Free What Happens Abroad by Jen McConnel Page A

have a massive splash war going on. A couple of the other swimmers joined in, and I was laughing hysterically when I took a step forward and plunged under. I pushed myself to the surface, spluttering, and Joelle swam over.
    â€œIt gets deep fast; watch it!”
    I tried to splash her again, but it was hard while I was treading water. My eyes stung from the salt, but now that I’d been submerged, I leaned back against the gentle swells, floating. The buoyancy felt different than when I’d been swimming before, even the couple of times when Mom had taken Susie and me to Atlantic City when we were kids. Sarah and I had sat on the beach at Nice despite the rain, but we’d never gone in the water. “Even the water feels different,” I commented, staring up at the aqua sky.
    Joelle’s voice was muffled by the waves. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
    I scooped water over my stomach. “It’s almost magical. Like it can wash away everything that’s worrying you.”
    â€œSo, what all is worrying you?”
    I straightened up, kicking my feet gently. Joelle was hovering in the water a few feet away from me, watching me with a serious expression.
    â€œMoney,” I said, exhaling slowly, “and guys.”
    She laughed. “Neither of those things sound life changing.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t have the money to stay in art school. Maybe I should just drop out.”
    Joelle stopped paddling, and the water around us settled into stillness. “What?”
    â€œNever mind. I shouldn’t have said anything.” Feeling too exposed, I turned and headed toward the beach. Joelle may have been my travel buddy, but she was still practically a stranger.
    â€œCamie, wait!” I heard her splash behind me, but I didn’t look back. I swam back toward the shore, wishing I hadn’t said anything to spoil the morning. I was back in my beach chair, dripping through the mesh, when Joelle got out of the sea.
    She sat down in her chair and shook out her short dark hair. “Camie, do you want to talk about it?”
    Sarah peeped out from behind her sunglasses. “What’s going on?”
    I shrugged, lying back in the lounge chair. “Just something stupid. I don’t want to dump on you guys.”
    Joelle propped herself up on her hand. “Camie, that’s what friends are for. If we can’t help you through the bad times, what’s the point of hanging out when things are good?”
    Sarah nodded. “Are you thinking about Hunter again?”
    I shook my head, surprised. “No.”
    â€œCamie says she can’t pay for school.”
    Sarah looked at me. “I can’t, either. The most money I’ve ever seen in my life came from nannying.”
    Her honest admission surprised me. “Then why are you traveling around Europe?”
    She stared back at me with her bright blue eyes. “Why are you?”
    I shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” After another moment’s hesitation, I told them the whole story. Everything about Jim and the scholarship, about academic probation and my student loans. Sarah covered her mouth when I told them how I’d borrowed extra to be able to afford the summer trip to Europe.
    â€œAnd now I don’t even know if it’s worth it to go back to school. I mean, how will I ever dig out of this hole? It’s not like you can make much money with art.”
    â€œYou don’t know that,” Sarah began quietly. “What do you want to do after you graduate?”
    The idea of working as a professional artist had been growing in my mind, ever since Hunter had asked me almost the exact same question in Paris. “I want to sell my art. I don’t know, maybe in a gallery or something. But people can’t live like that.”
    â€œWhy not? You haven’t even tried yet.” Joelle said. “At least you have something you’re