Just a small one to set up the next five, If you didn't pick it up by now, Allison is an impossible combination of pretty, funny, and smart. Most importantly she's a total bloody nerd.
I'm so sick of me
Wake up, and hate to breathe
And I pride myself in that
So Dramatic I'll admit
Original Loser - Yungblud
"So, that's the one?"
Allison doesn't look up from the white envelope sitting on the kitchen bench, nodding silently to her best friend. It glows against the caramel coloured timber, she swears she can hear the paper humming at her like 'dude, open me, open me, OPEN ME!' This was the one. The letter that had kept her awake every night for the last three weeks. Her letter from Harvard and it was small. Small never meant good news. The envelope from Boston University had been big, it made sense, a big envelope for a big offer; a full ride in any degree she chose.
Spending the last three weeks since she received her BU acceptance letter on the precipice of a mental breakdown had made her a boatload of fun for her friends and family. Mel had come over after dinner every day since she had also gotten an acceptance letter. Nicole had gotten accepted to Harvard, hoping to be with her when Allison found out if she would be joining herself or Nicole. It was just Allison's luck that the day Mel caught the flu and stayed home from school was the day her letter came. Allison had called in backup the second she got inside and sat at the island impatiently jigging her knees until he arrived.
"It's not gonna open itself, Edwards," Steve prodded, nudging the letter a little closer. Allison's gaze finally met Steve's and his eyes widened at the panic written all over her face. "Woah, Alli! What's going on? Are you okay?" He rests a hand gently on her shoulder and squeezes.
"Steve. It's so small, and it's late! Nicole got hers weeks ago! We both know that means I didn't get in and it's all I've ever wanted." Allison's eyes fill despite her best efforts to keep her tears at bay, "My Dad went to Harvard on a scholarship because he was a super genius. I always wanted to be there just like Dad was, how am I supposed to be like him when I can't even get in?"
Harvard was the dream. It wasn't just the dream she had shared with Nicole, up till three in the morning giggling about what college life would be like; studying, and amazing libraries, and cute boys. This was a dream her Father had shared with her, A photo of her at 3 years old on her Dad's shoulders in one of his old sweatshirts, the cream 'H' on the maroon background making her blue eyes pop. It was miles too big for her, hanging well past her knees but she looked so happy, and her Dad looked so proud. Allison needed this, she needed to cling to the good that her Dad had inside him. Allison needed to go to Harvard so she would remember her Fathers dark eyes sparkling with pride and happiness; not fear.
"Al, you've gotta open the letter to know for sure. If you didn't get in you are still going to Boston, and I'm sure you can reapply or something, we can figure it all out, okay?" He pushes the envelope the last little bit with a reassuring smile, encouragement shining in his dark eyes. Allison takes a deep breath before taking the white letter in her quivering hands. "Read it out loud." Allison nods, carefully opening the top and inhaling a shaky breath before reading:
"Dear Miss Allison A. Edwards,
My name is Doctor Henry Romulus. I am the acting Dean of Arts and Science at Harvard University, and I am writing to you to offer you a very exclusive opportunity at Harvard. This is a most unusual offer we are making you, and it took longer than intended to finalise so I must apologise for the delay.
We here at Harvard University were very impressed with your application and test scores. They ranked in the highest percentile of incoming hopefuls and paired along with your lineage as a legacy we were nothing short of ecstatic at the thought of having you join this program.
We believe you could bring something new and exciting to our University. So with that said, I am beyond pleased to inform you that we are inviting you to join the class of 1989 here at Harvard. We would also like to extend an offer to join an exclusive summer program that commences the second week of this upcoming June. This curriculum gives you and nine other students unrestricted access to the campus where you will begin summer classes in a myriad of areas to help prepare and develop your artistic and scientific mind.
A package will arrive promptly with confirmation of your acceptance to both programs and the central arts and science scholarship, the same scholarship your late Father was the recipient of.
We look forward to seeing you in June,
Regards,
Doctor Henry Romulus."
Allison started crying halfway through and didn't stop until she had read the letter another four times. "I'm going to Harvard. I have an early admittance. I got a full scholarship. I'm going to Harvard." She choked out to a grinning Steve who swept her up into a tight hug.
"Congratulations Edwards, no one I know deserves this more than you."
Allison pulled back wiping away tears with a shaky hand, a watery laugh on her lips. "Thank you for being here, Harrington. I could not have done this without you. Oh my God, I can't believe this, it totally feels like a dream or something."
Steve grinned, helping her wipe away her tears before reaching around her to grab the phone off the hook. "you've got a few phone calls to make, nerd."
Allison Austen Edwards was going to live her dreams.