my friends
That night at dinner, Avery took a deep breath. This was the moment. She was going to tell her whole family about Wings Academy. The mac’n’cheese in her stomach churned with nervousness.
“Mom, Dad, Ryan,” she hesitated. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“What’s up?” Avery’s dad asked, taking another bite of mac’n’cheese.
“Today after finals, a few other kids and I got called to the principal's office to talk to us about our scores,” she glanced at Ryan. “I got into Wings Academy.”
Mr. Clay choked on his food, and Avery nudged his cup of water closer to him. Mrs. Clay was in shocked silence, her fork poised halfway to her mouth. When Avery looked at her brother sitting on her left, she was surprised by his expression.
He didn’t seem surprised, just slightly amused. The corners of his mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile at his parents’ reactions.
After everyone had recovered from the astonishing news, Avery’s dad asked, “How? How have you already been accepted? It’s only the end of the first semester!”
All eyes stared curiously at Avery. “It’s kind of weird … but basically they tested us early. Well, not all of us. Just Fiona Brinson, Camilla Billingsley, and me.”
“And all three of you passed?” Mrs. Clay asked.
“Yes,” Avery responded.
There was silence for a minute before Ryan asked, “When do you transfer?”
“Next semester,” Avery said, her nervosity increasing. “I should be getting my packing list and stuff soon.”
The room was silent while everyone digested the news. Had a pin dropped at that moment, it would have sounded like a thunderclap. It was Mr. Clay that broke the dead silence.
He cleared his throat. “Well, this is surprising,” he paused. Then a proud smile spread across his lips. “But it’s also amazing news!”
“I’m so proud of you, honey!” Mrs. Clay said, her eyes twinkling with love.
“Me too,” Ryan chimed in.
Avery was grinning. “Thank you guys so much!”
“This is going to be an exciting year,” Ryan said, looking at his sister with a knowing smile.