A University for the Gifted

Chapter 1: Stupid Alarm Clock

Word count: 1579

August 31st

I fist pumped the air in excitement.

"Mama! Look!"

I offered her the handwritten letter. She eyed it suspiciously then took it. After she finished reading it, she sighed, "I'm guessing you want to go because it's free?"

"Mmhm!" I hummed happily. It seemed like a great university and it's free. So my parents won't have to keep working their butts off to pay some extremely expensive student loans. What more can I ask? Life finally gave me a blessing. Maybe getting rejected by Harvard wasn't that bad after all.

"You know what?" She said grinning, "As long as it gets your head out of that ice cream box, I'm fine with it."

See, two days ago, when I got a letter from Harvard saying I wasn't accepted, I cried and locked myself in my room, not willing to talk to anyone. The only reason I would leave the room was to go to the bathroom or to eat ice cream. Yes, I know. I may have been overreacting but can you blame me? I've been planning to go there since...

Uh, I forgot.

But it's the university of my dreams. It motivated me to get the highest grades in school. I got distinction awards, won the student body representative position multiple times, became all the teachers' favourite (except my Geography teacher. I'm pretty sure she's a demon undercover). And I felt like a total failure when Harvard rejected me. But now, this university seems to be the next best thing. Not forgetting to mention how flattering it was. I looked at the location written down.

"Hey mom, do you know this place?"

She studied the paper then shook her head. "No. But you can type it on the GPS locator and it will take you there. It doesn't seem far away though. Just a few blocks away probably."

I walked over to the kitchen. Dad was filling a cup from the tap. "Hey, dad!"

He jumped slightly then slowly turned around. He narrowed his eyes at me then poked my forehead. He gasped.

"You're real! You actually left your room and talked to me! I thought I was hallucinating there for a second."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Guess what?"

"What?" he asked before gulping down the water.

"I've decided I'm going to this really cool university called UUG."

He spat out the water he was drinking and looked at me in surprise. "Come again?"

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "I'm going to a university, dad. Is it really a surprise that I haven't given up on my dreams and decided to become a dropout?"

"Of course not! I'm so proud of you!" And with that he engulfed me in a hug. "Stay safe, little wisdom girl." he murmured.

He then pulled away and said sternly, "Now remember, if a boy ever stares at you or approaches you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, you~"

I laughed, "Tell him to back off, I know."

"And if he persists and continues to make you uncomfortable, you make sure~"

"He never messes with a seventeen year old wrestling champion ever again." I finished. "Yes, I know dad. You said it many times before."