Prodigal

~4.10~

I spent most of the next day cooped up in the hotel room, sitting on my laptop, trying to come up with something that I would speak about when I gave my speech.

Basically, I had nothing.

Recycling my original speech was an option, to an extent. Of course, I couldn’t singlehandedly passive aggressively attack Ethan this time.

While I did leave the hotel room a couple times to go to breakfast and lunch, I spent most of the day staring at a blank Word document.

“Are you going to the get together for the participants tonight?” Dad asked me.

“Probably.” I said. “I haven’t written anything but I probably won’t tonight anyway. It starts at 7, right?”

“Yep.” Dad answered. “Event Room C.”

Come 7 o’clock, I went down to the Event Room. I wasn’t sure if I should be dressed for a “party” or if everyone there would be scholarly. Also, since a $25,000 scholarship was up for grabs, I thought that most people would be intensely competitive and in it to win it.

I decided to wear jeggings, a Forever 21 stringy tank top, and a long cardigan. A very Forever 21 outfit and my go to look.

Parents essentially “weren’t allowed” to this get together. There would be some adult supervision because hotel people were catering food and a guard was standing by the door, but it was just the kids.

This competition was for ages 14 – 18, so I was definitely on the young side.

After walking into the room, almost all 25 finalists were in there. Almost everyone seemed to be between sixteen to eighteen. I felt so young and out of place.

Not to mention the crippling social anxiety of not knowing anyone.

Notes

OMG HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? It's been too damn long!