Heidi's ready to be escorted to the dorm when her eyes shift toward Val, who hasn't moved from her spot on the ground. Her friend's face is pale with those eyes that are dull with guilt and exhaustion. Heidi's chest tightens.
"Come on," Heidi murmurs, crouching down to help her.
Her hand slips beneath Val's arm, pulling her up with more strength than she realizes she has. "It's not our fault Junie stayed back. You know that, right? If we could've dragged her out by the hair, we would have. I would've."
Val's lips tremble, but she doesn't speak at first. Heidi holds her still, gazes colliding in that quiet, painful acknowledgment of the truth: they'd do anything to get Junie back. Anything… and they can only achieve it by working together.
For a moment there, Heidi thinks Val wouldn't agree. She thinks Val is too angry to want to continue to be friends with her until the girl nods, giving a jerky little movement, and she pushes herself upright. Her knees wobble, but she stands.
