Chapter 2 COLLEGE DREAMS

With the envelope trembling in my hands, my future depends on its contents. I looked at Jack, his eyes full of eagerness mirroring my nervous anticipation. With a deep breath, I tore the envelope open to unfold the letter inside, while pounding in my heart.

"I made it!" With a mixture of unbelief and elation, I exclaimed. Jack, I made it into Hartwell University!" I knew you to be brilliant Em, Jack's face lit up with pure joy, scooping me into his arms, and spinning me all around our high school parking lot.

The moment he set me down, his hands were still on my waist, his soft touch sending shivers through me, and with his forehead resting on mine, he voiced softly to me, now we would be together.

Feeling a flutter in my chest, I looked into his warm brown eyes. With his family legacy, Jack had been accepted into Hartwell months ago, but as for me it wasn't so, I am just a girl with nothing from the wrong side of the tracks with determination and a sketchbook full of dreams, and this acceptance means everything to me, and as I whispered, with tears of joy welling up, I just can't believe it. "We shall be going to the same college together."

"I told you we would figure it out, Em," nothing can keep us apart, his smile looking very radiant, as he cupped me into his hands. With a tender kiss, his lips met mine, and my worries melted away. At that moment, I saw a limitless future full of promise and shared dreams.

In a stolen moment of preparation, the summer flew by a whirlwind, and before I knew it, resumption day had arrived. My little belongings packed into a few cardboard boxes; I stood in front of Hartwell's imposing brick façade.

Effortlessly handsome in his designer clothes, Jack appeared at my side. "Are you ready for this?" He asked taking my hand, I nodded, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. "As ready as I will ever be, I answered."

I couldn't help but notice the stark difference between us as we walked across the manicured lawn. With ease and confidence, Jack moved, greeting other students whose families were in the same elite circle as his. I couldn't steady onto myself, but scuffled along beside him, feeling like an imposter in my fairly used clothes.

"Over here! Jack!" A voice called out. Immediately I turned, I saw a group of students gathered near a status, they all looked like they had just stepped out of a catalog. Jack waved to them, then turned to me. "Come on let me introduce you to everyone."

As we approached the group, my stomach churned with anxiety. "I don't know, Jack. Maybe I should just go unpack..." "Em, you don't have to be worried. They will love you." Reassuringly, he squeezed my hand. AS Jack made introductions, some of the girls eyed me with thinly veiled disdain, but I only managed to plaster on a smile, to ignore them. The girls were all in designer outfits and impeccably styled hair that made me too aware of my appearance.

Trying to intimidate me, one of the girls asked, "So, Emma," in a sickly-sweet tone. "What does your family do?" Oh, um, I felt my cheeks burn, and I said my father works in a steel mill, and mother a teacher's aide." Immediately, an awkward silence fell over the group. Jack sensing the drama that was about to unfold, quickly changed the subject, but the damage was already done. Never have I felt so out of place like this.

Later that night, I lay on my narrow dorm bed, fighting back tears streaming from my eyes, as I unpacked my things, a soft knock at the door startled me. It was Jack. "Em? Can I come in?" His voice called out. Quickly, I wiped my eyes. "Yeah, it's open." Jack entered; his brow furrowed with so much concern. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Not wanting to burden him with insecurities, I quickly shook my head. "It's nothing, I am just only feeling a little bit overwhelmed, I guess." Jack sat beside me, wrapping one of his arms around my shoulders. "Em, talk to me. What is going on?" Drawing comfort from his familiar scent, I leaned into him. "I can't just tell, if I belong here, Jack. Everyone is so much different from me."

Forcing me to meet his gaze, Jack tilted up my chin. "Please, listen to me, Emma. Just like everyone here, you also earned your place here. Don't let anyone make you feel less than."

I felt warmed by his words but remained disturbed in my doubt. "But what if I cannot keep up, and what if I am not good enough?" Jack softened his expression. "Emma, you are the most talented, and hard-working person I ever know. Amazing things is what I foresee you doing here."

He held me close, and desperately I wanted to believe him, but could I be able to live up to his expectations, I gnawed not to disappoint him.

It was a whirlwind of new experiences in the first week of classes, I began to study with determination to prove I truly belong to Hartwell. Particularly, it was challenging in my art classes, but pushing me to explore new techniques and styles.

On a particular afternoon, I sat in the campus coffee shop, sketching furiously in my notebook, Jack slid into the seat across from me, with a concerned facial look. "Have you eaten today, Em?" He asked. I looked up and was startled, only to realize how much time had passed. "Oh, I have been working on this project, most likely I forgot."

Shooking his head, Jack slides a sandwich across the table, stop doing this to yourself, and take care of yourself. Setting down my pencil, I sighed. "I know, but I just need to double my work to keep up like everyone." Jack took my hand as he reached out, Emma, I know, you are brilliant, you don't have to prove anything to anyone.

I gave Jack a weak smile, so grateful for his support but not able to stop feeling that I was always falling short.

The semester progressed, and I found solace in my art. In the studio, surrounded by canvases and the smell of paints, I was able to forget about my insecurities losing myself in creation, and as I continued seriously in my artwork, it was during one of these late-night painting sessions that I came out to be grate. This was the first time I felt a sparkle of pride in what I had created, as I stood back, studying the canvas before me. Unlike those I have done before, the painting was raw and emotional.

Just then Jack's voice came from behind me. "Wow, Em. That is incredible." I turned and was surprised to see him in the doorway. "What are you doing here? Jack!" I asked. He smiled, crossing the room to stand beside me, and he said, you didn't answer your phone when I was calling you, and I was worried, but now I can see why. I looked back at the painting, with self-consciousness. "You think it is good?"

"It is more than good, and breathtaking, Emma," Jack answered, wrapping his arms around me from behind, and resting his chin on my shoulder. For a moment, his words filled me with warmth, and I allowed myself to believe in my talent.

Jack and I left the studio, hand in hand, as he turned to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes to say something. "You know Em, there is a gallery opening downtown next week. I think we should go." I hesitated at first. "I don't know yet, Jack. Those events are always so fancy." "Come on, Em, squeezing my hand. It will be fun. It is good to network, right?"

I agreed with Jack, against my better judgment, as the night of the gallery opening finally arrived, I fidgeted with the hem of my borrowed dress, however, it was beautiful, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was playing dress-up, while I stood in front of the mirror.

As I waited for Jack, he finally arrived to pick me up, looking effortlessly dashing in his suit. "Emma, you look stunning." His eyes widened as he took me in. I blushed, smoothing down the unfamiliar fabric. "Are you sure about this?" I asked. But he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. "Sure. You are going to hit them all away."

Immediately, we entered the gallery, all eyes turned towards us. With ease, Jack led me through the crowd greeting people he knew and introducing me to them with pride, as I clung to his arm, trying to appear more confident than I felt.

Stopping in front of a large abstract piece, Jack engaged in a conversation with the artist, and as they chatted, I saw a smaller painting in a corner that drew my attention. Something about the painting spoke to me, stirring emotions I couldn't quite name.

I was still staring at the painting when I heard a voice beside me. "Beautiful, isn't it?" I turned fast, to see an older man studying the painting with a crucial eye. "Yes, it is," I smiled and replied softly. With a spark of interest in his gaze, he glanced at me. "I can see it in your eyes, you are an artist yourself, aren't you?" Surprisingly, I nodded. "I am studying art at Hartwell."

The Oldman smiled warmly. "Ah, Hartwell is a fine institution. Can you tell me, what you see in this piece?" My nervousness melted away as I began to share my thoughts, and for the first time that night, I felt like one that truly belonged

Later, as Jack and I were leaving, he pulled me close. Did I not tell you; you would fit right in.? Feeling a newfound confidence, I smiled. "Thank you, Jack, for believing in me, you were just right."

Just as we walked back to campus under the starry sky, I began feeling a sense of possibility I had never experienced before. Most likely, I could carve out a place of mine in this world after all.

A nagging thought crept into me as we approached my dorm. How long could I be keeping this façade? Would Jack realize someday I didn't belong to his world? Kissing me goodnight, the doubts melted away, and I determined to hold onto this moment of hope for as long as I could.

As I woke up the next morning, there was a frantic knocking on my door. Jack stood there, his face pale and demanding to talk to me, as he requested. My heart raced, as I let him in. "What's wrong?" I asked.

For a moment, he ran his hands through his hair, as he paced the small room. "My father called this morning; he is coming to campus today."

As soon as I remembered the stories Jack had told me about his imposing, and judgmental father, I froze. "Why?"

Filled with a mixture of fear and determination, our both eyes met. "He wants to meet you, Em. According to him, he said it is time he got to know the girl who had stolen his son's heart."

I felt panic rise in my chest when Jack's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, and I saw his expression turning grim. "Em. He is here."