Page 14 of Heartbeat

“Yeah, they make sense like that. I don’t care though.”

“Oh, I’d be so pissed,” he said, taking a bite.

“It’s only a year. Not even that.”

“Still. It’s a bit shitty.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Have you thought of college? It’s all everyone talks about these days.”

“Haven’t decided yet.”

“But you’re going?”

“I got in a couple already,” I said. “Early admission.”

“Shit, you’re smart.”

“Not really,” I said dismissively. “I wrote a killer essay though.” I was secretly proud of my wording.

“Where did you get in?”

“NYU and Yale.”

“Fuck me, that’s awesome!”

I didn’t reply. It didn’t feel awesome. Nor did it feel bad either. It just…was.

“I’m trying for Yale,” he said.

“Is it what you want?”

He seemed genuinely surprised I’d asked him that. “Does it matter?”

“I think it should.”

“I guess.”

Then it was my turn to stop walking. “This is me.”

“No way!” he said. “My dad lives, like, a few blocks from here.”

I smiled.

“How’s your stomach?”

“Better,” I lied. “Apple juice does help.”

“Told ya,” he said proudly. “See you tomorrow, then? Or, you know, in a couple of hours?”

“Sure,” I said, still smiling.

As he walked away, I noticed how there was absolutely no one else around.

“Ethan!” I called out.

He turned on the spot.

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