On Our Own

Chapter 21

James officially moved in with Kyle, and as of this morning James was officially announced as the new quarterback for next year, and James even started therapy to help him with Carter. Everything seemed to be turning up for him.

Unlike me. I had yet to go to a soccer practice. I hadn't caught up in Calculus, and college applications were going nowhere. I hadn't gotten a new job and Ethan couldn't solve all my problems, although he loved to try. Plus, the brother who I thought would be by my side through my crazy life, got adopted into a better life.

"Hey Leah," Chloe said walking into my room.

"You could knock you know," I said not looking at her. "Jess and Monica always do."

She smiled and then flopped onto my bottom bunk. "God, you're just like me," she said looking around at my things. "These rooms are cool. Grayson and I have an apartment together now, but it's pretty bland. I wanted to decorate but who has the time?"

"Yeah, I guess," I muttered and turned back to my desk.

"You know I can sense sarcasm," she said standing up and coming over to me. "Are you filling out college applications?" she asked, taking some out of the trash. "These essays look good to me."

"Hey leave those there," I said trying to grab them back from her.

"Why? They seem fine to me," she said, reading them in one hand while her other was pushed against me so I couldn't stop her.

"Yeah sure, you didn't even get into college, how would you know?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Ouch," she said, rolling her eyes. "Fine, but you should submit something regardless. You never know," she said now taking them all out of the trash. "I'll tell you what, fill out the applications and if you get into one, I'll pay for your tuition."

I looked at her. "Why would you do that?"

She shrugged. "Eh, it's not like I'm going to go to college and trust me my parents have money to blow," she said rolling her eyes.

"I can't take your money," I said, shaking my head.

"It's more of a loan," she said. "You could pay me back."

I gave her a look.

"Fine, just send them in at least you'll know if you got what it takes or not."

I sighed. "Why do you care so much? I'm not that special," I muttered.

She shrugged. "Maybe you aren't, not everyone is," she said once again sitting down on my bed.

"Huh?" I said.

"Oh come on. Do you really believe that each person in the world is completely different from the other?" Chlose asked, rolling her eyes.

"I don't know, I guess I never thought about it," I said with a shrug.

"Think about it, not every person is going to be the best. There's one valedictorian, one CEO of a company, one president. I don't think we exist to beat each other to the top, some people were born with the privilege of just being themselves. What's the point of trying to race with the rats if you don't like running?"

"You lost me," I said.

"Look, Leah, no one is asking you to push yourself so hard that you can't breathe, but don't give up. If college is the answer, then it will happen, if it's not then something else will happen," Chloe explained.

"I'm scared of failure," I admitted. "It's easier not to try, than to try and then fail."

"Is that why you only take two classes?" Chloe asked me. "My aunts told me," she said when she saw my curious expression.