Page 1 of That's Too Pucking Bad

Chapter 1

I stare at the words on the page, but nothing really sticks. My brain is too busy bouncing between excitement and nerves to focus on my book. The clock ticks away, reminding me I’ve got less than an hour before I have to leave. It’s my first day at Blackridge. New school. New people. I am trying not to freak out about it.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

I look up, finding my mom dragging herself into the kitchen. She has dark circles under her eyes, hair still tied up from her shift at the hospital. She kisses the top of my head, then sighs as she sinks into the chair across from me.

“How’d you sleep?” she asks, voice hoarse from exhaustion.

“Okay, I guess.” I sip my tea, shrugging. “You?”

She waves it off. “I’ll survive.” She yawns, then looks me over. “You nervous?”

I push my glasses up my nose. “A little.”

“You’ll be okay, Remy. You look adorable by the way,” she adds, gesturing to my crooked glasses.

I smile. “Thanks, mom.”

She stands up, rummaging through her purse. “I’ll leave bus money on the table.”

I shake my head quickly. “Don’t need it. Collin’s picking me up.”

She frowns. “But Collin goes to Eastwood. Why is he coming all the way here?”

I shrug. “He’s excited for my first day, I guess.”

“Mm-hmm.” She eyes me for a second, clearly not buying it but too tired to care. “Well, I’m heading to bed before my next shift. You’ve got this, babe.” She drops a kiss on my forehead and heads toward her room.

“Bye, mom,” I call after her.

“Bye, baby.”

I finish my tea, then head to the bathroom to comb my bangs, trying to make them look less... well, awful. My hair’s a mess of brunette waves, but at least my lip gloss makes me look semi-presentable. I pull on my oversized sweater and adjust my leggings. Good enough.

A loud honk from outside tells me Collin’s here. Grabbing my bag, I head out the door and spot his beat-up Corolla parked in the driveway. The same car he used to drive us to high school in every day.

I slide into the passenger seat and smile. “Hey, babe.”

He gives me a quick once-over, then scowls. “That’s what you’re wearing?”

I blink. “Uh, yeah? It’s just leggings, a sweater, and sneakers. Why?”

Collin sighs, shaking his head. “Remy, you need to make a good first impression. It’s college. You’re not in high school anymore.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m there on scholarship, Collin. I’m pretty sure no one’s going to care what I’m wearing.”

“They will. Trust me.” His tone is flat, like he’s already given up on the conversation. “You should’ve worn something... nicer. It’s Blackridge.”

“I don’t give a shit about that,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. “I care about school. That’s it.”

He doesn’t respond. Just presses his lips together and pulls away from the curb. I stare out the window, watching the neighborhood blur past, the silence between us growing heavier by the second. We’ve had this argument before. Collin cares too much about appearances. I care too much about being comfortable.

We’re about halfway to campus when he finally speaks again. “Just... try, okay? You’re smart, Remy. You don’t have to act like you don’t care.”

I bite back a retort and settle for another eye roll. “Right.”

“Look, I’m just trying to help you.”

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