NA'

ast semester, I swore I wouldn't

l wearing my uniform, still exhausted when I collided with two people in one ni

arage. Calling it a "garage" was generous we didn't

ged to pay rent, keep the lights on, buy thrifted cloth

ely no mone

into the living room. Mom was folding laundry with one

tugging off my cap and

eetie. L

d. "I'm

ghetti. I heated it f

the warm blue plate, a fork, and devou

d in. "So... any updates on school? Or a

slumped. "I don't know, Mom. I mean... we tried. That was the c

. "I'm just... tired

my spaghetti. "But w

nnel again and that

V

. Full scholarships. Free uniforms. Meals. Classe

less students in their crisp uniforms, the pris

another world

grinning. "Are you thi

ol looks... rich. The kind of rich th

"it's a full scholarship. All expenses paid. I

r eyes. "You re

." I held her hand tig

ed. "Ugh! You and that

her like my life depended on

, and dove into research. Grand Lake Academy was even more

Mom's credit card, filled

ed students

would be

ptop and lay in b

to win

-

ater – 7

am

oral skirt, a black jeans jacket. Simple but presen

ate, I froze. The school looked even more

elf surrounded by high-tech setups rows of sleek computers, LED lights, ic

numbe

ase let me pass. For Mom. F

a voic

girl in a brown maxi skirt and whit

eat 56. Know where

t got

hem together.

," I r

miled back. Maybe I shouldn't close myself off bec

stood at the front. "Welcome to the Grand Lake Academy schol

our seats. By some miracle, S

sped. "We're neighb

ave her a n

he rules. No cheating. No p

beg

-

ER'

peeled off my blazer, swapped it for a desi

choed as

r Ter

he's p

down, pretend

ped into my

izza

r... I can't forget her. Not he

pretty

rleader. Childhood best

Give me your m

dn't yo

otice anything?" She

... lo

t took my hom

ut the scholarshi

dad ment

lars get into

reat. Everyone

r eyes. "You'

e this w

uff," I

you're spotting

cheer

n't m

rang. "La

ed away.

et. Prett

. not

-

can't h

middle school. Since

just say it.

.. he'

-

O

lasses crashed into me,

orry," sh

ather her stuff. She smiled

u

not

e pizz

start looking for

-

erd seriously jus

the bathroom. She wa

ey

ched. "N

her hai

k you are, flirt

was

her across

tossing her books into the sink

ven worth a

-

OV – TWO

ected," Sierra said, stretching

ah. I just ho

be notified

o that hope

-

Later – S

d at my

yesterday, but they promi

almost

," Mom yawned, pu

just

e

ion blinked

LAKE A

prayer in my min

list: Rey

" I screa

anicked. "Wha

GOT

ped. "N

nd, crying, la

rt tom

ow?" sh

to Grand La

, baby, I'm so proud of you"

s late now, okay can't be

down to sleep, te

. everythi