Never A Choice (The Choices Trilogy (Book 1)) Read Free Page A

as can I reach I take it.
    We sit crossed legged, knee to knee on my blanket with our letters in our hands. We both rip the envelopes at the same time and I stare at mine in shock.
    “Well, I’ve got what I need, how did you do Boo?” He takes the letter from me, “Bloody hell Boo!” He leaps forward and knocks me onto my back. “You’re a freaking genius!” He laughs but I’m still in shock, I got nine A * and one C in PE, I hated PE. He rolls to his side and grabs my note book. “Right we need a plan, you know you can do anything with these Bets, I mean it, you could be anything you want to be.”
    I smiled at him he looked so happy for me, he didn’t care about his results at all, it was enough and that was enough. But for me he was, well, he just looked so proud. “Well it gets me into college but let’s not go crazy, it’s not like it’s a lottery win!” I nudge him but he pitches up on one elbow and looks stern.
    “No. No it’s not. That’s just money. Money you can lose, money can be taken away, this, this is yours; this gives you choices and no one can take that away from you.” He holds my gaze, “I mean it Bets. It’s really important to give yourself choice in what you do with your life, you can be anything you want to be.” He leant in and kissed my cheek. “You are already everything to me but this,” he takes the letter, “this is for you.” He looks deep into my eyes. “You have to promise me Bethany, you have to do this, whatever it takes, you have to give yourself choices. Promise?” He looks so serious and he’s used my real name.
    “I promise.” Confirming with a nod he looks relieved and flops back down beside me. “What did you bring me to eat wench.”
    I laugh at him and when I look at the faces staring at me. I realise I have laughed out loud in the library but I also notice the curious looks and I can feel my wet face. I quickly wipe the tears with my sleeve. I am always shaken when I remember but at the same time I don’t want to forget. I get back to sorting through all the information in my overstuffed bag.I spend the next hour sorting through the timetable and think I can juggle a few seminars and double dip a few units to get the extra credits I’m going to need. It looks like there will only be a few gaps in the four days I have to attend which will suit my working hours at the restaurant perfectly. I’m starting to feel a little more confident I can pull this off.
    There is an informal gathering for the new mature students in one of the basement classrooms. An opportunity to meet with fellow students and current students to get an insight, that sort of thing. I thought I should pop my head in, so I pack my bag and make my way back to the Quad.
    I lean my entire body against the reluctant fire door to the classroom and the sprinkling of people inside turn my way. God I hate these things. It’s not that I find making friends particularly difficult, it’s just that I find these forced situations excruciating. I take in those in the room as I make my way to the safety of the coffee table. I am not sure if they are all mature students or if there are Lecturers here too but I am by far the youngest; feeling that my first choice of outfit wouldn’t have been misplaced after all. There are some dodgy double denim combinations, some corduroy, I’m thinking Lecturer, and a few leather jackets that belong to much younger men. The women seem to fair a little better and are dressed in either pant suit and blouse outfits or thick woollen type matching skirt and jacket. Being slightly thankful that I really don’t have time to socialise I start to fix myself a drink with purpose and confidence I’m not really feeling. A double espresso would be welcome but I’ll settle for the crappy instant coffee from the dripping silver canteen style dispenser.
    “Don’t look so scared Bethany, they are all in the same boat and just as eager to make friends I’m sure.” A kind