“Anyway,” Mom was saying. “That was ABC7 on the phone. They want to interview you.”
“What? Why?”
My mom laughed. “Because you won the lottery.”
“But how did they know that?”
“Lottery winners are public record.”
“Oh … ”
“You don’t have to do the interview.”
“What would you do?” I asked, biting my lip.
Mom shrugged. “I’m not sure. I probably wouldn’t really want the whole town to know. Just my friends.”
“That’s true.” I nodded. “You’re right. I’ll tell my friends on my own. I don’t want to do an interview.” The thought of being interviewed on TV sounded like pure torture, anyway.
Mom ran a hand down my hair. “Good choice. I’ll let them know.”
The next morning, I pulled into the school parking lot, parked, and stepped out of my car. I didn’t know what I expected to happen (a big sign posted over the school announcing my good fortune, maybe?), but nothing was different.
I found Blaire and Elise huddled together around Blaire’s locker.
“Hey, guys,” I said as I approached. My heart sped up. This was it. I had to tell them now.
They whirled around, looking guilty.
“What is it?” I asked.
Elise had her hands behind her back, and when I tilted my head to see what she was hiding, she brought them forward, revealing a wrapped box. Then she and Blaire smashed me into a hug.
“I’m sorry about your birthday,” Elise said. “I’m an idiot. Boyfriend distracted me. But I dumped him. For you.”
“You dumped him? For me? Why would you do that?”
“Because we made a pact. And I’ve never let a guy distract me like that before. You’re my best friend and I missed your birthday to take care of a boy. That’s why we made the pact, right? To make sure stuff like that didn’t happen.”
“You didn’t have to break up with Colton for me,” I said.
“Oh, now he has a name?” Elise asked in fake indignation.
“You did the right thing, Elise,” Blaire chimed in. “We’re proud of you.” I elbowed Blaire but she just shrugged. “What? She did. Long live the pact.”
I sighed.
“It wasn’t only for you,” Elsie said. “Colton and I took our first selfie together the other day and I noticed his head is smaller than mine. I can’t date someone with a smaller head than mine.”
I laughed. “I hear you’re majoring in nursing now.”
“I am. I’d make a killer nurse.” Elise rocked to her toes, then back down again, and pointed at the wrapped box with a smile. “We got you a present.” She placed the gift in my hand.
“And,” Blaire said, “this weekend, we’ll take a break from studying and … ” She paused as if she wasn’t sure a world existed outside of studying.
“And do what?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Bowling? We’ve bowled before. Remember that one night?”
I laughed. “Oh my gosh, we’re pathetic.”
“We have fun,” Blaire protested. “People don’t have to go out and do things to have fun. We have fun sitting around and talking and studying.”
“Now, open your present!” Elise said.
Blaire was right, of course; we’d had plenty of fun over the years. I untied the ribbon and ripped open the bright red paper. Inside the box was a card with a picture of a monkey on it. A quote bubble said: Thank you for the donation.
“You guys donated to the zoo for me?” I asked, glancing up with a smile.
“Yes!” Elise exclaimed. “You always talk about how they’re a small, struggling zoo and if they had more money, they could do more things. Blah, blah, blah—we tune you out at that point.”
I shoved her shoulder. “This is perfect,” I said, meaning it.
“You like it?” Blaire asked. “I thought maybe we should just give you money to use toward dorm room stuff. I know you’ve been stressed about that.”
“No. I mean, I have been, but I’m not anymore,” I said, without thinking.
“Did you get birthday money from relatives?” Elise asked.
“Not exactly.”
They stood there, silent, waiting for me to explain.
“I wanted to take you both out to dinner and share the news but I’ll just do it now.” I took a deep breath, still not sure how to tell them. The lottery office needed to hand out a book: How To Tell Your Friends You’re A Millionaire Without Making Them Hate You. I chastised myself for the thought. My friends wouldn’t hate me. They’d be happy for me.
“You’re scaring me. What happened?” Blaire said.
I tucked their gift into my backpack, stalling. “I won the lottery.”
Blaire laughed and Elise looked confused.
“What are you talking about?” Blaire said. “What’s wrong?”
I must have had a worried look on my face. It was a face that wasn’t backing up what I was saying at all. “No. Really. I won the lottery.”
Blaire’s mouth dropped open. “Really really?”
“Yes. I promise.” I put my hand over my heart and held the other one up as though I was swearing in at a court of law.
A smile spread across Elise’s face and she cussed. I’d never heard her swear in my life so it made me laugh.
“Maddie!” Elise shrieked. “That is amazing! A miracle, really!” Blaire poked her and she lowered her voice. “When did this happen?” she whispered.
“On Sunday,” I said. “Well, I found out on Sunday. I bought the ticket Saturday night, on my birthday,” I rambled. “Oh, and that’s why I was absent yesterday,” I explained hurriedly, glancing at Blaire. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you last night. I think I was still in shock.”
“Understandably,” Blaire said, looking totally shocked herself.
“How much money is it?” Elise asked, wide-eyed.
I gulped. “When all is said and done, about thirty million dollars.”
Blaire glanced to her right and left, then whispered, “That’s probably not something you want to go around announcing.”
I rolled my eyes. “Nobody here pays attention to us. Do you think they’re going to start now?”
Blaire got her serious face on. “Listen, Maddie. You need to see a financial advisor right away.”
Elise raised her hand as if she needed to be called on to speak. “If I won thirty million, I’d drop out of school and travel all over Europe. There’s something to be said about life education. Books can’t teach you everything.”
Blaire put her hands on her hips. “Do not do that, Maddie. It wouldn’t be smart.”
“I’m not going to do that!” I exclaimed. Although it did sound pretty awesome.
“Why not? It would be amazing,” Elise said.
She and Blaire argued back and forth for several minutes about why it would or would not be a sound decision. Then Blaire reached over and squeezed my arm. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks,” I said as she and Elise smushed me into a big hug again.
I smiled, feeling dazed. Now that I had told my friends, it was absolutely real.
At lunchtime, I headed across campus toward the library, where I assumed Blaire and Elise would be. I stopped short when the smell of barbecue invaded my senses. I wheeled straight around to the food truck and proceeded to order three brisket sandwiches. I didn’t even blink at the total. With a bag full of goodness in hand, I pulled my phone out and sent a text to Elise and Blaire: Do not eat. I have food. I repeat, do not eat or you will regret it.
That was how I was, head bent over my phone, thumbs typing, when I slammed forehead first into someone. My phone flew up, I flew back, and both me and my phone landed on the cement. Somehow I’d managed to save the sandwiches, though. Apparently my subconscious had the wrong priorities.
“Oh crap, oh crap,” I said, scrambling for my phone. It now had a huge splintered crack running all the way down the screen.