As we continue through the trees a squirrel scolds us from above.

“Hey. We could eat squirrels,” Cooper says, looking up. “You don’t have a trap in that pack, do you?”

“We could make a trap with the willows over there,” I say. “In Outdoor Classroom we once made willow chairs by weaving the bendy twigs together. I wasn’t that impressed with them, but Gavin was so proud of his that he painted his name on it. It’s still on our porch.” The memory tugs at my heart. I glance at the sky. “Except we don’t have time.”

Cooper pulls out something that had been clipped along the inside of his front pocket. I hear a snick as he uses his thumb to flick out a thick, pointy blade. He slices at the willows and then stops when he catches me staring at him. He grins wickedly and flips the knife in the air, catching it by the black handle.

“What?” he asks innocently.

“What are you doing?” I try not to sound concerned about the fact that he’s had a knife on him this whole time.

“I’m making a spear. I’m going to stab us some dinner. Someone has to think around here.”

While Cooper sharpens a long willow, I transfer Stark to my shoulder on top of the padding of my pack strap. I can’t keep carrying her with my injured arm. I have to improvise. She’s not sure what I’m doing at first, but then she shuffles on. I smile at the novelty of having a bird on my shoulder. I feel her grip tighten, but her talons don’t poke through. It’s way easier to carry her this way. She leans in and plucks at my hair as a bittersweet wave of emotion hits me.

“What a good girl. That’s it, Stark. Are you finally telling me you love me too?”

Cooper stalks past us, brandishing his new spear. “You enjoying yourself, Crazy?”

“What?”

He hurtles the spear at the squirrel above us, but it scampers away easily. Cooper screams at it and then stomps his foot. I’m suddenly afraid of his mood swing.

“Freaking idiot! This whole thing is so lame. What do you think—that we’re just tiptoeing through the tulips out here? I can’t believe I’m out here starving to death…with you.” Cooper grabs the spear where it fell, and savagely throws it again into the trees. “I never should’ve followed that stupid bird.”

“I’m not an idiot! How could you forget that this is your fault? If you didn’t steal our phone—”

“I’ve finally got enough money for bus fare.” Cooper continues ranting as if he doesn’t hear me. “But I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere with some moron who gets us lost and talks to birds!”

His words crash into me and make me face the fear I’ve been avoiding all day. Did I get us lost?

“You don’t have any idea where we are, do you?” Cooper sees my expression and jabs a finger at me. “You think I need you to survive out here?” His chest heaves as if he’s been running. I see the tension across his shoulders. The look in his eyes is once again familiar. Like a fearful hawk.

I am calm. I am safety. I keep my voice even. “You can leave and go wherever you want, you know. Anytime.” I raise my chin and meet his gaze.

He stares at me for a long moment. “I guess we should stay together for now.” He rubs his face. “You say you don’t care about the money, but I don’t believe you. You want some of it, don’t you?”

I’m about to argue when I get a better idea and change tactics. “Okay, you’re right. I think I should have half.”

Cooper snorts and then studies me. He kneels and dumps the money out of his pockets. He shuffles through it and pulls out a few bills. “I’ll give you this if you get me out of here.”

We kneel in the pine needles to count the money, but then I notice how dark it’s getting. With growing horror, I realize that the sun is setting. We aren’t going to find the highway in the dark. I’m going to have to spend another night out here. But this time with Cooper.

I think I prefer the skeleton.