So Into You [The Jane Austen Academy Series #2] (5 page)

"Then why don’t you fight to stay?"

"I can’t
make
my parents pay for school."

"Of course not, dear." Bergie reached across the desk and laid a cold, bony hand over hers. "But financial assistance could help."

"What kind of financial assistance?" Ellie pulled her hand away.

Bergie re-clasped her hands in her lap. "Any kind! Don’t you understand? Under my supervision, the Academy—"

"The Jane Austen Academy." Ellie felt compelled to correct her.

Bergie snorted softly. "The
Academy’s
scholarship program has flourished in a way it never has in prior years. Most scholarships are awarded over the summer, but my recruitment of Josh Wickham has added three full-ride drama scholarships. Only two are in use."

"But I can’t act," Ellie said. "I don’t even like to act."

"It’s not your forte, admittedly."

Ellie forced a calming breath. She shouldn’t be surprised. Bergie was known for dangling shiny toys and snatching them away. "So that’s it, then."

"Nonsense. You could register for the work program. That would help pay for your supplies, books, and food. We have an opening in the cafeteria."

Ellie hadn’t considered a job before, even though she spent her summers working at the frozen-icee stand on the Santa Cruz boardwalk. While it wasn’t her favorite thing in the world, it had to be better than whatever job she’d find in Guatemala. "I guess I could," she said, allowing hope to slowly seep its way in.

"That’s the spirit."

"But it still doesn’t help with tuition."

"Come now, Ellie. A smart girl like you? I’m surprised you haven’t considered it. The Academy’s Fall achievement award could help you cover the rest of your tuition. Assuming you win it."

Ellie’s eyes grew wide. Of course—the achievement awards given for the highest test results in science and mathematics. She’d never bothered applying for it before. Never needed it, and besides, her mother was always quoting:
Comparison destroys you, so don’t compare yourself with another. You are as good as anybody.

"When is the test?"

"It just so happens we’re at the end of a month, so there’s a test for the next one this afternoon," Bergie said.

"This afternoon? But there’s no time—I haven’t prepared—"

"We both know that when it comes to mathematics, you’re better prepared than most. And you want it, don’t you?" She didn’t pause for a reply. "This award covers tuition through the end of November – up to Thanksgiving break , then there’s the Winter Achivement test. And then Spring. You understand how it works."

Ellie tightened her grip on the smooth arms of the chair. She had to admit, she did want it. It was more than just staying with Lizzie and Emma. More than Edward.

She was a different person at Jasta than she was in Santa Cruz. She wasn’t just that surfer girl who worked at the Boardwalk—even though she was that person, too. It didn’t seem to matter that she walked around in board shorts and never brushed her hair back. It didn’t matter that her parents were vegetarian yoga instructors. Even though all those facts made her who she was, they weren’t
only
who she was. Not here.

She rose from the chair. "Thank you, Headmistress Berg."

Bergie gave her a Cheshire smile. "Smashing."

* * *

Ellie’s fingers drummed against her thighs as she walked toward the test room. She knew what her mother would say.
Intelligence comes through the understanding of a relationship.
Not through tests. Not through trying to prove you were smarter than everyone else.

She flexed her fingers to wring out the nervous energy and forced herself to stop chewing on the inside of her cheek. She turned into the testing room and was surprised to see it was empty—except for one girl.

Fanny Sato sat up front and center, her hands folded on the desk and her feet crossed at the ankles. Her sleek black hair fell over her inquisitive almond-shaped eyes as she studied Ellie. "Are you lost?"

"I’m here for the achievement award exam."

Fanny blinked several times. "You are?"

"Yeah. Is this the right room?" Ellie set down her calculator and pencil as she slipped into the seat at the end.

Fanny flattened her hands against the table. "Yes, it is."

Ellie wondered if Fanny was upset to see her. She didn’t know much about Fanny. She’d been paraded in front of the school a couple of times for setting new state track records. But otherwise, she kept to herself except for her one friend—the loud redhead who was the lead in all the school plays.

The silence grew heavy, so Ellie asked, "Where’s everyone else?"

"There’s not usually anyone else," Fanny said.

Ellie sat back in her chair. "You mean—"

The door opened again and Ellie turned, hoping to see another student to prove Fanny wrong. Instead, Bergie stepped inside with a bright smile.

"Look here, two of our Academy’s brightest minds competing for the same award. It will be interesting to see the results."

Ellie looked worriedly at Fanny. Did Fanny need this award like she did? Had Bergie pitched them against each other on purpose? She almost grabbed her calculator and pen to leave, but then memories of last night played through her mind.

Edward’s warm breath across her cheek.

She picked up her pen. She couldn’t worry about Fanny or causing drama or being the reason for a scene. She wanted to stay, even if that meant putting herself out there.

Even if it meant fighting against the universe a little bit.

Chapter Three

Ellie awoke Sunday to find Emma and Lizzie leaning over her.

"There, she’s awake now, are you happy?" Emma asked. "Can we go?"

Ellie wiped the sleep from her eyes. "What’s going on?"

"Bergie posted the results," Lizzie said.

Ellie kicked the blankets off her legs and pulled a sweatshirt over her head. "Did you see them?"

"No!" Emma said as she paced.

"Not yet," Lizzie said. "We decided to wait for you."

"
You
decided," Emma said. "And then barricaded me in here."

Ellie tuned out their bickering as she stepped into her flip-flops and nervously gnawed her cheek.

She wanted the award. She wanted to stay. After a lifetime of being taught that wanting something too much was the surest path to disappointment, wanting terrified her.

She could easily lose to Fanny, who was smart and who, she’d discovered, had won every academic achievement award every season since their freshman year.

"We should have checked," Emma said. "We should have told you so you wouldn’t have to walk out there and face the results."

"Emma, shut up!" Lizzie shook her head with exasperation as she followed Ellie into the hall—and straight into Fanny.

"Oh . . . hey." Ellie tugged at the hem of her sweatshirt.

Fanny looked her up and down, then glanced at Lizzie and Emma behind her.

She looked so alone, going to check the scores by herself, and Ellie was suddenly grateful for Lizzie and Emma, even if they sometimes drove her crazy.

They walked in silence toward the academic corridor. Ellie’s stomach was in complete turmoil and seemed to rumble louder as they approached.

The corkboard of results was six feet away—and ever closer.

She stopped in her tracks. "Wait," she blurted.

Fanny half-turned toward her.

"Good luck," Ellie said.

Fanny gave a half-smile. "Both of us are too smart for luck." With that she turned and walked more quickly toward the corkboard.

Emma dug her elbow into her spine. "Come on," she said. "Don’t let Fanny scare you off. You’re twice as smart as she is."

"Three times," Lizzie said.

Ellie drew courage from them, but her legs kept shaking as she followed Fanny. By the time she reached the corkboard, her gaze had dropped to her feet.

What if she didn’t win?

What if she didn’t have enough money to stay?

What if it all ended here?

She looked up—just as Emma and Lizzie threw their arms around her in a hug and squeezed her between them as she read her name.

She’d won!

She’d won!!

She hugged them back, but the smile slid from her face as Fanny’s gaze met hers. "I’m sorry," she said.

"Don’t be," Fanny said. "I won’t be sorry when I win the next one." Fanny walked back to her room without turning back.

"Why do I feel so bad?" Ellie groaned.

"Don’t," Lizzie said. "She doesn’t need the award. She’s on full scholarship."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," Lizzie said.

"I can vouch for that, too," Emma said.

Ellie glanced between the two of them in awe. Having Lizzie and Emma as friends was like having her own personal espionage ring. Between the two of them, they knew everything.

"You have to call your parents," Lizzie said. "Tell them you’re staying!"

"It’s only enough to keep me here through Thanksgiving. And you heard Fanny—she’s going to be ready for me next time."

"That’s plenty of time to come up with the rest of the money." Emma spun around with a shrewd lift of her brow. "Even without the academic achievement award, there must be other ways. If we put our heads together, I bet we could raise enough money to buy this whole place."

"I wish," Lizzie grumbled.

Ellie twisted her fingers in her sweatshirt. She’d won. She had the right to stay. Was she fighting the universe? Or was the achievement award a gift from the universe so she could stay? She wasn’t sure how her parents would see it—how she could make them see it.

"Speaking of buying the place," Emma said as the girls made their way to breakfast, "Lizzie, did the new owners respond to your petition to save the Jane Austen Academy name?"

"Not yet," Lizzie said. "I’m waiting to hear back."

Ellie frowned. Waiting didn’t sound like Lizzie at all.

"Since when do you wait?" Emma had obviously come to the same conclusion.

"Since now."

"Since you’ve been replaced by an alien pod person?" Emma asked.

"Since you can mind your own business," Lizzie snapped. Then, "Sorry, sorry. I’m anxious. The name change and this whole thing with Ellie. They haven’t gotten back to me, but they will."

"You have our support," Ellie said, shushing Emma with a look. "Whenever you need it. However you want to pursue the issue."

"Thanks, Ellie," Lizzie mumbled.

"Yeah, no biggie," Emma agreed. "We have more important things to think about. Celebration party. Josh is throwing it in his room to celebrate you staying."

"But we only just found out I’m staying. How did he have time to plan a party?"

"It was going to be a good-bye party," Emma admitted. "But now it doesn’t have to be!"

"I have to get up early tomorrow for my first day of breakfast service," Ellie said. She turned to Lizzie, expecting her to back her up, but Lizzie only smiled sheepishly.

"I’m going," she admitted. "Dante’s expecting me."

"I bet Edward is expecting someone, too," Emma said slyly.

"Stop it—we’re just friends," Ellie said. "Promise me you won’t make a big deal about us. Otherwise, I’m not going."

"Promise," Lizzie said. "Right, Emma?"

Emma curled her hands together in a halo over her head.

* * *

Ellie pulled the chair into a corner and sat with both her feet propped up on the cushion. She nibbled her lip as the phone rang.

"Hi, honey," her mother answered. From the way she sounded, Ellie could tell her mother was in the middle of a balancing pose—perhaps with her right knee bent so her foot was pressed against her thigh. Her mother never lost an opportunity to ground herself. Ellie wished she could so easily achieve the calm her mother seemed to possess, but yoga never brought her peace. In fact, she didn’t practice it anymore, although her mother still insisted she perform the meditative breathing.

"Hi, Mom!" The words rushed out. "I spoke to our guidance counselor . . . I mean headmistress—she’s the same person now—and she was thinking it would be better for my records if I stayed here through first quarter midterms so she helped me with an academic achievement award, and I got a job in the cafeteria so I’m covered through Thanksgiving without you and Dad having to pay anything, so isn’t that great, what do you think?"

Her mother inhaled deeply and released a long, drawn-out exhale that gurgled like static through the phone. "Take one, too, Ellie."

Ellie forcefully breathed in and out and did admit that with each breath she grew calmer.