The whole crowd was just stunned, Brittany and
Chad even more
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The whole crowd was just stunned, Brittany and
Chad even more so.
Tied for first?!
I looked at Jason; I had no idea we’d scored the same. That was something else.
The reporter, getting impatient, turned to the principal, “Mr. Thompson, didn’t you tell these two they were doing an interview today?”
Mr. Thompson looked blankly at his assistant, who looked at the head counselor, who finally snapped out of it and pulled me and Jason out of the crowd, “Here they are, these are the two!”
I was thrust forward next to Jason, with the
camera in our faces. The reporter was positively
beaming, “What a pair! Not only are they
brilliant, but they’re good–looking, too!”
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<
9:51
thing, when suddenly, more cars showed up at
the gate.
The doors burst open and people poured out, racing each other like they were trying to get the last discounted TV at a Black Friday sale.
While Jason and I were answering questions, the new group pushed their way to the front, elbowing the reporter aside. One of them turned to me, “Tiffany and Jason? We’re from Caltech admissions, and we really, really want you to come study with us!”
A professor from Harvard wasn’t about to be outdone, “Guys, we need you at Harvard! Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen. Full
scholarships? Done! Top research
opportunities? Consider it yours!”
“This has to be a mistake. Jason is smart, sure,
but Tiffany? She’s always in the bottom of the
barrel. There’s no way she’s the top of the
<
class,” Brittany called out, desperate to regain
some kind of control.
“No mistake. We saw the scores as soon as
they were released. Tiffany and Jason both
scored a 1580, tied for first in the state!” The
Caltech guy frowned, not liking her little
outburst.
The Harvard prof jumped in, “Tiffany, we admire
your drive and determination. It’s what makes
us think you’d be a great fit at our school.
Don’t worry about money. Harvard will cover
tuition, room and board, and we’ll throw in a
bunch of extra scholarships.”
“We’ll cover all of that at Caltech and offer a
monthly stipend!”
The whole interview had turned into a massive
bidding war between two universities. The
reporter was loving it, saying that this would
blow up online.
<
“Alright, guys, give us an answer. Which school
are you picking?”
“Caltech,” I said without hesitating. The Caltech
professor looked about ready to do a happy
dance, while the Harvard prof looked betrayed.
“Why not Harvard?”
He was clearly expecting me to come around.
“Because my ex is going to Harvard.” I smiled
at Chad, who was standing there with his face
white as a ghost. Everyone in the crowd
suddenly got it.
The Harvard prof looked at Chad and back at
me, and his expression was one of pure
sympathy.
- 6.
9:51
The principal, counselors and my English teacher basically dragged us to the school
gates.
Mr. Thompson had tears in his eyes, saying Jason and I had made the school proud. We
walked out of the school in front of all the parents and other students. The people who were mocking me earlier were suddenly quiet, staring at me with a mix of disbelief and awe.
“So what, she still comes from nothing,”
Brittany’s lapdog piped up.
I almost couldn’t bear to look at her. It was
obvious that she was trying to cover her
jealousy.
“Don’t say that, maybe Tiffany will be able to
pull herself up by her bootstraps,” Brittany said, her face calm, though her lips had a slight
twitch.
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9:51
“Yeah, even if she does get a degree from Caltech, she’ll still be working for you someday,” Brittany smiled, “She was right, Some people just have a head start in life.”
As she said that, a Maybach pulled up to the curb. Brittany tossed her hair, acting all classy, and looked at the crowd. “My dad’s here to pick
me up, I’ve gotta go.”
“It’s the end of high school and we’re all going to have a party at my family’s mountain resort, I’ll send the address in the group chat. Everyone
should come!”
With that, she got into her car and drove away,
leaving all the other students gawking.
“I wish I had Brittany’s life, rich, beautiful, and
smart. Unlike some people who might be
valedictorian but will still be poor,” a student
said, continuing to trash talk me. They walked
off, and didn’t even notice I was standing there,
<
9:51
I knew I wasn’t crazy.
That was my family’s car.
- 7.
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I got home, and before I even hit the driveway, I
could hear a bunch of noise.
My dad and grandma were standing at the end
of the road holding up a banner. Seeing my
name on it in big, bold letters made me cringe
so hard I could have crawled into the nearest
hole and died.
“Honey, you’ve made your dad so proud. You’re
the best in the state!”
“The TV station came to our house to interview
- us. And the city paid for us to blast the news
about your accomplishment, all day, every day!”
<
