This is a work of fiction and not based on any real life situations.
***
Senior Year, the big year that makes or breaks your future. This is the year that determines if you'll be pushing on to college or working as a fry cook for the rest of your life. I, of course, knew this year was coming and had been working hard to perform well and get into my top school of choice, Stetson University. It's where he went to school, Coach Nichols.
Coach Nichols has been my greatest influence all throughout high school. I had him for American Government, Political Science, Economics, and now World History just for fun. He himself had graduated from Stetson, went for both his undergrad and graduate programs. Naturally, I wanted to do the same. He had such a passion for his job and the greatest advice on how to get into Stetson.
I have no plans to teach after graduating. No, I plan to pursue what he could not, getting my license to practice law.
Now that Senior Year had arrived, so had all the application letters telling us seniors if we had gotten into our school of choice or not. It was Friday night at 10:00 PM, I was waiting on my letter from Stetson via email. The admissions page on their website stated they were coming out today at 10:00 PM.
10:01 PM, still no ping from the computer telling me the letter had arrived. My nerves were shot, I had to get into Stetson. Not just to impress Coach Nichols, but also for myself. You see, I didn't have the best childhood. I had been third class, lower income, my entire life. My dad was physically and verbally abusive. Getting a B on an test meant I was to be grounded for two weeks. I couldn't afford to do anything, go on any school trips, hang out with friends on the weekends, go to the movies. Heck, I had never even been on a date! I was most likely the only virgin in the senior class.
Mind you, I wasn't bad looking. I was considered one of the top three most attractive girls in my class. I stand at 5'6", sport a proud D cup bust (runs in the family), have nice olive skin from the Native American side, and bare long dark brunette hair that frames full lips and dark brown eyes. I was far from unattractive, there was even a bet amongst all the senior boys. $200 to the first guy who could fuck me. Of course, none would ever get the chance. Not only would my dad never allow it, but I was raised with high Christian morals and values.
So you see, I can't let my future children's future be like mine. Other than having high morals, I don't want them to ever feel the way I did. I want my kids to be able to afford school trips, hang out with friends, and know everything is right in the world. I don't want them to know what it feels like to survive off of burnt chicken every night, wondering if there will be power in the morning. I don't want my kids to live in a roach infested house that has no AC or heat. I need for them to have a good future. So I needed to get into Stetson, become an attorney, and provide a better future for them and myself.
10:05 PM, I decided to get a glass of water. Heading into the dark kitchen, all I could hear was the sounds of roaches running across surfaces and in the walls. I'd grown used to them and that is what scared me so much. Who the fuck grows used to living in a house full of roaches? Luckily, they couldn't get into the fridge, so I was never worried about consuming something that they had been in. I poured a glass of water and slowly raised the cool liquid to my lips. I heard it, the ping.
My heart stopped and I slowly put the glass on the counter. My body went numb and I began to move to the study. I could see the computer screen, lit up with a message box popped up telling me I had received an email. I slowly lowered myself into the desk chair and swallowed hard. My hand shook as I reached for the mouse. With a deep breath, I clicked the small box and watched the email pop up.
To: Emma Cross
From: The DSO at Stetson University
Ms. Cross,
We at the Dean of Student Affairs at Stetson University are proud to accept you into the class of...
I couldn't believe it! I made it! I was in my school! I would be out of this shit hole in just a few months and would begin my new life. I had to tell everyone. Of course, I would have to wait until morning. My dad would lose it if I woke him just to tell him I got into university. The first person would have to be Coach Nichols though, first thing Monday morning. Or maybe, I would tell him tomorrow night at the football game. I was in the marching band so my parents knew it was mandatory for me to go. Coach Nichols, if you can't tell, was one of the football coaches. Maybe I could sneek a few moments to tell him.
**********
Saturday night football was a big deal in my home town. We were a small town, population 2,220, with few things to do. In order to have any fun, you would have to drive an hour north to go out for a night. So naturally, football was the highlight of each week during the fall semester.
The band arrived 15 minutes before the game began to warm up. As I assembled my instrument behind the stands, I watched for Coach Nichols. He would still be in the locker room with the boys giving them a pep talk but would be out on the field shortly. We all quickly took our seat and began blowing softly into our instruments (sounds perverted I know, but it's necessary to warm up the instruments).
The football players began running out on the field to do stretches. I skimmed among them to see if I could spot Coach Nichols. My eyes landed on him. At 29, he was the youngest coach we had. He barely stood at 6', was rather lean, sported straight brunette hair, clean shaven, and had hazel eyes. Many of the girls crushed on him but none would dare make a move. We were a very Christian community and knew he would never allow it. Not to mention, your reputation would be permanently ruined. I find this funny since almost all the girls were secretly sluts and still went to church on the weekends like good pure ladies.
He was deep in conversation with the quarterback, Jacob Parker. He seemed angry about something. While walking, he took a quick glance at the stadium and made direct eye contact with me. While bashful, I wouldn't dare look away for fear he would take that as I was fantasizing over him. Instead, I held my gaze and gave a small wave, motioning for him to come over.
He held up a finger to Jacob, motioning for him to give him a second and jogged across the field towards me. I quickly got up and walked down the bleachers to meet him. Usually, the drum major would lose her shit over this, but I was a section leader and she wouldn't dare say anything to me.
I approached the fence with a big stupid grin, "Guess what?" I asked as he finally was near me.
"Yes Miss Cross?" Coach Nichols asked. He was so formal, he was always so formal.
"Guess who received her acceptance letter to Stetson last night?" I tried to sound cool and calm, but the excitement showed through.
His eyes lit up and he grinned the most charming grin, "Wow, congratulations! I should take you out in celebration. Feeling some pizza after the game?"
My smile cracked and I caught my breath. He was asking me to celebrate with him after the game. Just him and I. I had to remind myself he probably wasn't meaning this in any other way than as a teacher celebrating with his student for getting into his Alma Mater. I also knew my parents would be furious, but tonight they would have to get over it.
