Page 166 of The Friend Scheme

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I need to tell Luke first.

Well, I don’tneedto.

But I think it’s the best strategy. If telling Dad about who I really am, and what I really want out of my life, is an epically bad idea, then he’ll be able to tell me.

I could just walk into his room and do it.

Rip the Band-Aid and all that.

But it’s Luke. And as much as we don’t see eye to eye on stuff, I love him. I don’t want that to change. If Dad pushes me away, I think I could deal. But if Luke starts to hate me, that would completely and utterly crush me.

I guess that’s the risk I need to take.

It’s been only a day since I met up with Jason, but this is the first time ever where who I am is working. As terrifying as it is to show Luke and Dad who I really am.

I can finish school and then apply for film school in California.

Then I’ll be gone for good.

Until then, though, I want Dad to know I’m stepping away from the family business.

I can’t stop them. Jason was right about that. I can ask Dad to try to make peace with them, but that’s all I can do.

I try to muster up the courage to go to Luke’s room. I’m shaking, it’s that bad. I tell myself that Luke already knows.

He must. Everyone else just thinks I’m bad at the family business, but Luke knows me.

I check the time on my phone. It’s ten to eight.

I’ll do it at eight.

I have ten minutes.

I close my eyes, just thinking. This isn’t something I can ever take back. Once this is out, this will always be out.

Eight minutes left.

Now six. Now two.

Now one.

It’s time.

I sit up. Maybe I don’t need to do this right now. Maybe I could just wait. Maybe…

I stand up and leave my room. I made a deal with myself, and my deals mean something.

Luke’s door is open.

He’s seated at his computer, playingDota.

“Hey,” I say.

He keeps playing. “What’s up? I’m mid-game, dude, make it quick.”

I can’t do this here, when he’s so distracted.

“I was wondering if you wanted to get burgers?”

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