21
“You’ll regret it,” Mrs. Brussell, the school counselor, said. “You’ll miss your friends. You shouldn’t be in such a hurry, Audie. This time in your life is precious.”
Halli listened politely, then repeated her request. “I’d like to start the process now. What do I need to do?”
Mrs. Brussell tried one more thing.
“Audie, I think we both know from your grades that the chances of you passing an algebra test on your own are...not good.”
“That will be up to me to manage,” Halli said, trying to keep the coldness out of her voice. She wondered how I could stand having people try to push me around all the time, telling me what I could and couldn’t do. What I was capable of. It made Halli want to grind my teeth.
But she forced herself to be civil. “Now,” she said, giving Mrs. Brussell her
