teenage tragedy (Max Mayfield)

3. six

"It is fascinating what bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office. Starcourt Mall. The complete blueprints," Robin put papers down on the table in the back room a few hours later.

The four of them crowded around it to look.

"Not bad," Dustin said.

"So, this is us, Scoops, and this is where we want to get," Robin pointed at two points on the blueprints.

"I mean, I don't really see a way in," Steve frowned.

"There's not," Robin pulled away the top page to reveal more blueprints, "If you're talking exclusively about doors."

"Air ducts," Dustin said. Robin nodded.

"Exactly. Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room," Robin grabbed the marker for the whiteboard and drew a path on the blueprints. "And these air ducts lead all the way... here," Robin pointed at the airduct in the back room.

They all looked up and Cammie winced. It was tiny. Not even she would fit in there.

"Flashlight," Steve mumbled around his screwdriver, hovering on a ladder in front of the vent.

Dustin handed him the flashlight and Steve handed him back the slightly slobber covered screwdriver. Dustin winced and put it down.

"Thanks," Steve said. He shined the flashlight into the air duct. "Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know if you can fit in here. It's, like... super tight."

"I'll fit. Trust me. No collar bones, remember?" Dustin said.

"Uh, excuse me?" Robin said.

Cammie giggled at the look of utter shock on her face. Steve climbed down the ladder and Dustin climbed up to look.

"Oh, he's, uh... Yeah, he's got some disease. Chry, uh... It's chrydo, um... Something. Yeah, I dunno," Steve said.

"Cleidocranial Dysplasia," Cammie said.

"He's missing bones and stuff. He can bend like Gumbo," Steve said.

"You mean Gumby," Robin said.

"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo," Steve shook his head.

"Steve, just shut up and push me!" Dustin said.

"Okay. I'll push ya," Steve grabbed Dustin's feet and started trying to push him into the vent.

"Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass," Dustin said.

"What?" Steve said.

"Touch my butt! I don't care!" Dustin shouted. Steve tried but Dustin wasn't moving anywhere. Cammie laughed, falling into Robin's side for support. "Come on! Harder! Push harder!" Dustin said.

"I'm pushing!" Steve shouted.

He pulled Dustin's legs over his shoulder and tried to push again.

"You're playing with my legs," Dustin said.

"I'm not playing, I have terrible footing," Steve huffed, stepping up another step on the ladder.

"Come on!" Dustin shouted.

"I'm gonna just shove you, ready?" Steve said.

"Just shove me?" Dustin asked.

"One, two," Steve grunted and shoved Dustin, but he didn't budge.

"I haven't laughed this much in years," Cammie wiped the tears forming in her eyes at how hilarious this whole thing was.

The boys had seemed to forget Cammie could get them in the vent with her superstrength, or just jump in there herself, but she wasn't going to interrupt. Their plan seemed to be a lot funnier for her.