Read Without You: Book 1 of the Changing Hearts Series for Free Online Page B

submit on the UGA application. She had saved it for last. She closed her eyes, hoping she got in early. Otherwise, she’d be going to the community college in her hometown.
    She read the confirmation page carefully. She’d find out in about two months if she had gotten in early. Either that, or she’d be deferred or denied admission. She tried not to think about that as she closed her laptop.  
    When she got outside, her parents were getting ready to come in. Her mom patted her shoulder on the way in. Ariana’s dad was behind her. Jimmy, Mayra, and Ryan were still outside, sitting down in the grass, talking. It was getting dark, and they had already cleaned up.
    “I’m done with college applications,” she said as she sat down next to Mayra.
    “Are you really going to UGA?” Ryan asked.
    She nodded. “If I get enough scholarships.”
    Jimmy was looking up at the sky.  
    “Are you guys gonna miss me?” She couldn’t resist.
    “Nah,” Jimmy said. They laughed. “Just kidding. You better come see us a lot. Maybe you can take me to see your dorm and stuff.”
    “Meet girls,” Ryan added.
    “Maybe.”  
    “UGA’s not bad at basketball, I think. Maybe I could there too when I graduate,” Jimmy said.
    Mayra was playing with some blades of grass in her hand.  
    “That would be cool.” She imagined sharing an apartment off campus with him. “What about you, Ryan?” Ariana turned towards him.
    “No idea. I don’t even know if I want to go to college. High school sucks enough already.” He looked down as he dribbled the basketball in his hands mindlessly.
    “It’ll be fun,” she said. “You make your own schedule. You’ll be so independent, even when it comes to class. Everyone treats you like an adult. Because you are one.”
    “I like that part. I’m just not sure I have the grades to go.”
    “I’m sure your grades are great. When it comes time, I’ll help you apply. Believe me, this is not a regret you want to have for the rest of your life.”
    “Is that how you feel?” Mayra asked.
    “Sort of. I mean, can’t you feel it? It’s like we’ll be starting over with a blank slate. We can be who we want, do what we want. We’ll meet so many new people, and at the end of those four years, you’re ready to get a job, get paid good, get a house, start your life.”
    Jimmy laid back and put his arms underneath his head.  
    “I think you could also do that here. And still be close to your family and friends.” Mayra said. Ariana shrugged.
    “It’ll suck not having you here,” Mayra went on.  
    Ariana gave her a small smile. “We’ll still be best friends. And you can still apply to UGA. Come with me.”
    Mayra looked down. “You know I can’t go there.” They had already talked about this. Mayra didn’t have as good grades as Ariana, not even the three minimum AP credits. She’d have trouble paying the tuition, and her mom couldn’t afford it.
    Jimmy sighed. “Sometimes I want to grow up, and other times, I just wish we could stay in high school forever.”

chapter five

    Mayra, Lucas, and Ariana took off their fake mustaches, something the odd female artist Frida Khalo had been famous for, although hers had been real. The class had loved the fake mustaches they had handed out during their presentation, and Mrs. Randolph had put hers on right away.  
    Now, they were walking to lunch together.  
    “How do you think we did?” Lucas asked.  
    “Well, we went over the time limit by like two minutes, but other than that, I think we did really good. Nobody fell asleep like with the first group,” Ariana said.
    “So funny,” Mayra said. A senior in the back row had begun drooling on his desk after falling asleep. Mrs. Randolph had gently woken him up and chided him before the class could get too many pictures on their phones.
    Lucas shook his head and laughed. “Who does that?”
    They stopped at the soda machines so Mayra and Ariana could buy something to drink.