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Gamble? My father was a gambler. More happy memories. “Gee, you’re right,” I deadpan. “Turning eighteen sure is swell. Thanks guys.”
Garth keeps it up. “You can buy porn, you can get married—”
“You can get a tattoo!” Tyler looks to Skylar. “I’m definitely getting a tattoo this summer…Your name right across one of my ass cheeks.”
Skylar smiles as Sienna scrunches up her nose. “Gross.”
Garth comes in close and nods, gesturing down the hallway. “I know whose name you’d be tattooing over your heart, you big pussy.”
I follow his gaze and my eyes land on her. Charlotte’s fussing with her locker but it won’t give. Some kid comes over and gets it open for her. She flashes him a grateful smile. He takes that as an invitation, sticking around to chat her up. Her look changes; it’s subtle but I notice. She’s being polite, smiling and answering his questions, but she’s not into it. After my craptastic week from hell, this is the one thing that makes me feel like smiling.
As the bell rings, Garth pushes my shoulder. “Almost forgot…You can also get locked up for statutory rape now that you’re eighteen.”
I push back harder. “The fuck are you talking about?”
He can’t contain his laughter. “I’m just screwing with you. I mean, I do notice that you stare at that pretty little thingallthe time, but I can’t figure out if it’s because you’re admiring her fine ass or hating on her. I’m pretty sure you’d never so much as talk to a Mason, let alone swap bodily fluids with one.”
He claps me on the back and then turns as Sienna approaches. The bell rang a full minute ago but the seniors are no longer inclined to rush.
“The party is at our place tonight,” she says, looking directly at me. “You’re not going to freak out if we sing Happy Birthday, are you?”
“Not at all.”
She looks genuinely surprised. “Really? I thought you’d be a total grump about it.”
“I don’t mind. I’m gonna be at work, so sing your little hearts out.”
For that I take one right to the solar plexus, but she hits like she’s not aiming to hurt me, so I just laugh.
“You’re terrible,” Sienna says over her shoulder, but she’s smiling.
Garth watches her walk away. “I think I’m in lurve.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, heading off to see my advisor. He’s got a lead on another academic grant. It’s small from what he told me, might just cover my books for freshman year, but money is money and I need every cent I can get.
I go to knock but stop when I hear voices.
“No, I think you’re being very proactive, Charlotte. The earlier you start working on your applications, the better.”
“I need to earn a scholarship, Mr. Vargas.”
Vargas hesitates for a moment. He’s probably thinking what I’m thinking: poor little rich girl needs a scholarship like I need a box of tampons.
“Let’s make an appointment for the end of next week. We’ll plot out your schedule for next year, see what you can handle in terms of advanced placement courses, and we’ll talk about some of the lesser known scholarships I’ve been researching. If you’re willing to write the essays and put in the effort, I think we can make it work.”
I hear a chair scape against the floor tiles. She’s getting up. “Thank you, I really appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you Thursday during lunch period. Have a good weekend, Charlotte.”
“You too.”
She’s sporting a broad smile as she exits the office, but it drops when she comes face to face with me. We shuffle, both moving in the same direction, trying in vain to get around one another.
“Sorry,” I say, moving off to the side to let her pass.
She nods but her eyes won’t meet mine. It kills, knowing I’ve given her good reason to be wary of me. Without thinking, I turn and grab her wrist. “I heard about your mother. I-I…I’m sorry.”
Charlotte swallows as tears well in her eyes. “Thank you, Simon.”
