Work Hard, Love Harder

No way she could afford it on her minimum wage. And then there were the other things she was extracting from the brown paper bag…lotions and creams, massage oils, and expensive supplements, some sort of aloe drink, his new prescription filled, and…Creepers. Zack stared at the loot, wondering if he could refuse to take it. But then he looked up into Zoe’s eyes; she was so excited for him to have these things…but at the back of her eyes was terror. Terror that he would ask how.

Zack forced a smile and expressed his gratitude with a hug. Zoe was just trying to look out for him. He should let her.

*****

Yes, Zoe knew what Zack thought about her occasional ‘windfalls’ of cash and she knew he thought she got it the same way their mother usually got cash – on her knees or her back. But once she was old enough to understand what her mother did for money, she also vowed that she wouldn’t go down that road. She had a brain in her head and she knew how to use it.

Cooper Anderson, the old man she’d been talking to, had use for that brain. He’d taught her to write code and she’d expanded that knowledge into the ability to clone anything: phones, tablets, robots, video games…name it. She didn’t know what Cooper did with the clones once she handed them over, but he paid her a decent chunk of change for her work and heaven knew she could use a decent chunk of change. Zack was much sicker than he let on and their insurance was crap. Plus she needed to save up for the inevitable rainy days coming up.

She had two years before she could get the hell out of this town and go to college. Until then, she had to scrimp and save and look after her brother and make sure that when it was time to leave, she could take him with her. She wasn’t sure her mother would let her do that however, so the next best thing was to raise enough to leave him with a nest egg he could rely on.

*****

Harvard University
Admission Office
86 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138

March 31, 2009

Dear Zoe:

Congratulations! The committee has reviewed your application and we are happy to offer you admission to the Class of 2010. Harvard received a record applicant pool of over 16,500 applications this year and your academic accomplishments, extra-curricular achievements, and personal qualities stood out among this strong pool. The committee was impressed with all you have done. Thank you for applying. We are delighted to be accepting you.

If you applied for financial aid, a letter from the Financial Aid Office is enclosed with this mailing. If you have any questions, a member of the financial aid staff would be pleased to speak with you or your parents. We understand that paying for a college education is a significant commitment, and we would like to help you through the process. Harvard’s policy of replacing the student loan with additional grant sets us apart from other schools and allows you to graduate without any expected debt.

You and your parents are invited to join us on April 14-16 for our April hosting program to learn more about Harvard. An invitation is enclosed with this mailing. Our faculty members are interested in meeting you and we hope you can join us. Also included in this packet is the response card which you need to fill out and return to us with a May 1 postmark. Should you decide to attend Harvard, we will be sending you more materials later this spring with information about getting ready for your freshman year.

Once again, congratulations. We are thrilled to be sending you this splendid news. If you have any questions about the academic program, residential life, or a particular interest, please let us know and we will help you get the answers.

Sincerely,

Janet Lavin Rapelye
Dean of Admission

Congratulations!

Zoe read the letter five times before she could believe it was true. Harvard was offering her a place. In an Ivy League college. She was accepted to an Ivy League college.

Zoe didn’t even know how to feel. She shuffled the papers about, looking for the financial aid papers. Yes; it’d pay for her books and tuition. Plus, she had a partial scholarship which would pay for accommodation and upkeep. All she had to do to keep it was maintain a 3.8 grade point average. Piece of cake. As long as she didn’t have to get a job or nothing.’ Now, all she had to do was make sure Zack was squared away until she could send some more cash, maybe come down to see him. He had two more years before he was eighteen, and by then, she should have found an apartment for them to live in off campus. Mama couldn’t say nothin’ then.

Meanwhile…she was accepted at Harvard University. Fu*k a duck.

*****

“Okay, I’m seriously disappointed. In every single college movie, you enter the dorm and it’s one big party. I’ve been here twenty minutes and all I’ve done is stand in line. And I can’t see anything. Can you see the front? Are they actually doing anything or is this some kind of new freshman hazing?”

Colton looked down at the bottle-blonde in front of him before gazing over her head to where the line met the first row of tables. He knew the blonde was a fake because she was an African American; a really cute, sexy one that he was really glad to be in line with.

“Well, they’re handing out keys. I have no proof that they open doors and it’s likely that they’re requiring us to sign our souls away first, but there are keys. I’m Colton, by the way.”

“I’m Zoe. I better get the good side of the room for this. I called my roommate before I moved in and she’s not coming until Monday. She’s a sophomore and you’d think that would have been a hint to just wait until Sunday to show up, but no, I had to be the person that shows up as soon as the doors open. We’re going to be friends so that next year, you can remind me of this and we’ll both show up on Monday.”

Colton laughed as Zoe plopped down on her suitcase and let her purse fall to the floor with the rest of her bags.

“It’s a deal. While I’m at it, I’ll remind you to find someone to watch your million suitcases.”

Colton nodded to the corner where he’d left his parents and sister. “Why on earth are you in line with all that stuff?”

“Hey, not everyone comes with an entourage to watch their stuff. I bussed in from Nashville.”

“Nashville?”

“Tennessee. I’m guessing you’re local?”

“Kind of. But not from here in Boston. Plymouth. About an hour and a half from here.”

“Oh god, are you going to be one of those people that goes home every weekend? Because I totally wanted to be your friend so you could help me carry all this crap to my room, but it’s going to suck if you’re gone every weekend. I might have to replace you.”