Pay Off

Well I’m Here…

Growing up I was always aware I had less than most, but now looking around New Beckett University campus for the first time, that fact had never been more obvious. NBU was the ‘IT’ University for any wannabe ‘socialites’ in the area. Anyone who wanted to be someone had to first attend this campus. Usually they got in from parents or grandparents making a very large donation. So how did I end up here?

When I was thirteen, I had what I thought was the best day of my life. My parents had scraped enough money for a family day to DisneyLand. Before this the closest I ever got to Disneyland was a ride on the carousel at the local pier. We had been on every ride I had only ever read about, Ate countless snacks from the magical stands dotted on every corner. After, we stayed for the most magical firework display I could ever wish to imagine. We were travelling home on the most amazing high I could only ever imagine. We were only three blocks from home, when a car came speeding from our left, running a red light, and hitting us hard.

I don’t remember much from that night after that. I had minor injuries. Just cuts and bruises. Nothing that wouldn’t heal or leave a mark. Dad had a dislocated shoulder along with cuts and bruises. But Mom wasn’t so lucky. She suffered a head injury that resulted in a coma for a few weeks. I’ve never been so happy as the day she woke up. But she wasn’t the same Mom I had known before. Her speech was slow and she struggled with movement. She needed full time care. Dad and I tried so hard to carry out all the care she needed, but I had to attend school and without Mums income anymore, Dad had to pick up all the shifts he could.

What I hadn’t mentioned yet was the driver of the other car was Jenson Talbot. As in eventual heir of Talbot industries, with a value of billions of dollars. Jenson was in his rebellious days and often enjoyed a late night joy ride after drinking his weight in liquor. After he hit us, Jenson ran thinking no one would notice him given his family May have had a known name in New Beckett but they tended to fly relatively unknown keeping themselves out of any town drama.

Unfortunately for Jenson I knew who he was. Jensons younger brother, Cole, was in most of my classes. And it just so happens he was my very first crush. There was nothing I didn’t know about Cole Talbot. You might even say I had slight stalker tendencies. Those piercing blue eyes combined with the beach blonde hair was the most irresistible combination I had ever encountered. If Cole was talking, you could bet I was listening. If Cole was there, I’d be there out of sight just watching, hoping for a glimpse of the most hypnotising smile and magnetic laugh you could only ever dream of witnessing.

So when I seen Jenson Talbot running off that night, you can bet I knew who that was. Even told the police I would be able to point out the culprit in a heartbeat. Travis Talbot had half the town in his pocket, so when he got wind I knew it was his son who caused our accident he did everything in his power to ensure I would never tell.

Our struggle with Mom was obvious and Travis didn’t miss his opportunity to exploit that. He paid us a visit late one evening and made an offer we couldn’t refuse in exchange for my silence. Mom would have a full time carer for as long as she would live, Dad would get a specially adapted car to assist in transporting Mom to her appointments and I would get full tuition paid to New Beckett University including accommodation. It wasn’t a lot. We may not have lost Mom physically, but mentally we did and we wasn’t offered much in return. But we also weren’t naive enough to not know Travis had a lot of power. Even if I was to tell the courts it was Jenson driving, my statement would be swept under the carpet and nothing would come of it. In our books something was better than nothing and Atleast we had the best support package for Mom. As long as Mom was looked after, I decided I wouldn’t tell a soul.

I did, however, worry how I could face Cole again at school knowing what his family did to mine. Would he look at me and know how little his family had to pay for destroying mine? Would he laugh at me? Pity me? I didn’t know what was worse. Needless to say, I never had to worry about any of it. Cole transferred to boarding school immediately after. My guess is Travis Talbot wasnt so sure after that incident that Jenson would or could be the next successful CEO of Talbot industries. He was most probably too far gone down the wrong path. To give Cole the best chance of being the best heir to the company, he sent him to the boarding school with the best reputation of straightening out any rebellious behaviour in the most misbehaved teenager - not that Cole had ever got into in any trouble in his life. I also didn’t see Jenson again around town, but no one ever mentioned where he went.

To this day, Travis Talbot has kept his word. Moms carers are the best money could buy. Belinda the main carer is more like moms best friend than her carer. She manages to make Mom laugh at her situation. I wish I could bottle up the feeling I get at that sound and open it up whenever I’m feeling low. Dad also gets a new top of the range specially adapted car for Mom delivered every two years. And so I shouldn’t have been surprised a few months earlier when I received my acceptance to New Beckett U stating my tuition was already prepaid. It also came with an accompanying letter with details of my accommodation for ‘as long as I needed’. A small two bed apartment just off campus. I thought two bedrooms was a lot for just me and there was no mention of if a roommate would be provided or if I could let the other room, but I didn’t care either way. Company would be nice but I’d also love to have space to myself for the first time in my life.

So as I got out and stood in front of my new car (apparently that came with the tuition too) at NBU and looked around, you can understand why I felt so out of place. But I didn’t need to fit in here. I just needed to graduate. Get myself on a career ladder without the debt looming. Work my way up until I could pay for Moms care myself and finally cut Travis Talbot out of our lives and the reminder he served as to us.

I looked around and no one else seemed to be like me. I didn’t have designer bags, clothes or sunglasses. I didn’t have the latest IPhone. I didn’t want to take selfie’s or edit my pictures till I looked a size 0 with flawless skin. But that was OK. I didn’t need friends or to stand out here in anyway. To calm my nerves, I reiterated ‘I just need to graduate’ under my breath.

With that I pulled my long blonde hair up into a pony, turned to my car and grabbed my first box. I may as well go check out where I will be living for the foreseeable.