No Turning Back (Rewrite)

Chapter 17

I loved rainy days. Ever since I was younger, I adored sitting by the window and listening to the droplets pat against the window. Sometimes my babysitters would let me go outside and play in the wet weather. I'd splash into large puddles with my rain boots or tilt my head back and bask in the water falling on my skin. The distinct scent of fresh rain on the concrete mixed with the cold droplets' kisses on my face liberated me from the expectations of the world around me. In those small moments, I felt like I could be anything in the world.

Although I don't jump at the chance to dance in the rain anymore, I still enjoyed the serene tapping on the window and the gloomy blue light shining through my window. As I sat at my desk, typing away at my personal project, the rain inspired my imagination to roam. My fingers moved rapidly across my keyboard, creating a world that could only ever truly exist in my own mind. I hadn't gotten a chance to escape to this world lately. I'd been so busy with school and helping Jayden. I'd almost forgotten how safe I felt in this reality. Despite the abundance of dangers and inevitable conflicts, the warmth and security of the diverse personalities made me feel at home.

I'd fallen so deep into the detailed images in my mind that I barely heard my mother knocking on my room door. My eyes remained glued to the screen, unaware of her presence.

Her hand gently tapped my shoulder, and I nearly had a heart attack. I slammed my laptop shut and tugged out my ear buds.

Surprisingly, there was a firm frown on my mother's lips. "Come downstairs," she said. "Your father and I need to talk to you."

My stomach swirled into a knot. What could they possibly want to talk to me about? I'd straightened out my behavior in school. The cracks in my mask were repaired. I'd returned to pretending to be the charismatic, intelligent, and charming classmate. Whichever teacher who'd called in the original observation surely received a solution to their concerns. I was fine.

Unless the nurse called my parents about my episode a few weeks ago. Though I doubted it, I couldn't rule out the possibility. She never failed to send me a look of sympathy whenever I walked by her office. I wouldn't be surprised if she called to follow-up with my parents.

I followed my mother downstairs to my father's study.

He sat behind his desk with a frown identical to my mother's. I knew the fire in his eyes all too well. The sight tightened the knot in my stomach.

"Is everything okay," I asked innocently.

My father opened a drawer and pulled out an abundance of large envelopes. He tossed them on his desk.

Shit, I thought as I recognized the various letterheads.

"I found these in your room the other day," my mom said. She walked to stand beside my father. "Want to tell me why they were hidden away in your drawer?"

"Why were you snooping in my room," I asked.

"I saw Cornell's letter in the mail when I came home on Thursday. At this time of the school year, I knew there was bound to be others." She waved her hand across the acceptance letters. "And here they are."

I crossed my arms against my chest. "You shouldn't have gone through my stuff. You could've just asked me."

"And listen to your lies," my father asked. He chuckled. "No, no, no. This isn't something you keep secret, son."

"We're disappointed you hid this from us," my mother added. "We thought you'd be happy when each of these came in. We wanted to celebrate with you."

My brows came together. "You did?"

"Of course, sweetie." A smile spread across her lips. "Acceptance into all of these schools is an honor." She approached me and cupped my face in her hands. "We're so proud of you."