My phone rings in my hand and it startles us enough that we each scream.
Mom’s name flashes across the screen.
“Are you going to tell her?” Sophie asks.
“Not right now. I can’t handle any more today.”
I swipe the call open and put it on speaker.
“Hey, Mom,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t sound as sad as I think it does.
“Hey, sweetie! How are you?” She is cheery. So very cheery.
“Good, just hanging out with Sophie, Wes, and Charlie.”
“Wonderful! Well, good news! Dad and I are on the way home! We got done late last night and we are on the road. Should be there right after lunch.”
I want to let out the loudest groan right now, but I don’t. I hold it together. Because now my plans of wallowing in bed all day are shot.
“Oh, good!”
“Can’t wait to see you!” Mom says.
Sophie leans close and whispers in my ear. I shake off her suggestion but then decide it’s not a bad idea after all.
“I may be at that party for Bianca when you get home. It’s at two, I think.”
“Aw, that’s right! Well, we’ll see you after! Love you!”
She ends the call, and I turn to Sophie. “The last thing I want to do is go to a party,” I say.
“We’re not staying in this bed all day. We’re going to Bianca’s party and making a cupcake. The sugar will do us good. And then you can face your mom when we get back.”
I sigh and say, “Okay. But I’m showering before I do anything.”
“Yes, please do,” Charlie says, and I punch him in the arm.
The three of them get out of the bed to head downstairs.
“Party is in a couple of hours,” Sophie says, then shuts my door behind her.
I ignore my phone but pull out my laptop from the drawer in the nightstand. I hesitate a second, then grab Leo’s faded blue hat and slip it on. I may not deserve it, but I feel better once I’m wearing it.
Pulling up LSU’s website, I start researching while thinking about what Uncle Michael said—work through the problem, find the solution, fix it. I can’t fix what I did to Leo any more than I already have, but I can see what my options are, since it doesn’t look like I’m going to graduate next week.
I scroll through the site and read every FAQ page I can. When I can’t find a definitive answer to what I’m looking for, I break down and call the admissions office.
“LSU Office of Admissions. This is Tess,” a woman says when the call connects.
“Hey, I have a quick question. I’ve been accepted to LSU for this fall, but I may not have my diploma until midsummer because it seems like I’m missing a half credit of PE. If I can take it this summer, would that affect my standing for the fall?”
“Oh, you should be fine. As long as all your high school credits are met by the time classes start in August, you’re good to go.”
So that’s it. I thank her and end the call. It could be so much worse. I’m still going to college this fall. I’ll still get a little money in scholarships, although I’ll be missing a big one by not graduating as salutatorian. That’s going to be the hardest part when I admit everything to my parents.
The lost money makes me think of Leo. Grabbing my phone, I pull up our conversation again.
ME:I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I thought I was helping but I ended up hurting you. And that kills me. I’m so, so sorry.
