Free I'm Over It by Mercy Amare Page B

is going to be an interesting story.”
    I roll my eyes. “So Andrea and I were partying together and somehow I ended up doing a body shot off her. I don’t remember much except there was a huge group of guys standing around us. And we almost kissed, but thankfully Ty stopped me.”
    “Why did he stop you?” Toby asks.
    “Because it would’ve been a stupid decision to kiss her,” I answer. “I definitely would have regretted it.”
    “Wish I had been there to see it,” he says.
    “Ugh,” I groan. “Can I please finish my story?”
    “Yes, sorry. Continue.”
    “A few minutes ago, when I was walking to grab some coffee, a piece of paper blew up at my feet. It was a picture of me, licking Andrea—.”
    Toby cuts me off. “I want this picture.”
    I ignore his snide comment. “On the back it says, ‘ Somebody was being naughty. I wonder what daddy would think if he saw this .’ And I’m kind of freaking out.”
    “Where are you at?”
    “The coffee shop,” I answer.
    “Who is with you?” he asks.
    “Nobody.”
    “You can’t just go somewhere by yourself. It’s not safe,” Toby says, scolding me.
    “Toby, I am eighteen years old and I am in college,” I say. “I can’t just depend on other people to go places with me. I need independence. I can’t let Brian take my freedom away from me.”
    “At least call Ty or Gabe and have them come get you. Please,” he says.
    I want to say no, but I know Toby is just looking out for me.
    “Fine, I will,” I say.
    “Good,” he says. “Anything else going on?”
    “Not really,” I answer. “I went on a date with Ty last night. And he asked me out again next weekend.”
    “Ty Newman?” Toby asks.
    “Do you know anybody else named Ty?”
    “No, I just thought you were done with him,” he says. “I can’t really keep up anymore.”
    “If I was there, I would throw something at you right now. It’s not like I go through a lot of guys. I’ve had three boyfriends in my life. I’d say that’s pretty good considering I’m eighteen years old.”
    “So, Ty is your boyfriend?”
    “No,” I say quickly. “He’s definitely not. I’m so not ready to be in a relationship. But we are dating.”
    “That’s really sweet,” Toby says. “I know that he’s in love with you and he will make you happy. You should always follow your heart.”
    “When did you get so sentimental?”
    “When I realized how short life is,” he says. “I just texted Ty. He’s on his way to get you now.”
    “Thanks,” I say.
    “You’re welcome,” he says, then pauses. “Kihanna, be safe.”
    “I will.”
    “Love you, little sis.”
    “You too,” I say, then end the call.
    Toby is the best brother ever.

Monday, November 8
    12 p.m.
    F.

    I got an F.
    F.
    I’ve never gotten an F in my life, and yet, here it is on my test in red.
    Okay, so I haven’t been doing great in college algebra all semester. I’ve kept a B average in the class, but mostly because I always do my homework. I’ve made a few C’s on my test, but managed to get an A on my midterm after pulling a couple of all-nighters.
    Finals are coming up, and now I’m worried. I obviously haven’t learned what I was supposed to. While everybody else is moving forward, I will be stuck on this one lesson and be left behind. My head hurts just thinking about it. So, after class, I go up to my teacher, Mrs. Rice.
    Mrs. Rice is young, only in her mid-thirties, and she’s petite. She has a nice smile, and she genuinely didn’t seem scary at first. But then, on the second day of class, somebody showed up two minutes late.
    Two.
    Minutes.
    And Mrs. Rice refused to let them come into the classroom.
    I, being a college freshman, was shocked . I didn’t think teachers could do that. But apparently, they can. And Mrs. Rice has thrown many people out of her classroom—a few people for texting, one girl who fell asleep, one guy who talked to the person beside him. I’m pretty sure that guy was just asking