Chapter 21: Twelve Thousand

I stopped walking in the middle of the union.

"How much?" I said.

"The fall balance is forty-five hundred," my mom said. "It was supposed to go straight to the school. It never did."

"I called the bursar on my last break. If it's not paid by Friday, November fourteenth, they withdraw you."

November fourteenth.

The day before the match.

"If I'm withdrawn, I can't play."

"I know, baby. I'm picking up shifts. I've got three doubles lined up already."

"Mom, three doubles is like nine hundred dollars."

She didn't argue, because she's a nurse and she can do math.

"I'll figure it out," she said. "I always figure it out."

"I have to go," she said. "They're calling me. I love you. Eat something."

She hung up.

I stood there in the union with the phone against my ear and the dial tone in it.

Beck had stopped three steps ahead.

Betsy was already next to me.

I told them.

It took about four sentences.

Beck didn't say anything until we were outside.

Then, on the steps, he said, "I have twenty-six hundred in savings. From the help desk."

"No."

"It's just sitting there."

"No," I said. "Beck. No."

"I don't need it for anything."

"You just gave up ten thousand dollars. You need it for everything."

"Rule three," I said. "If I take your money, what am I?"

He was quiet.

"I'm a girl somebody else is paying for," I said. "I've been given to somebody once. I'm not doing it again, even to you. Especially to you."

He looked at me for a long time.

"I hate it."

"I know."

Betsy had her phone out.

"Okay," she said. "Okay, okay, okay. Nobody gives Callie money. Fine. Great. Love that for her."

"Betsy."

"But you can't stop people from buying things."

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