Page 152 of Withered

Rather than texting him, I dial him. He picks it up; he isn’t in his room. “Morning, Evans.”

“Seriously, that top.” I sigh. “We’re going to school, not a party.”

“Wear it for me?” Jake says.

“When did you even sneak into my room?” I ask.

After a few seconds of silence, he replies, “When you were taking a shower.”

He cut the calls before I could say anything further. A message pops up right after.

Jake:Just wear it.

I quickly change and throw the brown denim jacket over it. I finish my breakfast and exit the door to see Jake waiting, leaning against his car.

He doesn’t say anything, but his eyes widen with delight. My top is a simple black crop top that I’m wearing with high-waisted jeans. The cleavage cut is what bothers me the most. It isn’t very low, but it is visible. The jacket is doing an excellent job of hiding it. So, it’s all good.

Jake groans loudly while chewing his food during the lunch break. Tyler gives him a confused look, as do Kristy and I.

“You don’t like the food?” I ask. Kristy glances at me, and I shrug.

“I shouldn’t have made you wear that top,” Jake says, glaring at a guy who just passed us.

“What top?” Tyler asks. He then looks at me and says, “Oh, nice choice, man.”

“Fuck off.” Jake flips him off, and Kristy smacks him on the back of his head. Jake gives her a thumbs-up, and she just rolls her eyes.

At the end of the day, in physical education, we girls head over to the bleachers while the boys are on the field practicing. The coach informs them of a match this weekend, to which Tyler quotes and I say, “We’re ready to kick some ass.”

We have a match this weekend and a fundraiser the following weekend. I’ve never received more looks for my outfits in my life than I did today. Jake was correct; as I look around, I notice some guys casting indecent glances my way, making me anxious. The more they look, the more I want to hide in my small bubble.

The boys had to stay back for an unscheduled practice, so we take Tyler’s car.

Kristy and I don’t spend much time together nowadays. Earlier, I was either at her house or she was at mine.

Getting home, we find Mom in the kitchen cooking. Kristy is already on the board, perched on one of the counter stools.

“We’ve got mail today,” Mom says in a sing-song voice, waving the spatula in the air.

“Please tell me you haven’t opened it,” I ask as I drop my bag on the floor.

“I did not,” she replies, and that’s all I need to hear before sprinting to the living room.

I should have noticed the moment I stepped inside. I pick up the envelope, and I have to blink many times to see if the name is on it.Harvard.

I tore open the envelope and read the first few lines. I yell and bounce with excitement. I turn around to see Mom and Kristy staring at me in awe.

“It’s Harvard, Mom. I made it.” I hug her, then Kristy.

“Finally. The college of your dreams.” Kristy comments.

I nod, trying to blink back the happy tears. I quickly text Dad about the letter.

“What about you?” I ask Kristy in the kitchen as I eat Mom’s stew.

Kristy has a passion for fashion. It makes sense that she wants to work in fashion design. “I finished my application for Parsons a few days ago.”

We're talking in the living room when we hear a knock on the front door. I get it and find Jake and Tyler. Then it dawns on me that this is Tyler’s first visit.

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