“Yeah, I’m awake.”
“I’m nervous about tomorrow,” Meg admits.
“Why? You are the smartest girl in our class.”
“Smartest person in our class,” she corrects me.
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. You’ll be fine.”
“But what if I mess up my speech? What if all the kids laugh at me?”
“They won’t laugh, Meg. Plus, I’ll beat them up if they do.”
“Clark Michael Moore! You will not!”
“Shhhh…you’ll wake my parents.”
“Whatever. Will you meet at the bus stop early so I can practice?”
“Again? Meg, you are running for class president, not the president of the United States!”
There’s silence on the other end and I know I hurt her feelings. “Yes, I’ll meet you,” I say with a sigh.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Megladon,” I reply, using my favorite nickname for her, the one I thought of all by myself.
She giggles. “Good night, Superman.”
I grin. When I told her that my parents named me after Clark Kent, she started calling me that, which led to a bunch of kids calling me that. It’s a way better nickname than C-Dog.
I groan and roll over thinking about the nickname she gave me later. Michael Myers, after my middle name. Where did it all go so wrong? I stare at the walkie-talkie that I never took off the shelf next to my bed.
Reaching for it, I’m surprised when I click the power button. It’s been five years since I turned it on and I’m shocked when the red light powers to life.
I look over at Meg’s room. I can see a dim light on in there, but the blinds are down. I grin as I pull my phone out of my pocket.
Me: Ground control to Major Lennox.
There’s no response but a moment later I hear a buzz on the speaker of the walkie-talkie.
“Clark?” Meg’s voice rings out into the silence of my room.
I turn down the volume.
“Hey,” I reply. I glance over and see her peeking out through her blinds. I grin.
“You OK?” she asks.
“Yeah, I just saw you were home. Thanks for your message today.”
I can hear her sigh. “I just…if we both end up getting picked, I want us to be able to work together. No hard feelings.”
“I agree. That’s important, but I think we’d be able to do that anyhow. Since we are both mature adults now.”
She laughs.
My grin widens. “I mean, at least one of us is.”
“I know I am,” she says.
“Oh, I meant me,” I tease.
I can practically hear her rolling her eyes.
“Why are you home? Isn’t it Friday? I thought you’d be out partying or on a date or something,” she asks.
“Ash asked me to come over and hang out and I can’t say no to the Ash-man.”
“Oh. Well, that’s nice,” she replies.
“Why are you home?” I ask as I roll onto my stomach and gaze out at her window.
“My dad brought my grandparents over for my grandmother’s birthday. I came by for dinner but figured I’d just study and crash here tonight. Fridays at the house can be loud,” she says.
“How are your grandparents?” I ask. I remember she was close with her dad’s parents who live nearby, although last I heard they were at an assisted living facility in Columbia.
“They’re good. Old, but hanging in there. How are your grandparents?” she asks.
“Meg, I know you were at my house last weekend and so were my grandparents, so you don’t have to be polite.”
“They look good,” she admits.
“I know. They do. For whatever it’s worth, Meg, I’m sorry.”
Sighing again, she’s quiet for a moment. “The past is what it is. Let’s just agree to a truce if we have to work together.”
“I can live with that,” I state. “Good night, Megladon.”
“Good night, Superman.” The walkie-talkie goes silent and I stare at it for a long time before I turn it off and set it back on my nightstand. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I look over at Meg’s window. For the first time in a very long time, I wonder if I have a chance with her.
Chapter Eight
Megan
I pace in my room. It’s been one week since I interviewed for the NASA internship. I’ve been checking my email every five minutes as I try to concentrate on my homework.
“You are going to wear a hole in the floor,” Stella says. I look over and see her leaning against my doorjamb.
“I should have heard by now,” I state.
“Chillax, woman. I’m sure you got it. You are the most qualified candidate in the history of candidates.”
I roll my eyes. “Hardly. I mean my competition is pretty stiff. I know of three other people who applied and that’s just from our university. I have no idea how many applied from other universities in the area.”
“You will get it. I’d bet my firstborn child on it.”
My phone pings, and I jump. Stella runs over and grabs it.
“It’s an email,” she squeals, handing it to me.
I open the screen and read it.
Ms. Lennox,
It is my pleasure to offer you a position in our fall semester internship program. We are taking a new approach this year. We will be pairing you with a partner and you will be assigned to a specific unit based on your interests and skills. We would like everyone to attend an orientation next Monday. Please let me know if you are unable to accept the position or if you are unavailable on Monday.
Sincerely,
Curtis Gilmer
I scream and then clamp a hand over my mouth. “Oh my God! I got it!”
“I knew it!” Stella screams and pulls me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you! We should celebrate this weekend.”
She steps back and I grin like a fool. I quickly type my acceptance reply and then sit in my desk chair. “OK, but then next weekend, I’m staying home. I need to get work done for my classes.”
“Good, I’m holding you to that,” Stella says as several girls crowd at my door with curiosity.
“She got the internship,” Stella says. There are more rounds of squeals and hugs. It dawns on me that for the first time since I started college, I feel connected to a group of friends. I’m actually excited for once to go out and have fun with my sorority sisters, my friends.
Clark
Me: I got it!
Kent: I knew you would.
Lanie: I’m so happy for you.
Di: Party?
Me: I’ll pop over this weekend, maybe Sunday afternoon? Kent’s house?
Kent: Done.
Tabby: Just not from one to three because Vera needs her nap.
Kylie: So, what I’m hearing is that we are having a pool party on Sunday at Kent’s house after three because my niece wants to hang out with her favorite aunt.
Di: Exactly, she wants to see me.
Lanie: (eye-rolling emoji)
Mom: Yay! I’m so happy for you!
Dad: I look forward to seeing you next week at work.
I grin at my dad’s statement. All I’ve ever wanted to do is work at NASA just like him. I don’t know if it was all the stargazing trips we took as kids or when I got to go see a satellite launch into space or maybe it was just the million and one visits to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum that I made Mom take me to every chance I could, but I do know that this is my first real step toward achieving my goal.