to live for the hope of it all.

Chapter 30

October 28th, 2023

"You should think about the consequence,
Of your magnetic field being a little too strong..."

Bailey

I got in. I'm going to Pennbrook.

Wren and I had planned to get ready together for the party tonight, but she showed up earlier than expected, waving two envelopes in her hand.

"They're in, Bailey! I grabbed yours from the mailbox!" She shouted.

We'd sat around the kitchen island, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking. But when we opened them and both read in sync the words "Congratulations on your acceptance..." I dropped the paper before jumping into her arms, and then my grandfather's who stood proudly in the corner.

There were some tears, even from Wren, but I finally felt like I could breathe. This news came at the right time, because now I really did want to celebrate.

I needed to tell Beckett.

It was a miracle I hadn't shouted it out the second he came downstairs. I wanted to wait until we caught a moment alone so I could tell him that we would be getting another four years in the same place.

A part of me was hoping that it would give him motivation to make a move, which is why I wanted to wait on telling him. This year of friendship wouldn't have to end after graduation, because we were going to the same college.

Wren and I had spent hours getting ready and gushing about our future dorm room, which we already had planned to a T.

I'd been ecstatic when Wren agreed to my costume idea of Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez from the 1989 world tour. She still seemed nervous about the party, but anxious nervous, like she was ready to be there.

"We can leave as soon as you want, Wren. I promise," I told her, spinning her last curl.

"I know, Bailey, I'll be fine. It'll be fun," she promised, smiling at me through the mirror.

Which is how we found ourselves walking up the front porch of Kyle Adler's house. It was already 11, so the party was in full swing.

Caleb shoved through the front door, and the place immediately erupted in cheers at his presence. Wren scoffed from beside me, and I laughed as Caleb hollered "hellos" in every direction.

Life of the party, this guy.

Beckett walked in behind us, and I heard a whole new set of cheers for him too. People stopped him for high fives, and he returned every one with a smile as he kept his pace with us.

Everyone likes him. Of course they do.

He looked up then, catching my eye and throwing me a smile that made my stomach warm. Just like earlier when he grabbed me by my waist for the picture, my stomach was in flips. His palm was so warm against my bare waist, and I liked the way he pulled me to him. I smiled back before turning to follow Wren and Caleb into the kitchen.

"Here," Caleb says, holding two cans of seagrams out to Wren and I. "I know, not anything hard to drink. Y'all don't have to drink anymore than this if y'all don't want. Just something to sip on."

"Thank you," Wren says, grabbing them and handing me one. We opened them before taking a drink, and Caleb was right. They're not that bad. Caleb saw some of his teammates across the room and excused himself to go say hello, but Beckett stayed next to us.

Wren caught sight of him, and turned to where Caleb went, before shouting in my ear over the music.

"I'm gonna go with Caleb, tell Beckett the good news."