Page 3 of Finding My Forever

“And it went on to the national competition.”

She nodded finally looking excited.

“I won!”

“No way!”

The boy in front of us turned and smiled.

“Congrats, April. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help it.”

I smiled at him while Katie touched his shoulder. “Oh, you’re so sweet, Reggie.”

He turned back around with a slight blush on his cheeks. See, I could barely remember his name, but the way Katie spoke to him made him feel like he was her best friend. He wasn’t.

“So, what does that mean? Do you go to a world competition now?”

I shook my head. “No. That was the last round, but I won a three-thousand-dollar scholarship and a trip to New York!”

Her jaw dropped. “What? That’s amazing!”

I bit my lip to contain my smile. “I know! A whole week!”

“Wow. When do you go?”

“The end of October.”

“Oh good, it’s after homecoming.”

Of course, that’s what she worried about.

“Who are you going with? Is it a trip for two?” She winked and pointed at herself.

“The national winner for each category will be there. I don’t know exactly who yet, but people from all over I guess.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Strangers?”

“Yeah, it’s a free trip to New York City, though. I’d go alone if that’s what they were offering.”

She seemed to think about it before giving in. “True. Plus, a week of no school? I should have entered the contest.”

I laughed at her expression of consideration. I tried several times to get her to write and submit an essay, but she laughed and told me I was a nerd. Well, now I was a nerd with a trip to New York.

“I’m sure I’ll have to do makeup work for the classes I miss. I actually have to go to my counselor today to figure out what the next step is.”

Katie beamed at me. “I’m proud of you, April. Your nerding is finally paying off.”

I smacked her and picked up my bag as the bell rang. “Don’t mock me.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone else and ruin your reputation. Everyone knows there’s nothing worse than being the smart kid.”

She knocked her hip into mine and waved before turning away and heading to her first period.

For her, there really was nothing worse. She didn’t care about her GPA or where she would end up in ten years. Katie lived for the here and now. She was all about having fun and enjoying life. I envied her for having the ability to seize the day, but that had never been my personality. I let people think I was a dumb cheerleader who liked to shop and party with Katie, but that wasn’t my full story.

Chapter 2

Mrs. Howard’s door was slightly ajar, so I knocked softly and waited for her reply.