Don't Back Down.

Chapter Three.

We stood across the street in all black, trying to look as innocent as possible. I tugged at my black sweater and whispered, "We look like we're about to rob someone!" 

"Oh well! We're already here. No turning back." Olivia took out her phone turned it off. "Everyone turn your phones off. If we scare the animals, we're all pretty much dead."

After they were all switched off, we quickly crossed the street and stood in front of the gates. Olivia took a sheet of paper out of her pocket and held it up.

"So apparently there are two guards inside. One stands by the gift shop and one is by the aquarium on the far end of zoo. Every thirty minutes, they do a scan of the place and then go back to their original positions."

"I'm guessing I'm going to have to be the one to ask this." Stacey stepped up and snatched the paper out of Olivia's hand. "How did you figure all of this out?"

"I've been planning this for awhile." 

Brittany crossed her arms. "Did you have to flirt with the guy at the ticket booth to get all this information?"

"Maybe." Olivia rolled the paper back up and stuck it in her pocket. "Aright come on."

"Wait!" Vanessa whispered loudly. "How do we get in? The gate is locked."

"How else?" Nora put one foot through the gate, hoisted herself up, and jumped over to the other side. "Climb over!"

One by one we groaned and followed her lead , ending up on the other side.

"Phase one complete. Phase two: sneak over to the penguins."

"Okay, fine, but if the guards see us, it's every man for himself." I tip toed next to Vanessa. "If I get arrested and my parents find out, you guys would never see me again."

Olivia giggled quietly. "Deal. Now hurry up! We don't have all night."

We ran swiftly from the front to the aquatic section at the very back. Ducking behind a pole, we all looked both ways before crossing over to the penguin display. Before the rest of us had time to assess what we were actually doing, Olivia was already stripping down to her bathing suit.

"Alright, girls. Help me get into this thing!"

"How are we supposed to do that? It's like 20 feet in the air!"

"I'm pretty sure if I stand on this bench, it's only 15."

Brittany slapped Olivia's arm. "I'm being serious!"

"So am I! Melinda, you be the base. Stacey, climb on her shoulders, and then I'll cimb on yours."

"Fine! Just be quick." I steadied Stacey on my shoulders as Olivia shimmied to the top. "Aww, look at them! They're so cute."

"Yeah, yeah, they're adorable. Now hop in and get off my shoulders!" 

"Okay, on the count of three. One..."

"Two..."

"THREE!" Water splashed  everywhere and Stacey tumbled off me as Olivia jumped in, nearly landing on a penguin.