I fidgeted in my chair. “If I were to lose my scholarship for any reason, is it too late for me to apply for aid?”
“It would depend on the circumstances…”
“If the cheerleading squad isn’t a good fit and my scholarship was for the dance team, would that be a circumstance that would allow for me to qualify for financial aid?”
“It doesn’t exactly work like that…” He printed out a number of forms as he rambled on about federal and personal loans, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, due dates, and other financial aid buzz words. “But if you want my opinion, make the cheerleading squad a good fit. For this current semester, having your scholarship money taken away will void your schedule.”
My eyes widened. “So even with all this”—I lifted the paperwork he’d given me— “if my scholarship goes away, that’s it for this semester?”
He nodded. “Unless you or your parents can pay the balance out of pocket.”
Yeah, that’s not an option.
I gave him a tight smile. “I understand. Thank you for your time. I’m sorry I kept you this late.”
He shook my outstretched hand. “Good luck to you. Have a good rest of your day, Ms. Cage.”
I left the office and headed to my car in a daze.
If I lose my scholarship, I’m done for this academic year. I won’t graduate on time. I’ll be in debt. I’ll—
My phone rang and the number that called before was calling again.
“Enough of this,” I mumbled before picking up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, is this a good time?” a woman’s voice asked me on the other end.
“You have the wrong number,” I snapped, putting the key in the ignition and turning the car on.
“Brooklyn, I got your number from Carter’s mom.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at the unfamiliar number again.
Who did Mrs. Yates give my number to and why?
Trying not to sound pissed, I asked, “May I ask who is speaking?”
“It’s Kim Day,” she replied.
I made a face. Kim Day was the other dance team member who was moved to the cheerleading squad. She stayed on campus in a dorm and not with the cheerleaders. But since I hadn’t seen her since the night of the party, I hadn’t given her my new number yet.
“Kim… what number is this? I have your number saved in my phone and this isn’t it.” I was so confused.
“I’m using a phone I picked up at a gas station.”
“A burner phone?”
“Yeah.”
“For what?”
“Because I don’t know what’s going on, but I know I need to cover my ass. I can’t meet you on campus, but we should talk. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”
My hair stood on end. “Yeah.”
“Where are you staying?”
“With James.”
“James Williams.” She said his name with a hint of relief. “Okay. That’s still on campus so we shouldn’t talk there. Not this weekend, anyway. Can you meet me at the furniture store on Elm Street at three?”
I frowned. “Okay. Why there?”
“Because it’s unlikely we’ll see anyone we know there.”
She had a point. “Okay. See you there.”
“Okay.” She hesitated. “And Brooklyn?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
My eyes widened. “Be care—?”
She’d hung up before I could even finish. I sat there in the parking lot of the financial aid building trying to figure out what was happening to my life.
The buzz of my phone vibrating shook me out of my dazed thoughts.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey, did you talk to someone at Financial Aid?” Jay’s deep voice was a sharp contrast to the soft, rattled voice of Kim Day.
“Yeah, I just left. I’m headed home now.”
“Nice. What happened?”
I shut my eyes tight. “I’ll tell you when you get home.”
He paused for a second. “You sound off. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I just have a lot of paperwork to go through.”
“So, you’re good?”
“Have you finished your lab already?” I wondered, changing the subject.
“No,” he grunted. “Not yet. I had to come back home. I’m looking… I can’t find my chemistry book.”
“I saw it in the kitchen. On top of the refrigerator, I think.”
There was shuffling on the other end. “I found it! Right on top of the refrigerator. Brooklyn, what would I do without you?”
“You’d be lost.” A small smile pulled at my lips. “Good luck with your lab.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you tonight.”
If I didn’t have enough stress, when I returned to Jay’s apartment, my mom called.
“Hey,” I answered just as I was placing the financial aid paperwork on the desk next to my laptop.
“How are you, sweetie?” Mom asked.
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Tired, but good. Worried about you.”
“You don’t need to worry, Mom.”
“Brooklyn, all you’ve said is that you went to a party and the next day you learned that Carter drowned.”
I cleared my throat. “Um, I don’t know much else. I talked to Mrs. Yates and she said that she doesn’t believe Carter drowned. She said she won’t stop until she finds out the truth of what happened.”
“Didn’t she used to be in law enforcement or something?”
“She went to law school.”
My mom let out a sad sigh. “I can’t even imagine. Losing a child has got to be the hardest thing in the world. I don’t even want to think about what I would do if anything happened to you.”
“I know. But I’m okay, Mom. I’m right here,” I whispered.
“So, talk to me…” Mom probed. “How are you holding up? Even if you don’t know much about what happened, I need to know how you’re doing.”
“I’m okay.”
“You don’t have to pretend to be strong for me.”
My chin
