Buried secrets, two girls with the same face, and a boy who loved too much.
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When Travis and Nicole meet on a bus for the first time, he thinks she's his ex, Rachel, who broke his heart two years ago. But he doesn't understand why she's pretendin...
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THE MASSIVE CLOCK HANGING at the front of the lab ticked as the minutes sped by. The quiz, as expected, was tough and tense.
Apprehension had taken over everyone. I cast encouraging looks her way to show how good she was doing anytime Jahdiel looked at me.
Watching her try her very best in her fight to take a step in securing her future, I was proud. I was proud of her courage for just that bold decision to turn the miserable course of her life. And I knew no matter the outcome of this quiz, I'd be proud of her fighter instincts.
An hour and a half was eventually up, and quietly, I slipped out and made my way to the auditorium to secure my own future.
Seismic waves of anxiety rolled through my heart with each step closer to my destination. How would this go? I couldn't help but wonder. Would I impress coach, or would I be evicted?
With a deep breath, I decided I could only find out by moving forward. And I wouldn't be evicted. I was giving this trial every single strength left in me.
I hurried my steps, and taking another heavy breath, pushed the door of the auditorium open.
It was empty when I stepped in, except for Coach Margaret and Raine, who stood huddled together, going over a list Raine held.
I was early. It wasn't 2 pm yet. I could use the extra time to change into my shorts and sports bra in the locker room. Coach Margaret's head came up as I moved towards the locker room, and I stretched my lips into a polite smile.
"Hello."
"Nicole." Her expression was professionally neutral. "Did you come to get something?' she asked. "We were just about to leave."
My brows tugged together in confusion. "A-about to leave?" I stammered. "But it's not even time."
She checked her wristwatch. "It's almost 2pm, and the trial started exactly at 12pm."
"12 pm?" Something - icy spiders, I was sure - had started crawling up my legs and creeping up my spine. My eyes darted to Raine, whose expression was blank as she went through the list she held. "But I was told it was postponed to 2 pm."
"Told by whom?"
My heart slammed into my chest with an unhealthy force at the clueless look on Coach Margaret's face. "I received a forwarded text," I explained shakily, eyes pulling together with confusion. "It clearly stated the message was from Raine."
Coach exchanged a puzzled look with Raine, who only shrugged in a way that said, I'm as lost as you are.
Coach Margaret looked back at me. "Can I see?"
"Of course."
Fingers trembling, I retrieved my phone from my pocket. My anxiety went up another notch when I saw seven missed calls from an unknown number. God, what was happening?
