Page 4 of One Shot

What is this? The Wyverns? Junior class marketing and public relations representative?

No, no, no. This must be fake. I didn’t apply for this. I haven’t thought about this since Nick . . . I’ve barely thought about my future. I haven’t given a single thought to my old hope of being a part of this amazing program. That hope vanished when Nick did.

“Well!? Aren’t you excited?!” Mom’s gaze is a mix of pride and enthusiasm.

“Did you read this already?”

She nods.

“Let’s ignore how that is a felony really quick . . . and focus on how this is entirely fake. I didn’t apply to this. It’s not real. Someone’s fucking around.”

“LANGUAGE!” Dominic bellows sternly. He never did get used to how Nick and I cuss like sailors.

“It’s not fake,” Mom says.

“Yes. It. Is. Annabeth.” I call Mom Annabeth when I need her to be a real adult or when I’m mad, annoyed, or frustrated with her. Truthfully, I call her Annabeth often.

“I did not apply to this. You know I haven’t even thought about it since the accident. It was my plan to get as many credits as possible at community college to be able to apply for Nick’s senior year but . . .” I trail off.

Nick and I always talked about how I would be part of the marketing and PR student team his senior year. I started picturing it. Nick on the ice, me shooting photos like I used to. Forcing him to let me manage his social media. Attempting to do some paid advertising but always getting shot down by him. I mean, he’s right. Why would he need to be advertised? His team, on the other hand, could use all the advertising and press it could get—especially with the terrible reputation of some of his teammates.

It was an old dream of mine—an old dream Nick and I shared. I shake my head. He’s gone. This isn’t a reality anymore. This isn’t my dream anymore.

“I didn’t apply for this, Mom. Someone is just an asshole,” I finish.

Mom doesn’t say anything. She looks at Dominic.

“We thought you would have a hard time believing it. Watch this.” Dominic slides his phone over to me. I push play on the video.

“Hi!” a girly voice shrieks.

I wince. Who is this wanna-be Barbie? And what does she have to do with the Wyverns?

“I’m Suz! And, of course, you know your cousin, Brenna!”

The blonde Barbie, Suz, pans the video over to a short Latina girl with voluminous curls. Bren comes into view. My heart swells a little. Even though I’ve seen her a few times the last two months, I don’t talk to her almost every day like I used to before. I do really miss her.

“Hi, Chip! Can’t wait to have you join us!” Bren chimes in.

“I haven’t told her yet.”

“Oh. Well get to it! We have shit to do, Suz!”

“Any-who, we have shit to do apparently, so I’ll make this quick.”

Bren takes the phone and starts talking.

“She can’t do anything quickly, and I should be the one telling you anyway. Let me sit down. I miss you so much. I know it’s been beyond hard for you. I can’t even imagine.”

A shaky sigh escapes Bren as she continues.

“But . . . I promised him I wouldn’t tell you until we got the news. Because of everything that happened, I needed to keep that promise for him. Your brother. For Nick.”

Her big brown eyes swell with sadness, reminiscing about him. Clearing her throat, her mouth starts to curl into a joyful expression.

“He spent weeks putting your application together for you and submitted it before . . . before the accident. He would be so proud of you, Chip. I’m so proud of you.

A Cheshire-like smile is now overtaking Bren’s petite face, beaming with pride, just like my Mom. Her words start to speed up with enthusiasm that’s almost contagious.