Page 87 of Rules for Rule Breaking
“Since I got passed over for an internship. Since I’ve exhausted all my waking hours with my nose in a book. Since—”
Emmy suddenly smacked Winter on the arm, which stung like a bug bite.
“Ow! What was that for?” Winter asked, cradling her arm.
“Respectfully, Winnie, the spine has twenty-six bones, and you’re not using a single one of them.”
Winter gasped. “Emmy Lin!”
“I saidrespectfully! College is the time to get out of your comfort zone. Woman up!” Emmy smacked her again. “Halmeoni filled me in on everything. Why didn’t you tell me what was going on with you?”
“Because you’re busy and you’re grieving. My problems are so stupid.”
“I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you recently, but you can always come to me.”
“Don’t apologize. You just lost Nai Nai, and you’re starting this whole new chapter of your life. I’m the one who hasn’t been there for you. I’ve been selfish, pushy, and needy,” Winter said, counting her sins on her fingers.
Emmy smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”
“I’m happy for you and so proud. You’re beautiful and talented, and your body moves in ways that are probably illegal in some states. I want to see your face on every billboard and magazine in the entire world.”
“I’m doing high fashion.”
“Then I want you on every runway. I’m not kidding when I say I want to be you when I grow up.”
Emmy’s eyebrows drew together. “Look, Winnie. You’re an only child, and ever since you skipped a grade, you’ve always been the youngest one in the room. You’re just getting used to the fact that you won’t be everybody’s baby anymore. But you’re going to MIT if I have to drag you there myself.”
“Baby?”
“You whine and pout and get whatever you want.”
Winter opened her mouth to argue, but her rebuttal was without merit. She folded her arms and stuck out her bottom lip. “I’m not a baby.”
“You’remybaby,” Emmy said with a laugh, threading her fingers through the length of her ponytail. “What internship did you get passed over for?” she demanded.
“There was only one slot available at Convergence Robotics, and the robotics coach, Mr. Metzler, offered it to Brandon Long.”
“Brandon Long?”Emmy said with disgust. “The kid you told me used to bite people in elementary school?”
“Yeah?” Winter replied, feeling more and more ridiculous the longer she thought about it.
“You see how this is a problem, right?”
Of course she knew it was a problem. Brandon Long did his equal share of the work, but when it came time to present, he spoke so quickly and loudly that Winter could hardly get a word in. It was like trying to yell over a rocket launch. Winter tried to double Dutch into the conversation and failed miserably, causing Mr. Metzler to believe Brandon contributed more to their projects.
Winter squirmed under Emmy’s gaze. “You may have a slight point.”
“Then why are you doubting yourself?” Emmy glared at Winter, and she leaned away. “Look at who you are and everything you can do! You’re amazing! You’re like a walking almanac, and I’ve seen you build a robot out of an electric toothbrush! I don’t want to hear you doubt yourself ever again,” Emmy said, giving Winter another swat. “You tell this Mr. Metzler he better give you that internship, or he’s going to have to deal with me.”
“Okay! Okay! I will! I’ll go to his office tomorrow,” Winter said, cradling her arm. She then dug a finger into Emmy’s thigh, and she cried out and folded to the ground, pulling Winter down with her.
Emmy was right. She owed it to herself to at least try to get into her dream school. Of course it would be scary to be without her family in a new city for the first time in her life, but it was time to grow up, whether she liked it or not. If she gave it her all and still didn’t get in, at least she would know for sure that it wasn’t meant to be.
The girls laughed on the floor together for a moment beforeEmmy said, “Can we stop talking now and make some mandu? I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Winter said, pulling her best friend into an awkward floor-hug. “Just promise we’ll always be friends, okay?”
“I promise.”
