Embezzlement: Embezzlement Charges $2800

I'm 18 and have held a steady job for 2 years. Unfortunately I got caught up in some gift card fraud with a coworker and was fired and arrested for embezzlement. My parents bailed me out for 4k and a court date was made for December. We talked to a lawyer and they said that they could attempt to get the charges dropped to a misdemeanor. Unfortunately my parents didn't want to pay the possible 10k for the lawyer and decided to just try for a public defender. I made resitution to the company. The day came and when I showed up for my court date my name was not on the list and found out that they hadn't pressed charges yet. The woman at the help desk signed a paper saying we showed up and told us that the da had a year to press charges. This got my hopes up thinking that the charges would be dropped.
Then just this week I received a letter from the court saying that I am being charged with Grand Theft Embezzlement and have to show up in february. Needless to say I am terrified. I'm 18. This is my first offense. I'm paying for college. I just got a new job and my boss thinks I'm good enough to get a promotion. I really don't want to go to jail..
There was a similar case at the same workplace during the same time I was arrested where the employee embezzled 16k and got his charges dropped to a misdemeanor. I only embezzled 2k. So I'm wondering(hoping) that my charges get dropped as well. Is this possible?

On the day of my trial I don't know if I can ask for a public defender before pleading guilty/innocent. And I don't know what I should plead? I am guilty. I wrote a statement and confessed..so I can't really say that I'm innocent. But I'm afraid of saying that I'm guilty because I don't want them to just throw me in prison right away..I really don't want to go to prison..

Can anyone offer me any advice or hope?