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He crooks a finger, and I humor him, leaningin.
“Theyallwanna be us. We’re the rebels, Manatee. The jerks at Harvard on track to their corner offices or lining up for eighteen-hour-a-day internships on Wall Street—in thirty years, they’ll look up from their fake wood desks to the fake gold clock on the fake stone mantle and think, ‘Whatif?’”
The words are still ringing in my head when Ileave.
* * *
My phone buzzeson my way back through the halls, heading for the stairwell that afternoon. I answer, dread filling mystomach.
“Hey. What’sup?”
Dad says, “There you are. I was starting to think I’d have to get on a plane to talk to you.” I feel the blood drain from my face before he continues. “How are yourclasses?”
“Good.” I tell him about sociology and English, which I can be truthful about. “I’m still waiting on one that I have tomorrow.” My intensive professor, whom I haven’t had the chance to meet, is supposed to see methen.
I reach for the stairwell door, both to avoid the traffic in the elevators and because the reception’s probablybetter.
“I know you were disappointed when I said you couldn’t go to performing arts school.” His gruff voice has my stomach twisting with guilt. “But I wanted to say… you’re the first one in our family to get a real college degree. And Columbia’s nothing to shiton.”
Lying to my dad sucks, but I have to do it for awhile.
After all the music classes I took, I deserve to be here. Dad telling me he’d pay for any degree except performing arts was bullshit.He even said he’d pay for me to travel for a year if that’s what Iwanted.
But there was only one place I wanted togo.
NewYork.
Last winter, after I finished a local theater production ofAvenue Qand before the start of Oakwood’s spring musical, I decided I didn’t needpermission.
I’m following my dreams. When he sees me succeed, he’ll understand. I know hewill.
I just need a little time to figure out how to show him I’mright.
“How’s Sophie?” I ask as I reach the sixth floor, panting, and make my way down the hall to my room. “AndHaley?”
“Sophie’s a monster. Haley’s not muchbetter.”
“Heardthat.”
I smile at the sound of my stepmom’s voice as I stop in front of my closeddoor.
“House is quiet without you,” he says after aminute.
“You’re not even in the house. I thought you were lobbying in Washington thisweek.”
“We are. But it’ll be quiet when we get home. What do you need? Money?Clothes?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.” I slide my key into the lock and turn thehandle.
“Okay. Guess I’ll let you go. Oh, and don’t forget about that awardsdinner.”
“What awardsdinner?”
“We talked about it months ago. The flight’s booked. I sent you an email about it thismorning.”
Shit. I almost forgot my dad was being honored at this big thing in LA Friday night and having a smaller friends and family thing at home Saturday. “Right. I’m sorry. I really want to come, but school’s just started. It’s hard toleave.”
“Annie. It’s two days. You won’t miss any classes. The band’s planning to come down, plus Lita and Nina if they’rearound.”
