Page 66 of The Young & the Sinner

We’d spent most of the summer together. Especially after the whole incident, Lizzie hardly left my side, so sure I would break at any given moment. I didn’t break down like she expected, at least not in front of her, but I was still happy for her support.

“Hey. How was your morning?”

“Eventful. My parents thought the best way to start the first day of school was by making waffles for breakfast, shoving a dozen brochures in my face about double majoring, and a lecture on how I needed a backup plan.”

I grimaced. “Sorry, Liz.”

Lizzie had one goal for after graduation: Become a famous playwright. But to make it in such a competitive field was about as likely as me being struck by lightning in this lifetime. Lizzie was one of the best writers I knew. But was she that good? I didn’t know.

She shrugged. “It is what it is. I just wished they would believe in me more, you know?”

I nodded. “But maybe looking at things from a sensible standpoint might not be so bad. If you double major in both playwrighting and something… I don’t know, more practical, it might not be so bad. I just don’t want you to put all of your hopes and dreams into this profession, only to end up disappointed if it doesn’t happen. You’re an amazing writer. I don’t think double majoring in something else would change that.”

She looked like she wanted to argue but changed her mind at the last moment. “I know. I know what you’re saying makes sense, but I want this so bad, you know?”

I nodded. Yes, I did know. This was Lizzie’s dream. “Hey, what do I know, huh? You’re super talented. You just need a little luck, and soon the world will be your oyster.”

She cracked a smile at my reference. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“And you’re right. I do need a backup plan. Have you decided what you want to study?”

I grimaced and shook my head. “It’s only the first day of school. Max said not to worry about that until my second year.”

The problem was, I wanted to study everything. I wanted to learn more about politics, and philosophy, and Greek mythology, and maybe even a foreign language. I just couldn’t decide.

Lizzie hooked her arms through mine, and we walked to a nearby coffee stand. “We’re young. We still have time.”

I smiled. “Just you see. We are going to be fine. The future is ours for the taking.”

She laughed and pulled me in tighter.

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