Forbidden

Chapter Three

The next couple of days were ordinary. Homework, class, friends, bed, repeat. Olivia never had to worry about working since her parents gave her everything she asked for, which wasn’t much. Olivia wasn’t a very materialistic kind of girl. She was appreciative of everything she had and everything she could have if she just asked. She was thankful, also, for not needing to work so she could focus on her school work. Her parents knew how important an education was and they pressed this on Olivia ever since she was old enough to understand. If she truly wanted to succeed, then she had to have an education to make it in this world.

                Although Olivia had no idea where she wanted to go in her life, whether she followed in her father’s footsteps and went to Law School, or if she decided to become a teacher, a surgeon or a psychologist, it didn’t matter. Her grades would guarantee a scholarship to whichever school she chose. That made Olivia and her parents sleep better at night. Her hard work would pay off.

                It was Thursday morning, and Olivia followed her same routine of picking up Kenley and heading to school. It was just another ordinary day, same as every other. Olivia wrote in her journal during first period study hall.

I used to think that all I needed in my life was my education, my friends and my Daddy. As long as I had those things, everything else would fall into place and be as it should. No amount of money could ever make up for those most important to me. But here lately, I’ve started to wonder… is that really all I want from life? I know one day I’d love to be a wife, a mother, and a career-woman. But I feel like I’m lonely. Like I’m at the point in my life where I want to be loved, and I want to love back. I want a love that is inseparable, untouchable and real. I want someone who challenges me, encourages me, pushes me and makes me be the best person I can be. It seems almost… impossible. I’m sure if I opened up and actually gave someone the chance to make me happy in a way I’ve never really felt before, I could easily find it. So why won’t I give anyone the chance? I believe I’m hiding behind the importance of education, because that is always my excuse. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t date, I’m too focused on graduating. “I’ve decided today is the day that my guard will be lowered. What am I so afraid of? For someone to fall in love with me? None of that matters anymore. My old reasons for not being open to love are gone. The next time I am offered a date with a nice guy, I’m taking it. I will jump in feet first.

                Olivia sat back in her seat and reread her new promise to herself. She needed a change. She needed something exciting, something to really look forward to. Someone to get dressed up and get pretty for. Something that would keep her up at night in eager anticipation. She had only had a couple of boyfriends throughout high school and they were never anything serious. They only lasted a couple of months and she’d get bored. She just chalked it up to “obviously I’m just not meeting the right guys”.

                During second period Journalism, Olivia found herself doodling her name all over the inside of her notebook, with her elbow on the desk and her hand propping her head up. The class was having a “silent reading” time, but Olivia didn’t want to read. She kept thinking about how seemingly desperate she had become to find something exciting to live for. She didn’t understand. She had been so content with literally everything up to this point. Why now? Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Mr. Cereno. Acceptable interruption, she thought. She looked up from her doodling and listened to what Mr. Amazing had to say.

“Can I get everyone’s attention, please?” Everyone looked up.

“The mentors and the students have been assigned and I’ve taken on 5 students myself from the entire senior class. If I was your first pick, and, naturally, I know I was, because I’m everyone’s favorite,” he winked, “and you were not assigned as my mentee, I apologize but I know you’ll have a great time mentoring with the other teachers. I know only three of you signed up earlier this week so I figured I’d just briefly go over who is assigned to whom. Ashley, you’ll be with Mr. Jackson, Kenley, you’ll be with Ms. Cassle and Olivia, you will be with me.”