has helped me in some way over the last few weeks, even if only buying some baked goods, helping at the auction, or sending me a text to cheer me up over the long hours of studying.
No one’s helped me more than Brett though. My eyes go to him at his table for probably the twentieth time since I sat down.
I have no idea what’s going on with us, but I can’t help feeling sick at the thought of setting him up with Sasha very soon. He made it obvious he isn’t interested in me and I promised him I was going to set him up, so I’m going to have to deliver.
“Abigail.” Something about the sharpness in Chase’s voice sets me on edge, and I look over at him to see him nodding at something behind me. I turn in my seat and see Coach and Ms. Sallinson weaving their way through the tables, their eyes trained on me and some sheets of paper in Coach’s hand.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the papers have already been graded.
I feel like I might vomit.
I actually feel like I might vomit right here, right now, in front of everyone.
Surely if they’re telling me this so publicly then it’s good news? Surely that means something?
I can’t believe they’d be so cruel as to tell me I failed in front of everyone.
My heart starts thudding nervously in my chest as they reach the table, and I look around to see everyone’s eyes trained on me, total silence surrounding me.
My eyes dart to Brett, across the cafeteria, and he’s already watching me, his face pale, like this is a big moment for him too. He stands up and walks over to us, never taking his eyes off me until he comes to stand behind Livy, directly across from me.
I swallow hard, knowing this is it. This is what it comes down to, what will tell me if the effort I’ve put in over the last three months will actually amount to anything.
“We thought you’d want to know sooner rather than later,” Coach says, holding out the papers to me, turned upside down so I can’t see the scores. “Remember you need 74 on both tests to pull your grades up enough to graduate.”
I can’t read her face. By looking at her, I have no idea what the scores on those sheets of paper are.
I reach out to take them, my hand shaking in terror as I try to ignore the silence around me, not just at my table but what seems to be the whole damn cafeteria.
This is the moment of truth, and while my friends are clearly desperate for me to pass, I’m sure there are as many people in this room who would be happy if I failed.
I lay the papers, face down in front of me, too freaking scared to even look at them, my eyes blurring already from the shame and embarrassment if this doesn’t go my way.
“It’s gonna be okay, Abs.”
I look up at Brett’s words, and the look on his face tells me I’ve got this, tells me I’m going to be okay no matter what’s on the sheets of paper.
I consider holding them close so I can flip through and know the scores before I have to tell anyone else, but really, what’s the point when everyone’s watching anyway?
I take a deep breath to psych myself up then flip over the papers, spreading them out so both grades are visible.
The table erupts.
The whole damn table erupts in screams and whistles as I stare in shock at the grades in front of me.
78 and 82 written in red across the top of the tests.
I passed. I passed. I freaking passed the exams. I’m going to graduate.
I’m in total shock.
Sasha is pulling me out of my seat and gripping me in a hug before Chase is there spinning me around. Next Aaron and Brendon and Jennifer do the same while Livy and Sophie stand back, grinning wide and clapping for me.
I’m actually shaking with shock.
I can’t believe it. I can’t believe I did it.
“Congratulations, Abigail,” Ms. Sallinson says, and I turn to her. She’s smiling widely. “You should be very proud of yourself.”
Coach winks at me. “Knew you could do it.”
I start to laugh at that because there is no way I got that impression from her, but that’s Coach through and through, pushing me in everything I do, pissing me off enough to prove her