The Calculated Risk

The news of LaToya leaving for the summer resulted in a dramatic chain of events for Lacey at lunch. “Your parents are so inconsiderate! Did they even ask? You know my brother is coming home from college. He promised me he would help us throw our class their first senior party! You're gonna miss out on partying with college freshmen?! We were going to make a name for ourselves.” Lacey’s jacket, her mother made her wear, was falling off her shoulders underneath the scorching sun. The heavy mascara created a dark shadow underneath Lacey’s eye, or perhaps Lacey was crying. “Don’t even get me started. I already made an outline of all the activities we could do this summer. Some risky things like white water rafting, visiting that new beach in the city, tasting wine coolers…” “My brother was gonna take us on his weekend trips.” Lacey cried. Normally full of vim and vigor, Lacey possessed skill in spotting positives, till today. She hesitated leaving friends for summer, though college applications neared. Lacey was never the type to care about college; she wouldn't understand. She would paint her as the enemy. “I’m sorry.” LaToya acknowledged the disappointment radiating in the air. “Apple?” Toya gingerly placed an apple in front of Lacey, who had refused to eat. Lacey took the apple saying, “Everyone leaves eventually. College, programs, futures. Only the special ones are remembered.” Silence overcame them. The girls watched the students milling about the campus, taking pictures, saying their goodbyes, and sharing memories. “I’ve got an idea!” Lacey exclaimed, looking up from her half-bitten apple. Her charming smile appeared back, full of life and vigor. Lacey yanked her phone from her back pocket. A slow, devious grin spread across her face, chasing away the thunderclouds. Moments before dull with rage, her eyes now glittered with wicked excitement, like a match struck in her depths. Lacey leaned forward, eyes bright with a dangerous kind of excitement.
“Here’s my proposal, we were going to take risks this summer right?” she said. “So let's do a risk list.” Toya frowned. “A what?” “Five risks,” Lacey continued, undeterred. “You write five for me. I will write five for you. We spend the entire summer completing them.” Toya folded her arms. “That sounds suspiciously like truth or dare.” “Not even close. Well, maybe a little.” Lacey waved the idea away. “They don’t have to be playground dares.” She glanced around the table, lowering her voice. “Just risks that we wouldn’t normally take, something to make this summer something we remember. We get Blaine, Sarah, Mari, maybe our junior class to follow along. Let those who are interested participate too by watching. They can place points on whose risk they think will be most memorable. Or who had the most impact on them.” “Impact,” Toya repeated slowly. “Social impact,” Lacey clarified with a grin. “We can still make this the most memorable summer before senior year.” LaToya, reluctant than ever before, felt her heart through her ears. Was her best friend losing her mind? She loved Lacey for her adventurous ways, but this was absurd and a little desperate. How would they even prove the risk was taken? “We could get the whole class to follow it on Discord,” Lacey said, the idea gathering speed as she spoke. “Videos, pictures—proof every time a risk is completed. We post it in the chat.” Toya raised a brow. “And people just… watch us?” “If they want. Watch, vote, judge...” Lacey grinned. “Blaine already runs the class Discord. She could repurpose it for the summer. Every day the juniors vote on who made the bigger impact, and Blaine keeps the score.” “You’ve thought this through.” “Of course I have.” Lacey leaned back, clearly pleased with herself. “Five risks each. One summer. The whole class watching.” She foresaw disaster. Engaging in classroom chats, risking social suicide? “I’m not signing up to do this.” She knew her best friend all too well. Lacey was wild and unpredictable; that’s what she loved about her the most. Defeat was imminent. Lacey glanced upward. “Don’t you want to be remembered? Don’t you want to make waves before we are seniors? Look at the seniors now,” Lacey pointed outward. “They’re all just students we went to school with. Some we know, some we don’t. Some will be insignificant the minute they get in their cars and drive off. Never to be talked about again. Don’t you want to be remembered as more than the smart one?” Yes. She did. All her life, Toya had lived in the shadows—brilliant in the classroom, invisible everywhere else. She got achievements. She could ace every test, win every ribbon, and still be the girl standing just outside the frame of everyone’s memories. “You would rather settle for another regular year than play a harmless game this summer that can get you noticed?” Lacey placed her apple down facing her. “Think about it, this time next year, we will be like them. Worried about college, tuition, and majors. Before all that pressure begins, let’s savor this time. Let’s make it count.” She was convincing. “Think about Dominic Talton.” Toya did, and of all the suitors, or rather the lack thereof. Toya did have her eye on Dominic; he was staying in California for the summer. She had hoped this summer, he would look her way. There were many dances where she was the only one among her friends who never had a date. She was busy with her books, planning for her future. She told herself she didn’t have time to date. Her senior year could be better. Not only that but she was smart, and competitive. Rarely did she lose, and five small “dares” was miniscule. Of course when she won, she wouldn’t flaunt the win. “Okay, look.” Lacey shoved her phone in Toya’s face. “The first risk is so juvenile. I promise, scout’s honor, I will make your risks playful. Playground dares. Nothing that will ruin your bright future.” Lacey promised. She was still pondering. “I wonder if anyone is gullible enough to even bet actual money on this,” Lacey spoke her thoughts aloud. A flash or curiosity lighting up her features. She spoke up, “Betting is illegal Lace,....” Toya thought again, “at least for another year.” A roll to her eyes, Lacey sighed, “Of course! Just a silly thought.” she murmured. “How epic would that be though,” She quietly admitted. She let herself entertain the thought. In some strange way, if her classmates were stupid enough to bet money on Lacey’s win, when Lacey lost, that lump sum would go straight into her pocket and toward college applications. Lace promised her risks would be playful. But she could make sure Lacey’s dares were just as wild as her nature… That way she was guaranteed to finish first. Surely if she finished first, she would make the biggest impact. Right? No one would forget about her while she was off in NYC. This plan could let her make a name for herself and have some fun. Toya took out her phone; she began typing away risks she was positive Lacey would never have the guts to do. Her mother texted her: Get home early so you can start packing tonight. Your aunt is expecting you in five days! Sorry mom, can’t. BIG end of the year clean up with my STEM club. I promise I’ll begin as soon as I get home. What started as a simple list of risks would become something far more revealing. Over the summer, each risk would strip away another layer of Toya’s confidence—exposing her insecurities, her hunger for influence, and the dangerous lengths she might go to in order to secure the future her parents imagined.