I had to get to the newspaper room to proof the paper, but I had to fix my calculus grade. I thought of my transcripts—and of Amherst—and I knew I just didn’t have a choice. So I took a deep breath and nodded at Mr. Moss.

“Miss Silva?” he asked again.

I shook my head quickly. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’ll do this, thank you for giving me the chance,” I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Mr. Moss nodded, though he didn’t look completely convinced. He picked up his red pen and turned back to the tests, and I looked down at the paper in front of me.

There was only one problem on the page, and the numbers and symbols swam in front of my eyes.

Thinking it was some leftover tears from my outburst, I wiped my eyes, but that wasn’t the issue. It was just the problem in front of me. I had no idea how to solve it.

How do you eat an elephant? I could hear my mom’s voice in my head as my head spun with fear and anxiety. How? I would always ask, though I knew the answer. This was one of her favorite bits of wisdom. One bite at a time, she would tell me with a smile.

One bite at a time, I reminded myself. Just find somewhere to start and get moving.

I took a deep breath and grabbed a pencil from my backpack. Then I started to write down every calculus technique and formula I could think of. Everything I’d learned in class or written on a flash card. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to solve this problem—apparently juniors in college had trouble with it, so I probably didn’t stand a chance—but I had to try to do everything in my power to show Mr. Moss that I hadn’t just blown off that final. And that I deserved a do-over.

I was trying to stay focused as I worked, but every now and then a wave of panic would wash over me, making me grip my pencil more tightly. I tried to breathe through those waves of nerves, but I really did not need this today. I’d had my whole morning planned out, and now it felt like all the dominos were falling, one after the other.

“Miss Silva?”

I looked up, my eyes taking a moment to focus. Mr. Moss was standing in front of me, and when I glanced over to the clock, I was shocked to see that an hour had passed.

He raised an eyebrow and held out his hand. I gave him the sheet and waited, my nerves raw.

He looked it over slowly and deliberately. Then he met my anxious gaze.

“Tuesday, 3:15. Do not be late, and don’t mess up your second chance, okay?”’

I finally breathed. “Okay, yes. I will. I mean, I won’t. Thank you, Mr. Moss,” I said, overjoyed and relieved.

Then I grabbed my backpack and sprinted out of the room. I had to get to the newsroom.

I was running through the hall and had just rounded the corner when I ran into something warm and solid.

Stumbling back, I looked up to see Eric Evans standing in front of me, his friendly green eyes wide with surprise. Eric was the editor of the paper—and my longtime, very intense crush.

“Oh, god, sorry Eric,” I started, but he just smiled at me.

“No problem, Camilla. Have you finished proofing the paper? I want my last edition put to bed.”

“I’m on my way to do it now,” I said quickly. “I just had to do some extra credit for calc.”

Eric frowned. “You haven’t done it? Camilla, come on. I thought you were serious about the paper.”

“I—I am,” I sputtered, feeling my face going deep red.

Jonah appeared behind Eric’s shoulder. He had just come out of a classroom, and when he saw me talking to Eric, his eyes grew wide. He started to thrust his pelvis suggestively, making comically graphic sex motions.

My face flushed hotter than ever. I honestly wondered what would happen if I just threw myself down the stairs.

“I am serious,” I told Eric, trying to ignore Jonah. “Very serious. I’m a very serious person. Completely serious about the paper. I just had something unexpected pop up this morning, but I will have the whole thing proofread today.”

Eric’s green eyes still looked concerned. “I hope so. Because I still have a lot to do. Including picking an editor for next year.”

My heart plunged as he hitched up his backpack on his shoulder and walked away.

I looked after him for a moment, my heart beating hard.

“Shit.”