?
?They’re the ones who should be sorry,” I said darkly. “They tell you what all the screeching was about?”
“Not really, but I have my suspicions. I think my college fund is drying up. Or maybe it’s already gone.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, shit. You sure?”
“I’m not sure of anything.” She waved a hand. “It’s fine. If it’s true, I’ll deal with it. I’ll apply for scholarships and make the best of it.”
“Don’t try to gloss over it, Vi. It’s a big fucking deal. To go from home-free to two hundred K in debt? More, since you’re going to be a surgeon. Be mad if you’re mad.”
“I can’t be mad at them for that,” she said. “That feels tacky and what good does it do? I said I’ll apply for loans—”
“You’ll have to apply for every loan under the sun to cover med school, but the low-interest kind are for poor schlubs like me.”
“You’re not helping, Miller,” she said, tears building in the corners of her eyes. “I don’t even know if it’s true, so no point in dwelling on it.”
I bit my tongue. Violet faced everything with hope and a smile and even more hard work. I admired that about her. Hell, I envied it. But it made the desire to protect her from anything that would hurt her even stronger.
I’ll pay for her college. Every damn penny.
After a moment, she asked brightly, “Have you thought about what you’ll do after you graduate?”
I shrugged as if I hadn’t been thinking of exactly what I’d do after high school. “I’m going to get the hell out of here and make my music.”
Her smile faltered the way it always did when I mentioned leaving Santa Cruz. “You realize you have to play for actual people before you can make it as a musician?”
“I will. When I feel like it.”
“How does this Saturday sound? Chance Blaylock’s party?”
I set down my food and gave her a look. “You want me to be the douchebag asshat who brings his guitar to a party he’s not technically invited to? Solid plan.”
She laughed and nudged my knee. “Shut up. People will flip their shit to hear you. You’re a diamond in the rough! They’ll never see you coming!”
I grinned, took a pull from my water. “Uh huh. Next, you’ll suggest I wear a fedora and announce my presence with a loud, pretentious cover of ‘Wonderwall.’ That should solidify my stellar reputation.”
Vi’s laughter rose and then her voice turned soft. “If you let them hear you play…if they hear your voice, they’ll love you. How could they not?”
I don’t know, Vi. Why don’t you tell me?
I stiffened with sudden bitterness and looked away. “I don’t owe them anything.”
Violet started to protest, but the bell rang, ending lunch. Students began pouring out of the cafeteria area.
She got up and brushed the grass off her butt. “Walk with me to class?”
“You go head,” I said. “I gotta finish my food or else my CGM will go off in Calculus.”
“Okay. And I know you hate this stuff, but promise me you’ll at least think about coming to the party? Even if you don’t play, I want you to be there.”
No chance.
“I’ll think about it.”
She beamed. “Great. See you later. Or tonight? Are you coming over?”
No chance of that either.