Alaska

Chapter Thirty-Seven

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

It took everything in Lexi's power for her not to sway and collapse onto the floor in absolute shock.  For a second she wondered whether or not she was hearing correctly.  Her eyes were round like golf balls and her jaw had dropped so low that Ariel and Violet could see her wisdom teeth.

"What?" She gasped, when her throat had finally loosened.

Ariel and Violet stared at her with question mark faces.

Ms.  Olsen giggled from the other end and said, "Yes, Alexia.  Congratulations, once again.  You will be accepting a scholarship certificate to WSU along with your Morgan Term certificate this Friday.  You've officially graduated high school at sixteen!  Well done!"

Lexi's mouth remained wide open as she processed Ms.  Olsen's words.  She had won.  She had actually won the competition.  Her Alaska memoir had made it.  Out of the tons of talented girls in her group, she had done it.  She was moving to Washington with her baby.  She was going to be living the college life.

"Oh, my God!" She moaned, fanning herself.  Despite the air conditioning in the shop, it had gotten very hot.

Ms.  Olsen laughed again.  "Yes.  I'm sure you're very shocked.  Now, I'd like to let you know that along with the scholarship, the news of your win will be published in the newspapers in Ohio and your memoir will be scripted into an English textbook.  You also have the courtesy of reading out your work this Friday and a publisher will be assigned to you when you arrive in Washington in September."

"I still can't believe this!" Lexi groaned.

"Believe what?  What happened?" Ariel shrieked, impatiently.

"I WON!" Lexi mouthed.  Violet and Ariel stared at Lexi for a fraction of a second, and then their faces lit up in understanding and they leaped into each others arms and bobbed on the spot in excitement.

"Well believe it sweetheart, because it's all true.  I'll see you at the ceremony on Friday," Ms.  Olsen said in a kind voice, and she hung up.

Lexi stuffed her phone back inside her sidebag and stared at her friends with a wide grin stretching at her lips. 

"Congratulations Lexi!" Violet squeaked, engulfing her in a warm hug.

"I wish it was me, but better you than someone else.  Congratulations!" Ariel beamed.

"Wow.  Yeah.  Thank you," Lexi said in a dazed voice.  Something had crossed her mind.  If she was moving to college with her baby in September, what would happen to her and Ashton?  Surely he wouldn't move with her...

"Now let's get your dress!  You need to look gorgeous on Friday night!" Violet snapped her back into her senses and they resumed their browsing through different dresses, once again...

***

Lexi stood staring at herself in the mirror and feeling nerves bubble through her system, along with harsh and sudden kicks coming from her baby.  It was Friday the twenty-eighth of June and she was looking at herself draped in an aquamarine coloured lace skater dress that reached her knees, her stomach looking the biggest it had ever been.  Her long bronze hair had been curled and pulled back halfway with a jewel encrusted clip and her face shined with makeup that accentuated her bright blue eyes and cheekbones.

It was her final night out.  On Sunday morning she was returning to Pennsylvania along with Ashton and all her boxes.  And now she was ready for her School Leaving Ceremony.  She couldn't believe how her luck had turned out.  She was no longer a high school student and never would be, ever again.  She was moving to college.  She had her whole life ahead of her.  She wasn't going to be living with her parents for much longer.  It was too unbelievable.