Lexi

Prologue

       Lexi awoke on the morning of her eighteenth birthday with a pit in her stomach. Any other teenager would be ecstatic, but Lexi was in a very special situation. Lexi had been living in a foster home her whole life. This meant turning eighteen was the day she was to be thrown out of her foster home. Lexi had been preparing mentally for this day for some time now, but no amount of mental preparation could actually prepare her for how she felt the morning she woke up knowing she was now homeless. 

      What could Lexi do? She had done her best in school, tried her best to leave a good impression on the people she interacted with, but nothing could change the fact that she was an orphan. She felt unwanted, alone, and desperate for a way to a better life. 

     Just after Lexi had been kicked out of her foster home at 8 PM on her eighteenth birthday, and she had found a part of the sidewalk that she felt she could sleep on for the night, Lexi received a call on her prepaid cell phone. Confused, Lexi answered the call. 

"Hello?" 

"Lexi! Where are you? This is Ms. Bertrand, your art teacher remember?"

"Oh! Ms. Bertrand why are you calling me?" 

"Lexi, just tell me where you are I'm coming to get you. I forgot that today is your eighteenth birthday! Poor thing I can't imagine how you must feel!" 

"I- I mean I was going to sleep on the sidewalk."

"Oh, absolutely not! Lexi tell me where to find you, you are staying with me!"

-

Ms. Bertrand arrived fifteen minutes later in her old Toyota Rav-4 that had chipped paint. 

"Lexi, get in, get in!" exclaimed Ms. Bertrand.

"Ms. Bertrand this is too kind I-" 

"Just hush now Lexi, there is no way I am letting you sleep on the sidewalk." 

"Well, thank you so so much I need to find a way to repay you."

"I already have a way for you to repay me, dear."

"O- oh okay wh- what?" 

"I'll explain once we get to my place, you just relax and try to enjoy a moment on your special day!" 

-

They pulled up to Ms. Bertrand's apartment building a few minutes later. The apartment building was made of old red brick and there was a pack of stray cats gathered outside the building. Ms. Bertrand's apartment was small but homey, the entire apartment was cluttered with art. Lexi took a moment to scan the room and noticed that some art was made by Ms. Bertrand, but a majority of the art scattered about was made by Ms. Bertrand's students. 

"Okay dear, have you eaten dinner? Do you need some tea or hot chocolate?" Ms. Bertrand pulled Lexi out of her trance. 

"Oh, yeah they fed me my last dinner because they are required to. I think I'm fine I couldn't ask of much else from you." 

"Well, Lexi dear, I want to tell you how you are going to repay me." 

"Okay, anything you need, Ms. Bertrand!" 

"I want you to take this," Ms. Bertrand reached into a box beside her couch and pulled out a large black binder, "and show the world your talents." 

"What do you mean? What is this?" 

"This is a collection of your artwork you have made for my class. I have been saving them because I know you are destined for greatness. Your artwork speaks to the soul of the viewer, it send chills down the spine yet warms the stomach. Lexi, you have a gift. And I am not the only one who thinks so, oh dear did I forget to mention the best part?" 

"Wh- what?" 

"Lexi dear, I sent your portfolio in to the University of Britechester and they were thrilled! They contacted me and said that if I could get in touch with the student who made that art, they would be able to attend for free! They even said they would pay you a monthly allowance if you would attend their University!" 

All of a sudden Lexi felt like the room was spinning. She could not process what she was hearing. She wouldn't have been surprised if Ms. Bertrand turned around and said 'April fools!' even though it wasn't April. Anything made more sense than a prestigious University like Britechester wanting her so bad they were willing to pay her to attend. 

"Are you alright dear?" said Ms. Bertrand obviously noticing how Lexi had spaced out. 

"I- I just can't believe this. I feel like this is a dream, or a joke. I mean why would.."

"Dear, never forget this, it is something I've always known since I fyou are destined for greatness."