part0019

As I watched Wes pack up his things, I thought this might be the last time I would ever be alone with him. We’d had a project and now the project was complete. Maybe that was for the best, since my silly crush had really begun to interfere with my ability to think clearly.

“There. No failing, right?” He stood up from the table.

“Right.” I nodded and stood up as well. “Sorry for interrupting earlier.”

“Interrupting what?” He zipped his bag.

“Never mind. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” I started toward the door.

“I’ll walk you back. It’s late.” He caught up to me.

“You can’t walk me back.” I laughed as I looked back at him. “It’s the girls’ dormitory.”

“Oh, right. No rule-breaking.” He grinned. “Or maybe just this once? I need to talk to Maby about what we’re doing on Saturday anyway.”

“You’re going?” I swallowed hard as he fell into step beside me.

“Wouldn’t miss it.” He held the exterior door open for me and we both stepped out into the courtyard.

Although it was dark, there were plenty of lights that illuminated the area. We walked right past the statue I’d been pinned against earlier. My heart fluttered as I recognized it.

“I’m really looking forward to it—to Saturday.”

“Good.” He led me to the entrance of the girls’ dormitory, then took a quick look around. “All clear.” He pulled the door open. “Shall we?”

“This seems like a bad idea.” I frowned as I glanced around as well.

“Don’t worry, I’m slippery, remember?” He winked at me, then gave me a playful push through the door.

As we hurried up the stairs to the second floor, I couldn’t help but be nervous. I didn’t want to get in trouble, but I also didn’t want rumors flying that I’d been seen sneaking around with Wes in the girls’ dorm.

We were almost to my room, when a sharp whistle made me cringe.

Wes groaned and turned around to face Mrs. Reed.

“Just what are you two up to?” She crossed her arms as she looked between us.

“Mrs. Reed, this young woman was out after curfew.” Wes crossed his arms and looked at me with wide eyes. “I had to make sure she got back to her room safe and sound.”

“Is that so?” Mrs. Reed raised an eyebrow. “Sophie?”

“I’m sorry. I lost track of time.” My heart pounded as I wondered if she might kick me out of the school right then and there.

“Get out of here, Wes.” Mrs. Reed pointed down the hall. “Straight outside. I’ll be calling Mr. Carver to make sure that you are in your room in five minutes. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded to her, cast a wink in my direction, then jogged back down the hallway.

“I’m really sorry, Mrs. Reed.” I met her eyes as my hands trembled.

“You should be. Wes is nothing but trouble.” She pointed her finger straight at me. “You could do much better. Now get into your room and get to bed. It’s a school night.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I let myself into the dorm room and found Maby waiting on the other side of the door.

“Did you just get whistled by Mrs. Reed?” She clapped her hands gleefully.

“Maybe.” I flopped down on the sofa.

“Were you out there with Wes?” She sat down next to me.

“He said he wanted to talk to you.” I looked over at her. “About Saturday.”

“Ah, I see.” She pursed her lips. “Doubtful, since he’s already texted me four times about it.”

“Oh, you he texts.” I rolled my eyes. “It doesn’t matter. Our project is done, which means we’re done.” I yawned. “I need to get some sleep.”

“Alright, have a good night.” Maby stood up from the sofa. “Thanks so much for your help. I think I’m ready for my math test tomorrow.”

“You’re going to do great.” I smiled at her, then stepped into my room.

Once I was sprawled out in bed, I grabbed my phone off the bedside table. I flipped through the texts I’d received from my mother in the past. No new texts. No calls.

“Where are you?” I frowned.

With my imagination running wild, I had a difficult time falling asleep.

I woke the next morning with my phone still in my hand, the alarm blaring. I turned it off and wiped at my eyes. It was the same cycle as usual. My mother would disappear, get herself into something ridiculous, I would worry about her and find a way to bail her out. Even though I was at Oak Brook and making real friends for the first time in my life, I still felt as if I was stuck back in her life with her.

“No.” I set the phone down and headed for the shower. “Not this time. If she’s gotten herself into some kind of mess, she can find her own way out of it.”

As the hot water rushed over me, I imagined it washing away the past seventeen years. I didn’t have to be that Sophie anymore. I could be Fi. I could be someone who smiled and laughed and bent the rules now and then. I could be someone with a future and so much to look forward to.

When I settled at the table with Maby for breakfast, she smiled at me.

“What’s new?” I looked across the table at her.

“You smiling in the morning. I don’t know, you just look happier.” She shrugged.

“I feel happier.” I smiled, then dug into my cereal.

As I ate, Maby described our upcoming outing to me—practically minute by minute. I didn’t mind that she wanted to organize everything. It felt amazing that she’d gone to so much trouble just for me. I had a real friend and that made me feel like the luckiest person in the world.

As I stepped into my first class of the day with my poem ready to be turned in, I felt another burst of confidence. Wes had helped me dig deeper into every line, until I felt as if I’d created something special.

I settled in my desk at the back of the class and soaked in my surroundings. I was really here, in one of the best schools in the country, a place I’d never imagined I could be. It wasn’t a mistake or a joke. It was real.

Wes sat down in the desk next to mine and glanced over with a smile.

I smiled in return. And that was all it was. A smile.

Maybe there was still a part of me that tingled at the sight of him, but it was more important to me that he remained my friend. I’d never been part of a group before and now I couldn’t imagine my life without them in it.

I handed my poem to the teacher, confident that she would find it at the very least acceptable.

Wes leaned close to me. “Can I confess something?”

“Sure.” I met his eyes.

“I’ve never looked forward to turning something in before. Thanks for working with me.”

“No problem.” I smiled. “You are quite talented, you know.”

“Talented?” He squinted at me. “I don’t recall that being in that first poem you wrote.”

“Okay, I might have left a few things out.” I laughed.

“Sophie! Wes!” Mrs. Davis called out. “Enough with the chatter.”

I blushed and looked down at my desk. He did always manage to get me into trouble. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

The next day blew by as I got caught up in everyone’s excitement about the weekend. I finally felt more comfortable in all of my classes. I’d met a few more people and I didn’t feel like I was so much of an outsider.

Maybe that would change, but for the moment, I felt welcome and not so strange.

That night my body buzzed with excitement for the trip the next day. I couldn’t wait to be in the middle of the city, exploring a place I’d always dreamed of visiting.