“What’s going on?” Nick asks as he turns onto his parents’ street.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, please. I’ve known you your entire life. Something is going on with you. It’s like you’re lost or something…”
“Lost?”
“I don’t know…I can’t explain it. Something is off with you.” He’s not going to let this go, and he, of all people, deserves to know what’s going on with me.
“I don’t think I want to go to New York,” I blurt out. Nick’s head whips around to look at me. The car swerves a tad, but he quickly straightens it.
“What’s going on? Are you scared? You know Killian will be in New York too. He’s leaving right after his last exam.”
“Killian hates me, and no, I’m not scared.”
“Then what is it?” Nick parks the car but doesn’t get out. “This is what you’ve wanted your entire life. Talk to me.”
“I—I don’t know what’s going on with me.” And that’s the truth. Nick is right. I’ve wanted to be a model my entire life. I’m being given the opportunity of a lifetime. I can’t just give that up for a guy I’ve only known for a week. But maybe once I talk to him, we can figure it out. Maybe he’ll be willing to do the long distance thing or be willing to move with me. I need to talk to him. I won’t know anything until I tell Jase the truth.
“Celeste, you’re going to be amazing. You always are. Every modeling ad you’ve been in over the years…”
“Those were nothing,” I whisper. They were just local shoots for department stores. They put some money in the bank so I could help out my mom.
“Every play and musical,” he continues. “Everything you do, you excel at. You’re going to take New York and the modeling world by storm. Okay?” He smiles at me.
I nod once, unable to speak. It means the world to me that Nick believes in me. I can’t let him down. He put himself on the line by asking for this opportunity for me. I have to go. This is my future.
“You’ve got this,” he says with conviction. “And you know I’m always here for you, right? It doesn’t matter if I’m hundreds of miles away. I’m here.”
“Thank you.” Nick pulls me into a hug, and the tears fall.
The minute we walk through the door, Victoria tells us that dinner is being served. We sit at the dinner table and make small talk while we all eat. When my mom is around Victoria, it’s the only time she attempts to clean herself up and stay sober. She’s dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue off-the-shoulder sweater. Her brown hair is brushed and straightened, and her makeup is done nicely. She also doesn’t look like she’s high or drunk. When my mom cleans up, she’s beautiful.
“Are you excited for New York?” Victoria asks as she sips her coffee while we each have a slice of apple pie for dessert.
“New York?” my mom asks, confused.
“You didn’t tell her?” Victoria chides. I was meaning to, but since I found out, I’ve either been with Jase or Nick every day. And when I stopped home, she wasn’t there. It seems we just keep missing each other. “Nicholas got her an internship in New York with Elite Modeling. She’s leaving in a few days.”
My mom’s eyes dart from Victoria to me. “Wow, so you’re leaving.” It’s not a question. She knows I am. Only I’m not so sure anymore. Before this last week, I would’ve had zero doubts about getting on that plane and never looking back. It’s crazy how quickly one’s priorities can change.
“Yeah,” I admit softly, “I’m leaving.”
“Congratulations, pretty girl. I’m very happy for you.” Mom gives me a rare, genuine smile, and it makes me feel worse for even considering not going. As much as I care about Jase, I have to go to New York. The only way I can one day take care of my mom, take care of myself, is by going.
“Thank you,” I say, forcing a smile on my lips.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Victoria excuses us from the table so we can go over the last minute details for the celebration that will be taking place after my graduation tomorrow. Half the senior class is invited, even though I barely talk to any of them. They heard the party was being thrown by Nick Shaw’s family and of course accepted the invite.
Nick’s dad, Henry, waves us off. “Good, I need to speak to Nick about some contract stuff anyway.” Henry Shaw is a well-known sports agent, who owns an agency here in North Carolina. He’s also Nick’s agent.
After Victoria and my mom have gone over everything twice, my mom gives Victoria a hug and thanks her. “This is very sweet of you.”