“Would do what?” Linc asks, placing a clear plastic cup filled with Coke in front of me.
Will takes the seat next to his girlfriend with a knowing look on his face. I could kill Rachel for telling him but apparently when you’ve been together as long as those two, there are no secrets.
She promised me he wouldn’t say anything.
“Nothing,” I say before putting the straw between my lips, sucking down half the drink. My mouth is so dry. My nerves frazzled. I need to relax and take a deep breath.
The DJ puts on a familiar song and Linc reaches for my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor. “C’mon.”
His arms wrap around my waist, holding me close, while mine find their place on his shoulders.
“Remember this song?” he says after a few turns.
I remember.
How could I ever forget? It’s my favorite song in the whole wide world, especially when he sings it.
“Ferris wheel,” he reminds me with a smile, even though I already knew. “You were so damn scared. Kind of like you are now. What’s up with you? You’ve been on edge all night.”
I have the sudden urge to flee, to run away and hide. Fear sits like a heavy stone in my belly, and I find it difficult to speak around my tight throat.
“Talk to me, Syl.”
Nothing’s wrong.
Yet.
But that all might change the second I open my mouth.
I’m in love with you.
It’s right there on the tip of my tongue. It tastes of hope and desire, and a million other emotions I can’t define. It is every dream and fantasy I’ve ever known all rolled into one beautiful moment.
But I can’t say the words. Fear outweighs courage and just as quickly as it appears…
My chance is gone.
“I’m just scared about graduation is all,” I lie.
“Why?”
I shrug, avoiding his eyes. I’m afraid if I look at them, they will see everything I’m hiding inside. “You’re still comin’ with me, right? Have you heard back from Vandy yet?”
Shaking my head, I lie again. I received the acceptance letter two weeks ago but I haven’t told him yet.
Yet another secret I am keeping from him.
“You’ll get in. And if you don’t, you can go to community college until you do.”
“I still have no idea what I even wanna do with my life.”
“So what. We’re young, Syl. You don’t need all the answers right now.”
“True, but I still need answers to the most pressing ones, like finding a job and figuring out how I’ll pay my part of the rent and—”
“Hey, I told you not to worry about any of that.”
I press my lips together, suppressing my insecurities. This has been a constant argument between us. He has his inheritance from his father’s life insurance so he doesn’t need money, but he doesn’t understand how important it is for me to pay my own way. I can’t depend on him for everything.
