when you turn eighteen. That’s in maybe four months? Besides, not everyone has to do the break-in part.”
Shannon shook her head. “I can’t be one of the people who goes with. I … My parents wouldn’t understand. They’re very conservative and I don’t know what would happen if I told them why I needed to come home so late. And that’s if everything goes absolutely perfectly and we get away with it.”
“You could lie,” Tomas suggested.
“I could also get caught in that lie, and it would make the situation ten times worse than if I just was honest with them,” Shannon replied. “I’m really sorry.”
Ryann nodded. “I get it. And it’s okay. You guys are reacting ten times better to this than I thought you would. I’m actually in shock, to be honest.”
Tomas looked a little sheepish, so Blake spoke up. “Last year, James asked us if Tomas and I would help him steal Internet from a business on the other side of your yard, so we ran a cord underground for like an acre in the middle of the night. So. You kind of came to the right group to ask about crime stuff.”
Ryann stared at Blake in shock. Ryann managed their life insurance money, but James was better at remembering things so he handled their bills. He hadn’t said anything about this to her, but she had been wondering how they came up with more spending money around then. She briefly thought about yelling at him, but she was distracted by Blake getting up to leave.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “We’ll work on it over winter break.”
1 DAY AND 5 HOURS
The next day there was frost on the ground. By noon snow began to fall.
Ryann hoped she didn’t have to sit on the roof in a snowstorm, and she silently began dreading the inevitable argument she was probably going to have with Alexandria over it. They’d been spending nights at the warehouse, but it was too cold and wet to stay in, so Alexandria just shrugged and rescheduled them back to her house.
Ryann had detention, so she took the bus over to Alexandria’s house afterward. It felt like she hadn’t been there in years even though it had only been a couple of days. Ryann walked up the steps and stared at the door before pushing the bell.
Mr. Macallough opened the door. “Where is your key?” he asked immediately.
“I left it at home … sorry.”
His frown got deeper.
“I promise it’s not lost,” Ryann said quickly. “I just switched bookbags with my brother because his had a hole, and I left it in the front pocket and he’s at home already because it’s late.”
Mr. Macallough nodded. “Fine. Alexandria’s upstairs. She made some bread and it should be in the oven. Grab it and bring it with you when you go up.”
Then he disappeared into the house.
8 MINUTES
Alexandria was already opening the skylight when Ryann walked in. She was wearing her coat, and when she saw Ryann was still wearing hers, she nodded in approval.
“Are we really going to sit on the roof in the snow?” Ryann asked.
“Yes.” It was firm and nonnegotiable.
Ryann scowled and pulled herself up through the skylight, then she reached down and pulled Alexandria’s slim upper body through so she could shimmy up as well.
“If I were more insecure I’d be jealous of how strong you are,” Alexandria admitted. “What do you bench? You can almost deadlift me.”
Ryann looked over at Alexandria and thought about how light and lithe Alexandria always felt when she hauled her up here.
“I’ve always been tall and muscular.” Ryann shrugged, embarrassed. “It hasn’t always been great, but I’m growing into it I think.”
“It looks good on you … and it’s useful, too, I bet,” Alexandria said quickly. “Anyway, my dad made a retractable awning out of a couple of my umbrellas for if the weather gets bad. It’s pretty cool. It’s portable, too, so I don’t have to leave it up here.”
She tugged at it until it made a small cave, then kicked away the snow on the roof underneath it. “Hey, could you go grab some things from my bed?” she asked Ryann. “There should be two folded-up blankets, a sleeping