Epilogue
’Bred Bulletin: Sixth-Form Superlatives
Most Likely to Succeed: Madison Jones, Andrew Eastman
Teacher’s Pet: Charley Hicks, Royce Stringfellow
Best-Looking: Liam Donovan, Olivia Hudezech-Tottingknaffer
Cutest Couple: Hakeem Pryce and Taylor Wilson
Most Mismatched Couple: Tilly Benbow and Charley’s stepdad
Most Tiffin Spirit: Davi Banerjee
Biggest Change Since Third-Form: Dub Austin
Davi reads the superlatives aloud to Charley as they walk to Jewel Pond for one last swim before they leave camp. Davi has a split of Veuve Clicquot champagne in her bag—very contraband, but what are they going to do now? Kick her out? She’s going to pop the cork right into the pond, baby.
“These all track,” Davi says. “Except for Olivia H-T as best-looking. Did she actually win the votes?”
“Nope, Pippa won for best-looking,” Charley says. “And Tilly came in second. But I vetoed both of those, obviously, and told Grady he could pick.”
“You told him he could pick?” Davi says indignantly. “And he picked his girlfriend?”
Charley shrugs. “What does it matter? High school is over.”
Davi frowns: She’s not ready to accept this. “I wish you guys had published a class prophecy. You know, predictions of what we’ll all be doing in ten years.”
Yes, Charley knows. They had a class prophecy page at Loch Raven High School back home in Towson. Beatrix’s prophecy was “marries a tech billionaire and has twelve children,” which she was actually happy about.
When Jewel Pond comes into view, Charley picks up her pace.
She can’t begin to guess what she’ll be doing in ten years, or five years, or even this time next year.
All she has the bandwidth for is the present moment: the glassy surface of the kettle pond and a champagne toast with her best friend after they swim.
Charley wastes no time. She strips off her dress, and dives in.