Most Likely (Most Likely #1) - Sarah Watson Page 0,91
and tried to keep one another distracted between glances at their phones. CJ just kept hitting refresh over and over and over. It was hard to watch.
“Maybe we should go to Denny’s,” Ava said. “Blow off the rest of the day and eat our feelings.”
“I’m down,” said Jordan.
“In,” said Martha.
“Sure,” said CJ. She hit refresh again as she stood up. “Oh my God!” she screamed, when a new e-mail popped up.
Jordan and Ava were already grabbing for their phones. Jordan hit refresh on hers first and saw the same e-mail that CJ was reacting to. “Oh,” Jordan said. “God, CJ. You scared me.”
“What?” Ava asked. “Is it BU?” She stealthily hit refresh on her own e-mail.
“No.” Jordan looked up from her phone. “The yearbook committee sent e-mails to all the winners of the Senior Superlatives.”
“God,” Martha said. “Those things are so stupid.” But Ava saw Martha reach for her phone and check.
“I’m Best Dressed, bitches,” Jordan said victoriously.
Ava smiled when she read hers. “I got Most Likely to Be the Next Picasso.” She turned to CJ. “What did you get?”
CJ tossed her phone aside. “What does it even matter? These things are so stupid.”
Next to her, Martha agreed. “You’re right. Totally stupid.”
“Why?” Jordan asked Martha. “What did you get?”
Martha put her phone away. “Nothing. I mean I got nothing.”
“Don’t feel bad,” Jordan said. “We have a big class. Not everyone gets something.”
CJ sighed. “You’re lucky you didn’t get anything. This is so embarrassing.”
“It can’t be that bad,” Ava said. “What did you get?”
“I’m not telling. It’s mortifying.” CJ flipped her phone over.
“Okay,” Jordan said. “You don’t have to tell us.” Then she quickly grabbed CJ’s arms and pinned them to her sides. “Ava! Grab her phone!”
CJ was much stronger than Jordan and quickly freed her hands, but Ava already had the phone. “Got it!” CJ lunged for Ava and she took off running. “Martha, go long!”
Martha put her hands out and Ava tossed her the phone. It was a terrible throw, but Martha managed to make a dive for it. Right as CJ caught up to her, she turned and tossed the phone to Jordan. A game of monkey in the middle commenced.
“Come on, guys,” CJ said. “You know I’m like way more athletic than you, right?” But after running back and forth a few times, she threw up her hands. “Oh, whatever. Just read it.”
Jordan was the one who had the phone in her hand when CJ gave up. She opened the e-mail at the top of CJ’s in-box and read it out loud in her most dignified yearbook committee voice. “‘Dear Clarke, We regret to inform you that the admissions committee at Boston University is unable to offer you…’” Jordan immediately stopped reading. “Oh shit. Wrong e-mail. Shit, CJ. Shit, shit, shit. Here.” She handed CJ her phone back. “I’m sorry.”
CJ took her phone and read the rest of the e-mail from Boston University. “Oh,” she said flatly. “Well, shit.”
Jordan glanced at Ava and Martha helplessly. Then she looked at CJ. “I’m so sorry.”
“No. It’s fine. I’m okay. It wasn’t my top choice anyway. Don’t worry about it. I know you and Ava are dying to check yours. So go ahead.”
Jordan and Ava traded a look.
“You guys,” CJ said. “Please. I know you must be dying right now. Check your phones.”
They each demurely reached for their phones. They kept their reactions small and contained, but it’s not like CJ couldn’t read the looks on their faces. “Congratulations,” she said.
“Thanks,” Ava said sheepishly.
“Yeah, thanks,” said Jordan.
The bell rang and CJ stood.
“Screw BU,” said Ava. “Come on. Let’s go to Denny’s. A moment like this calls for Moons Over My Hammies all around.”
CJ shook her head. “I don’t feel like it. I’m going home.” She started to walk away but turned back. “Oh, and my yearbook thing, I got Tallest. So that’s how I will be remembered by the class of 2020. As the tallest.” CJ turned and walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
THE TICKET booth seemed smaller than usual that evening. Martha was sitting on the tiny stool in the tiny box of that room when she logged into MIT’s admissions portal. It didn’t seem right to be in such a small space when she was getting such big news, but she had to know. She read the letter once, then put her phone away. She felt like crying.
She drummed her fingers against the counter and didn’t notice when Logan Diffenderfer walked up to the window. “One, please,” he said.