“How was the game?”I ask, dipping a fry into my chocolate shake.
“I think we were winning,” he says with a shrug.“I don’t like football—you know that.I really have no idea why I was there.I only go for Jonathan, and he’s not even playing.”
I eye him suspiciously.“Maybe there was someone else there you wanted to see?”
“Uh, no,” he answers bluntly.“The only two people I can really tolerate were supposed to be on a date.I can sorta tolerate Danika and sometimes Darren.But the rest of them are useless.I cannot wait to get away from Hollis after we graduate.”
I swallow the sip from my shake with a gulp.College.With everything that happened this past month, I almost forgot about the stack of college information packets waiting on my desk.We visited at least a dozen college campuses the past two summers at my mother’s insistence.But with Dad’s campaign, she’s been too preoccupied to remind me every other second that I need to narrow down my selection.I have my essays done and requests in to the teachers to write letters of recommendation.The problem is, I have no idea where I want to go… or what I want to do.My mother created her own list.I’m not looking forward to disappointing her, although I probably will.
“We haven’t really talked about it much, have we?”I say quietly.I’ve been dreading this conversation since they started forcing us to attend the college seminars and career day events last year.We haven’t asked each other the most important question because we’re afraid of the answer.“Where are you looking?”
Collin’s eyes meet mine over the top of his burger as he sinks his teeth in.I wait as he chews.He takes his time, delaying his response.
“Where are you looking?I know your parents are all about the Ivies so you can get into a law school like the rest of the Prescotts, but where do you want to go?”He swirls a fry in his shake.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.“Maybe we should apply to Penn State, just in case we can actually stay together.I know that sounds stupid.We can’t always be together.”
“I wish,” he admits with a wan smile.“Jonathan’s still waiting on the official acceptance letter, but we know that’s where he’s going.So, you wanna apply there?”
“Do you?”
Collin gives me a sheepish smile.
“You already did!”My mouth drops open.
“I mean, it’s a good school.”
“But it’s not exactly far away.”
“As long as I’m with you guys, it’s far enough.”
I bite my lip before admitting, “I requested their application too.”
Collin laughs.“I knew it!”
My parents don’t know about it.
“What about Brown?That’s where your dad went, right?”
I scoff.“I’d only get in because my father and grandfather went to school there.I don’t have the grades.And Rhode Island is too far away.”
“What do you plan to major in?Because I know you don’t want to be a lawyer.”
“Definitely not.”I scrunch up my nose.“I have no idea what I want to do with the rest of my life.What does Jonathan want to do?Did he ever tell you?”
“Not become his dad,” Collin offers with a chuckle.“Other than that, I’m not really sure.”
“What about you?”I take a bite of my burger, swiping at the juice that dribbles down my chin with my napkin.
“Business,” he says proudly, sitting up taller, like he can already see himself at the head of some boardroom.“Everything’s about negotiating and confidence.I’m ready to run the next Fortune 500 tomorrow if they’d let me.”
“You can talk yourself out of almost any situation.They might as well hand you your PhD now.”
“Right?”he says emphatically.
“No way.”I hear behind me.“I knew it.She’s so two-faced.”It’s a voice I’ve heard incessantly for weeks.And I still can’t seem to escape her.
“Don’t look,” Collin warns, setting his hand on mine.We know she’s talking about me.
