Read Finding Abbey Road for Free Online Page B

be.”
    Caleb cracks a smile. But then it disappears. “But how the hell are we going to do that? There’s no way to get a gig on that short notice, and besides there’s school and the cost and no way our parents will go for it.”
    â€œBut yours will ,” I say. “If you tell Charity and Randy about this? I bet they’d let you go. They might even come along. Either way, they’d help us. Don’t you think?”
    â€œMaybe,” says Caleb. “But yours? That seems pretty unlikely.”
    I know he’s right but I keep working through it, no matter how it makes my heart hammer. “They might if I’m going with you and your mom and Randy. And you know what? Why shouldn’t they? They’re getting everything they want from me. Their Stanford girl. And this is so important—”
    â€œThey just grounded you.”
    â€œThey grounded me for being dishonest,” I agree. “What if I’m finally honest?” These thoughts are rushing out of me, wild and half-formed but also things that have been bubbling in my brain ever since Dad bought me that plane ticket home from New York. The realization that I never truly express how I feel, that I predict what they think, label them Carlson Squared, and use that as an excuse to avoid telling them the truth about me.
    The truths that would be difficult for them to hear.
    But there again, I don’t even know that for sure! It’s not like I’m pregnant or taking drugs or want to join a cult or be a veterinarian. I just want to follow my passion for music. Not exactly scandalous. But it does go against the expectations that have been there my whole life.
    The plan.
    â€œI’ve never tried to really tell them how I actually feel about any of it,” I say to Caleb, my words spilling out. “I always assume that I know what their answer will be. I’ve hidden some of my biggest dreams from them.” As I say that, it feels impossible that I’ve let this happen. “Whatcould it possibly hurt to ask them? And what could possibly be the big deal about missing, say, three days of school? I’m practically valedictorian.”
    â€œYeah, but,” Caleb says, “they’re your parents.”
    â€œSo what,” I snap, “don’t even try?”
    Caleb grins. “God, no, that’s not what I’m saying.” He kisses me. “Yes, definitely try. It’s completely crazy, but yes. We can have my mom call your parents, even. That will make them see how big a deal this is. They’d have to let you go, wouldn’t they?”
    I nod, my brain feeling spinny. “Maybe it would work. But what about Val?”
    â€œNothing’s stopping her from coming except the same money issue we all have.”
    â€œAnd Matt? Do we see if he can go?”
    â€œWe at least tell him what we’re up to and see what he thinks.”
    â€œAnd Jon?” I hate to even bring Jon up. He’s a sore topic for all of us, but especially for Caleb. They disagreed the most, and I know Caleb feels on some level like Jon’s departure was his fault.
    Caleb stares out the window for a moment. “The whole drive home this weekend I was back and forth between screw him and maybe we can get him back. But . . . I don’t trust him. He’s so hooked in with Ethan and Jason now. I hate saying that. I just think it’s too risky.”
    â€œYeah,” I say. I’m not ready to agree that we can’t trusthim, but even just being reminded of the names Ethan and Jason makes my skin crawl.
    â€œWhat about the cost?” says Caleb. “Should we ask my mom and Randy to pay for the plane tickets?”
    â€œWe can pay them back with show money,” I say. “Summer jobs, anything we can do. My parents should be able to chip in, but let’s ask Randy and Charity first.”
    I try to think of what we’re missing. . . . “Passports. Do