The Game You Play (Rixon Raiders 2)

7. Drink (actual liquor) at Bell’s – OVERDONE

8. Go to Winter Formal… with a date (not a girlfriend)

9. Hook up with a random guy First time do over

10. Fall in crazy messy love (with someone NOT JF)

11. Do not fraternize with the football team!!!

Snatching my cell off the nightstand, I found her number.

Me: So my new list...

Mya: Don’t tell me you’ve already changed your mind?

Me: No, no, it’s just my mom, she’s big on being planned and prepared...

Mya: Good thing your mom isn’t the one with the list then ;)

Me: Ha-ha! Am I silly? Is this whole thing stupid?

Mya: You’re scared?

Me: My parents have my whole life mapped out for me. What if I do the list and realize their life isn’t the one I want?

Mya: I think that’s okay. Wanting to make our parents happy is perfectly normal, but not at the expense of our own hopes and dreams.

I mulled over Mya’s words, but another text came through before I could type a reply.

Mya: Did you figure out what you’re going to do yet?

Me: No…

Mya: Okay, when you were little, what did you want to be?

Me: What does this have to do with my list?

My cell started blaring, Mya’s name flashing across the screen. “Hello?” I said.

“It might seem dumb, but just hear me out, okay?”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ve always loved animals, but my parents never let me get a cat or dog. They were worried about allergies and safety and all that stuff. One summer, I found a stray dog. Scrawny undernourished little thing, but it had the cutest face and I wanted it to be mine so bad. I lured it into our garden shed, gave it some blankets and food.”

“What happened?”

Sadness washed over me. “Mom found out and made me take it to the local pound. I cried for a week.” A tiny part of me was still bitter about it all these years later.

“Dogs, really? I had you down as more of a girl scout.”

“Nope. I always wanted to be veterinary doctor.”

“So start there...”

“Start where exactly?” She was making no sense.

“You’re not sure you want to follow in your parents’ footsteps, right? So you need to figure out your own path.”

“I guess.” A heavy weight settled on my chest. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”