My Know-It-All Nemesis - Maggie Dallen Page 0,17

hard to earn the school’s respect and their admiration—to achieve more than almost anyone else, despite the fact that my dad walked out on us and my mom was struggling to make ends meet.

I’d done that. Me. I swooshed the skirt automatically. Maybe I had given myself a reputation that I hadn’t initially intended, but it was a part of who I was, just like my good grades and my charity work.

“Look,” she said. “I know what it’s like to have goals. I get what you’re trying to achieve better than anyone. But…” She hitched her lips to the side as she studied me. “I guess I wish someone had told me in high school that life isn’t only about racing to the finish line or winning every competition. There’s more to life than the things you list on your college application.”

I settled my hands at my sides with a sigh. “I think I know what you mean, Daphne, and I appreciate it. I do.”

“I only want what’s best for you, Kate,” Daphne said. “I don’t want you to wish away your life, you know? I want you to enjoy what you have while you have it. I want…”

This time when she trailed off, I rushed to fill the silence. “I know. I do. But I also know what I gave up for my dreams, and I’m not about to turn back now, not when I’m so close.”

She wanted me to have fun. To enjoy my teen years and all that stuff that sounded so great when people said it on Hallmark cards or infomercials, but in reality…there were goals, there were dreams, there were awards and grades and events and campaigns.

I could enjoy life when I was firmly established at college. Or maybe in med school…

Whatever. One day, there’d be time for fun, but for now? Now was the time for winning.

I glanced down at the silly costume with a resigned sigh. Was it cheesy? Yes. Was it playing right along with the morons who’d been calling me Gidget? Of course. But it would also be giving them what they wanted, what they expected. It would allow me to take the power back, make the joke my own and take away any influence it had over me.

It would show the guys on the football team—guys like Cal and Logan—that I could take a joke, even if it was started by my arch nemesis.

Daphne broke the moment with a loud sigh, and then an awkward silence filled the room. I tried to lighten the mood. “So what did you want me to wear, anyway?” I teased. “A slutty nurse outfit? A slutty vampire costume? A slutty nun, perhaps?”

She laughed, as I’d known she would. “Never!”

“All right then, what?” I could admit it…I was honestly curious. Her expression was torn, and her whole demeanor during our talk had been off. Like there were things she’d wanted to say but hadn’t said them.

It made me curious. But I also wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what she wanted to say either, so I didn’t push it.

She shrugged. “I just wanted you to try something new, that’s all. Get out of your comfort zone.”

I shifted, tugging at the skirt. “Yeah, well. I don’t care what they think.”

“It’s not about what people think,” she said with a huff of annoyance. “It’s about you. How you feel. That’s all I’m saying. It’s about how you see yourself and how you want to be seen.”

I stared at my reflection. How did I want to be seen?

I gave my head a little shake, the ponytail swinging over the prim white cardigan that buttoned down and matched the white poodle applique.

Like this?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Maybe I’d outgrown my old look. Maybe it was time to explore different sides of myself—parts that had been shoved to the side in my quest to run every committee and spearhead every event.

“Well?” Daphne said from the screen.

I shoved aside those thoughts for another day. A day when the acceptance letters had arrived and my future was set. For now, I had a rival to see and party planning to discuss.

“I say…” I turned to her with a little grin. “I say I’d better change out of this unless I want to make a scene at football practice.”

6

Miller

“So what’s the deal with you and Kate, man?” one of the guys from the team asked from behind me.

I winced. This was the question I’d been dodging all day, from everyone. I’d been hoping I could