A Party Trick at Thirty Thousand Feet Chapter 02

No one answers.

The only sound coming through the radio is the howling wind sweeping across the mountain pass.

Caleb frowns and turns up the volume.

“Juli, are you still throwing a tantrum?”

When there’s still no response, Jonathan lets out a mocking laugh.

“Great. The princess is sulking again. She’s probably sitting in the snow, waiting for us to come carry her back.”

Will’s expression darkens.

“Forget her. It’s Rebecca’s birthday. Why should everyone have to drop everything and revolve around Juli?”

The helicopter lands smoothly in an open snowy clearing.

This is the spot they’ve chosen for the celebration in advance.

The tents, barbecue grills, flowers, and even a windproof champagne tower are already set up.

They climb out of the helicopter, laughing and chatting among themselves.

The pilot waves goodbye and flies the helicopter back to base.

Standing in the snow, Caleb pulls out his phone, opens our WhatsApp chat, and sends me a voice message.

“Juli, get to the campsite within ten minutes, or we’re leaving you out of everything tonight.”

He locks his phone and casually tosses it onto a folding table.

Rebecca walks over and gives his sleeve a hesitant tug.

“Caleb, do you think Juli’s really mad at me?”

“Honestly, I thought we’d gone a little too far with that prank.”

“What if she really gets stuck out there…”

Caleb reaches over, takes her wrist, and gives it a reassuring pat.

“She’s all bark and no bite.”

“That parachute pack had a backup chute. It was more than enough to get her down safely.”

“She’s just doing this to make us focus on her again.”

If this were before, hearing those words would have kept me up all night.

I would have wondered if I really were that difficult to deal with.

I would have explained over and over that I wasn’t trying to compete for his attention.

I was just scared.

During our sophomore year of college, Will takes us hiking in the mountains, where we’re caught in a landslide.

Rebecca bursts into tears, terrified. Will and Caleb each take one of her hands and hurry her downhill.

I’m left trailing behind.

A loose rock catches my ankle, sending me tumbling over a cliff several feet below.

My fingers desperately clutch a tree root at the edge of the cliff. Beneath me lies a pitch-black abyss with no visible bottom.

I’m left dangling in midair, calling for help until my voice gives out.

It isn’t until the following morning that the rescue team finally finds me.

By the time they reach me, I’m barely able to move or speak.

When I finally open my eyes, Jonathan is the only one beside me, busy playing a game on his phone.

I ask where my brother and Caleb are.

Jonathan doesn’t even look up.

“Rebecca was so shaken up yesterday that she needed some rest. Those two are next door keeping her company.”

“Juli, could you at least watch where you’re going?”

“Why did you have to fall off a cliff at a time like that? You kept everyone from getting a decent night’s sleep.”

After that, I develop a severe fear of heights.

Even standing on a second-floor balcony makes me tremble uncontrollably and break out in a cold sweat.

But none of them ever takes it seriously.

To them, it’s just another one of my pathetic acts, something I make up to get sympathy and compete with Rebecca for attention.

A bonfire is lit at the campsite.

Will brings out an elaborate fondant cake with candles shaped like the number 24.

“Make a wish, Rebecca.”

Rebecca clasps her hands together and closes her eyes. The candlelight casts a warm glow across her face.

Caleb cuts the first slice, the one topped with strawberries.

His knife pauses for a moment.

Instinctively, he glances at the empty spot where I should be sitting.

But only for a second.

Then he hands the plate piled high with cream to Rebecca.

“Happy birthday,” he says.