hello all
it is i, an update
Her light brown eyes were glued to the lecture hall window, the breathtaking view of white magnolias and pink peonies lining the pathways of Tulane University.
Lily Propolos sighed as she gazed out at the beautiful September day. After busily attending her four lectures starting in the early morning, Lily had not enjoyed one single minute in the sun's shining rays. She stared longingly at her fellow classmates who were enjoying the last days of Louisiana warmth; lounging on the grassy fields, friends amicably talking under the shade of a large oak, and the more athletically inclined students throwing a Frisbee back and forth.
"And don't forget, please, to finish the Geology chart handout I passed out earlier today. It will be due one week from today, and no time later. Failure to turn it in on time will mean consequences."
Lily snapped her eyes to the front of the lecture hall as her classmates groaned in response to their professor.
"Now, before I let you go, I have an announcement to make." Eyes perked up curiously and the room grew silent. "Today at McAlister Auditorium, we'll be hosting a very special guest speaker. He's the newest sponsor to our geology department here at Tulane, and he'd like to speak to all Earth Science majors. You might have heard about him before, since he's none other than the world famous CEO of Diamondeus, Mr. Henry Mavros."
Lily glanced questioningly around her as many students gasped. She had never heard of this Henry Mavros before in her life, but this was the umpteenth time today she had heard of his arrival and sponsorship with the university.
Being an Earth Science major and geology student, Lily's interest was understandably piqued. She had seen the posters all over campus, and once her friends had also expressed interest in the event, they had all made plans to meet each other in front of Tulane's massive auditorium to attend it together. Although it made sense for Lily to attend this particular science event, she couldn't help but feel a strange sensation drawing her to this wealthy stranger.
"I'd like for all of you folks to see Mr. Mavros' speech today, since he'll be talking about some big projects he's working on alongside the department. I'll also be giving out extra credit to all the students who attend."
Excited murmurs erupted as the mass of students quickly packed up their belongings and began to exit the lecture hall.
"Class dismissed!" The professor yelled over the roar of students, even though it fell on many deaf ears, "I'll see you all on Monday!"
Lily swiftly closed her notebook, carefully picking it up and placing it onto crook of her right arm, clutching it tightly. One of the last students in the hall, she sidestepped her way out of the aisle, the hem of her light blue dress brushing against the seats she passed.
She stepped outside into the warmth of the sun, smiling deeply as she passed by the magnolias and peonies. Ever since she could remember, Lily had an incredible affinity for plant life. She enjoyed the colors and beauty of flowers, but she also enjoyed the might of a strong tree, or the lushness of meadows and grassy fields. Lily enjoyed it so much, that she then decided to study a form of career for the study of plants.
She smiled as she thought of her recent studious expedition to Peru alongside her botanic professor, Dr. Meyers. Lily had been more than ecstatic when she received the exclusive invitation from the esteemed professor, and she had been entranced with the beauty of Lima. Plants and vegetation grew tremendously, and to identify and classify them all had been a dream come true for Lily.
Her mother had always said that she found the beauty in everything, a sentiment that was also shared fondly by her late father. Lily didn't remember much of him, but her mother had assured her each day that she had been the apple of her father's eye.
Finally reaching the steps of McAlister Auditorium, Lily lifted onto the tips of her white flats in search of her friends. Hundreds of students were filing into the double doors, but she could find no trace of her two friends anywhere.
"Lily! There you are!"
Lily turned to the sound of her name, grinning as she was met with the emerald gaze of her dear friend, Anna Gap.
Anna's tight red button up dress and bright red hair caught Lily's eye immediately, and she slowly made her way through the crowd to her friend, who was shamelessly crushing the hopes of yet another suitor on the steps of the auditorium.
"So, after the speaker thing then, Anna?"
Anna blew a large, pink bubble with her Dubble Bubble before loudly popping it and chewing dramatically. "Buzz off Sheldon! Can't ya see Lily's here?"
The lanky boy, Sheldon, shyly met Lily's gaze, "Hiya Lily,"
"Hello Sheldon," Lily greeted.
Anna crossed her arms, "See? I'm busy. So beat it, kid!"
With one more hopeless look, Sheldon quickly disappeared into the large crowd of students entering the auditorium.
"Anna," Lily began.
"Aw, don't start Lils! He's been bugging me all day. Poor guy needs to learn how to take no for an answer! Don't tell me you've never had an annoying boy go after you?"
Lily pursed her lips and cocked her head in thought. "Mm, nope. Can't say that I have. See, I have this certain thing where I treat people nicely."
Anna rolled her eyes, "I'm nice! I'm the nicest person you'll ever meet, honey. That's why we're best friends."
Lily's sociable nature and Anna's spontaneity collided last academic year when Lily had just moved to Tulane. The two girls had mutually singled each other out in their Chemistry lecture by becoming lab partners, and ever since then, the pair have been inseparable.
Lily laughed, "Speaking of best friends, where's Claire? The event is starting soon, and I can't find her any-"
"Hey, Lily!"
"Speak of the devil," Anna smirked.
Lily spun on her heels, eyeing the blonde head of Claire Kackston. She and Claire had only been friends for a few months, meeting only at the start of the previous semester in an Astronomy class, but the two girls had bonded rapidly throughout time, and eventually, resulted in Claire joining Anna and Lily's circle of friends.
"Claire, where have you been? The event is starting soon and there's so many people, I don't think we'll find seats for us!" Lily exclaimed.
Claire groaned in frustration as she expertly locked her bike onto the rack. "This son of a gun had the audacity to stop me right in the middle of the quad! Can you believe that? I mean, mister, if you see that I'm walking fast, don't stop me!"
Lily raised an eyebrow, "And what exactly did he stop you for?"
"The time!"
Anna threw her fiery head back in laughter. "Claire! You didn't!"
"I swear the guy was blind. Did he not see the millions of students coming in? Did he not see the giant clock in front of the auditorium? People in California can see it!"
At her friend's rant, Lily could only laugh alongside Anna, amused by Claire's exaggerated anger.
"Alright you two," Lily said in between giggles, "Let's go inside and find some seats before we're forced to stand throughout the whole presentation."
Anna snorted, "Do you see these heels?" She kicked up one foot, showcasing her tan foot enveloped in a dark red wedge. "These are not made for standing room only!"
"I just hauled a bike all the way from Timbuktu. I need to sit down."
The three girls erupted into giggles as they made their way up the steps to the double doors of the auditorium. Anna was animatedly talking about her new beau in her Biology lecture when, suddenly, Lily stopped. Her senses had become highly active, and she shivered as a strong sensation hit her.
A strong sensation of someone watching her.
Slowly, she turned her head, looking out over the crowd of students and into the quad, seeing a lonely bench in front of McAlister Auditorium. Had someone been sitting there? Why were her senses directing her gaze to that certain bench?
It was as if her body had lost control, giving into some other supernatural force to guide her. Lily squinted her eyes in confusion, looking around the quad to determine just who had been watching her. The feeling was immense, almost as if somebody familiar had been right behind her…
"Lily, you okay?"
"I thought…" Lily began, stuttering, "It felt… like somebody was…"
"Was what, Lily? You're scaring me." Anna probed, putting a delicate hand on Lily's shoulder.
"Watching me." Lily finished, her eyes never leaving the crowd.
Anna heaved a sigh of relief, "Well of course, goofy! Your face is a ray of sunshine, your dress is to die for, and you smell like vanilla."
Claire nodded, "Agreed, you smell nice."
After a few moments, Lily tore her gaze from the crowd, forcibly shaking away the strange feeling, chuckling at her friends. "Sorry, just a weird feeling."
The two girls shrugged in response, leading the wary Lily into the cool darkness of McAlister Auditorium.
"He's so cute."
"Anna, he hasn't even come out yet."
"So? He's rich, isn't he?"
Claire rolled her eyes.
Anna sighed happily, "The owner of a gem company! I bet he has dozens of diamonds and rubies at his place. And on top of that, he has an accent? I think I'm in love!"
"You're delusional." Claire snorted.
"I'm just saying. I'm definitely adding him to my 'Arm Candy List'." She giggled.
"Right, underneath all those pen pals from the war, right? You went from 'Army Candy' to 'Arm Candy'."
"Don't be a stick in the mud, Claire!" Anna huffed, smacking Claire on her shoulder.
If Lily had heard the banter between her two friends, she had made no move to confirm it. Sitting at the edge of an aisle, her eyes stayed glued to the empty, lit stage. The auditorium was buzzing with excitement and conversations, but Lily could hear none of it. Her mind was still stuck on that strange feeling she had right before coming in to the department's event.
Lily had felt as if someone was directly behind her. The strangest thing to her, though, was that if felt…familiar. Comfortable, even. Something in her body and soul had commanded her to turn around and look at the empty bench in the quad, but Lily couldn't understand why.
She watched as a stout man crossed the stage and take his place at the podium, fixing the microphone to fit his short stature. Finding more interest in her fingers, Lily bowed her head, paying no attention to the man as he spoke.
"Welcome, all, to this special event for Tulane's Geology Department. I am Dr. Levereux, head of the department, and I am mighty excited to inform the students of this great university and the press that Mr. Henry Mavros of Diamondeus has agreed to become the department's sponsor for an entire academic year."
Thunderous applause filled the room, and once the volume was low enough, Dr. Levereux began once again, "And here today, is Mr. Mavros himself to give a short speech on his sponsorship and to reveal some of the projects he'll be working on with our board and bright students. So please help me in giving a warm, Tulane welcome to Mr. Henry Mavros!"
Applause erupted through the room once again, as well as the flash of many cameras. Lily had not dared to look up, still entwining her fingers together in her lap.
"Good God almighty!" Came Anna's breathless voice, "He's gorgeous!" Feeling Anna nudge her in the shoulder, Lily turned to face her friend. "Lily, he's practically a god!"
Lily's eyes traveled to the podium, her gaze falling upon a tall, broad-shouldered man with ebony curls. His pale face looked up from his notes, and Lily became breathless.
He was elegant, intimidating, and very handsome. She had never seen anyone like him before. And yet, oddly enough, he seemed eerily familiar.
Those eyes…
His icy blue eyes roamed over the crowd before his deep, velvety voice echoed through the microphone. "Good afternoon, Science majors of Tulane. I'm very excited to be working with this university and, in particular, these set of students. Tulane has promised me talent, hard-work, and achievement through its many students and faculty members. I've planned three major projects for this year, one of them including a Classification of Rare Gems in one of my labs."
Faculty and students all murmured in awe, but Lily could not tear her gaze away from Mr. Mavros. Something about him felt so familiar to her…
"Over the centuries, Science has proven to be one of the most important marvels of our world. From health and medicine, to chemistry and physics, discoveries are happening every day. I'm putting in my sponsorship into Tulane because I see the capability of discoveries being made here. I want the world to see how helpful science can be. How-"
Lily's heart stopped. His gaze fell directly in line with hers, his icy eyes meeting her warm brown ones. Time had stopped as she became lost in his stare, feeling the world disappear around them. She felt as though she and Henry Mavros were the only ones inside the auditorium.
His handsome face eased into a small smile, and to Lily, it felt as if he were sharing that private smile with only her.
"How beautiful science can be."
His eyes bore into Lily's as he said the word 'beautiful', making Lily blush and her heart pound. Suddenly, his eyes left hers, breaking the intense lock, and Lily could even feel the loss of his warm gaze.
"I plan to make great things happen here, and I'm certain that you are all willing to as well." He gave a curt nod, finishing his speech, "Thank you." Applause rang out once again, and he responded with quick waves into the crowd.
Lily stared as he moved gracefully across the stage, keeping his head high and his back straight. However right before he disappeared behind the navy blue curtain, his eyes shifted to hers once again.
The moment felt as if it was in slow motion, even though it lasted for a brief second. She swore she could have seen another smile, one that was meant only for her.
Those eyes…
Lily fell back into her seat as Henry Mavros disappeared behind the curtain. She did not know how or where, but she had seen those eyes before.
Perhaps once upon a dream.
maybe santa will bring u another update :-)
also tulane is a real school in NOLA and McAlister is an actual theater, so I def don't own those bc they are real