Page 35 of Broken

“What are we going to do if none of us get into the same schools?” Annie worried, her bottom lip pressing between her teeth.

Jet reached up, brushing it free with his thumb. “It’ll be fine. I’ve got the mechanic thing to fall back on if a scholarship doesn’t pan out. Wherever you’re going, I’m going.”

“And Izzy? She and Leo were going on about Baste Academy after dance camp a few weeks ago. None of us are going there…” She looked around, panic sounding in her voice like she’d just begun to realize.

Tucker took a deep breath after polishing off his beer, a lazy smile on his expression when I glanced up. “Annie, you’ve gotta chill. You’re basically a shoo-in for Valedictorian. Your college is paid for. You’ll get in almost anywhere.”

“And Leo and I haven’t heard anything from Baste Academy, sis,” I mumbled, trying not to let my disappointment show.

“Which is bullshit,” Tucker bit out. “I watched y’all at practice that day, and y’all areawesome. If those Baste Academy people don’t want you, it’s their loss.”

“Aren’t there other dance schools you can get into?” Jet asked, and Annie shot him a look.

“I don’t want her further away than she has to be, babe.”

“Just asking.”

I sighed, my stomach turning and the rising tension not helping. “There are other schools, but Baste Academy is the best in the state, and I don’t think any of us are looking to leave Texas.”

“But I don’t want us spread out all over it, either,” Annie pressed.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it tonight,” I snapped, immediately feeling like crap. “I’m sorry. I just feel off. And tired. Y’all mind if I head to bed?”

Annie’s expression immediately softened. “Yeah, go.”

“You want me to come with you?” Tucker grabbed my hand, and I shook my head.

“Y’all stay up. I’m just going to sleep.”

I left them around the fire to crawl into the massive tent Tucker and I were supposed to share on Jet’s last birthday, except this time, he and I would be sharing one side while Jet and Annie had the second half. The divider was pulled up, and I considered lowering it to give Annie and Jet their privacy when they came to bed, but I honestly didn’t have it in me to mess with it.

I turned on the little camp light in the corner and pulled off my tiara, setting it on top of my bag. Then, I took a minute to brush out my hair before taking off my bra and curling under the covers. The sounds of my friends’ voices carried through with the wind, and I listened, coming in and out of sleep, my stomachturning more and more as they laughed and played drinking games before finally calling it a night.

Some stupid part of me fought back tears, frustrated with myself for feeling so off when tonight was supposed to be special. It wasn’t like Tucker and I got to sleep together all the time. Not like this. And here I was, trying not to get sick.

When Tucker crawled over to our side sometime during the night, I was half out, barely remembering him settling beside me, but when he rested his arm around my waist, I whimpered at the added pressure.

“You okay?”

A tear leaked out before I could stop it, and I nudged his arm away.

“Izzy?” He pulled it back.

I shook my head, sucking in a breath as a few more tears flowed without permission, and Tucker reached up, cupping my cheek when he heard.

“Why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

I swallowed, trying to hold back the turning in my middle. “My stomach.” It swooped, and I knew I was only seconds away from losing what I had for dinner. Scrambling from the covers, I bolted out of the tent and ran to the edge of the water before throwing up.

Tucker hurried out behind me, pulling my hair back from my shoulders. I felt a softer hand on my back, knowing it was Annie. They waited for me to finish, and I finally stood back up, Jet handing me a paper towel from the bag of supplies we’d brought.

“Better?” Tucker asked. I waited for a moment before answering and then nodded.

“I’m sorry, you guys. Maybe dinner just didn’t sit right. I don’t know.”

“It’s okay.” Annie gave me a comforting smile. “You think you’re okay to stay, or do we need to go back home?”

“Well, since y’all are all drunk, we’re staying.” I gave a little grin. “But yeah, I’m feeling better now.”

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