Royally Normal

20

The University of Southern California has been my dream school since second grade. When I got my acceptance letter, I couldn't believe it. 

I was overjoyed and excited for the future then I got my acceptance letter from Oxford.

I felt stuck and it reminded me of the situation I was in.

"Well, you have two great schools to choose from." my dad began as we Facetimed. "More than two actually. Don't forget about Pepperdine, Syracuse, and Drexel."

To be honest, I wanted to get denied from Oxford so that I didn't have to make this decision. 

"I know but I don't know what to do." I muttered. "I've been dreaming of USC for so long but I want to go to Oxford to make you and grandpa happy. Plus I miss you guys."

"You and I both it comes down to USC and Oxford." I sighed.

"Grandfather has been writing and texting me a lot. Of course, wants me there and to go to Oxford like you guys but this decision is so hard. It chooses my future." I went on.

My dad took a deep breath. "Bean, I want you to chose whatever school is best for you. You know that I'm always here for you."

"How was dance tonight?" he got onto another topic and I was thankful for that.

"Fine." I responded. "Can we talk more tomorrow night? I need to finish up my homework and I know it's almost three in the morning there."

He nodded his head. "Sounds good. I love you, Aiyla."

"Love you more. Goodnight." I ended the call and slammed my head against the desk and began to cry."

There was nothing more than I wanted than for everything to go back to normal. You know, when my family was all together and I had no idea about my dad's royal life.

Plus this college decision was starting to hurt my mental health.

It consumed every waking moment of my mind.

"B, what's going on?" Cole's voice asked me.

I assumed he was standing in the doorway of the bathroom but I didn't want to pick my head up. I didn't want him to see me crying.

"Nothing." I sniffled

I felt his hand on my back.

"It's obviously nothing if you're crying." he gently nudged me to open up. "You can talk to me. I won't tell anyone."

"I know you won't." I lifted up my head and he wiped the tears off my face.

"Now what's wrong, Bean?" Cole asked me.

I took a deep breath. "It's just stress from trying to pick a college, you know? I want to make everyone else happy but I also want to be happy."

Cole kept saying that he didn't know where he was going to college but he got into USC and they had a BA/JD program that he was really interested in. He was going to get his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate in six years instead of seven and I was so proud of him.

I wanted us to be close but there was so much to consider.

"I want you to be happy too." Cole began to speak. "Don't think of other people for once."

"That's impossible to do when you're supposed to be the next monarch in line." I reminded him.

"Well, that's true." he sat down on my bed. "Do you know when you're deciding?"

Decision day was May first and it was already February.

"April maybe?" I shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Can you let me know where you're going? Of course, I selfishly want you to go to USC but I also want you to do what's best for you." Cole looked me in the eyes.