THE FRESHMAN (CLOSED - TEMPORARILY)

Chapter 3 - The Assistant

After I get off the phone with my parents, I meet up with my friends in the kitchen.

"Nicki...is everything okay?" Kaitlyn asked.

"I...I don't think so. My family is broke. What started off as the best week of my life just turned into a nightmare."

"We can't lose you! We've..we've bonded!"

"I guess there's only one thing to do now, Zack...I have to find a way to stay. I'm not going down without a fight!"

"Hell yeah! That's the spirit!"

"Maybe you could get...a job?" Tyler suggested.

"No offense, but tuition runs like $50k a year here. Minimum wage isn't gonna cover that." Abbie said.

"There's gotta be some way to stay...I mean, I'm here on a football scholarship."

"I don't think I'm exactly what the football team is looking for, Chris."

"Maybe not, but I'm sure there are other scholarships available."

"Not a bad idea, Chris. It might be worth a trip to The financial aid office to check it out!" Kaitlyn said.

15 MINUTES LATER...

"NEXT!" A voice shouted.

"Hi there! My friend just realized she's super poor and needs a scholarship!"

"Kaitlyn!!"

"What? It's true. Besides, if we're trying to get this done fast, we've got to cut right through the case."

"Let's see here...any special skills?"

"Actually, I'm a star-athlete."

"Really? What sport do you play?"

"All of 'em."

"You're gonna have to be more specific, honey."

"Oh, well in high school I played basketball, soccer, and volleyball. And softball. Also, I started an intramural dodgeball league."

"I guess you weren't kidding!" The lady said.

"I had no idea you were such a jock, Nicki."

"Unfortunately...it looks like all of our athletic scholarships have already been distributed."

"There has to be something."

"Well...there is....one thing. But I'm not quite sure you'd be up to it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence!" I said sarcastically.

"It's nothing personal. It's just, well...we do have one research assistant position open. It would pay for your tuition, plus room and board. But...it's for Professor Vasquez."

"Professor Enrique Vasquez?! The famous author? 'The names of all lost things' is one of my favorite books ever! Working for him would be amazing." Kaitlyn said.