“Bathroom,” Lin says, then gestures in the opposite direction. “I’ll catch up.”
We part ways, then head to the tiny beverage station and order our waters. As we wait, I turn to Raegan.
“Hey, um, don’t take this the wrong way,” I begin, using this as my opportunity to be a better friend. She’s been so busy with schoolwork and presidential projects leading up to homecoming that I haven’t really had a chance to talk to her. “But are you okay? I’ve noticed you’ve taken on a lot this year.”
Raegan smiles, but I can see the tiredness in her eyes. “I know I have. It’s just—” She pauses for a moment. “Did you know my mom never went to college?”
“She didn’t?”
“No, and neither did my grandma. Just my dad. So I’ll be the first female in my family to go. And it’s not that I’m worried that I’ll get in, becauseduh. I’m bound to get in somewhere.”
I smile at her confidence. “Obviously.”
“The thing is, Iwantto go to a good school and Iwantto get a scholarship, but… I also want to be around to help my mom with the baby. I’m finally going to have a sibling, but after next year I’ll be gone.” She meets my eyes. “So, yeah. I guess I’m worried they’ll both need me.”
A girl with bright-pink hair hands us our waters. I quickly thank her, then turn back to Raegan. “She’ll be fine. They both will.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. They have your dad. And it’s not like you’ll never visit. Plus, this baby is going to have, like, the best big sister role model on the planet.” She laughs. “But you have to live your life, too.”
As soon as I say it, I remember the conversation I had with Alex. How I was worried about leaving my own dad when I go off to college. Why is it easy to give someone else this advice when I’m worried about the exact same thing?
“Look who I found!” Lin announces as she walks over to us, Colton right behind her.
“I’m so stoked you made it.” His smile is bright enough to light an entire city.
Raegan playfully nudges his elbow with hers. “You were great, seriously.”
“Remember us when you’re famous,” I add.
Colton blushes, but before he can get another word in, two girls rush up beside him. One has dirty blond hair and is wearing a leather jacket with a delicate silver quill necklace, and the other has straight black hair that matches her black skater dress and Converse high-tops.
“Way to kill it tonight,” the blond girl says.
Colton modestly shrugs, then turns to us. “This is Elsie and Devon. They go to East Meadow High. And this is Kira, Raegan, and Lin.”
“My brother’s the singer,” the black-haired girl—Devon—explains. “You know, the one with awful taste in band names.”
“Very descriptive,” I say.
“A littletoodescriptive,” Elsie replies. “We were talking about going to Waffle House. Y’all feel like joining?”
“We actually have to get going. Curfew.” I glance at Colton. “Maybe next time?”
He grins. “Yeah, that’d be rad.”
We say good-bye, then find our way to Raegan’s car. She drops Lin off first, then swings by my house. I want to tell her she doesn’t have to worry so much, that things will be fine. But how can I promise her these things if I don’t know for sure?
“You know, this was fun,” Raegan says. “We should do it more often.”
My mood lifts. “Definitely.”
As I’m getting out of her car, I hear, “Kira?”
I turn.
“Remember to wear your spirit color on Monday.”
