Page 145 of Fervency Love

He’s sitting on a bench in the park by the Theater Academy.

“You won’t believe who I ran into!” he said. “I was snooping around that school over there, and suddenly that famous actor was there. What’s his name? Souber! I got so hyped. He said ‘hello’!”

“You’re shitting me.”

“Never. What a great school. How did it go?”

“The first part went perfectly. The second one not so much. Let’s go back already. I’m tired.”

We head to the station. It’s 7 p.m. when I get home. Connor goes to his place, and I decide to visit Grandma. I tell her what happened in the audition, remembering every detail.

“When will the results be available?” She keeps her fingers crossed for me.

“In the evening or tomorrow morning. They’re going to put them up on the website. Well, I’m tired now. I’m off.”

I check the results in the morning.

“What the fuck?”

“What happened, Abbs?” Ve runs over.

“Are they out of their fucking minds? They could have kept at least some dignity if they wrote that I sucked at acting and singing.”

“What did they write?”

“That they were sorry to inform me that I failed the first part of the audition. The fitness part. Connor, for fuck’s sake, you know me. I have a fucking A in PE! You know what I can do! And I have nice white teeth, great hearing, and a sense of rhythm! They’re fucking cheating. I knew it. Only people who bought their preparatory courses are admitted. What a fucked-up world we live in. I don’t care anyway. I didn’t even want to study full-time. I only did that so that my parents got off my ass about it. But it still pisses me off.”

“Yeah, that was lame. What about the results at that other uni?”

“That one is a given. They’re counting the GPA. Though there were a lot of candidates. I think the results will come by July.”

We went to Daisy Valley for a couple days. I told Mom and Dad about the audition and the approach of the academy officials. Ve told them who he ran into. Dad couldn’t believe it.

We’re about to get back when my parents take me to the side. “Do you want to take the car, Abigail?” Mom asks.

“What? You’re kidding? I haven’t driven since January.”

“Take the keys, Abigail,” Mom cuts in.

Ve stands rooted to the spot, disbelieving.

“What if I forgot how to drive?”

“You’ll recall fast enough. It’s a long way. You’ll get a chance to practice.”

“Do I get it forever or do I have to give it back?” I ask Dad. “You know, if I get used to it, I won’t want to part with the car.”

“We thought we’d give you the car as a reward for passing your exams.”

“Wow! Thanks!” I did not expect that.

Dad shows me what’s what, and then we’re off. In the beginning, I’m a little rusty. I need to develop a feel for the car. But on the highway, I’m already used to it. Connor smokes through half a pack of cigarettes on the way. Is that excitement or fear for his life? He doesn’t comment, luckily. He’s very supportive.

“That was surprising, wasn’t it?”

“Uh, yeah. But don’t talk to me right now. Keep your eyes on the road.”

“Ha ha! Wait, you’re serious? I can focus on several things at a time.”