The Ordinary Girl

My Name is Aurora Grayson. I'm your average 17-year-old girl with big goals and even bigger dreams. I live with my parents in a modest two-bedroom home off the outskirts of town and life has been hectic and chaotic and really busy if I am being honest with myself. Between studying and trying to get the scores and scholarships, I need to get into Harvard, attend high school, and work part-time at the local diner down the road from my house.

 I barely have time to just be a 17-year-old. I have to help pay my family's bills since my father got sick and had to resign from his position at the university. My mother works in a local upscale hotel as the assistant manager. She's beautiful, determined and my best friend, my biggest confidant.

Though she makes decent money, she still needs help with bills. I am close with my parents. They are amazing, so to help them, I got a part-time job at the local diner in the agreement that the job wouldn't affect my grades. One day I will be able to afford to take care of my parents like they do me. 

I see the sacrifices they make proudly and without complaint, for me.  My mother and father moved here to Cambridge, Massachusetts, before I was born. I don't remember life anywhere else. Yes, the famous home of Harvard Law School. My father was a professor there until he got too sick to work.

He loved his job more than anything. I can remember sitting in his class as a young girl watching young minds take in his teachings. He was loved and cherished by all of his students before he was forced to resign. 

My heart breaks for him. He has always been my hero. I know he misses teaching. Doctors are hopeful the next round of treatments cures this unexplained illness plaguing him. I hope and wish more than anything that they are right and can cure him and give him his life back!

"Good morning dad," I said as I rushed around him in the kitchen. I picked up my book from the night before, where I'd left it on the kitchen table after studying too late, then an apple from the fruit bowl for breakfast this morning. "Wait, Aurora, I can make you breakfast," he said, holding himself up on the counter. I looked at my dad, giving a gentle smile.

 "No, thank you daddy, just rest, I am going to be late for school," I said before leaning over and gently kissing his cheek. "We can have dinner tonight. I don't have to work at the diner," I said, smiling at him again “I will hold you to it, brat," he said, kissing my cheek in return. "I love you dad," I said as I rushed out of the door. "I love you too, kiddo have a great day at school!!" He yelled after me.

I ran from the house and got to the bus stop. Thomas, my boyfriend, was there. He kissed my cheek. "Good morning beautiful," he said with a smile. I leaned in to his kiss, giving him my cheek. "Good morning," I said, smiling. Thomas and I had been dating for almost 3 years, since we were 15. "You didn't call me last night," he said with a frown. "Yeah, I know I am sorry. No excuses,” I said with an apologetic smile on my face. 

“I worked late at the diner then when I got home last night, I fell asleep at the kitchen table studying," I said. "You have done that a lot lately," he said, his tone streaked with annoyance. "I know that too, and I am sorry about that. I just have to pull the GPA and test scores to get the full ride scholarship to Harvard. My family and I really need this,” I reminded him.

 “Testing is this week," I said as the bus was pulling up. "You know hot stuff, I can give you a ride to school," he said, pointing to his convertible. I smiled, "I like to stay humble," I said, kissing his cheek quickly and getting on the bus. I sat down next to my best friend Lilly, "Good morning Aurora," She said with a soft smile.

 "He is still trying to get you in that car isn't he?" She said laughing. "Yeah he is," I said, side eyeing her. “He should focus more on his test scores than his daddy’s money and trying so hard to get into your pants” she said looking out the window at him. “He’s going to duke!” I said. “Yeah but you and I both know his daddy’s money is paying for his entrance. He doesn’t need scores when he can throw money at it,” she said before she went silent for a moment.

 "He's really pushing you to give up that V card of yours, isn't he?" I looked at Lilly flabbergasted. "Um...well.... Yes but you know how I feel about it," I said, looking at her  "Yes, yes, school before play," she said, shoulder bumping me. "Test scores before you score,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me. “Girl you need to de-stress yourself, what could it hurt to have a single night of fun out?" She said laughing. 

"That sounds fun but right now I have the state testing coming up and the scholarships to think about. I'll be 18 in a few days and with the school year ending in a few months they will be awarding scholarships soon. The testing is this week. and when they give out scholarships soon I have to have my name on that list and my entire future rides on it." I said shyly.

 “I need this scholarship money and honestly so does my family Lilly” “you are holding damn near a 5.0 GPA. You have surpassed all previous testing I have no doubt you will get that full ride to college” she said, hugging me with an arm. I leaned my head against her before we sat back in the seat putting our knees up on the back of the seat in front of us.