Marigold High

Chapter One

Chapter One: Four days before Junior Year

"Theodora, we're going to be late!"

I skimmed the scholarships guideline one last time, as I shoved on my shoes and reapplied the red tinted lipgloss Alicia gave me for Christmas.

Elizabeth Foundation: For the next leaders of America

Captivate us. Provide us with something that inspires us.

Deadline: April 30th

Grand prize: 25,000 and the chance to meet Elizabeth Garcia.

I can't help but beam as I re-read these words. This could be my chance to meet her, the one and only, Elizabeth Garcia. Elizabeth Garcia is this world renowned reporter. She travels the world filming and learning about different cultures, and trying to better the world around us. Even her life story, born in Venezuela, moved to the states when she was only 5, and still managed to be one of the most influential women of this generation.

How rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself.

My name is Theodora, Theo for short. My mom was very much influenced by Roman history when I was pregnant, and stumbled across the name Theodora, and wished upon her own daughter to hold the significance that Theodora held during her reign as queen.

"Theodora!"

Shit.

That was the, if I have to call your name one more time, it won't be pretty tone.

I grab my purse, and hurry down the stairs to see my mom's arms crossed and my older brother, Julius, shaking his head in disappointment. I shoot daggers at him.

Oh, and if you hadn't guessed already, yes Julius, as in Julius Caesar. She was a really dedicated to Roman history at the time.

"I'm here, I'm here." I huff, and mom although annoyed, smirks as she seems my hair. I glance at the mirror to see a few pieces out of place, and she swiftly comes to rescue.

She pulls a bobby pin from her purse, and tilts my hand to adjust the stray pieces. Once she fixes it, she smiles at me and then at my brother. The moment, is soft, and I can see in my mother's eyes that she couldn't be happier. Her annoyance as quickly as it came, has now evaporated.

"Mom, the ceremony." My brother reminds her, and her eyes go wide, and quickly the moment is lost and she shuffles to the car.

"Whoops, let's go we're already late!" Julius glances at me, and we both chuckle following her behind. This was going be an interesting night.

That right there, was the best introduction I could give of my mother. My mom, is sometimes the most unpredictable person I've ever meet in my entire life. She's a bit spontaneous. A few years back she made the decision that, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. So, she enrolled in nursing school. And today, she's finally finished and we're all going out to celebrate her accomplishments. Little did I know, my brother Julius would be driving down her for the weekend to celebrate with us.

"Is it mean to say I'm a little worried for her patients?" I jokingly tell to Julius, as the women desperately looks for her keys, that Julius is tossing from each hand.

"Oh no, I would think your insane if you aren't." He tells me, as my mother finally notices the keys and Julius shuffles to hand her the keys.

Julius is three years older than me, and is entering into his third year of college up in New York, but he travels down frequently to visit. As I step into the car, I can hear them joking around, until she swats him in the arm and he pretends to be seriously injured.