Page 80 of One Little Kiss
“I think I have an idea.” I grin. “But I’m definitely going to need some help.”
TWENTY-ONE
Noelle
My mom’slooking at me like I’m not speaking English. My dad has his head cocked to the side like maybe he heard me wrong.
“You want a ride where?” he asks.
“The DMV,” I say again. “I’m taking my written test.”
“But I thought you…didn’t pass.” My mom tips her head like a bird who can’t figure out what she’s looking at.
Didn’t passis her softened way of saying ‘failed.’ Which I did. Twice now. But Mr. Carlson told me I only got one too many wrong last time. Between that fact and what Elijah said about me trying until I get it right…
Well, I’m motivated.
“I’d like to try again.” My tone leaves no room for argument…I hope.
Dad shakes his head with a sort of quizzical expression and an air of defeat. “Okay. If it means that much to you…”
“It does.” My firm tone has them both blinking in surprise.
They’ve been doing that a lot lately.
Never more so than two days ago when I returned home on the school bus after a meeting with the guidance counselor to come up with a game plan. My dad had repeated the words ‘community college’ no less than twelve times. My mother had wrung her hands as if she’d failed me somehow by raising a daughter who’d rather get a job than find a husband straight out of high school.
They both came around by the end of the conversation, and this morning my dad even announced with pride that he and my mother had stopped by the community college and picked up a course catalog so we could all review the options together.
I’m not gonna lie. I teared up a little.
My mom openly wept. And then she went off on a weepy tirade about how proud she was of me and how her mother had never even expected her to finish high school, and…well.
Maybe I should’ve waited a day to hit them with another surprise.
But today is the day, and I know for a fact that I won’t be the only one from Mr. Carlson’s class who is going. The new girl, Sadie, and I have sorta bonded in his class, once we realized that we were the only “old” ones in a class full of freshmen and sophomores.
I face my parents and brace for more shocked responses or well-intentioned but no doubt painful questions about why I’ve decided to risk failure a third time, but instead…
“Do you want us to stick around so you have a ride home after?” my dad asks.
“No, thanks. Mara and Celia are picking me up. We’re supposed to hang out today.”
I let out a little laugh and shake my head, amazed that this went over so easily. Maybe Elijah was right and it really was that simple. You want to be different? Act different. Expect different. Demand different.
Okay, he didn’t say that, but that’s what I got from our talk in his car and it's gotten me this far, so I’m not about to start looking back.
“Why don’t you put on a little makeup and do your hair,” my mom says as I’m heading toward the stairs.
I’m just about to roll my eyes and point out that I’m not going to the DMV to impress anyone or to flirt, when my mom continues.
“If you end up getting your license today, you’ll want to look your best for the picture.” She looks so proud and pleased with the idea, I don’t have the heart to point out that the written test is only the first part. I still need to do the actual practical test.
“Good idea,” I say instead. I can explain that later. No need to ruin the good mood.
Addie calls as I’m getting ready to go.
“You psyched?” she asks, with so much enthusiasm I question how much coffee she’s had this morning.
