Page 87 of We Thought We Were Invincible
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Jamie
We regret to inform you that you have not been selected to attend our university for fall semester.
“Regret,” I said, my voice growing louder. “Regret. Here's what I'll do with your regret!” My fist curled around the letter, crumpling it into a ball and flinging it with all my strength. It flew out my open bedroom door, striking the wall with little impact.
That was the last one. They all said the same thing. With a GPA that was barely enough to graduate, I didn't know what I was expecting. Maybe that my dad's status as a state senator would hold some sway on my future.
Great. Just my luck. My father's footsteps, slightly muffled by the carpeting, came down the hall. I couldn't look at him as he stopped to pick up the ball of paper.
“Throwing things?” he asked, reaching to hand it back. Before I could take it from him, he thought better of it and started to flatten it out. “Hmmph.” His only response. I braced for his reaction, but he only released the letter, letting it float to the ground, and left without another word.
I had to get out of there. My fingers grazed the phone in my pocket, itching to call Callie, but all it'd do was prove that I wasn't good enough. Not for my father. Not for her.
Grabbing the shirt hanging on the back of my desk chair, I slid it over my head and swiped my keys off their hook. I was in my car and heading down the road in record time. Rolling my window down, I felt the warm spring air blast my face and pressed down harder on the gas pedal. Weaving in and out of cars, I knew where I was heading.
Dixon road was lined by preserve on one side and horse ranches on the other. It was deserted save for the odd car. I sped up, adrenaline pumping through my veins. The car slid toward the center of the road when I took a curve too fast, but I veered back over quickly.
Graduation was only a month away. I amped up the speed. I had no idea what was next. I cranked up the stereo. Everyone I knew was going off to college or travel. A scream ripped through my chest.
Not everyone, I suddenly remembered, easing up on the gas. Callie had been trying to talk about this for months. She was just as scared as me. I slowed some more, breathing deeply with the need to see her.
The road curved as a cross street came in on the left next to an old, run down barn. I tried to turn, but the car had other ideas.
I should have been frightened. I should have screamed.
Instead, I closed my eyes, stomping my foot down as hard as I could on the brake.
The car screeched. She protested, fought me with everything she had.
I slammed forward, my face bouncing off the steering wheel with a mighty crack. My eyes sprung open as I was jostled, the wheels bouncing along the rough terrain. Then it was over. I won. The car stopped five feet away from a large Florida pine that seemed to spring up from nowhere.
Breath returned to my chest with a whoosh as I panted and gasped, feeling at once relieved and exhilarated. I wiped an arm under my nose, my sleeve coming away bloody.
“Damn.” The word left me with a laugh. “That was close.”
My mind worked a mile a minute, slowly letting reality creep back in. My reasons for being out here, for needing the speed. Dad. College.
Needing something to do, I rummaged around, finding a napkin. Tearing it in two, I stuck an end up each nostril to staunch the bleeding. I turned the keys, only eliciting a loud coughing sound. “Dammit.”
Stepping out of the car, I was careful not to touch the burning hood. It smoked slightly. Looking around, I was glad to see I hadn't gone too far off the road.
Just as I started to get my bearings, a pair of headlights moved closer, all but blinding me in the process.
“You okay?” A man's voice yelled. He cut the lights and I saw him get out of his truck. He was solidly built, walking with the confidence of someone in authority.
“I think so,” I finally answered.
The man looked back toward his truck and it was the first time I noticed he wasn't alone. A girl sat in the passenger seat, but I couldn't make out her face.
“You need a ride somewhere?” he asked.
“Uh …” I looked at him skeptically, holding out my phone. “I can call my buddy.”
“Oh.” The man laughed suddenly. “Guess I should introduce myself. Logan Andrews.” He held his hand out for me to shake.
I took it, but still didn't get it.
