More than me

It was finally the day the results of their SATs would be released, and both Gracie and Alex were filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety.

The morning sun streamed through the windows, but the warmth of the light did little to ease the tension in the air. They had studied hard, and now the time had come to see if all their efforts would pay off.

As they exchanged messages throughout the day, both of them admitted to feeling jittery. "I can't believe it's finally here! I'm so nervous!" Gracie texted Alex, her fingers hovering over her phone as she considered whether to check the results immediately or wait a little longer.

"I know! I feel like I might throw up," Alex replied, trying to inject some humor into the situation, though he felt the knot in his stomach tightening.

He glanced at the clock, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. The pressure of their expectations weighed heavily on them, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty.

They had made a pact to check their results together, which added to the anticipation. The thought of facing the outcome with Gracie by his side provided some comfort, even as the minutes dragged on. "Let's meet at your dad's diner," Gracie suggested, hoping that being in a familiar place would make the news easier to handle.

"Sure, that way we could check each other's results," Alex agreed to Gracie's suggestion, a mix of relief and nervousness washing over him. The idea of going through this experience together felt comforting, even if the stakes were high.

After reading Alex's text, Gracie felt a flutter of excitement and anxiety. She quickly made preparations to head to his father's diner, a cozy spot where they often gathered to grab a meal after reading.

It felt like the perfect place to share the weight of their results over a comforting meal. Before leaving, she made sure to tell her uncle about her plans.

"Hey, Uncle, I'm heading to the diner to meet Alex," she declared, trying to keep her voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside her. "We're going to check our SAT results together."

Her uncle looked up from his newspaper, a knowing smile crossing his face. "That sounds like a good idea, Gracie. It's always better to face news like that with a friend. Just remember, no matter what the results are, you both did your best." His encouraging words helped ease her anxiety a bit, and she nodded appreciatively.

"Oh, and I'll tell you all about it when I get back!" she added before slipping on her shoes and grabbing her bag.

As she walked out the door, she spotted Kaitlyn in the living room, scrolling through her phone. "Hey, Kaitlyn! I'm heading to the diner to meet Alex. We're checking our SAT results," Gracie informed her friend, trying to sound upbeat despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Kaitlyn looked up with wide eyes. "Oh wow, that's today! Good luck! I'll be waiting to hear all about it," she replied, her enthusiasm infectious. "You've got this, Gracie!"

Gracie smiled back, feeling a bit more buoyed by Kaitlyn's support. "Thanks! I'll text you once I know," she promised before heading out the door.

With each step toward the diner, she felt the anticipation building. She was grateful for Alex's company and the supportive messages from her uncle and Kaitlyn.

It felt like they were all in this together, and that thought made the upcoming reveal just a little less daunting.

Gracie boarded the bus to Jack's diner, her heart racing as she settled into a seat by the window. As the bus lurched forward, she couldn't help but let her mind wander back to the SAT results.

What if I didn't do well? The thoughts swirled in her head, each one feeding into her anxiety. She fidgeted with her phone, scrolling through messages from her uncle and Kaitlyn, but the comfort of their words felt distant as the weight of uncertainty pressed down on her.

The bus ride stretched on, and with each stop, her nerves seemed to multiply. She glanced at the other passengers, their faces a blur, as her focus remained locked on her own swirling thoughts. It felt like an eternity, but about ten minutes later, the bus finally approached her stop. Gracie took a deep breath, steeling herself as she stood up and made her way to the exit.

Once off the bus, she began the short walk to Alex's dad's diner. The familiar sights and sounds of the neighborhood began to ground her, but the flutter of anxiety still lingered in her stomach. I can do this, she reminded herself, trying to shake off the nerves that threatened to overwhelm her once again.

As she approached the diner, the inviting smell of freshly made food wafted toward her, briefly distracting her from her thoughts. Pushing open the door, she was greeted by the cheerful chime of the bell overhead. Immediately, her eyes scanned the room, filled with the bustle of several customers enjoying their meals and chatting animatedly.

Then, amidst the lively atmosphere, she spotted Alex. Even though there were plenty of people around, he was easy to identify—his messy hair and focused expression stood out as he sat at their usual booth, tapping nervously on his phone. Gracie felt a wave of relief wash over her as she made her way toward him.

"Hey!" she greeted, a smile breaking through her earlier anxiety. Alex looked up, his face lighting up at the sight of her.

"How do you feel?" Gracie asked, her voice tinged with nervous energy.

"To be honest, I'm really nervous, but I'm confident I did well," Alex stated, attempting to calm his own nerves while offering reassurance. He fidgeted with the edge of the table, trying to project a sense of calmness despite the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface.

Gracie nodded, but the fluttering in her stomach only intensified. "I'm so anxious; I can literally feel butterflies in my stomach," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she fought to keep her composure. The anticipation of the results felt overwhelming, and she wished she could shake the anxious thoughts swirling in her mind.

"Let's go sit down at one of the tables," Alex suggested, gesturing toward a cozy booth in the corner of the diner. "My dad already knows you're here, so he'll be here soon." His tone was steady, providing a semblance of comfort that Gracie appreciated.

As they settled into the booth, the familiar surroundings of the diner began to ease her tension slightly. The walls were adorned with photographs of past customers and local events, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that felt like a second home to both of them.

Just then, Alex's father emerged from the back room of the restaurant, wiping his hands on a towel. He spotted Gracie and a wide smile spread across his face. "Hey there, Gracie! It's great to see you!" he greeted warmly, his voice filled with genuine affection.

"I'm doing well, Mr. Jack! Thanks for having me," Gracie replied, her spirits lifting a little at his welcoming demeanor.

Alex's father exchanged a few more friendly words with them before heading to the booth to attend to his customers, his presence adding to the comforting ambiance of the diner. Gracie glanced at Alex, feeling a renewed sense of support in the familiar environment.

"Okay, we can do this," she declared, trying to muster some confidence. "Let's get our results and see how we did."

Alex nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes, before bringing up their earlier plan. "You remember that I'll check your results and you'll check mine, right?"

"Of course I do," Gracie replied, her heart racing as she handed over her phone to him, while he did the same. The air was thick with anxiety and nervousness as they prepared to log into the portal together, both feeling the weight of anticipation pressing down on them.

As they entered their information, the seconds felt like hours. With bated breath, they finally clicked to check their results. Suddenly, a loud scream of excitement erupted from Gracie, causing her to leap out of her seat. "I can't believe it!" she shouted, momentarily forgetting her surroundings.

"Whoa!" Alex exclaimed, startled by her sudden outburst. He stared at her in shock, completely distracted from checking Gracie's results. "Why did you scream? What did I get?" he bombarded her with questions, his curiosity piqued by her enthusiastic reaction.

"Your score was 1510! You did really well!" she exclaimed, her face glowing with joy. The news brought an instant smile to Alex's face, relief flooding through him as the weight of uncertainty lifted.

Gracie's excitement only intensified as Alex turned to check her own results. "Wow, your score was 1360! That's great," Alex congratulated her, his eyes shining with pride for both of them.

Overjoyed by her score, Gracie couldn't contain her emotions. She hadn't expected to do so well, and tears of happiness began to stream down her cheeks.

"Aww, don't cry! We did well, and we're sure to get into the college of our choice," he tried to comfort her, thinking she might have been hoping for something even higher.

Gracie let out a soft chuckle, wiping her eyes. "I'm not crying, silly! These are tears of joy," she informed him, her heart swelling with happiness as they both reveled in their achievements.

In that moment, the anxiety and fear of the past few weeks melted away, replaced by the warmth of accomplishment and the promise of their futures.

They quickly shared the fantastic news with their families, and the joyous reactions were immediate. Gracie's uncle and Kaitlyn erupted into cheers, their faces lighting up with pride and excitement.

"That's incredible, Gracie! I knew you could do it!" her uncle exclaimed, wrapping her in a warm embrace. Kaitlyn jumped up and down, clapping her hands in delight, clearly thrilled for Gracie.

Across town, Alex's father beamed with pride as he heard the news. "1510! That's amazing, son! I'm so proud of you!" he cheered, pulling Alex into a hearty hug. The atmosphere in both homes was filled with laughter, joy, and relief as they celebrated this milestone together.

Now, with their scores in hand and their families' support surrounding them, Gracie and Alex had something truly special to look forward to. They were both accepted into the same college, and the thought of embarking on this new adventure together filled them with excitement.

"Can you believe it? We're actually going to the same college!" Gracie exclaimed over the phone, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. The idea of sharing this experience with Alex made everything feel even more thrilling.

"I know! This is going to be epic!" Alex replied, a wide grin spreading across his face. The prospect of navigating college life side by side was a dream come true for both of them, and they couldn't wait to dive into this new chapter together.

With their future paths intertwined, they felt a sense of joy and anticipation that made all the hard work worth it. They were ready to take on the challenges ahead, knowing they had each other's backs every step of the way.