Page 11 of The Exception to the Rule

Okay, yeah, about that. The next day I felt like such a dick. “College has been good to me.” Butwe don’t really message outside of this day, so I felt weird sending an email that was like, hey, sorry I sounded like a slutty douche last night. Figured in this case, the statute of limitations on apologies is at least one year.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2018

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

You’re not a slutty douche, C, you’re a conundrum wrapped in a mystery tied with a puzzle shoved in a pickle jar. Apology unnecessary but accepted.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2018

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Oh my god.

I forgot about that.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2018

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Well, lucky for both of us and the importance of history, I did not.

Are you feeling more settled at school?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2018

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Yeah, I think that night I was just feeling homesick. You’re a senior now, right, so if you’re going to college you probably know or will know soon where you’re going. If you haven’t decided yet, let me encourage you to take the leap and go somewhere new. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. I don’t know about you but I’m super close to my family, and I think it would have been so easy to just stay local and be in school there, but there really is something great about going somewhere different and seeing a new part of the country or world.

You don’t have to tell me, but do you know yet what you’re doing next year? I know everyone gets sick of that question. And if you’re not planning on college, ignore all of this and tell me what you’re doing instead.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Date: February 14, 2018

Subject: Re: Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m sick of the question but I don’t mind it, if that makes sense? College pressure is the Irvine way! And yeah, I applied early to my #1 for the athletic program and got accepted, so I’ll be moving later this summer. For a second Iconsidered changing my mind and staying close to home but then committed. I’m excited and nervous.

A few of my friends are going to IVC and then will transfer to a UC junior year. It makes sense economically and it’s such a great option ... but I’ve always wanted that freshman dorm chaos. That fun disorientation and fish-out-of-water newness and all that. I’m close to my family too, it’s just me and my mom and my younger brother [consulted my Details & Privacy Rule Book on this level of detail sharing; determined it was acceptable], but Mom wants me to go have an adventure.

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