Page 83 of Resilient Queen

“Want to know the difference between you and me?”

She blinks, but it’s hard.

My lip curls in disappointment. For everyone. She for not being willing to help, and Cole for not getting this one advantage.

“I know when to put my pride aside.” My tone is cold and stabbing as I finish off my sentence.

Madison’s head straightens upward and then she’s shoving through us in her urge to get away. I let her go. She invited herself into this conversation and she’s fully allowed to exit in the same matter.

The only thing upsetting is the pang that hits my chest as I climb behind the wheel. I wish she’d change her mind.

I want Cole to have answers, he deserves them.

thirty-five

Rory

“It’stimeforhosbefore bros. I need your help.”

“The day you don’t charge into a room like you have a hive of bees chasing you I’ll be concerned.” I say eyeing Hailey over my book.

She gives me a droll stare in response. Her shoes barrel to a stop as she throws multiple somethings down on the table.

I don’t bother to look down at whatever it is because there would literally be no point, she’s going to tell me in…

Three.

Two.

One…

“Okay, bestie, these are all the schools I’m willing to attend with you next fall.”

I peek over at the librarian. The distress etched on her face is comical as she continues to shoot lasers at Hailey’s back.

I can’t decide if she’s mad because we’re in the school library and Hailey’s hardly ever good at keeping quiet. Or that she banged both her things and the door enough to make the poor woman blush.

Even when Hailey isn’t looking for attention, she manages to find it.

“What are you doing in here?” I whisper-shout. Humor leaps in my voice.

“I told you, it’s hos before—”

“—Got it, got it,” I interrupt before Miss Cataloger at the counter has a stroke.

“You mean, ‘Thank you, Hailey, for being the best friend in the entire world and for doing all the hard work for you.’” Her tone is always naturally so dramatic but there’s a difference to it this time.

My throat is suddenly thick and heavy as she fists the corners of the table. Her nails scrape the bottom as she waits with elbows straight like a line drawn with a ruler.

Her chin tucks. The action is clear. Looking down, I wait, not giving in right away. Somehow knowing I would be hesitant.

Brochures.

Collegebrochures.

That saliva in my mouth pools as it thickens to the size of a grapefruit.

For everyone else here at KPA, college is an easy, natural solution after graduation. Point a finger and you’ll most likely get in, whereas I didn’t grow up with that. Most of my life I’d never been afforded the luxury.

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