Tales of the Heart

001 | The Ivy League school

Since the first day of high school, getting into college has been the focus of every course I have chosen and the tasks I have undertaken. And not just any college; my mother was determined that I must enroll in one of the top colleges in this country.

There being so much more to college than just academics was something I had no concept about. I had no clue that selecting the electives I would enroll in during my first semester would seem so simple a few months later. I was young and still am in some ways. But how could I possibly have known what awaited me?

"Alex!!" I heard my mom's voice calling me to wake my ass off my bed from downstairs. I groan to myself like usual and roll out of my tiny little, yet comfortable bunk bed. While carefully tucking in my bedsheets, I could hear my mom yelling at me from downstairs, again.

"Alexander, how many times do I have to call you?"

I shouted back, "I'm coming, mother."

The sounds of the knife and the cabinet doors opening and closing may be heard in the kitchen. It is the sound of my adoring mother rushing around making breakfast for her beloved son, ME. Every second I spend slowly making my way to the restroom causes a bigger knot in my gut. It is almost intolerable by the time I begin my shower, and if I were a robot, I would be down to my final few percent of battery life. Fortunately, I am not, so I have another five to ten minutes to endure this hunger.

I just anticipated college with apprehension during my last years of high school. I've been studying my tail off on the weekends for the past few months in order to prepare my application for Stonewell Prep University. Although it is not an Ivy League institution, it can launch my dream job, being a full-time and fully paid fiction writer. The Steerling University, where all the wealthy and influential youngsters go when they graduate from high school, has an admittance rate of 1% annually and occasionally even lower, so I try my luck by submitting one of my most cherished novels for a scholarship there. Everybody knows how difficult it is to get into this sort of institution, given that Steerling University is attended even by the crown prince and princess of certain countries' monarchies.

Two months after I had submitted them to both schools, the acceptance letters from both also showed up on the same day. The first letter I read was from Stonewell Prep, and it informed me that I had been rejected because of a low GPA. Like the hell, my GPA is 3.0 and they still consider it low?

The second letter, however, really exceeded my expectations. It states that I got in, like oh-my-god, I nearly peed my pants when I first read the letter. It was the best day of my life. I was thrilled, since I didn't know what to expect. I had assumed that Stonewell Prep would be my new home for the next four years, but Steerling University has been chosen in its place.

The hot water in my shower loosens my strained muscles. s**t, how long have I been in the shower? I rush to get ready and begin washing my body and hair while sloppily shaving the weekend-old stubble off my injured and wounded leg.

I wrap a towel over my drenched body in preparation for changing after finishing all of my morning routines. Once again, my amazing, gorgeous, and guardian mother called my name, but this time I just ignored her. I know she is anxious about my first day at the most exclusive and costly school the United States of America has to offer, but I have had this day planned down to the hours and minutes for months. However, all of my preparation is for Stonewell Prep, not Steerling University, since I never thought for a second that I would be admitted into it in the first place. However, I reason that since it is still a university, not much has changed from the norm.

My identical twin Jacey Orlando began college today as well; he was accepted to Stonewell Pep. We both apply jointly, but only one of us gets chosen. Who knows, maybe he'll be able to apply for a Steerling Sports Scholarship the next year. He got admitted due to his reputation as a star football player at our former high school. According to what I've heard, Steerling's football team really needs a decent player right now to prevent them from being relegated to League 2.

My mother yelled from downstairs, "Alexander Orlando, do I need to go up there and drag you down here myself?"

I shouted back as I walked down the stairs, "I'm coming, Mother, and please, for the love of God, stop calling my full name."

And speak of the devil, the best son in the house, my twin brother, already downstairs, sitting at the table across from our mother, eating his breakfast and already packing his bag, dressed in a black leather jacket and black jeans, his casual appearance.

"Hey, what were you doing last night, huh, causing you to wake up so late this morning?" he smiles and gives me a sarcastic look.

"Shut up Jacey," I responded, shutting my twin brother's trash mouth up. He always does that, every time he knows I go out late the night before.

"We can wait for you for a few more minutes while you go straighten your unruly hair, Alex. We are not in a rush." my Mom says in a low voice, casting her disappointed and disapproving eyes all over me.

She did not hesitate for a single second to call me out and tell me how unkempt my hair is, despite the fact that it needed to be presentable for today. Mother, you have my undying love.

My uncle Tommy is being a kind and lovely uncle as always when he remarks, "Hey you two, eat up fast, alright, we are going to be late...and I'm taking all your luggage and everything and putting it in the trunk."

As I make my way to the car, my mind and body are on the verge of exploding with excitement and fear at the same time. I tell myself that at least I have a few hours to make all of the nervousness escape my body, though I doubt it will do so anytime soon.

Another problem is that I have absolutely no clue what the exclusive Ivy League school will be like or whether I will be able to make friends with all those rich kids.