AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Opportunity, options,futures… those are only for the wealthy.
Seeing all these choices petrified me if I’m being honest. Not because I’m worried about losing my friends, not seeing Finn, or missing Cole.
This is about me.
Understanding and accepting that this is my life now. A hard thing to do when I’ve only ever had myself for so long.
Hailey’s eyes widen. The sharp tilt of her chin turning more prudent when I don’t automatically move. I don’t bother to shuffle through the pile.
Doing that would make this all the more real, when I only ever thought of it as a dream.
Coaxingly she softly nudges me into submission, as I don’t bother to hide my reluctance. There’s no point. This is a big deal, a huge decision.
She may not see it this way, but it’s how I discern it.
I’m equal parts thrilled and terrified. By going through these, it means I’m giving in. I’m doing this, I’m going to college.
My fingers throb, pulsating as I pick one up. The pristine arches and decorated achievements on this one make my heart pound.
Setting it down, I reach for another, and then another after that and before I know it, I’ve gone through the entire stack. Hailey watches the whole time. Not swaying me one way or the other.
This is my decision. My future…
I don’t deserve her.
“Sooo, have we made a decision?” Hailey asks with a sly grin after a beat.
I become aware that I’ve been holding this one the longest. My mind imagining myself there as soon as I’d seen the arched peaks and smooth columns. It was like a puzzle finding its piece, only in this case I didn’t know one was missing.
In the picture, the yellow-orange leaves from the trees around the quad plunge to the ground. Fall. Students are hanging out, smiling, and instantly I knew this is where I wanted to go. This is the school for me.
I want to go here so badly I can almost taste that first sip of coffee as I rush off between buildings now, sitting here while Hailey continues to ogle me.
“Do we have a winner?” she beams, squealing out her enthusiasm. Getting closer, she presses her cheek to mine so she can see which one I picked.
Pulling it from my grasp, those chirps go from muffled—quiet for her—to over the top. Beaming, she’s positively beaming, stuck in her own daze now.
Flutters sprout like a volcano erupting inside my stomach. I’m as giddy as she is. I never imagined something like this for myself.
“This school looks amazing, but did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
Her head snaps up. Bottom lip popped out from where she’d been sucking on it with her teeth. Admiring the cover of the brochure as well.
Sure, when I’d seen Finn’s acceptance letter, I’d only seen the school’s name and logo. I never took the extra time to research more outside that, but dang. Seeing it firsthand in that pamphlet it’s hard to imagine myself going anywhere else.
The school looks amazing and everything I could ever dream of in the process. Besides, having my brother and Hailey around wouldn’t be so bad either.
Cole, I’m not too worried about.
I doubt he cares, because why would he? It’s never mattered. His only option has been to prepare to take over for his father one day so he’d most likely tag along wherever everyone else went.
Eli, well the choice is up to him, same as everyone else but I wouldn’t be mad if he decided to join as well.
Hailey bats her eyelashes innocently and I can’t help but laugh. Her attempt at playing it off innocent-like, impossible. She’s too easy to read.
“Weird how every other one of these is within four hours of that school.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She miffs, lifting a shoulder in the same way as her nose. Nonchalant.
