Chapter 1
Keanna
My pencil scratches across the paper, filling in the very last bubble answer on my scantron. Question number one hundred and twelve – answer D.
I drop my pencil on top of the English 101 Final Exam and slowly exhale. It’s done. My last final of the first semester of college. I know I shouldn’t be disappointed when I look up and see the time on the clock above the dry erase board in this college lecture room.
My last class of the day started at nine in the morning, and the final was over a hundred questions long. I knew I wouldn’t get done before ten. It was a total impossibility from the start.
Still.
I guess I had a shred of hope that I might somehow zoom through the exam and finish with just enough time to race home and say one last goodbye to Jett before he hopped in the taxi on his way to the airport.
But it’s now 11:28 and he’s long gone by now.
Slowly, I slide back my chair and bring my test and answer sheet to the front of the room. There’s really no rush now, and even though I’ve just completed my last final and my first four college classes are behind me, making me one step closer to a college degree, it doesn’t really feel like a victory because there’s a knot in my chest that’s missing Jett like crazy.
I know, I know. I’m pathetic. I just saw him last night. But still. Now that the summer races have begun, he’s going to be flying off to some new race every weekend, and I’m going to miss him like crazy. Now that he’s a member of Team Loco’s motocross team, he’s racing all over the place, not just here locally in Texas. It’s the best thing that’s happened to his career, but I doesn’t mean I have to love it.
Essence puts a hand on my arm as I leave the classroom, startling me from my thoughts. “Perfect timing!”
“For what?” I say, trying to smile back at her and Ashlee, the only two girls I’ve managed to become friends with in this class.
“We all finished our test at the same time,” she says, pushing a wave of her long black hair over her shoulder. Most of the time, Essence looks beautiful with matching outfits and fresh makeup, but today she’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and looks like she’s missed some sleep. No doubt her bum look today is from spending the week studying for finals.
Her eyes flit from me to Ashlee, who is wearing leggings and an oversized T-shirt. “Let’s get smoothies!”
Ashlee rolls her eyes. “How did I know you were going to say that?”
“Because she’s obsessed,” I say with a laugh. The college has a smoothie cart in the middle of the cafeteria, and they use fresh fruits and probably some kind of magic fairy dust because their smoothies are insanely good.
“I could use a celebratory smoothie now that finals are over,” Ashlee says. She turns to me. “You in?”
“Please!” Essence says before I can answer. “Don’t give me that boyfriend excuse. You are always rushing off to see him, but this is our last day of classes together, so we should hang out.”
“I’m in,” I say, ignoring the tightness in my chest. She’s right, of course. They invite me to dinner or for smoothies all the time, and I only ever agree to go when Jett is busy and I’d otherwise be home bored.
But what can I say? I’d way rather be with Jett than anyone else.
Sorry not sorry.
Essence takes a long time ordering her smoothie because she can’t decide if she wants to go with one of her favorite flavors or try a new one since it’s the last day of school before summer break.
Ashlee watches me reach for my phone. “What?” I say, putting the phone back in my pocket without checking it. They’re always giving me a hard time for texting Jett in class.
“How long have you been dating him?” She asks.
I give a shrug like I don’t know the exact time frame down to the day. “A year or something. Maybe a little longer.”
Essence finally chooses her smoothie and then places a twenty on the table. “I’m buying their smoothies too,” she says, winking at us.
We thank her and Ashlee and I place our orders. I go with the classic strawberry, kiwi, and banana because it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Once Essence has her change, we move to the side while the guy starts making our smoothies. “You know...” Essence says, staring me up and down. “I’m not sure if it’s cute or weird that you’re so in love with your boyfriend.”
I can feel my cheeks wanting to turn red but I beg them to stay a normal color. “Why’s that?” I ask, rolling my eyes.
“We’re college freshman,” Ashlee says. She bumps her hip against Essence’s. “We’re supposed to party and play the field.”
