Page 5 of Finding My Forever

“I’ll write that up and you’ll have to get your teachers to sign off on you missing class, but I’m sure they won’t have a problem with you being out.” She winked and turned to her computer and began typing. “Have you put together a list of schools yet?”

I let out a groan. She’d been asking me that since the beginning of last year when I was taking the SATs and ACTs. So, far I blow it off, saying I had time to figure it out, but that excuse was expiring. I went on tours for schools in the area, but none of them stood out. Going to Lincoln University was too close. Plus, that was Elise’s school. The state schools I visited were fine, but it never felt like I found my place.

“I have a few.”

“Still nowhere you love?” She continued typing, but I knew she was listening.

“Not really. I know I’d be fine at any of them, but I haven’t had that ah-ha moment, yet.”

“Well, you have a few months until deadlines start. Maybe you’ll find one before then. Have you looked at any on the east coast?”

I shrugged. “I doubt my parents would be okay sending me to the other side of the country, but I might like the change.”

She hummed and spun her chair as the printer started. Once all of the pages were done, she spun back around and handed the thin stack to me.

“You have a high GPA, great extracurriculars, and volunteer work. You have a strong application and can have your pick of school. I want you to take some time in the next few weeks to broaden your search. You’ll find the right place for you, it just might not be what you’re expecting.”

“I will.” I put the papers in my notebook and stood. “Thanks, Mrs. Howard.”

“You’re welcome, April. I’ll see you soon.”

As soon as I stepped out of the office and back into the hallway, I felt my shield go back up. My smile disappeared and I relaxed into my practiced look of indifference. I walked with my head high and didn’t bother looking around. Katie was the social one, and when I was with her people said hi to me, but the rest of the time I ignored them and for the most part, they returned the favor.

Some of the girls on the squad told me that I came across as intimidating or mean, but other people’s perceptions of me weren’t a concern of mine. I learned over the past four years to stop caring about what the other people here thought about me.

Katie was the only person that knew how much I cared about school and how important it was for me to get into a good college to live up to my sisters. I didn’t care what anyone else thought.

“April. There you are.”

My eyes shot to the ceiling and sucked in a deep breath. I didn’t want my good mood to disappear so fast but looked like I was out of luck. I turned toward the voice and smiled. “Hi Gwen.”

She tossed her obnoxiously long blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled at me like I was her dearest friend she hadn’t seen in years. “We were just wondering where you went.”

Harley, Gwen’s sidekick, and fellow cheerleader smiled and nodded with every word her master said.

“I just had a meeting with my guidance counselor.”

Gwen’s hand floated up and rested on her chest. “Oh no. I hope everything is alright.”

I mimicked her smile and tried to play nice. “It’s great actually. I’m going to New York in a few weeks and need approval from my teachers.”

Her smile dimmed just enough for me to notice. “That’s nice.”

I could tell she was dying for more information but was too proud to ask. Too bad for her. “I’ll see you guys at lunch.”

When I was out of hearing distance from them, I let out a sigh. That wasn’t too bad. But I knew I couldn’t escape her at lunch or practice. If––no when––she found out I won the trip from a writing contest I knew she would mock me for weeks.

Gwen and I may have been on the squad together for years, but we never managed to be friends. Mostly, we tolerated each other. There’d been a few occasions when tensions were too high and we fought, but those were rare. It was more of a passive-aggressive battle that stewed under the surface.

We tolerated each other as long as she played nice and I focused on the squad. Besides Katie, she was the one that cared about the squad the most. Unlike Katie, Gwen cared because she based her reputation on the squad. Katie loved cheering. She already had a scholarship to the University of Oregon and dreamed of eventually cheering in the NFL.

This is what separated me from the rest of the squad and caused the tension between me and Gwen. She cared. I didn’t.

I stayed on the team for the past two years because Katie loved it and if I wasn’t on, we’d never see each other. I sacrificed my sanity for time with her and in return, she read books with me so I had someone to talk to about them. Plus, it looked good on my applications to stick with something all four years.

The bell for third period rang through the hall as I walked through the door. Katie smiled when I slid into the desk.

“All good to go?”