Curvy Girls Can't Date Cowboys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,3
Ray asking me out? If it wasn’t a date, it was definitely date-adjacent. I had to play it cool, but Ray’s simmering blue eyes waiting for my answer made it hard. “Sure,” I said lightly. “If I don’t have to work. The glamorous life of a store owner’s child.”
He chuckled. “I get that. What store?”
It struck me that I, Ginger Nash, nerdy AV girl, was having an actual conversation with Ray Sadler. The school’s hottest (and only) cowboy. And he actually laughed at something I said. Could this get any better?
“Ripe,” I answered. “It’s a health food store near Emerson Shoppes.”
His eyes widened in recognition.
“You've heard of it?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of it,” he said. But it didn't sound like a good thing.
I was about to ask him why when Jordan walked into the classroom and sat by me.
“Maybe you can't live in the dorms,” she said, “but you can definitely hang out this Saturday, right? Kai and I think we should start a movie night at his house.”
Ray had already turned his eyes away from me, but my question for him remained.
Two
After school, Mr. Davis and I helped film Headmaster Bradford’s welcome back video. We added one to the school’s YouTube channel after each break. Putting on my headphones, I tested the audio while Mr. Davis and Headmaster Bradford talked about the girls’ basketball team and their potential to make it to the state championship.
My heart swelled with pride. Cori played on the team, and her stout build made her one of the best players in the state.
When they finished, I said, “I’m ready.”
Mr. Davis stepped out of the camera’s view, and I held up my fingers to count. “Three, two...” I held up the last finger and pointed at him to let him know we were rolling.
Headmaster Bradford straightened his shoulders and smiled. “Welcome back to Emerson Academy! Whether you’re a freshman or experiencing your last year here, it is important you make the most of your time here. Freshman: what you do now matters. Take advantage of all you have offered to you now, from extra curriculars to excellent instruction and more. Seniors, this is your last semester with us. Now is your time to lean into the high school experience with all you have. Do your best, represent Emerson Academy well, and most importantly, do not let this precious time you have left slip away. Your high school experience will be gone all too soon.”
His words struck each raw nerve in my chest. I wanted that, to live each second and to experience it all before my parents trapped me during college too. I needed to find out how to make it happen.
I counted down and turned off the camera. “Great job, headmaster.”
Smiling, he stood and unclipped the lavalier mic from his lapel. “Thank you, Ginger. It’s always great to see one of our students in her element.”
Mr. Davis nodded. “Imagine how great she’ll be once she gets into the film program at UCLA!”
My lips twitched. “About that...”
“Did you hear back?” he asked, almost as giddy as I’d been that morning.
I nodded. “I got in.”
Headmaster Bradford shook my hand. “Well done, Ginger.”
Smiling, I shook his hand back. I couldn’t believe the headmaster was talking to me—praising me.
“That’s amazing!” Mr. Davis said. “I knew you could do it!”
“I learned from the best,” I said. Mr. Davis had invested so much in me over the years. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
The headmaster clapped my shoulder. “Well, if you’ll excuse me. I best be getting home to Penny.”
“Of course,” Mr. Davis said. “Ginger and I can clean this up.”
“Definitely,” I agreed.
As he left his office, we began packing up the equipment.
“UCLA,” Mr. Davis said. “That’s amazing, Ginger.”
“Thanks.”
He zipped up the lighting bag. “You don’t seem too excited.”
I frowned at the cables I was wrapping up. “I am, but...” I sighed. I’d gone over it so many times already, but I told him about the news my mom had given me. “I can’t help but feel like I’ll be missing out on everything that makes college great. Like it will just be a continuation of high school.”
For a moment, Mr. Davis was quiet as he worked to pack the camera away. “I wonder if it would help you to meet with another student who’s having similar challenges.”
“I mean, Jordan’s staying home next year, but it’s not really the same.”
“I wasn’t thinking of her.” He rose to his feet and dusted off his pants. “I was thinking