Ace of Hearts (FU High 1)

“Are you looking for this girl you’re going to marry?”

“Yup.”

She sighs in relief. “So it’s a fictional girl. Like the time you had a crush on Thandie Newton.”

“Still do! She’s on my celebrity list.”

Mom whacks me across the shoulders. “You can’t have a celebrity list if you’re going to marry someone.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” I mentally apologize to Thandie and then cross her name out.

Mom gets to her feet and brushes imaginary dust off her jeans. “Have fun with your girl.”

I let her leave without correcting her assumption. She’ll meet the real girl soon enough. I grab my phone and text Carter Franklin, the quarterback of Franklin U High. Yeah, he has the same last name because his great grandfather or some shit founded this town. For a rich kid, though, he’s pretty cool. At least, he has been to me.

ME: Can you get the incoming class list for FUHigh and Public?

Carter: Sure.

ME: Not going to ask what it’s for?

Carter: Do I need to know?

Me: Nope

Carter: Cool. Send it in five.

See? Pretty cool. I crack my knuckles again. So…my girl’s a little shy. No problem. What guy doesn’t like a little chase? I grin. And here I thought I was going to hate my new school.

3

Alice

I fidget with the sleeve of my shirt, suddenly feeling nervous. I don’t know why. Since Mom and Dad asked me if I was okay with switching schools I was a hundred percent okay with it. It is my last year and all I want to do is get done with my classes. High school is boring. The classes are too easy and the boys are headache-inducing. It’s only a year and I’m sure I’ll have no problem blending in. I survived boarding school so this should be a piece of cake. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway to steady my nerves.

“Sorry I have to drive you, darling.” My mom reaches over and pulls on the end of my hair. I have it braided to the side and she knows giving it a tug is the only way to get my attention once I’m lost in my own head.

“I don’t mind.” I give her a puzzled look. Why would it bother me that she had to drive me? If it should bug anyone it would be her. “Besides”—I pick up the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich she made me for the ride—“I can eat while you drive.” I take a giant bite of it.

“I know, but I don’t want you to feel”—she gives a small shrug—“uncool because your mom is dropping you off or something. It being a new school and all.”

I roll my eyes. Not at her but at the idea of being uncool. “Like I care. Also no one says uncool anymore, Mom,” I say with my mouth still full of bacon. This time she gives me an eye roll. We both start laughing, which helps to calm me. I continue to eat my sandwich knowing that it’s probably the only thing I’ll have until dinner.

“You know what’s really uncool?” she asks as she arches an eyebrow at me. “When you talk with your mouth full.”

I swallow the food I’m chewing, knowing it’s one of Mom’s pet peeves.

“See, maybe I’ll embarrass you.” I take another bite of my sandwich, making her laugh.

“You going to tell me why you’re nervous all of a sudden?”

I finish chewing before I answer her. “Nope.”

Her mouth falls open in surprise. I tell my mom pretty much everything. We have always been close. I’m not sure if it was because it was only her and me for a while or something else. A lot of the girls I grew up with didn’t have the same relationship with their moms. Our relationship is probably so strong because it had been only the two of us for so long. Plus, above all else, my mom is chill. Even if she isn’t trying to be. She often plays the I’m not your friend card, I’m your mom, but she is only fooling herself. She is both.

Unless I step out of line, then she isn’t so chill anymore. She seems to know how to walk that fine line between both. Luckily I don’t have the habit of doing anything that would make her upset. The worst thing my mom can do to me is give me one of those disappointed faces. It gets me every time. I would rather her yell at me a million times than see that look on her face.

“I’m not sure, Mom. If I figure it out you’ll be the first to know.”

That has her smiling again. “Well, I’ll talk to the school today and make sure you get your parking pass. Maybe you’ll get to drive tomorrow.”

I shrug. It’s not so bad when my mom is dropping me off driving a Tesla but driving my own feels a bit awkward at times. I lost that battle of not getting one when my mom went on and on about how good they are for the environment.