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“Like, now?” I asked.
“That’s a pretty big envelope. Pretty sure you got in,” Ronnie said. She and my mom offered forced smiles.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic school—and a perfect one for someone like Oden, who planned to become a civil engineer. But for me, my first choice was Lurie University, and my mom and best friend knew it. What they didn’t know was that there was no way Lurie would take me.
“True,” Oden said, looking proud. “I got the same envelope. We’re doing college together, babe!”
He pulled me into his arms and twirled me around the room. With a quick kiss on the lips, he said goodbye and left to meet his teammates.
“What are you thinking?” my mom asked.
“I’m thinking…great,” I said with a conscripted nod.
“Maybe you should wait,” Mom said. “Until after your audition.”
“Wait, your what?” Ronnie asked, narrowing her eyes at me. “But I thought—”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said. “Thanks, Mom.”
My mom looked to me, then to Ronnie, and back to me. Even though I knew she wouldn’t confront me about it, she knew the truth.
I didn’t have an audition at Lurie’s.
I was so distraught the day of my audition that I didn’t request to reschedule. In fact, I didn’t call them at all. And because I was a no-call/no-show, when I finally pulled my head out of my ass a month later and called the office of admissions, I was laughed off the phone. My opportunity to go to Lurie’s had passed, and I had no one but myself to blame.
My dream school had rejected me, and as strange as it may sound, it was like I was losing Wyatt all over again. We’d always talked about going there together—I would sing, and he’d study animation. We would be artists together once he finished his senior year. It would be worth the wait to pursue our dreams as a couple.
And so, receiving that rejection was like the final nail in the coffin. Not only was I never going to see Wyatt again, but I’d screwed up my chance to attend the one university I’d been dreaming of for years. Because of this, Oden convinced me that U of I was the next best thing, and so, I applied.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ronnie asked after my mom left the room, closing the door behind her. Ronnie pushed her lips out in a slight pout.
“I didn’t think I’d get in,” I said with a shrug.
“But you did get in,” she said. “Are you happy?”
I looked away, avoiding her stare. “For a state school, their Arts program is pretty good. And Oden will be there.”
“Tilly.”
“What?”
“This whole thing with Oden…do you really like him?”
“What do you mean?”
“I just don’t see how you can be serious with a guy like him.”
“Why not? He’s athletic, smart, and one of the best-looking guys at our school—”
“I’m not saying he isn’t nice to look at.”
“Then what, Ronnie?” I bellowed, completely exasperated as I glowered at my best friend. We both knew what she was trying to tell me, but I had no intention of hearing it.
Ronnie shook her head. “Look, you and Wyatt, you made sense together, right? You liked the same things. You finished each other’s sentences, for God’s sakes.”
“Yes, we did,” I said matter-of-factly. “But he’s gone now, so thanks for reminding me of that fact.”
“I’m sorry, but you and Oden?” She raised one eyebrow. “I mean, do you really think the two of you make sense?”
