Losing Gabriel by Lurlene McDaniel

trailer park with a CD that had her photo pressed onto the front and handed it to her.
    She hugged him. “Bobby! Thanks sooo much!”
    “You sound great on it.”
    “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
    “Made me miss our band.”
    “Me too,” she confessed. “But I don’t miss the drama with Jarred.” Cold seeped through the old trailer walls. “You ever hear from him?” She didn’t know why she asked—maybe because creating the CD reminded her of how much she loved performing.
    “Not for a while. I know he’s hanging with some musicians in Nashville, playing some weekend jams, nothing big. He’s always been good on the guitar.”
    The talk of making music made her miss it even more. “And he’s probably high,” Sloan added.
    “Never sure about old Jarred, but he loves music. Kicked us into gear in middle school and made us into a band.” Bobby threw her a glance. “You look happy.”
    She shrugged. “True story.”
    Bobby offered a wistful smile. “Dawson’s a lucky guy.”
    Sloan shifted, suddenly self-conscious. “I like him. He’s normal, and he’s nice to me.”
    Bobby nodded, his expression one of acceptance. He opened the trailer door backhanded and stepped out and down. “Well I should run. Have a good Christmas, Sloan.”
    “You too.” She watched him walk to his car. “And thanks again.” She closed the door, leaned against it, ever aware that Bobby cared for her. She’d never given him any encouragement. He was a nice guy, but she felt only sisterly toward him. No chemistry. Zilch. Sloan quickly wrapped the CD, then called Dawson to come pick her up.

    The seminar in the hospital’s new auditorium about the Step-Prep program was so well attended that Lani was afraid she wouldn’t make the cut. But most of the attendees turned out to be people already enrolled at MTSU, taking nursing and medical classes. Dr. Berke gave a welcome speech, outlined the basics, then turned over the podium to the head of nursing, Mrs. Trammell, who outlined the interview process, the immunization and health record requirements, the upcoming January training sessions, the mandatory service of up to fifteen hours a week during the volunteer phase, and the shadowing by a mentor during expected twelve-hour shifts throughout the program. Once completing the internship hours and classroom credits, the person would earn a diploma and be on an inside track for a job. None of the requirements made Lani want to back out. She wanted to be an RN. All that stood in her way was filling out the paperwork and acing her interview. Her heart squeezed in anticipation, her stomach churned with apprehension.
Go big or go home.
Wasn’t that what athletes said?
    As it turned out, Lani was only one of four high school students from the county to sign up for the 100 percent volunteer part of the new program. With such a small group, she felt better about being accepted. She quickly wrote her name on the “Call for Interview” list.
    She hurried to the parking lot, where tall mercury light poles were wrapped with red and white foil to resemble giant candy canes. The temperature was dropping and a cold wind promising snow flurries made her teeth chatter as she ducked into her mom’s car. She backed out of the parking space, in a hurry to get home. Her sister, Melody, was coming in for holiday break from Vanderbilt. There was a tree to decorate, cookies to bake, gifts to wrap. Christmas! Her favorite time of year. Tonight she and Mel would sit on her bed, drink hot chocolate, and talk
forever.

    “How’s it going?” Franklin asked.
    Dawson was spending a morning of his holiday break hunched over a pile of paperwork on the floor of the den. “Look, another acceptance letter.” He waved the piece of paper. He’d been filling out paperwork and submitting applications for months to different colleges and universities, all in the northeast.
    “That’s five, yes?”
    “What can I say? Everybody wants me.”
    Franklin