LOGINThe school trip announcement is the highlight of every senior at Eastfield High’s week.“Two-day educational excursion,” Mrs. Teagues had announced yesterday, standing at the front of AP English with far too much enthusiasm for eight in the morning. “We’ll be visiting Monterey Bay and staying overnight. The focus will be marine conservation, environmental studies, and college preparation.”Half the class had been excited to have a break from the monotonousness of school, while the other half immediately started asking about room assignments.Maya and I had looked at each other and said the same thing at the exact same time. “Road trip.”Now, twenty-four hours later, we’re at the mall because Maya insists that we have to get our hair and nails done for the trip.“I don’t see why we have to do this when prom is still in a few weeks,” I mumble beside her as we take our seat in nail salon’s waiting room.Sighing dramatically, Maya turns to me. “Do you have a
The music wing is one of the few places in school that’s still buzzing even after classes end.Most students have already gone home, the football team is at practice, and teachers are wrapping up for the day. Meanwhile, Maya is still trapped inside rehearsal, which leaves me sitting alone on a bench outside the band room with a sketchbook balanced on my knees.I should be drawing. Instead, I’m staring at the same blank page I’ve been staring at for ten minutes.My thoughts keep drifting to Mom and the fact that we’re both refusing to speak to each other despite Dad’s attempts to salvage the situation. At least, Tyler has been super supportive through it all. Always checking in and taking my mind off it.A smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.And then a familiar voice ruins it. “Wow.”I don’t even look up.“I’ve seen happier funeral attendees.”“Go away, Jake.”“Aw.” His sneakers scrape against the floor as he drops onto the bench besid
Tyler’s POVI know something is wrong the second Lila calls me.She doesn’t even say hello before she wheezes out the words, Tyler, Mom, and Hospital. And I’m already grabbing my keys before she finishes explaining.From what I gathered, her mom collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. They think she’s okay, but Lila sounded terrified. So, I don’t hesitate to rush out of the house in the middle of helping with my mom’s latest hobby... gardening.By the time I get to the hospital, I spot Lila immediately in the waiting area.She’s sitting between her parents, twisting her fingers together so tightly that her knuckles have turned white. The knot in my chest loosens at the sight of her, because physically, she’s at least okay. And out of everyone she could’ve called, Maya, Noah, she called me.The second she sees me, she stands. I barely get two steps inside before she’s throwing herself into my arms.I catch her automatically, rubbing a hand down her
Ever since Tyler’s shoulder injury, I’ve been in the hospital more times than I can count. But no one really tells you how much more terrifying it is when it’s your parent laying in that bed.Dad stands at the reception desk, speaking quietly to a nurse while I sit frozen in one of the plastic chairs. The fluorescent lights overhead is too bright, every sound feels magnified, and my stomach won’t stop twisting with a violent force.What if this is my fault?The thought has been circling my head since we left the house.What if our argument was too much?What if I pushed her too far?What if…Dad finally walks back toward me, looking like he’s aged ten more years in the past hour. “She’s being examined now.”I nod, because my throat feels too tight to speak.He drops in the seat beside me and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. For a while, neither of us says anything as I stare uselessly at the floor. Then Dad sighs. “This isn’t y
The front door barely closes behind us before Mom says, “Living room. Now.”My stomach sinks. The quiet ride home had been bad enough, this somehow feels worse.Dad looks up from the couch when we walk in. He immediately notices the expression on Mom’s face because his newspaper lowers slowly. “What’s wrong?”Mom laughs sharply. “Oh, nothing.”Dad immediately looks concerned. “Maria…”“Nothing except our daughter has apparently been keeping huge secrets from us.”I close my eyes. Here we go.Dad’s attention snaps to me. “Lila?”Mom drops her purse onto the coffee table. “Ask her.”The room falls silent, and I shift awkwardly beneath both their stares.“What secrets?” Dad asks carefully.Mom folds her arms. “Why don’t you tell him about the scholarship, Lila?”Dad blinks. “What scholarship?”I swallow. There’s no point hiding anymore, so, I sit down and tell them everything. I tell them about the competition and Mrs. Alvarez encoura
I wonder if Mom would stop talking if I rammed the grocery cart straight into the display of canned tomatoes we just passed.The urge to do it is certainly getting stronger by the minute.“...and another thing,” Mom continues, completely oblivious to my train of thoughts as she examines a carton of eggs, “I don’t understand why boys your age think they need to spend every waking moment attached to their girlfriends.”I stare at the ceiling, practicing a breathing technique to soothe my rising irritation. We’ve been here for forty minutes. Forty. Entire. Minutes. And somehow Tyler has been the topic of conversation for thirty-nine of them.“Mom, can we please…”“No, Lila. Listen to me.”I suppress a groan. Here we go again.She places the eggs carefully into the cart before turning toward me. “Your finals are coming up.”“I know that.” For the millionth time.“That means college decisions.”“I know.”“And yet all I ever hear about is T







