You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 74

"Wendy?"

"Ruby! Let's go catch the sunrise!" Wendy's voice was practically buzzing through the phone.

"Where are we supposed to see it?"

"Cloud Peak."

"Isn't Cloud Peak private property? I thought nobody was allowed up there!"

"That's what I thought too! Turns out they've just opened it to the public," Wendy said, her excitement barely contained. Everyone in Riverdale knew Cloud Peak—highest spot in the city, bought up years ago by some old-money family and completely off-limits ever since.

The family who lived there? The most powerful, established name in all of Riverdale. If they actually ran into them…

Ruby didn't even want to think about it.

"Come on! It'll be fun. Just keep me company, okay?"

"Alright, where are you now? I'll get the driver to pick me up."

After hanging up, Ruby headed upstairs. Her mom, Tina, followed her into the bedroom, watching as Ruby stood in front of her closet, rifling through clothes.

"Are you seriously going?"

"Why not? Sometimes you've got to give your friends a little sweetness."

"Cloud Peak is private. The people up there… they're not the type we can afford to upset."

"We're just going to watch the sunrise, not cause trouble. If it’s not really open, I'll just come home," Ruby said, acting casual, though she knew exactly what she was doing. "Mom, you just don’t want me getting too close to Wendy. But who knows—maybe one day we'll end up working with the Jenson family."

"Relationships need a little maintenance now and then," she added with a shrug.

Tina looked at her, surprised at how much her daughter had changed. "You've really grown up. You never used to think about things like this."

Maybe it was those two years abroad—Ruby almost felt like a different person now.

She flashed a quick smile. "Maybe it's just that I finally know what I want."

Wendy picked Ruby up, along with a few other friends from their circle. They crammed into the car, chatting and laughing the whole way.

Wendy nodded. "Got it."

By six, the sky was bright and Ruby still hadn't come back.

Someone checked the time. "Should we go look for her? It's been ages."

"I'll go," Wendy offered, heading toward the restroom. She looked everywhere—but Ruby was nowhere to be found.

...

"Mr. Jenson?" The knock at the bedroom door was quiet but firm in the early morning calm.

Oliver laid his arm over his eyes, annoyed at being woken up.

"What is it?"

"There's news from down the mountain. Someone went missing while watching the sunrise. The police are already searching."

Oliver was silent, his face unreadable.