Under One Condition

Harvard

Sicily

   When a girl has big dreams, she works hard to make them come true. I’ve lived in a small town in Idaho, a town no one knows about. And here I was, in front of one of the most prestigious universities in the country...Harvard.

   Moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts was a big deal for me. I’ve always wanted to be accepted here and hearing about how hard it was to get in, made me feel really proud of myself.

   I was the first of my family to attend college. Everyone back home had to take care of the ranch and the farmlands, and no one had the opportunity to go after what they wanted, so it made my family happy to know I was accepted, and that I would be able to have a great career. 

   My name is Sicily O’ Brian. I was ready to take the bull by the horns and follow my dreams. Back at home I was so engrossed in science class, that I wanted to be a surgeon and help the people in town with affordable surgeries. 

   “Honey, I know you’re excited and shocked about being here, but could you please help us with your belongings?” mom said, pulling me out of my thoughts. 

   “Sorry, mom. I’m just in awe,” I looked at her with an apologetic smile, and walked over to help them take my things from the trunk. My parents made the choice to drive me here despite being a long way from home. I guess they just wanted to make sure I made it safe and sound.

   “That’s okay, Sweetheart. We just want to make sure you are well settled,” dad mentioned and I nodded in agreement. There was no time to waste and I had to be in my dorm before sunset. In two days, I would start my classes and I needed to be ready. 

   I would miss home, but I was looking forward to starting a new life and I knew Harvard would do that for me. Grabbing a few duffel bags while my parents grabbed a few boxes, we headed towards the dorms to find the room where I would be living in. 

   The hallways were long and it felt like I was walking down a maze, but we finally found it...Room 380.

   My heart was beating with excitement. Mom and Dad left my boxes in front of the wooden door and walked back to get the rest of my things. As soon as I was about to walk in, a football flew past my face, almost hitting me. 

   “Dude, you almost hit the pretty girl,” I heard a guy yell at the other who was standing at the receiving end of the ball. I took a look at him and he was, let’s say...handsome. His body was built, but not too much muscle and judging by the way he looked, he might be a football player, maybe...the quarterback? Or more like a biker?

   His short, dark brown hair and brown eyes went well with his appearance, although he also looked a bit like a snob, or maybe a bully. Please, don’t let it be the latter, it would suck if I was to be his target, I thought.

   “Are you okay?” the blonde haired guy approached me, concerned. His blue eyes were burying themselves into my soul. 

   “Come on, Johnny. She’s fine. Unless she’s about to cry, then we have a problem,” the brown haired guy said and I knew from that moment he would be indeed, a jerk. A total asshole. 

   “Levi, don’t be an i***t. She must be new here and deserves a proper welcome,” Johnny said before he looked back at me, “Hello, my name is Johnny Caldwell as you heard, and over there is my friend Levi Anderson, the jerk.”

   He leaned towards me, and I had to back up a bit. Personal space, man.

   “Don’t let his attitude scare you, he’s a total sweetheart on the inside, and I’m sure his sister will confirm that. Oh, and by the looks of it, you are her roommate, great!”

   Perfect, knowing who my roommate was, meant having to get acquainted with her brother. Just my luck. 

   “Well, thank you for that piece of information. Now, if you excuse me, I have to go in and get myself settled,” I said in the most polite way and he finally caught on to it, which I was grateful for. I looked to where “Levi” was standing and his smirk instantly made me despise him. 

   All he exuded was cockiness.

   I shook my head and took a deep breath before walking into my room. 

   “Hello?” I called, looking around but there was no one there. My side of the room was empty and plain, the white walls calling me to decorate as soon as possible. A twin bed against the wall needed beautiful sheets and I was glad my parents had bought me new ones. 

   The other side looked well decorated and organized. There was a lavender curtain on the window and the bed had the same lavender and blue colored sheets with flower shaped cushions, and big pillows spread all over. 

   The mahogany desk next to the bed had a white laptop with a lavender pencil holder next to it, and notebooks neatly stacked on the corner. A bookshelf was sitting next to the closet, full of what looked like romance and mystery books. 

   I passed my hand on the spines and I smiled. This was either a neat freak or a nerd, and I was hoping it was the latter, because I don’t think we would get along. I could be clean, but as a ranch girl, neatness like this wouldn’t be possible. 

   “Here are the rest of your things, Little Flower,” dad said as he walked in with a box in his hands, and mom followed right behind with the last one. 

   Mom walked over and took my hands in hers as tears escaped her eyes, running down her cheeks while she shamelessly let them. 

   “Are you sure you don’t want us to help you organize your things?” she asked.

   “No, mom. I’m good. Just have a safe trip back home, please.”

   “Of course, Sweetheart. I’m so proud of you. You have grown so much,” mom said, caressing my cheeks. Please, don’t cry, I thought, referring to myself. They both kissed me and wished me the best before they walked out. As soon as they closed the door, my own tears betrayed me and I had no choice but to let them out. 

   “I’ll miss you.”