Chosen (18 page)

Just enjoy the moment
, I told myself. I'd just been accepted to my dream school! Taylor and I would figure out where we'd go from here when we were face-to-face.

A few dark, puffy clouds started to roll over me and thunder boomed miles away. I loved storms. Usually I sat in the window, watching while I drank a cup of tea or did homework or read.

This time I stayed in the hammock until the rain splattered against the deck and soaked through my clothes, my hair, and ran over my skin.

Sitting in the hammock, drenched in rainwater and
thinking about my shiny new future, all I could do was smile and think about the new me: Lauren Towers, Canterwood Crest Academy
étudiante
(aka student).

I got up from the hammock, heading for the laundry room to leave my wet clothes. I changed, and with my hair still wet, went looking for Mom and Dad. There was someone I couldn't tell over the phone. Someone who had been the reason why I'd been accepted.

My parents were in the living room, their address books on the coffee table and phones in hand.

“We're still calling friends and family,” Mom said. “Grandma and Grandpa are so excited for you, sweetie. They can't wait to talk with you later.”

I smiled. “I can't wait to tell them about Canterwood. But there's someone I want to tell in person.”

They knew before I said her name.

“I'll get my keys,” Dad said.

When we reached Briar Creek, I was relieved to see the lights on in the stable. I hadn't called first, but I knew Kim would be at the stable. She was there late every night.

“I'll be just a minute,” I told Dad, opening the car door.

“Take your time,” he said.

The rain had stopped, and I walked through the muggy air into the stable. It was quiet except for the occasional
snort or stomp from a horse. I walked down the aisle to the hallway outside Kim's office. Her door was open and she was writing in a ledger.

“Hi, Kim,” I said, my voice soft.

“Lauren.” Kim looked up from a stack of paperwork. She had one pen in her hand and one stuck behind her ear. “Is everything okay? I didn't know you were coming.” She motioned for me to sit. I stepped into her office and sat in a red chair opposite her.

“Everything's
more
than okay,” I said.

Kim smiled. “What's going on, missy? I can see it in your face that something's up.”

“I . . . I checked the mail when I got home from school,” I said. Every word spilled out faster than the last, leaving me almost breathless. “And there was nothing. I mean, there was junk mail. And bills. And magazines. And I dropped Dad's
Sports Illustrated
. I picked it up and I saw
it
.”

Kim bit back a grin. “And what might ‘it' be?”

“A letter. From Canterwood. I was so scared to open it. I was sure, so sure I wasn't getting in.” My words slowed as I got myself together. “I wasn't going to even open it right away. But I did.”

“And?” Kim asked, but there was an I-already-know tone to her voice.

“I got in,” I whispered. “Canterwood said yes.”

“Lauren! Congratulations!”

Kim got up, walked around her desk and hugged me. When she let me go and I sat back down, I felt like I'd finished a marathon. There was no way I would have been able to wait a day to tell Kim.

“I knew you'd get in, sweetie,” Kim said. “You were an ideal candidate from the second you applied.”

I leaned back in my chair. “I definitely didn't know. I was sure Canterwood would take one look at my application, see my accident, and toss my papers in the trash. I didn't think I was good enough.”

“Laur, the accident doesn't define you,” Kim said. “You're more than what happened. You're a bright, talented rider and a great student. Any school would be lucky to have you—now Canterwood will be.”

I looked at Kim, thinking how devastated I'd been when she'd told me that Canterwood knew about my accident. That she'd told them. I'd been sure Kim had sealed my fate. And she had—she'd secured me a
yes
.

“Thank you,” I said. “For everything. I wouldn't have gotten in without your letter of recommendation or all of the hours you've worked with me. I love riding again because of you and Briar Creek.”

Kim's smile couldn't have been any bigger. “You're welcome. But don't take credit away from yourself. Canterwood accepted
you
—not my letter.”

In the office light, something caught my eye.

Sasha's trophy.

“I can't believe I'm going to school with
Sasha Silver
,” I said. “I want to meet her the second I get on campus. But I'm also . . . kind of scared to meet her.”

Kim shook her head. “Don't be scared. Sasha will be excited to have a Briar Creek girl at Canterwood.”

“I hope so,” I said, glancing at the photo of the pretty girl on her chestnut horse. “I don't want her to think I'm replacing her as Union's transfer.”

“There's plenty of room for two Briar Creek riders,” Kim said. “You'll see.”

I looked away from Sasha's photo with a grateful smile at Kim. No matter what she said, I couldn't have done it without her. And I had to make sure once I was at Canterwood that I made Kim and Briar Creek proud.

FRIDAY WAS INSANE.

Huge trash cans were everywhere. Lockers were open and students tossed papers, pens, pretty much
anything
they didn't want to take home. I sidestepped an eighth grade boy who was tossing gray (I swear they were once white) gym socks into the trash can.

Très
disgusting!

We didn't need anything for homeroom today, so I walked straight to class. I could hear the roar of summer vacay mania inside before I even opened the glass door.

Inside, everyone was talking about what they were doing over summer break. I walked by a girl who usually sat next to me in math class.

“Hi, Elizabeth,” I said. “A little chaotic, no?”

“It's like Animal Planet,” she grumbled.

“Got any plans for break?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She shrugged, leaning back in her seat. “But why do you care?”

“What?” I said, caught off guard. “All I did was ask what you were doing this summer—what's wrong?”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “It doesn't matter if I tell you I'm going to Cape Cod or the moon. You're going to
Canterwood
. It's not like you're going to ask if my summer was good or not this fall. Why bother?”

I
hated
this! Everyone was being totally ridiculous. I couldn't believe they were shutting me out just for changing schools. That had never happened to me anywhere else before. Whenever I'd left, the teachers always threw a little good-bye party and everyone had promised to stay in touch.

But that never happened,
I thought.

“Whatever. I'm not sorry that I'm transferring—even if it
is
to the ‘enemy' school. I thought we were friends. Forgive me if I thought you were better than this. Enjoy your life, Elizabeth!”

Before she could say another word, I walked to my desk.

We'd all been told to come to homeroom first, and
then
we'd be allowed, a few at a time, to go clean out our
lockers and return our books to our teachers. No one spoke to me while I waited for Brielle and Ana. Everyone was talking to someone else about summer plans, except for me. I guessed I should have realized that, at a school as competitive as Yates, students just didn't come and go. School pride definitely ran deep.

“Hi, everyone,” Ms. Merner said.

She was one of my favorite teachers, and she was the only one who didn't care if we got to class two minutes late. Probably why Brielle and Ana, who slid in behind her, loved the class so much.

“Well all, your sixth-grade year is officially over,” she continued. “You've all done exceptionally well and you should be proud of yourselves for everything you've accomplished this year.” Ms. Merner smiled. “I enjoyed having each of you in my class. I hope you have a wonderful summer break—you've earned it. I'll see you, refreshed and ready to learn, in the fall.”

The class laughed and groaned at the same time.

She laughed, too, and put a thick stack of stapled papers on the table in the front of the room.

“Speaking of refreshed,” Ms. Merner said with a smile. “Each of you needs to take a packet. It contains the summer homework assignments from all of your teachers.”

This time, the class only groaned.

Ms. Merner laughed harder this time, holding up her hands defensively. “Sorry, sorry! Just think of it as a way to keep your minds sharp.”

More groaning.

“The first three rows can come up now, take a packet, and then go clean out your lockers,” Ms. Merner said. “Whenever someone comes back, I'll send another student out.”

Brielle, Ana, and I got up from our spots in the third row, our backpacks over our shoulders. I followed them up to the table, reaching for the papers, but pulled my hand away when I realized I didn't need one. I'd be doing Canterwood homework this summer.

Ana saw my mistake and turned to me, frowning. “Boo,” she said. “Brielle and I won't be able to call you for answers this summer.”

I smiled. “Aww, I guess you'll have to do your own work this year. Or maybe Brielle will get the answers from Will.” I said his name in a teasing, singsong way.

Brielle whipped around, her hair getting stuck to her gloss. “Did you say ‘Will'? What about him?”

Ana and I laughed as we left the classroom.

“You have quite the Will-dar,” I giggled. “I just said
that you'd have to get homework answers from Will this summer.”

Brielle nodded. “Duh. I pick smart-slash-hot guys for
a reason
.”

“You know, things got so crazy this week, I don't even have a dress for the dance tonight,” I said. “Where did you get yours, Bri? And what's it look like? You haven't said a word about it.”

“Shop without you? Not a chance,” Brielle said. “Like I'd pick out a dress without my fashion fairy godmother. Ana and I didn't want to bug you about a dance after how awful we were to you.” She bowed her head, looking guilty. “But if you're dress-less too, want to hit the mall after school? My mom can take us.”

“I am definitely sans dress,” I said slowly, unsure of whether I felt like we were cool enough to shop together quite yet. “But . . .”

“I know we were harsh before,” Ana cut in. “But Bri might never get over it if we miss our last chance to go school dress shopping with our most fashionable bestie.”

I looked in her eyes. There was no hint of fakeness in them.

“Please, please, please,” Brielle said.

“What about Hannah?” I asked pointedly, raising my eyebrows.

Brielle and Ana both paled.

“Lauren, we were
such
jerks,” Brielle said.

“Totally idiots,” Ana confirmed.

“Let us prove it to you,” Bri said. “I'm actually begging you here.”

I looked at her. Bri did
not
do
faux
-begging. She meant it.

I pulled out my phone and covertly typed a quick message.

Hey Dad—I forgot 2 get a dress 4 2nite. Can I go 2 the mall w B and A after school?

Before we'd even reached our lockers, he'd written me back.

Sure, sweetie. Use the emergency credit card and call if you're going to be late
.

“Okay,” I said. “I'll go. But
only
because I'm afraid of what you'd show up wearing without my advice.” I smiled, making sure she knew I was kidding.

“Really?!” Bri yelped.

I nodded.

“This is going to be epic!” Ana said.

Ana and Bri texted their parents to ask their permission.
Within ten minutes, we had a ride to and from the mall, and permission from all of our parents to go.

“You guys are sooo getting me Pinkberry, though, because I know we're going to be at the mall until it closes,” I said.

“Deal,” Brielle and Ana said at the same time.

We giggled and opened our lockers. I put my bag down, deciding to take my locker decorations down first. Carefully, I peeled off the small, heart-shaped mirrors from Pottery Barn Teen. They fit into the zipper pocket of my big backpack.

Next, I took down the photos I'd taped up of Brielle, Ana, and me. Each one made me smile. There was one of all three of us on horseback, grinning at Kim, who'd snapped the photo.